Yesterday lunchtime, the British Ambassador to the EU, Sir Tim Barrow, handed a letter from the Prime Minister to the President of the European Council, Donald Tusk, officially triggering Article 50 of the Treaty of Lisbon to invoke our EU withdrawal.
This of course follows the majority instruction of the British people in the referendum last June.
As the Prime Minister made clear in the first paragraph of her letter; we’re leaving the EU bloc but not leaving Europe.
The UK will remain allies with our friends across the continent.
In messages I’ve received from Crawley residents, and in discussions with other Members of Parliament, people who did not want to leave the EU now support the British Government in securing the best deal for our country.
The Government will bring forward legislation that will repeal the European Communities Act 1972, which currently gives effect to EU law in our country. This week the Exiting the EU Secretary, David Davis, provided further details to MPs about the upcoming Great Repeal Bill.
This legislation will, wherever appropriate, essentially convert the body of existing European Union law into UK law. The key part of this is that it will then be within the competence of the UK Parliament to amend, replace and repeal in the future.
I’ve already held discussions regarding how we can enhance our country and its laws when our EU exit takes effect; in particular, I’ve met with the Environment Secretary and the Farming Minister to pursue the importance of strengthening legislation concerning animal welfare and our natural surroundings. Our ability to make these changes was one of the key reasons I campaigned for a leave vote.
Given the presence and importance of Gatwick Airport in our town, it has a vital role to play in this country’s success as an aviation power. I sought assurances from the Prime Minister in the House of Commons after her Statement yesterday on the salience of the aviation sector as the Government conducts its negotiations over the next two years.
The parliamentary scrutiny of the process of exiting the EU will continue. The Exiting the EU Secretary and International Trade Secretary regularly answer questions from MPs in the House of Commons, and select committees have been established to hold both departments to account. This is of course in addition to the same scrutiny afforded to the Prime Minister and other Government departments including the Foreign & Commonwealth Office.
I’ve been pleased to take part in the questioning of ministers including on the importance of free trade. There have additionally been debates, Government Statements and answers to Urgent Questions in the House of Commons, as well as the proceedings in the House of Lords.
The Government has launched www.planforbritain.gov.uk which sets out the 12 negotiating objectives for our country, as we build a deep and special partnership with the European Union once we leave.
The UK’s EU exit will ensure our country has a truly global outlook.
Henry Smith MP
Crawley Constituency
House of Commons, London, SW1A 0AA
01293 934554/020 7219 7043
henry.smith.mp@parliament.uk
www.henrysmith.info