A CONTROVERSIAL Government blueprint on the UK’s future relationship with the EU after Brexit will protect thousands of jobs in supply chains such as those at city firms like Mazak, Worcester’s MP has claimed.
Robin Walker made the prediction in his Westminster Diary for the Observer (see below) where he gave the so-called ‘Chequers deal’ his full support despite a fortnight of turmoil which has seen deep divisions within the Tory party.
High profile Brexiteers such as Brexit Secretary David Davis and Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson have resigned in protest at Theresa May’s plans and members of the European Research Group within the Conservative’s have sought to block her proposals.
But despite the rancour caused by Mrs May’s bid to secure an exit from the European Union, Mr Walker said the Government must deliver on the result of the referendum in June 2016 which saw nearly 54 per cent of city residents vote to leave.
“The free trade area in good proposed between the UK and the EU will protect hundreds of thousands of jobs in supply chains such as those in the automotive and aerospace industries in Worcester and in firms like Yamazaki Mazak, JVM Castings and Aeromet who export most of what they make in Worcester to Europe,” he wrote.
Mr Walker said the blueprint provided further clarity and detail for UK businesses, in particular on how post-Brexit economic and regulatory arrangements will work.
“The common rulebook as detailed in today’s announcement will help Mazak and other global businesses trade, so they are able to import and export goods successfully without major changes post-Brexit,” he said.
The Brexit minister said he recognised many had voted to remain in the EU and said in respecting the result of the referendum, the Government must bring people together.
“The best way of doing this is for the UK to exit the EU with a strong future partnership which allows us to trade freely with the EU, and co-operate closely in a number of areas,” he said.
Warring MPs have been debating the white paper which sees thorny issue of the Northern Ireland border tackled by a treaty which will commit the UK to ‘continued harmonisation’ with EU rules as the border between the UK and the EU will be treated as shared customs territory.
Parliament will oversee the UK’s trade policy and have the ability to move away from EU rules while the European Court of Justice will no longer have jurisdiction in the UK – but UK courts will have to pay ‘due regard’ to EU case law in certain areas.
The proposals also pledge to end the free movement of people between the UK and the continent but offer to establish guidelines to allow UK and EU citizens to travel to each other’s countries.
Robin Walker’s Westminster Diary
IN JUST over eight months we will leave the European Union. This is what a majority of people in Worcester and the country voted for and having asked the people to decide, Parliament and the Government are duty bound to deliver.
We must deliver it in a way which secures the best opportunity for prosperity here and for the UK to thrive in the world after we have left. This is not a theoretical question but a practical one about people’s livelihoods.
The agreed UK position honours the referendum decision. It means the UK will leave the EU and its commitment to ever closer political union; we will control our own borders and immigration policy; EU institutions will no longer be able to legislate into the UK and UK cases will no longer be settled at the ECJ; we will be outside of the ‘CAP’ and have control of our own fishing waters; we will resume our seat at the WTO and be free to agree our own trade deals.
As an independent sovereign state, we will enter deals with the EU and other countries to support our economy.
The free trade area in goods proposed between the UK and the EU will protect hundreds of thousands of jobs in supply chains such as those in the automotive and aerospace industries in Worcester and in firms like Yamazaki Mazak, JVM Castings and Aeromet who export most of what they make in Worcester to Europe.
We will also be free to make new trade deals with partners, reducing tariffs and removing barriers for services but not – and I don’t believe many of my constituents would support this – by lowering our standards for food safety, the environment or products.
I support it, I helped to write it and I think the plan gives our country the best chance to secure a successful and prosperous exit.
We should get behind the Prime Minister to ensure she has the best chance to secure this deal, a deal which will secure jobs in Worcester whilst delivering on the aspirations of the whole city.
