Former Director Of The WTO And EU Trade Commissioner Questioned By Exiting EU Committee

28 Feb 2018

Pascal Lamy, the former Director of the WTO and EU Trade Commissioner was questioned by the Committee for Exiting the EU. I asked about steel, Brexit the WTO and dealing with Chinese dumping; and the implications on trade of the transition deal that the government have signed up to. Stephen…

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European Economic Area And The Single Market Are Not Synonymous

22 Feb 2018

During the debate on alternatives to a no-deal outcome in negotiations with the EU, I made the point that the European Economic Area (EEA) and the single market are not the same thing. Stephen Kinnock (Aberavon): I congratulate the hon. Lady on securing this debate. One of the common misconceptions is that…

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Norway Option Ticks Every One Of Those Boxes

22 Feb 2018

As the Minister responded to the debate on on alternatives to a no-deal outcome in negotiations with the EU, I challenged her on how an EEA EFTA Brexit not only preserves market access, jobs & opportunities, but that it also ticks all of the government’s leave boxes: ending ECJ jurisdiction and direct…

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No Deal Is No Option

21 Feb 2018

In a Westminster Hall debate on alternatives to a no-deal outcome in negotiations with the EU, I argued that a no deal is not an option and that we should push for an EEA/EFTA Brexit. Stephen Kinnock:  Thank you Mr Sharma, and thank you to the Hon Member for Eddisbury…

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Immigration Minister Appears In Front Of EU Scrutiny Committee

20 Feb 2018

The Immigration Minister appeared in front of the EU Scrutiny Committee and I questioned her about the way the government and Prime Minister have contradicted themselves on transition and immigration, explaining how this shows that they are more interested in posturing than they are in negotiating a Brexit that works for Britain…

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EU And EEA Member States

12 Feb 2018

The Committee On Exiting The European Union looked at the relationship between the EU, Norway and the European Economic Area. Appearing in front of the Committee was Professor Alla Pozdnakova, University of Oslo Law Faculty; Ulf Sverdrup, Director, Norwegian Institute of International Affairs;  and Professor George Yarrow, Chair of the Regulatory…

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European Free Trade Association

08 Feb 2018

A debate was held in Westminster Hall on the European Free Trade Association (EFTA). In the debate I called for an EEA EFTA Brexit, a deal that can reunite the country and give a voice to the silent majority with a Brexit that lets us take back control and protects…

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EEA and Swiss Model

06 Feb 2018

As part of its work scrutinising the Brexit negotiations and the UK’s relationship with the EU once we have left, the Committee for Exiting the EU looked at the EU’s relationship with Switzerland. In the session I concentrated on how the movement of people works for the Swiss. Stephen Kinnock:…

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Parliamentarians Requesting Information Are Not Betraying Our Country, We Are Simply Trying To Do Our Job And Stand Up For Our Constituents

01 Feb 2018

In the House of Commons Chamber I called for the Government to release the Brexit impact papers, a common sense EEA/EFTA Brexit and a new kind of politics. The debate was an important moment where the government were forced into releasing the Brexit impact papers. It is vital we have…

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EU Association Agreements

31 Jan 2018

After looking in to the CETA (Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement) negotiations and agreement, the Committee for Exiting the EU have been looking at the EU’s Association Agreements, which create a framework for co-operation between the EU and non-EU countries. Representatives from Georgia and the Ukraine appeared before the committee…

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My Question About The Brexit Implementation Period

30 Jan 2018

I questioned the Brexit Minister about the nature of the Brexit transition period. The response I had was sad and pathetic, where the Minister tried to impugn my motives. Stephen Kinnock: Paragraph 17 of the directives for the negotiating team states clearly that “any time-limited prolongation of the Union acquis…

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Creation Of BSPS2 Created Fertile Territory For Unscrupulous Pension Advisers To Swoop In Like Vultures And Exploit Vulnerable People

23 Jan 2018

My colleague, Debbie Abrahams, secured an urgent question in the House on stopping the abuse of private sector pensions. I spoke in the debate on how the creation of the British Steel pension scheme mark 2 created fertile ground for unscrupulous pension advisers to prey on vulnerable people. Stephen Kinnock: The…

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Brexit Committee Hears Evidence In Cambridge

23 Jan 2018

The Committee for Exiting the EU met in Cambridge and heard evidence from Professor Greg Hannon, Director, Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute; Professor Eilís Ferran, Pro-Vice Chancellor for Institutional International Relations, Cambridge University; Dr Andy Williams, Vice-President of Research & Development, MedImmune and Cambridge Transition Team Leader, AstraZeneca; and Michael…

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Financial Guidance And Claims Bill Should Take Steps To Improve The Early Warning System So Regulators Can Be More Proactive

22 Jan 2018

Today the Commons debated the Financial Guidance and Claims Bill (Lords). In the debate I spoke about the lessons we need to learn from the transfer of the British Steel pension scheme into a new scheme, and the need for an early warning system so the regulator can be more…

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EEA-Based Brexit Is The Only Viable Option For Our Country

17 Jan 2018

During questions to the Treasury I called for an EEA based Brexit, because it is the only Brexit deal that would cover services, which accounts for 80% of the UK economy. Stephen Kinnock: What assessment his Department has made of the effect of the UK leaving the European Economic Area…

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Government’s Refusal To Include Charter of Fundamental Rights Strips Us Of Vital Civil And Workplace Rights And Protections

17 Jan 2018

During the debate on the EU (Withdrawal) Bill, I exposed the lie at the heart of the Tory Bill. They claim the Bill is about transferring EU law into UK law to facilitate Brexit, but by refusing to include the Charter of Fundamental Rights it is clear that this is…

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Carillion Is A Textbook Example Of The Privatisation Of Profit And The Socialisation Of Risk

16 Jan 2018

During a Government statement on Carillion I questioned the Cabinet Office Minister, saying that the Carillion collapse shows that it is time for us to impose a windfall tax on these kind of companies who are taking taxpayers for a ride to the tune of billions of pounds. Government must…

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Trade Bill Debate

10 Jan 2018

As Parliament debated Trade Bill I intervened and said that Government needs to amend the Bill to give unions, business and the devolved governments a say in the kind of trade defence and trade policies that we purse. It is vital we have a proper process to secure best deals…

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Committee For Exiting The European Union Hears From International Relations Experts

10 Jan 2018

Today, Professor Richard Whitman, Head of School, Professor Politics and International Relations, University of Kent; Fredrik Erixon, Director, European Centre for International Political Economy; and Dr Stephen Woolcock, Associate Professor in International Relations, London School of Economics, all appeared before the Committee for Exiting the European Union. I took the opportunity…

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Taxation Cross-Border Trade Bill, If Passed In Its Current Form, Would Fatally Undermine The British Manufacturing Sector

09 Jan 2018

As Parliament reconvened after the Christmas recess we hit the ground running with the Taxation (Cross-border) Trade Bill. This seeks to establish a new post-Brexit trade defence regime, but as I said in my speech in the House, in it’s current form it would fatally undermine the British manufacturing sector, including…

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It Is Our Duty As Parliamentarians To Express The Mind Of The People On All Matters

20 Dec 2017

In one of the last debates before Christmas, I spoke in favour of Amendment 43 to the European Union (Withdrawal) Bill which would give Parliament the power to control the length and basic terms of transitional arrangements, and would allow Parliament to start the clock on the sunset clauses within…

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