Budget Resolutions

James Cleverly Excerpts

Tuesday 3rd November 2026 Commons Chamber

[Jonathan Reynolds]

I am tempted to respond to that, but I will proceed with my speech; as ever, we are all waiting to hear from those on the shadow Front Bench. Actually, I will bite—go on. [Laughter.] When it concerns something of such fundamental importance to British industry as access to the single market, when it is and always will be our major trading market, gaining access for British businesses and businesses based in the UK and ensuring that British workers will not lose their jobs is not giving the other side everything that they want—it is delivering for Britain in a way that the Opposition never quite managed.

[Sir James Cleverly (Braintree) (Con)]

I negotiated directly with Maroš Šefčovič, the lead negotiator for the European Union. We had a very good working relationship and got a lot done. Does the right hon. Gentleman not understand that standing at the Dispatch Box and setting out the UK’s desired end position gives a huge advantage to the EU negotiating team, who are trying not to damage the UK but to get the best possible deal for the EU? Publicly setting out the desired end state from the UK’s position makes the right hon. Gentleman’s job in future negotiations harder, which is why we get rolled over by the excellent EU negotiators every time his Government go across to Brussels.

[Jonathan Reynolds]

Colleagues, it is great to receive some advice from the Conservative party on negotiating with Europe, is it not? I have a lot of time for the right hon. Gentleman. First, the premise of the UK-EU summit—[Interruption.] Perhaps the right hon. Gentleman should just listen to the point. The premise of the UK-EU summit—agreement on SPS, food and agricultural trade, on emissions trading and on electricity systems working with each other—is all already in the public domain. We agreed the memorandum on that last year. This is about the implementation of that deal. On whether we would like the single market to operate rules that completely shut out British industry and British supply chains, it is no secret that we do not fancy that very much and are seeking a solution to it.

I will turn back to the deal, which the right hon. Gentleman says he is very proud of. As he will know, you left us a few things—