Last Friday, at 6am, we got the news that Prime Minister Theresa May had secured agreement on the first part of the Brexit negotiations with the EU. This included agreement on tricky issues around the Irish border, rights for EU citizens living in the UK as well as the million Brits living in Europe.
The joint agreement itself is detailed and not everyone will be delighted by every part of it. However, both sides have had to make compromises to achieve what they want. As a result, Ireland’s Common Travel Area will be kept, and EU citizens in the UK will be subject to our laws and criminal checks.
The amount we will pay to leave reflects the commitments UK has already made. It is nowhere near what the EU asked for and soon we can start to think about how to better spend taxpayer’s money on our own priorities, like our NHS. However, we will pay nothing if an overall agreement is not reached.
It has been a tough process to get this far and harder negotiations lie ahead but when the Prime Minister addressed MPs on Monday to explain the agreement and answer questions, it was clear something important had been achieved. There’s real momentum behind getting the good Brexit that both sides want and talks will now move on to trade.
Meanwhile, the EU (Withdrawal) Bill that will turn EU law into UK law when we leave continues to make progress through Parliament. As a Government Whip, I have been heavily involved in this process and am enjoying the opportunity to help deliver the Referendum result.
Following last year’s referendum, in which 63% of Pendle residents voted to leave the EU, there can be no turning back. The Government wants to build a deep partnership with the EU but we must be free to regain control of our own money, laws and borders, and be free to strike trade deals around the world. The support the Prime Minister got from MPs on Monday was encouraging. There are many months of negotiations left and I feel we should all unite to get the best deal for Britain.