Parliament has approved the deal which the Government has secured for the United Kingdom, which delivers fully on what the British people voted for, both in the referendum and the last general election.
This vote delivers on the promise I made at that 2019 election. The deal takes back control of our laws, borders, money, trade and fisheries – and it ends any role for the European Court. From 1st January 2021, the United Kingdom has regained its political and economic sovereignty – and we will thrive as a country now fully outside the European Union.
2021 will be our opportunity to show what global Britain means to the rest of the world: striking trade deals with new markets; reasserting ourselves as a liberal and free trading nation; and acting as a force for good in the world.
The deal which the Government has secured:
- Is based on international law, not EU law. There is no role for the European Court of Justice and no requirement for the UK to continue to follow EU law.
- It is the first free trade agreement based on zero tariffs and zero quotas that the EU has ever agreed. This will be fantastic news for families and businesses in every part of the UK. Businesses will be able to continue to trade smoothly, and people will be able to continue to buy goods from Europe tariff-free.
- Secures our pledge to protect and boost our economy, and provides for continued market access across a broad scope of key service sectors, including professional and business services. This market access will support new and continued investment between businesses.
- Recognises UK sovereignty over our fishing waters, and puts us in a position to grow our fishing fleet and increase quotas, overturning the inequity that British fishermen have faced for over four decades.
- Delivers on our commitment to maintain high labour, environment and climate standards without giving the EU any say over our rules. The UK’s high standards have never been dependent on EU membership. For example, our living wage and entitlements to sick pay, parental leave and annual leave already go way beyond what the EU requires.
- Allows us to introduce our own subsidy system so that we can better support businesses to grow and thrive. This new subsidy regime will operate in a way that best suits the interests of UK industries - fundamentally different from EU state aid.
- Supports our primary objective of prioritising the safety and security of the UK’s citizens. It offers streamlined co-operation on law enforcement, ensuring we continue to tackle serious organised crime effectively, and counter terrorism - protecting the public, and bringing criminals to justice.
- Provides for the UK’s participation in certain EU programmes where they are in our interest, and fulfils our commitment to making the UK a science and research superpower.
- Delivers for the entire UK, protecting the integrity of our internal market and Northern Ireland’s place within it.
I voted remain at the 2016 referendum, but I firmly believe that now is the moment for our country to come to together so we can face the challenges of the future as one United Kingdom.