During the Government's statement today, when it was announced that the UK and India have agreed to sign a free-trade agreement, Andrew Rosindell M.P., Member of Parliament for Romford, conveyed that he was pleased that an agreement has been signed, having campaigned for years for closer trading relations with Commonwealth countries.
None of this would be possible were we still a member of the European Union, where trade policy is centralised rendering the sovereign rights of parliaments across Europe from negotiating their own deals.
The Government of course would not admit that this is a very big Brexit benefit!
Today’s news of a free trade agreement between the United Kingdom and India is wonderful—some of us have argued for greater free trade arrangements with Commonwealth countries for many years. Mr Modi, the Prime Minister of India, should be commended for adopting a free-market system that has brought wealth and prosperity to India, eliminating poverty and enabling India to work with countries like the United Kingdom. Will the Minister accept that none of this would have been possible had we not been sovereign and able to negotiate our own free trade agreements following our departure from the European Union? Was Brexit not the right thing to do?
Andrew Rosindell M.P., Member of Parliament for Romford
First, it is right to recognise that the hon. Gentleman has form on arguing for the importance of the Commonwealth; I seem to recollect answering parliamentary questions in recent weeks on exactly the opportunity for doing effective economic work together that is provided by the Commonwealth and the fellowship of friendship that it presents us. On that, we are on all fours, and I certainly agree that we should look to strengthen and broaden our trading ties where we can. His point about Europe is a well-ploughed field in this House and elsewhere, and it seems to me that we should be looking forward and looking for new markets rather than engaging in old arguments.
The Rt. Hon. Douglas Alexander M.P., Minister of State for Trade Policy and Economic Security
