David Davis unveils White Paper in Brexit battle cry as Government presses on with our EU exit
The Brexit Secretary said that our vote to leave the EU was a "vote of confidence in the UK's ability to succeed"
DAVID Davis has vowed that Britain's "best days are yet to come" as he laid out the Government's White Paper on Brexit.
The Brexit Secretary told MPs this afternoon said that our vote to leave the EU was a "vote of confidence in the UK's ability to succeed".
Hours after MPs overwhelmingly voted in favour of triggering Article 50 last night, Mr Davis said today's document wasn't about "whether we leave the EU" but more information about how the Government would fulfil the "democratic will of the people of the UK".
Setting out the - which was promised after pressure from MPs - he again set out the Government's 12 "principles" that it would stick to in our exit talks.
MPs will discuss the bill in more detail next week when it reaches the committee stage in the Commons - and politicians will get their chance to put forward and vote on any amendments.
Mr Davis said that Britain entered the negotiations which the Government intends to trigger by the end of March in "a position of strength".
He said the Government had been continuously talking to the public, businesses and regional leaders about making an "outward, confident, fairer UK that works for everyone".
Today's statement sets out the main themes of the Government's aims for Brexit talks - many of which were outlined in Theresa May's speech on Brexit earlier this month where she announced Britain would leave the Single Market.
It confirmed that Britain would gain back control of its borders, and the days of European judges ruling over us will be long gone.
But Mr Davis stressed that he did not want the EU to fail after we leave, and that it was in the "UK’s interest for the EU to succeed politically and economically."
He urged EU leaders to act like "good neighbours" in the upcoming talks.
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He promised too that the UK would have a "smooth Brexit" which would avoid a "disruptive cliff-edge". The Brexit Secretary also confirmed that new arrangements would be gradually phased in after we leave.
And he vowed to bring forward separate legislation on the Customs Union and on new immigration laws.
The highly anticipated statement has angered some MPs as it said that securing the rights of EU nationals currently in the UK had "not been possible" because the Government has yet to secure the rights of UK expats overseas. Mr Davies said he would fight to protect both groups in upcoming Brexit talks.
But Labour's Sir Keir Starmer said the statement said "nothing" new and was produced too late for "meaningful scrutiny".
He said today: "The White Paper offers no certainty for EU citizens living in the UK, no additional detail on how workers' and consumer rights will be protected, and nothing on how full tariff-free access to the single market will be delivered.
"It's a wish list, not an action plan."
He demanded that MPs should have a vote in Parliament on our Brexit deal before sending it to the European Parliament for agreement.
Labour MPs shouted "terrible" and "shoddy" during today's announcement.
Extracts from David Davis' speech today
"As one of the most important actors in global affairs, we will continue to work with the EU to preserve UK and European security, fight crime and terrorism and uphold justice. We must work more closely, not less, in these areas.
"We will continue to seek to build a national consensus around our negotiating position.
"So we are talking all the time to business, civil society, the public sector, representatives of the regions.
"We have engaged the devolved administrations in this process and, while no part of the UK can have a veto, are determined to deliver an outcome that works for the whole of our country.
"We continue to analyse the impact of our exit across the breadth of the UK economy, covering more than 50 sectors, 58 at last count, to shape our negotiating position.
"To conclude, the referendum result was not a vote to turn our back on Europe. It was a vote of confidence in the UK’s ability to succeed in the world and an expression of optimism that our best days are still to come.
"Whatever the outcome of our negotiations, we seek a more open, outward-looking, confident and fairer UK that works for everyone."
The SNP’s Europe Spokesperson, Stephen Gethins, said the plans were "a mess”", and he accused the Tories of being the "second most chaotic party in this chamber".
He also attacked the lack of time to discuss the White Paper - just two sitting days in the Commons.
"I find that an astonishing disrespect for parliament," he said. "What are they afraid of?
"This is a mess… people deserve better."
Liberal Democrat Leader Tim Farron said both Labour and the Tories were now committed to a Hard Brexit.
"No matter how this Government dresses it up, tearing up Britain’s membership of the Single Market will mean more red tape for business and fewer opportunities for future generations," he said.
"The Liberal Democrats will keep fighting against a damaging hard Brexit and to give the British people the final say."
The Government's 12 principles for Brexit
1. Providing certainty and clarity – We will provide certainty wherever we can as we approach the negotiations.
2. Taking control of our own laws – We will take control of our own statute book and bring an end to the jurisdiction of the Court of Justice of the European Union in the UK.
3. Strengthening the Union – We will secure a deal that works for the entire UK – for Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and all parts of England. We remain fully committed to the Belfast Agreement and its successors.
4. Protecting our strong and historic ties with Ireland and maintaining the Common Travel Area – We will work to deliver a practical solution that allows for the maintenance of the Common Travel Area, whilst protecting the integrity of our immigration system and which protects our strong ties with Ireland.
5. Controlling immigration – We will have control over the number of EU nationals coming to the UK.
6. Securing rights for EU nationals in the UK, and UK nationals in the EU – We want to secure the status of EU citizens who are already living in the UK, and that of UK nationals in other Member States, as early as we can.
7. Protecting workers’ rights – We will protect and enhance existing workers’ rights.
8. Ensuring free trade with European markets – We will forge a new strategic partnership with the EU, including a wide reaching, bold and ambitious free trade agreement, and will seek a mutually beneficial new customs agreement with the EU.
9. Securing new trade agreements with other countries – We will forge ambitious free trade relationships across the world.
10. Ensuring the UK remains the best place for science and innovation – We will remain at the vanguard of science and innovation and will seek continued close collaboration with our European partners.
11. Cooperating in the fight against crime and terrorism – We will continue to work with the EU to preserve European security, to fight terrorism, and to uphold justice across Europe.
12. Delivering a smooth, orderly exit from the EU – We will seek a phased process of implementation, in which both the UK and the EU institutions and the remaining EU Member States prepare for the new arrangements that will exist between us.
