Richard Drax, MP for South Dorset, hailed tonight’s overwhelming vote in Parliament to trigger Article 50 as a “giant step” for our country.
Drax spoke during the lengthy debate on the European Union (Notification of Withdrawal) Bill, which preceded the vote and which lasted two days.
Saying that he feared that “the vitality of this great country of ours has somehow been sucked out over the past 40 years or so,” Drax said, “The future is about common sense, pragmatism and negotiation, which I am convinced the Government will do well on our behalf, leading to a prosperous country that will at last have control of her destiny, with all the decisions that govern our lives being made in this place.”
Referring to fears over the loss of EU workers’ rights voiced by other MPs, Drax said, “I cannot understand those who ask about workers’ rights. We live in one of the oldest and proudest democracies in the world. If we cannot decide what rights workers should have, then God help us.”
Drax was equally scathing about those who feared losing the money the EU gave them. “That is our money. When we leave the EU, we will have a sovereign Parliament and it will decide where that money will go. We will lobby Government—whomever they may be—for our good causes and use the money raised by the taxpayer sensibly. Every country should be allowed to do that.”
Drax also said that he envisaged a future working with the EU, where “sensible trade and friendship” would result in the “prosperity and wealth of us all.”
Using the example of Airbus, Drax said, “The fuselages are built in Germany and France, and the wings are built in Wales and Bristol. It is a fantastic European enterprise, and I cannot imagine any sane, sensible politician or bureaucrat wanting to get in the way of all those thousands of jobs. I believe that, over the next two years, the EU will come to us. “
Drax added, “The EU as it now stands—the political experiment that was put in place—is over. It is finished, and the people of Europe are beginning to realise that. The British people have led the way, and others are now seeing the light. I hope that where the United Kingdom leads, others will follow. I hope for a peaceful and ordered change for Europe, which we all love. We love Europe, and we want to remain friends and allies with it.”
The Bill now returns to the House next week for the Committee stage before going to the House of Lords.