Theo Clarke MP for Stafford supported the European Union (Future Relationship) Bill today. Ms Clarke has delivered one of her key election pledges to “get Brexit done”. This deal takes back control of the UK’s laws, borders, money, trade and fisheries – and it ends any role for the European Court of Justice. From 1st January 2021, the United Kingdom will have political and economic independence.
The agreement that was voted on today:
- Is based on international law, not EU law. There is no role for the European Court of Justice and no requirements for the UK to continue to follow EU law.
- It is the first free trade agreement based on zero tariffs and zero quotas that the EU has ever agreed. Businesses will be able to continue to trade smoothly and people will be able to continue to buy goods from Europe tariff-free.
- Secures on the Government’s pledge to protect and boost the economy and provides for continued market access across a broad scope of key service sectors, including professional and business services. This market access will support new and continued investment between businesses. It also means that business travellers will be able to easily move between the EU and the UK for short term visits and the agreement on financial services ensures financial stability and consumer protection.
- Delivers on the Government’s commitment to maintaining high labour, environment and climate standards.
- Allows the UK to introduce its own modern subsidy system in order to better support businesses to grow and thrive. This new subsides system will operate in a that best suits the interests of UK industries - outside the EU State Aid regime.
- Supports the UK’s primary objective of prioritising the safety and security of the UK’s citizens. It offers streamlined co-operation on law enforcement, ensuring we continue to effectively tackle serious organised crime and counter terrorism, protecting the public, and bringing criminals to justice. It also provides for future cooperation between the UK and EU on emerging security challenges, such as cyber and health security, including continuing to work together on tackling the spread of Covid-19.
- Recognises UK sovereignty over our fishing waters and puts us in a position to rebuild our fishing fleet and increase quotas, overturning the inequity that British fishermen have faced for over four decades. By the end of the five year transition the UK will have full control of its waters and the amount of fish available to UK fishermen will have risen from half to two-thirds.
- This deal delivers for the entire UK, protecting the integrity of our internal market and Northern Ireland’s place within it.
- Provides for the UK’s participation in certain EU programmes, furthering our commitment to making the UK a science and research superpower. This deal will fulfil the Government’s manifesto commitment to participate in the Horizon Europe programme, but also the Euratom Research and Training programme, and the space programme, Copernicus.
- Delivers for UK citizens, making daily lives easier. It includes arrangements for airlines and hauliers that provides them with certainty, and gives people the ability to travel to and from the EU easily for work and holidays; a social security agreement that has practical benefits for UK citizens including accessing healthcare when travelling in the EU; and agreements on energy which will benefit consumers by helping to keep prices down.
