Business Contingency Planning For A No Deal Brexit

15 Oct 2018

Richard Burnett, Chief Executive of the Road Haulage Association, Martin McTague, Policy and Advocacy Chair of Federation of Small Businesses, Andrew Opie, Director of Food and Sustainability at British Retail Consortium, and Mike Thompson, Chief Executive of Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry appeared before the Committee for Exiting the…

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Certainty For Business And Friction-Less Trade

15 Oct 2018

Sir Simon Fraser, Deputy Chairman and Adviser to Europe Programme at Chatham House and former Permanent Secretary, Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Julian Jessop, Chief Economist at Institute for Economic Affairs, and Jill Rutter, Programme Director at Institute for Government appeared in front of the Committee for Exiting the European Union.…

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Northern Ireland Backstop Has To Be Time-Limited, But Minister Can’t Tell Us The End Date

10 Oct 2018

Dominic Raab told the House that the Northern Ireland backstop has to be time-limited. I asked him to tell us which date he has in mind. Incredibly, with just a week to go until the crucial Brussels summit, he was unable to tell us. Stephen Kinnock: The Secretary of State has…

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Government Hiding Behind The EU Won’t Wash

13 Sep 2018

It has been four months since the Magnitsky amendment was passed in the House, yet the Government have done absolutely nothing to implement the legislation. The Government are hiding behind the EU but Lithuania is an EU member-state and is pushing through unilateral sanctions targeting Russia individuals (which go beyond…

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No Reason Why UK Cannot Take Unilateral National Action On The Basis Of Magnitsky Amendment

13 Sep 2018

The fact that Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia have all taken unilateral action, implementing their Magnitsky legislation, clearly demonstrates that there is no reason why the United Kingdom cannot do the same. Government needs to explain why they have not taken unilateral national action. Stephen Kinnock: The action being taken on money…

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Let’s Send Mr Putin A Clear Message: British People Will No Longer Tolerate Brazen & Reckless Actions Of Your Regime

13 Sep 2018

Speaking in the debate on the Salisbury Incident, I spoke about my time in Russia, the UK’s relationship with Russia and the need to send Mr Putin a clear message: the British people will no longer tolerate the brazen and reckless actions of your regime, and we will no longer…

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EU Scrutiny Committee – Dominic Raab

07 Sep 2018

The Secretary of State for the Department for Exiting the European Union, Dominic Raab, appeared before the European Scrutiny Committee. I asked him about the Chequers deal and what is the Government’s plan B. Stephen Kinnock: Thank you, Chair. Thank you, Secretary of State and Mr Robbins. We have talked…

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Affordable Broadband In Aberavon

07 Sep 2018

At questions to the Department of Culture, Media and Sport, I called on the Government to tackle the cost of superfast broadband, for many the cost is prohibitive. Stephen Kinnock: Thanks to the Welsh Government in Cardiff, the infrastructure is in place for the majority of my constituents to have superfast…

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Committee For Exiting the European Union Hears From Michel Barnier

07 Sep 2018

The Committee for Exiting the European Union visited Brussels after the summer recess and heard from Michel Barnier, Chief Negotiator, European Commission. I asked him about the Chequers proposal. Stephen Kinnock (Translation): Thank you, Mr Barnier. I wanted to ask you the following question. There is a big divide between the…

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Chequers Proposal Is Completely And Utterly Dead In The Water, What Is Plan B?

05 Sep 2018

Barnier has ruled out May’s Chequers plan and Rabb should be ruling out a Canada-style deal which would have no solution to Irish border, & nothing on services – our biggest asset, but he failed to do so here. The only way forward is a unifying EEA-based Brexit. My question…

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Committee For Exiting The European Union Hears From Permanent Secretary, Department for Exiting the EU

04 Sep 2018

In a meeting of the Committee for Exiting the European Union, I asked the Head of UK Governance Group and Permanent Secretary, Department for Exiting the European Union, about the Salzburg Summit, how prepared DExEU is for the range of different scenarios that could come out of the Brexit vote,…

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Committee For Exiting the European Union Hears Evidence About The Services Sector

24 Jul 2018

The Committee for Exiting the European Union heard evidence from the Association of British Insurers, the City of London Corporation, and the Commercial Broadcasters Association on the implications of the UK’s departure from the EU for the British services sector. I asked them about what an EEA based Brexit would…

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Will Brexit Secretary Give A Guarantee To Produce An Impact Assessment On Brexit Deal?

24 Jul 2018

I asked the Brexit Secretary to guarantee that he’ll produce an impact assessment on the government’s Brexit deal well in advance of the crucial vote in the autumn, so that MPs can make an informed decision. Let’s see if he manages it. Stephen Kinnock: The Government have promised that the House…

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Dominic Raab Appears Before The Committee For Exiting The European Union

24 Jul 2018

Dominic Raab appeared before the Committee For Exiting The European Union. I asked him about Vote Leave donations and called him out on the many worrying comments he has made over the years about our rights and protections. Stephen Kinnock: Thank you, Chair, and thank you, gentlemen. You have been…

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Vote Leave Donation

19 Jul 2018

I asked Dominic Raab to explain what he knew about the illegal donation made by Vote Leave to BeLeave. It’s vital the man who’s supposed to be batting for Britain in Brussels projects integrity, authority & credibility. He has to clear name before first meeting with Barnier. Stephen Kinnock: I thank…

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Is Chequers Absolutely Dead In The Water?

19 Jul 2018

During the debate over the future relationship between the UK and EU I challenged the Government benches over whether the Chequers deal is absolutely dead in the water. Stephen Kinnock: The hon. Gentleman is being very generous in giving way. Will he confirm that he is in effect saying that Chequers…

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Letter To The Speaker On Vote Leave

19 Jul 2018

I sent a letter from 45 MPs to the Speaker Committee on the Electoral Commission, calling for reforms that would help to restore trust in our democracy, and bring this analogue regulator into the digital age. You can read the letter below:

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Why Does The Prime Minister Keep Dancing To The Tune Of The European Research Group?

17 Jul 2018

The Prime Minister came to the House to answer questions on the NATO Summit, I asked her why she keeps dancing to the Brexiteers tune. The ink is barely dry on her Chequers deal, but she’s killing it by capitulating to the likes of Rees-Mogg. Stephen Kinnock: The Prime Minister…

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Caroline Noakes MP Appears In Front Of Committee For Exiting The European Union

13 Jul 2018

The Minister of State for Immigration, Caroline Noakes MP, appeared before the Committee for Exiting the EU. I was able to ask her about immigration post Brexit and the Independent Monitoring Authority. The Government is obliged to create an Independent Monitoring Authority (IMA) to resolve post-Brexit disputes about status of…

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Committee for Exiting the EU Hears Evidence On The Progress Of UK’s Negotiations

12 Jul 2018

The Committee for Exiting the EU heard evidence from Allie Renison, Head of Europe and Trade Policy, Institute of Directors; Henry Newman, Director, Open Europe; and Michael Dougan, Professor of European Law and Jean Monnet Chair in EU Law, University of Liverpool. I asked about the withdrawal agreement and being ready…

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Chequers Proposal Is A Bureaucratic Nightmare That’s Riddled With Complexity And Ambiguity

10 Jul 2018

The Chequers proposal is a bureaucratic nightmare that’s riddled with complexity and ambiguity. Surely the Prime Minister must now stop trying to re-invent the wheel, and commit instead to an EEA-based Brexit? My question to her in the House: Stephen Kinnock: Contrary to what the Prime Minister has repeatedly told…

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