On the 11th of January, Andrew Rosindell participated in a debate in the House of Commons about Global Britain.
In the speech, Andrew spoke about the many opportunities for the United Kingdom now that we have left the European Union. An edited transcript of the speech can be found below.
During the speech Andrew spoke about the UK's Crown Dependencies, Overseas Territories, the Commonwealth, CANZUK and more. For more of Andrew's views about the opportunities of CANZUK, read his piece in Global Conservatives where he advocated for CANZUK as the "Next step in our post-Brexit journey." Click on this link to read it in full
Transcript of Andrew's speech in Parliament:
On Brexit and the "Backstop":
"After nearly 50 years of being shackled to the European Union, today we can say with confidence: Britain is back. Back as a sovereign, independent, and truly global nation. Let us, however, reflect, that instead of being a nation with its sovereignty restored, trading on equal terms with Europe, we could so easily have been trapped in a backstop, which would have left the UK locked into the EU rules with no escape. Had some of us caved in to the pressure to vote for the Withdrawal Agreement, I fear that today the integrity and sovereignty of the UK would have been compromised."
On Britain's Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies
"Our British family of Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies must always be included as part of Global Britain, and I cautiously welcome the agreement reached with Spain over Gibraltar, which I'm assured by my friends on the Rock, does not compromise the integrity of Gibraltar which is, and remains, wholly British. The Government must also extend this same support to all Crown Dependencies and Overseas Territories, and their needs and interests must be secured in future negotiations."
On CANZUK
"We also have an opportunity to build a stronger alliance with Canada, Australia and New Zealand. We share so much in common with the CANZUK nations, through family ties, history, culture, language and, of course, with the Queen as our common Head of State. So let's work to make this alliance a reality."
On the Commonwealth
"The Commonwealth, with 54 nations, young and diverse, and which make up almost 2.4 billion of the world's population, must also be at the heart of Britain's global strategy."
On the Republic of Ireland
"We must never forget our special relationship with our companion nation on these nations, Ireland. We must work to strengthen areas of mutual understanding with our Irish friends, building ever closer and stronger bilateral nations between our two uniquely intertwined nations."
