Oral Answers to Questions

Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi Excerpts

Thursday 19th November 2020 Commons Chamber

[Andrew Gwynne (Denton and Reddish) (Lab)]

What assessment she has made of the potential effect on UK trade policy of the outcome of the 2020 US presidential election.

[Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi (Slough) (Lab)]

What assessment she has made of the potential effect on UK trade policy of the outcome of the 2020 US presidential election.

[Helen Hayes (Dulwich and West Norwood) (Lab)]

What assessment she has made of the potential effect on UK trade policy of the outcome of the 2020 US presidential election.

--- Later in debate ---

[Elizabeth Truss]

We have now secured trade deals with 52 countries. We have secured a deal with Japan that goes beyond and above the EU’s agreements, we are working on accession to the trans-Pacific partnership and we are negotiating with Australia and New Zealand, so we are by no means entirely focused on the US, but it is our largest single country trading partner. I am always struck by the anti-Americanism among Opposition Members. They simply do not understand that these deals are incredibly important for British business. As for the comments from overseas Governments on our trade negotiations, it is interesting that Labour Members simply like to repeat their “lines to take”. Maybe they need to think of some of their own ideas.

[Mr Dhesi]

We are all aware, sadly, that the Prime Minister has a litany of racist, sexist and homophobic remarks, but to the detriment of our national interest, it seems that some of his foul-mouthedness has now caught up with him. In particular, his derogatory remarks on President—

[Mr Speaker]

Order. Unfortunately, this has to be linked to the question that has been asked.

[Mr Dhesi]

It is, Mr Speaker.

[Mr Speaker]

Right, well the hon. Gentleman had better get there quickly, please.

[Mr Dhesi]

It seems that the Prime Minister’s foul-mouthedness has now caught up with him. In particular, his derogatory description of President Obama being part-Kenyan with an ancestral dislike of the British empire—

[Mr Speaker]

Order. I am sorry, this has to be linked to the trade question. This is completely off beam. I am sorry, but we have got to stick to the question. As important as this matter is, and the hon. Gentleman quite rightly wishes to get it in, this is not the question to do so—

[Mr Dhesi]

It definitely is, Mr Speaker.

[Mr Speaker]

I am going to make that judgment, and the judgment so far is that it is not. We are wasting time for other Members.