12 July 2017
Vara optimistic about post-Brexit Britain following PM trade talks with top G20 nations

Shailesh Vara welcomes the constructive trade discussions between the Prime Minister and the leaders of India, China, Japan and America, which represents population six times that of the EU, as demonstrating the potential for a prosperous and positive future for Britain post-Brexit.

Mr Shailesh Vara (North West Cambridgeshire) (Con)

At the recent G20 meetings, the Prime Minister had excellent and constructive trade discussions with the leaders of India, China, Japan and America, which collectively represent 43% of the world’s population and six times the population of the European Union. Does my right hon. Friend agree with me that this demonstrates the potential for a prosperous and positive future for Britain post-Brexit, and that it really is time for the pessimists to look at the cup being half full rather than half empty?

Damian Green

I am happy to endorse my hon. Friend’s approach and emphasise to him and the House that it is really important to do both—we need a good trade deal with the European Union, which is still a hugely important trading partner for us, but we also need to take the opportunity to strike trade deals with economies around the world, not just currently advanced economies but those that are growing very fast. That is the route to future global prosperity for this country.

| Hansard