Today marks the sixtieth anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Rome the founding document which brought what is now the European Union into being. In 1957 only 6 countries were party to the agreement. There are now 28 members including the UK. Soon of course to fall to 27 and understandably I believe the leaders of the EU were anxious not to receive our notice to quit on the day their celebrate their 60th anniversary. Keen no doubt to maintain friendly relations with our European neighbours we were happy to agree and we know the Article 50 notice will now be served next Wednesday.
I can appreciate the EU leaders being upset at the departure of the UK not least because we pay a sizeable chunk of the bills every year. If they are sensible they will ask themselves why it is we are leaving and why it is there are so many around the EU who are concerned about the direction of the EU. It seems to me the fundamental problem they need to address are the inherent strains within the Eurozone. The single currency with a single interest rate is too low for Germany and too high for countries like Greece. I am not sure the richer countries are prepared to transfer the funds that would be necessary to help the poorer ones. In essence that is what is required for a single currency to work in the long term. The EU keep putting a sticking plaster over the problems of the Eurozone but unless a long term solution is reached I suspect other countries will in due course follow our route.
David Nuttall 
Just wondering if you can share your top three priorities for getting rid of EU based regulations with your constituents?
Thanks
PS if there are more than three then even better !
1. Ensuring that they are proportionate to the requirements of the UK
2. Ensuring those who have no wish to export to the EU should not be bound by rules which should only apply to exporters.
3. Ensuring the voice of small businesses is listened to and Parliament should act as soon as possible to amend any EU imposed regulations that adversely affect them.
As ever thanks for your reply.
What do you think should be the top ‘three’ EU inspired regulations that we should rid ourselves of, in order to have the even better benefits you force ?
David Davis, Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union told the House of Commons on the 27 January 2017 that
‘ What we have come up with—I hope to persuade her that this is a very worthwhile aim—is the idea of a comprehensive free trade agreement and a comprehensive customs agreement that will deliver the exact same benefits as we have, but also enable my right hon friend the secretary of state for international trade to go and form trade deals with the rest of the world, which is the real upside of leaving the European Union.”
No ifs, no buts but ‘the exact same benefits’.
Mr Nuttall, can you please confirm this is the intention of the government in the negotiations about to commence, and that it will be, as far as you anticipate, the outcome.
Thank you in advance.
Dear Jim,
I cannot add to the words of the Secretary of State!
David
Thanks – but I did ask for your opinion as to whether you regard ‘the exact same benefits’ as the outcome of the imminent negotiations.
I don’t think it unreasonable to ask my MP, one with such an interest in EU matters over the years, to let a constituent know what his judgement in on this issue.
Thanks in advance.
I think the benefits may be even better as we will have more freedom over our domestic regulations in the future as e regain control of our affairs.
Harold Wilson and Edward Heath sold us, the populace of the 70’s; ‘The Common Market’. It was and still is a good idea. Problem is the warring heads of state in central Europe saw it as a way of stopping themselves invading each other for territory gain. Various U.K. governments then went out of their way to stop the general populace having their say, despite growing evidence the direction of travel (away from democracy) was wrong. What a waste of huge amounts of taxpayers money.
Sad it has taken so long for the “penny ” to drop. So much of our taxes utterly wasted on incorrect priorities