Don’t defy the voters
Davis blast at Paris, Berlin ... and Miliband’s motley crew
DAVID Davis last night warned France and Germany that more countries could quit the EU if they make a doomed bid to ‘punish’ Britain over Brexit.
The Cabinet Minister for leaving Europe also flatly rejected the clamour for MPs to be given a vote on the terms of the UK’s negotiation with the Brussels club.
In a statement to MPs, he said the negotiating advantage was stacked in Britain’s favour because the EU exports more to us than we do to them.
‘Not a good strategy’
And, in a broadside against business leaders who have spent the weekend complaining about the impact Brexit is having on the economy, Mr Davis declared: ‘ There are no downsides – only a considerable upside.’
He claimed there were also benefits to the fall in the value of the pound since Brexit. Sterling’s devaluation against the euro and the dollar has made UK exports more competitive.
In the most bullish comments yet by a Cabinet minister, Mr Davis warned Angela Merkel and Francois Hollande not to try to punish Britain for voting to quit the EU.
The French and Germans have both threatened to take a tough negotiating stance if the UK seeks to impose curbs on the free movement of workers.
But Mr Davis said: ‘The damage done by a supposed punishment strategy would be prima- rily to the industries and the farmers on the continent who export to this country. I’m afraid Mr Hollande and Madame Merkel and others will find they have pressure back from their own constituents that says, “this is not a good strategy to pursue”. We believe in this country in free trade. Why do we believe in free trade? Because it’s beneficial to both sides. ‘I do not see how there is a logic in exercising a punishment strategy against one of your strongest and most loyal allies.’
He insisted that it is ‘not necessary to be a member of the single market in order to successfully trade with it’.
Mr Davis added: ‘If the EU adheres to a punishment plan (versus the UK) and it fails, that is an even bigger incentive for other countries to leave.’
The minister also made a with- ering attack on the MPs leading demands for Parliament to be given a vote on the terms of Britain’s negotiation.
They include ex-Labour leader Ed Miliband, ex-Lib-Dem leader Nick Clegg and two Tory ministers sacked by Theresa May, Anna Soubry and Nicky Morgan. Mr Davis told them: ‘The mandate for Britain to leave the European Union is clear, overwhelming, and unarguable.’
He said that, while MPs would be consulted, they would not be able to dictate terms, ‘micromanage’ the process or frustrate the wishes of the people.
The Brexit minister indicated the Commons will be offered a vote if the two-year negotiations end with a new treaty with the other 27 EU states.
Crucially, the vote would take place after Article 50 was triggered, launching the official process to leave, and the negotiation was complete. This would mean MPs could not block Brexit.
In a move which will enrage some Labour voters, shadow Brexit secretary Sir Keir Starmer confirmed it was the official position of the Labour Party for MPs to have a vote on the terms of the negotiations.
Labour is demanding Britain should stay inside the single market, which would require the UK to continue to accept the free movement of EU workers and adhere to EU law.
Sir Keir said Labour does ‘accept and respect’ the EU referendum result. But he added: ‘Neither those who voted to remain nor those who voted to leave gave the Government a mandate to take an axe to our economy.’
Former Conservative leader Iain Duncan Smith called him a ‘ second- rate lawyer’ who did not understand parliamentary procedure.
Speaker John Bercow rebuffed demands from Tory backbencher Stephen Phillips for MPs to have a say in the Brexit debate. Mr Phillips had claimed pushing a deal through without parliamentary approval would amount to ‘tyranny’.