Dear constituent,

Thank you for contacting me about the coronavirus pandemic and an extension to the Brexit transition period.

I appreciate the concerns you raise. Both the CBI and the TUC have warned about the impact of uncertainty on jobs and livelihoods. The Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry, meanwhile, has warned that
stockpiles of medicine have been run down due to COVID-19 and cannot be rebuilt by the end of this year. In addition, the Road Haulage Association says that it does not have the information it needs as the Government seeks to introduce new declarations at the border at the end of the year.

As you will know, despite these concerns and the impact of the coronavirus emergency, the Government states that its negotiations with the EU and preparations for the end of the transition period continue on
schedule. It further states that the date for the end of the transition is enshrined in UK law.

I believe it was a mistake for the Government to deny itself the flexibility to respond to circumstances by setting the date of 31 December 2020 in law as the end of the transition period and barring itself from
requesting an extension. Nevertheless, given this is the case, I believe it is crucial that the Government provides the clarity that individuals and businesses need by delivering on the promises it made last year when it committed to leave the EU on the basis of what it called an “oven-ready” deal.

We left the EU on 31 January. The task now is to build the best possible new relationship for jobs and the economy in all parts of the UK through tariff and barrier-free trade in goods and services, to protect the
security of the UK by retaining existing co-operation as far as possible, and to maintain protection for workers, consumers and the environment.

We must also ensure that nothing is done to undermine the Northern Ireland protocol and the Good Friday Agreement. That is what the country was promised and is what the Government must deliver by December. I can assure you that I will do all I can to give individuals and businesses the clarity they need by seeking to hold the Government to these promises.

Thank you once again for contacting me.

Yours sincerely,

Peter Dowd MP