{"id":609,"date":"2020-01-13T15:36:20","date_gmt":"2020-01-13T15:36:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/test.johnwhittingdale.co.uk\/?p=609"},"modified":"2021-08-18T08:04:56","modified_gmt":"2021-08-18T08:04:56","slug":"britain-in-the-world","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.johnwhittingdale.org.uk\/?p=609","title":{"rendered":"Britain in the World"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\"PhotoJohn Whittingdale<\/span> Conservative, Maldon<\/small> <\/a> 5:03 pm, 13th January 2020 <\/a><\/h2>\n
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I am most grateful to be called so early in this debate, Madam Deputy Speaker<\/a>, and to follow Emily Thornberry<\/a>, who raised some important issues. I wish her success in the campaign she is about to embark on, and I hope her candidacy lasts a little longer than that of Barry Gardiner<\/a>, who has just left the Chamber.<\/p>\n

It is good to see so many hon. Members in the Chamber for this debate, particularly new Members, a number of whom intend to make their maiden speech<\/a> during the course of it. They bring expertise and knowledge that I have no doubt will be immensely valuable in our deliberations, and I look forward to hearing their contributions.<\/p>\n

As my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary<\/a> knows, I was an enthusiastic supporter of the Vote Leave<\/a> campaign. I welcome the emphasis placed by the Queen\u2019s Speech on delivering Brexit, which people voted for more than three years ago. I support Brexit not just because I believe in the economic opportunities, but because I believe there is a real role that this country can play in international affairs. We are not little Englanders; we want to look beyond the shores of the European Union. Indeed, many of our greatest opportunities now lie in countries beyond Europe. It is likely within the next 10 years that the five biggest economies in the world will be America, China, Brazil, India and Indonesia. None of them have trade agreements with the European Union, but I hope we will have trade agreements with them as soon as possible within the next decade.<\/p>\n

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