B

Baroness Smith of Basildon (Lab)

Speaking in the House of Lords on 21 May 2025

Debate

UK-EU Summit

Contribution

I am slightly puzzled by the noble Baroness’s question, if I am honest. Our economy is doing really well now. We are picking up, having been through a very difficult time over the last 14 years and with, I hesitate to say, a £22 billion black hole in current spending plans. By doing a deal with the EU on trade and the economy—I will answer the question from the noble Baroness if she will let me and not make hand signals at me—we have just done all the things we were told we could not do. We have a trade and co-operation agreement and a defence and security agreement with the EU; we have a trade agreement with India and a trade agreement with the USA. The noble Baroness told us last year that would never happen—it has, and we are delighted that we can deliver for the British public.

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