EU Budget (Surcharge) Debate

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Department: HM Treasury
Monday 10th November 2014

(9 years, 6 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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George Osborne Portrait Mr Osborne
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Sadly not is the short answer to my hon. Friend’s question. The Prime Minister we should credit for the rebate is Margaret Thatcher.

Paul Flynn Portrait Paul Flynn (Newport West) (Lab)
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May I try to help the Chancellor? He is in danger of becoming illiterate as well as innumerate. The word “result”, which he used once today and three times last week, can mean a win, a loss or a draw or, as in this case, a confidence trick.

George Osborne Portrait Mr Osborne
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I take it as a win for Britain. Again, I do not want to follow lessons from Labour MPs about how to negotiate in Europe when they gave up much of the rebate, signed us into the eurozone bail-outs, gave up many of our vetoes over many years and refused to give the British people a say in referendums in key treaties.