'This is the future!' Bernard Jenkin shreds soft-Brexit with fantastic response to Umunna
BREXITEER Bernard Jenkin clashed with Remainer Chuka Umunna in a heated TV clash as the pair argued about whether the UK should remain in the European Union’s internal markets after Brexit.
Labour’s Chuka Umunna argued the UK must remain in the single market and customs union after Brexit and that the transition “is no safe harbour”.
The Conservative MP was quick to respond as he claimed that the EU was not the biggest market the UK will be able to thrive after Brexit.
The argument comes after the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) this week called for Britain to remain in the customs union even after the implementation period.
Mr Jenkin was critical of Philip Hammond and the CBI and said it was imperative the UK fully cuts ties with the EU.
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Labour MP Mr Umunna said on Channel 4 News: “This is ridiculous, and I think Bernard, and I can’t see you but I imagine he has got a wry smile on his face.
“The CBI represents your viewer's employers. These are the people who actually do trade.
“They are the ones who actually provide jobs. Yes they do, and actually, they don’t only represent large businesses, they represent small businesses as well.
“Not only do you have the CBI arguing that we should stay part of the customs union, but you have also got the Trade Union’s Congress, the TUC, who represent employees in this country, arguing the same thing too.”
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Host Jon Snow asked the Labour MP whether Jeremy Corbyn supported remaining in the customs union.
Mr Umunna said “tonally” that was the direction the Labour Party were heading in and added that he wanted to see the party “commit” to staying in the single market and customs union “permanently” after the implementation period.
When pressed over whether that reflected Mr Corbyn’s views, the Labour MP said he did not know and the “jury” was out, but he “hoped” Mr Corbyn would “go there”.
Conservative MP Mr Jenkin then tore into Mr Ummuna’s comments explaining why Britain could not stay in the customs union after Brexit.
If we stay in the customs union it will be the tail wagging the dog once again
He said: “If we stay in the customs union it will be the tail wagging the dog once again.
“It will be a relatively small part of the economy dictating to the rest of the economy where the big opportunities for the British economy, outside the EU, are by being free to set our own tariff rates and to do our own trade deals with very large economies like the United States.
“I recently heard from a former member of the Obama administration how it would be far easier for the UK to do a free trade with the United States that the United States do a free trade deal with the rest of the EU.
“This is the future, the rest of the world is growing much faster than the EU.”
Theresa May has reiterated that Britain will be leaving both the single market and customs union after the transition period.
The Prime Minister has said that the UK will also seek a “bespoke” deal with the European Union in the next phase of negotiations.
Speaking today at the World Economic Forum event in Davo, Mrs May spoke about the next phase of Brexit negotiations with the EU.
She said: “We are now going into the second phase, which is about the basis of how we are going to be able to trade goods and services, and also a future security partnership with the European Union, on all of these areas I am positive we will be able to get a good arrangement for the future.
“An arrangement that is beneficial for the UK and European Union. The reason I believe we will be able to come to a good arrangement is because, what I see talking to other leaders, is that sense, we must be pragmatic about this and because it is to the benefit of the EU, as well as the UK.”
The Prime Minister also held a meeting with the US President. The US president Donald Trump told Mrs May directly: “There's nothing that would happen to you that we won't be there to fight for you. You know that.”
