Simon Kirby, Member of Parliament for Brighton Kemptown & Peacehaven has welcomed the Prime Minister’s speech on Brexit, delivered earlier today at Lancaster House.

 

Simon commented,

“I understand that many people in Brighton & Hove are still disappointed with the result of the referendum last year but the country voted to leave the European Union, and it is the duty of the Government to make sure that this happens.”

 

“As Economic Secretary to the Treasury, I was proud to represent the UK Government at the Asian Financial Forum on Monday in Hong Kong, reassuring financial institutions and other Governments that Britain remains very much open for business. I will continue to do all I can to make sure that we get the best possible Brexit and forge relationships to build a truly global Britain.”

 

Theresa May has today set out 12 objectives that amount to one big goal: a new, positive and constructive partnership between Britain and the European Union:

 

1. Certainty:   confirming today that the Government will put the final deal that is agreed between the UK and EU to a vote in both Houses of Parliament.

 

1. Control of our own laws: we will bring an end to the jurisdiction of the European Court of Justice in Britain. 

 

1. Strengthen the Union: we must strengthen the precious Union between the four nations of the United Kingdom. We will work very carefully to ensure that – as powers are repatriated back to Britain – the right powers are returned to Westminster and the right powers are passed to the devolved administrations. We will make sure that no new barriers to living and doing business within our Union are created.

 

1. Maintain the Common Travel Area with Ireland: we will work to deliver a practical solution that allows the maintenance of the Common Travel Area with the Republic of Ireland, while protecting the integrity of the United Kingdom’s immigration system.

 

1. Control of immigration: the message from the public before and during the referendum campaign was clear: Brexit must mean control of the number of people who come to Britain from Europe. We will continue to attract the brightest and the best to work or study in Britain but there must be control.

 

1. Rights for EU nationals in Britain, and British nationals in the EU: we want to guarantee these rights as early as we can. We have told other EU leaders that we can offer EU nationals here this certainty, as long as this is reciprocated for British citizens in EU countries.

 

1. Protect workers’ rights: as we translate the body of European law into our domestic regulations, we will ensure that workers’ rights are fully protected and maintained.

 

1. Free trade with European markets: as a priority we will pursue a bold and ambitious Free Trade Agreement with the European Union.  It cannot though mean membership of the EU’s Single Market.  And because we will no longer be members of the Single Market, we will not be required to contribute huge sums to the EU budget. If we contribute to some specific EU programmes that we wish to participate in, it will be for us to decide.

 

1. New trade agreements with other countries: it is time for Britain to become a global trading nation, striking trade agreements around the world. Through the Common Commercial Policy and the Common External Tariff, full Customs Union membership prevents us from doing this – but we do want to have a customs agreement with the EU and have an open mind on how we achieve this end.

 

1. The best place for science and innovation: we will continue to collaborate with our European partners on major science, research and technology initiatives.

 

1. Co-operation in the fight against crime and terrorism: we want our future relationship with the EU to include practical arrangements on matters of law enforcement and intelligence. 

 

1. A smooth, orderly Brexit: we want to have reached an agreement about our future partnership by the time the two year Article 50 process has concluded. From that point onwards, we expect a phased process of implementation. We will work to avoid a disruptive cliff-edge.

 

While Britain wants to remain a good friend and neighbour to Europe, we know there are some voices calling for a punitive deal. However, we are clear that no deal for Britain is better than a bad deal for Britain.

 

This is because we would still be able to trade with Europe. We would be free to strike trade deals across the world. And we would have the freedom to set the competitive tax rates and embrace the policies that would attract the world’s best companies and biggest investors to Britain. And – if we were excluded from accessing the Single Market – we would be free to change the basis of Britain’s economic model.  But for the EU, it would mean new barriers to trade with one of the biggest economies in the world.

 

We are confident though that this scenario never need arise and are sure that positive agreement can be reached. We are confident that we will follow a better path because of the shared values and spirit of goodwill that exists on both sides; because it is the economically rational thing for both Britain and the EU; and because co-operation is needed not just when it comes to trade but when it comes to security too.