Exiting the EU: Sectoral Analysis

Desmond Swayne Excerpts
Tuesday 7th November 2017

(6 years, 5 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Steve Baker Portrait Mr Baker
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We have been given an instruction and we are seeking to comply with it earnestly. I would say to the right hon. Gentleman that there is absolutely no question of being content-free. We have a large amount of content, but we need to draw it together and present it to the Committee in a form that is useful. On his other point, it bears repeating that it is time for the House to come together and strive in the national interest to implement the referendum result, not to seek anything that would undermine our negotiating capital.

Desmond Swayne Portrait Sir Desmond Swayne (New Forest West) (Con)
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When the papers are published, will they inform the negotiations in any way? In that respect, does the Minister sometimes wonder whose side Opposition Members are on?

Steve Baker Portrait Mr Baker
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I am grateful to my right hon. Friend. It is very important that we in this House do not do the work of our negotiating partners for them. We wish to have a deep and special partnership, and to go forward in a spirit of friendship, but it is not our place to do an analysis of our own negotiating capital for our partners.