Thank
you to constituents who have written to me recently regarding their concerns
for a no-deal Brexit.
I
understand the natural concerns that many constituents have around the
implications of no deal Brexit, and my preferred position remains to be that we
leave with a better deal that neither undermines the integrity of the union nor
leave us in a position where we are locked in a customs union with the EU
indefinitely.
I know that the new Prime Ministers also has his concerns about no
deal and that shares my preferred position to leave the EU with a deal on 31
October.
However I have also been clear that no deal is better than a bad
deal. There has been a lot of scaremongering going on by some, but I believe
that whatever the outcome the UK will not only cope by thrive outside of the
EU. I am pleased to see that the Government is continuously making the public
aware of the preparations that have been put in place for a no deal outcome
should it be necessary. Indeed, should Parliament continue to fail to agree on
a Deal, then No Deal is the default legal position.
A great deal of work has already taken place to prepare for a no
deal Brexit and it would be wrong to present this as some sort of cliff edge we
are not prepared for. Only recently Sir Mark Sedwill, the Cabinet Secretary,
said that “we have got the government in pretty good shape and public services
in pretty good shape for no deal”. The new Prime Minister has also announced
that he is instructing Whitehall to ramp up no deal
preparations.
What we need right now, above all, is the political will and
courage from both sides of the channel to return to the table and seek a more
agreeable deal. Otherwise we must reserve the right to walk away from the
table. Taking away the option of leaving without a deal would greatly undermine
our ability to drive a hard bargain with our European counterparts.
