The UK’s internal market has functioned seamlessly for centuries and the UK Internal Market Bill will ensure that this continues. I wanted to explain why I voted for it and why I will continue to champion it through the House of Commons.
As the transition period ends, we will ensure that the most successful union of nations in the world continues to thrive. We are delivering on our manifesto commitment to ensure unfettered trade across the United Kingdom. This will ensure that lamb reared in Sennybridge or drinks bottled in Presteigne are protected by a common system of regulation across the United Kingdom. As someone who wants to see businesses thrive in Brecon and Radnorshire, I very much welcome this element of the bill.
I do not accept any accusation that this bill rows back on the devolution settlement. When we left the European Union, we did so as one United Kingdom. Following the transition period, the Welsh Parliament will hold almost seventy new powers. Likewise, the UK Government will also hold important investment powers which were originally the responsibility of the European Union. To put it simply, these powers never belonged to the Welsh Parliament - they were the UK’s powers ceded to Brussels as part of our membership of the European Union. Consequently, as sovereignty is restored to the UK Parliament, so should these powers be. I very much welcome this element of the Bill; it gives the UK Government the power to invest in projects which contribute to economic development - such as better broadband or railway infrastructure which could provide much needed jobs and growth in Brecon and Radnorshire.
There is understandable concern about the clause that would allow the Government to ‘override’ some elements of the Northern Ireland Protocol contained within the Withdrawal Agreement Bill. I have discussed this in depth with Government ministers, because I am of course committed to upholding the rule of law which I believe to be an integral part of the Government’s responsibility. However, having spoken to the UK’s lead negotiator, Lord Frost, it appears that there has been a worrying change in tactic from the European Union in the event that no agreement can be reached before the end of October this year.
Under the Withdrawal Agreement Bill, both sides agreed to implement light-touch processes to some goods transferred between GB and Northern Ireland. The Bill also contained an agreement that Northern Ireland would remain part of the customs territory of the United Kingdom, able to benefit from free trade deals with other countries. In order to protect the integrity of the European single market, the UK Government agreed to accept that some goods which could end up being sold into the European Union in the Republic of Ireland would be subject to tariffs. A joint committee was created to identify what would constitute an ‘at risk’ product.
However, with the deadline for an agreement on a free trade deal rapidly approaching, negotiators report that the EU is now insisting on an over-zealous and unreasonable interpretation of this arrangement and insisting that all goods should be classed as at-risk. This would place a 61% tariff on Welsh lamb going into Northern Ireland - an egregious breach of the spirit of the original agreement which I am simply not prepared to accept. I understand that, in the event of No Deal, the EU is signalling it's intention to refuse to list the UK’s food and agricultural products for sale anywhere in the European Union. Again, on behalf of my farming constituents who produce world-class food, I cannot support this.
I come to this development more in sorrow than in anger. I am incredibly disappointed that this step should be necessary but I am afraid that it absolutely is. I am reassured that the Government is open to amending the Bill as it travels through the House but the important thing to remember is the powers contained within the Bill will not be required if a deal is reached. The Government is convinced that this is very much still possible and so am I. I am mystified as to why - having been a member of the European Union for over 40 years - the EU is not prepared to offer the same terms to us as it has recently offered to Canada. It appears to me that the European Union is taking a vindictive approach, which I deeply regret.
I voted for the Bill last night because the UK Government needs to have all the powers available to it to protect businesses and consumers in the face of an intransigent European Union. Above all, the Government needs every possible power to protect and enhance our precious Union - something which I am deeply committed to.
Fay Jones MP
Member of Parliament for Brecon and Radnorshire