Leaving the EU: Economic Impact of Proposed Deal Debate

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Department: HM Treasury

Leaving the EU: Economic Impact of Proposed Deal

Stephen Crabb Excerpts
Wednesday 20th February 2019

(5 years, 1 month ago)

Commons Chamber
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Mel Stride Portrait Mel Stride
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If I may summarise, the hon. Gentleman makes the point that uncertainty is not good for business. He is entirely right, and that is all the more reason why we should get behind the deal, and get it sorted. We would then have an implementation period in which nothing would change until the end of 2020. The businesses in the hon. Gentleman’s constituency to which he referred could then begin to increase employment and invest with confidence.

Stephen Crabb Portrait Stephen Crabb (Preseli Pembrokeshire) (Con)
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There are a great many voices in the international investor community that have made it clear that the underlying fundamentals of the British economy remain sound, but they warn that we are in a period in which investment decisions have been put on hold, and trade deals are in abeyance. Does my right hon. Friend agree that the single most important thing that we can do right now to unlock new investment in the economy is to pass the deal?

Mel Stride Portrait Mel Stride
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My right hon. Friend hits the nail firmly on the head. What we must do to move from uncertainty to a situation in which we can begin to concentrate on negotiating our future relationship with the European Union while everything remains stable and the same until the end of 2020 is to pass the deal as he suggests.