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EU referendum live: Tory revolt grows as 65 MPs oppose Osborne's post-Brexit budget EU referendum: Michael Gove on BBC's Question Time EU Special - live
(35 minutes later)
7.00pm BST
19:00
Q: The risks are economic. What trading relationship will we have. You want us to lose autonomy, and lose influence over decision making. You are off your rocker if you think we are better off.
Gove says the Germans sell more cars to us than we sell to them. Germany won’t punish its car workers.
6.57pm BST
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Q: Everything in life has risks. What are the risks of leaving?
Gove says the questioner is right. But he thinks we will be better off out. Yes, there will be bumps in the road ..
Q: What will they be?
Gove says there will be risks if we leave or stay.
Q: Are you saying there are now downsides from leaving.
Gove says the UK will be in a stronger position if we leave. It won’t be milk and honey. But the British people will be liberated to deal with any risks they encounter.
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Q: If you value the NHS so much, where was your support for junior doctors?
Gove says the NHS will be stronger if we leave. It will have more money, and be under less strain.
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Q: Why are you dismissing the views of economic experts?
Gove says they were wrong about the euro and the ERM.
Q: But the IFS did not support the euro.
Gove says he wants the UK to take back control of its affairs.
Q: How can we trust you when you co-authored a book saying we should dismantle the NHS?
Gove says he supports the NHS. He says leaving would allow us to give it an extra £100m a week.
Q: But John Major said you want to privatise it.
Gove says he cherishes it.
Q: But 10 years ago you wanted to privatise it. You have changed your mind.
Gove says the book was written by a group of people. He did not write anything in it about the NHS. His commitment to the NHS is absolute.
He wants the money to be spent by us, on our priorities. He does not know of a higher priority to the British public.
6.50pm BST
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Q: If we vote to leave the EU, will you support George Osborne’s punishment budget?
No, says Michael Gove.
He says all we have heard from remain have been dire warnings.
But the economy will do well, he says. Leaving would be a “win, win” for the economy. The EU has the lowest growth of any continent apart from Antarctica.
Q: George Osborne was talking about IFS figures. You respect the IFS.
Gove says the IFS did not say there would be a £30bn hole in the budget immediately after we left. Stuart Rose, who leads the in campaign, has said nothing would change if we left, he says.
Gove says “it’s a shame” the remain camp are talking this country down – with some anger in his voice.
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18:46
Question Time EU Special
David Dimbleby is introducing the programme.
They are recording from Nottingham.
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18:44
Tonight’s Question Time is going out live. Normally it records an hour or so before transmission.
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Labour's Emma Reynolds says Vote Leave has 'dodgy claims and dishonesty at its core'
The Labour MP Emma Reynolds has put out a statement, via Britain Stronger in Europe, welcoming the fact that Michael Gove’s father has said the EU was not to blame for his business going bust - even though this is what Gove himself has claimed. She said:
I’m glad that Michael Gove’s father has made clear the EU did not destroy his fishing business.
From Boris’ bananas to Gove’s fishy tales, the Leave campaign has dodgy claims and dishonesty at its core.
If they can’t be trusted on the basic facts, how can they be trusted with the future of our country?
The truth is the only way to secure jobs, lower prices and funding for our public service is to vote remain on the 23rd June.
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Michael Gove on the BBC's Question Time EU Special
The BBC’s Question Time EU Special with Michael Gove starts in 10 minutes.
Preparations are underway for our first #EURef special with Michael Gove live at 6:45pm on @BBCOne. Join us! #bbcqt pic.twitter.com/3ogjpXeFEA
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Afternoon summaryAfternoon summary
But we’re not finished. At 6.45pm Michael Gove, the justice secretary and co-convenor of the Vote Leave, is on BBC 1’s Question Time EU Special. I will be covering that live.But we’re not finished. At 6.45pm Michael Gove, the justice secretary and co-convenor of the Vote Leave, is on BBC 1’s Question Time EU Special. I will be covering that live.
6.03pm BST6.03pm BST
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And this is from the SNP MSP Gillian Martin on the Michael Gove story.And this is from the SNP MSP Gillian Martin on the Michael Gove story.
Michael Gove has been caught out – he should call it a day on his attempts to spin a tale about his family history.Michael Gove has been caught out – he should call it a day on his attempts to spin a tale about his family history.
If Mr Gove was as concerned by the plight of the Scottish fishing industry as he says, then he’d never have joined the political party that viewed it “expendable” in the first place. It’s not the EU that’s to blame for the difficulties of the fishing industry, but the indifference of the UK Government who sold the industry out. If Mr Gove was as concerned by the plight of the Scottish fishing industry as he says, then he’d never have joined the political party that viewed it “expendable” in the first place. It’s not the EU that’s to blame for the difficulties of the fishing industry, but the indifference of the UK government who sold the industry out.
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5.59pm BST5.59pm BST
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Here is the Lib Dem MPS Tavish Scott on the Guardian’s revelations about Michael Gove’s father denying claims made by his son that the family’s fish processing firm in Aberdeen was destroyed by the European Union’s fisheries policies. Scott said:Here is the Lib Dem MPS Tavish Scott on the Guardian’s revelations about Michael Gove’s father denying claims made by his son that the family’s fish processing firm in Aberdeen was destroyed by the European Union’s fisheries policies. Scott said:
Michael Gove’s father has just slapped him round the face with a wet fish. He spent hours this week telling anyone who would listen that the EU was to blame for the demise of his family business but now it seems there is something more than a little bit fishy about his claims.Michael Gove’s father has just slapped him round the face with a wet fish. He spent hours this week telling anyone who would listen that the EU was to blame for the demise of his family business but now it seems there is something more than a little bit fishy about his claims.
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Commons debate on the EU - HighlightsCommons debate on the EU - Highlights
MPs have been debating a Labour motion on the economic benefits of the EU. Earlier, in response to a question BTL, I said it looked a bit dull, but reading the Press Association coverage, I see there were some good lines in it. Here are some highlights.MPs have been debating a Labour motion on the economic benefits of the EU. Earlier, in response to a question BTL, I said it looked a bit dull, but reading the Press Association coverage, I see there were some good lines in it. Here are some highlights.
There is a well-founded concern that withdrawal will put jobs, investment, trade and employment at risk.There is a well-founded concern that withdrawal will put jobs, investment, trade and employment at risk.
The unpredictability of the outcome of this leap in the dark has united virtually every economist and economic institution of any standing from the IMF to the OECD, the Bank of England to the Institute of Fiscal Studies, to express their concerns at the risk to the economy.The unpredictability of the outcome of this leap in the dark has united virtually every economist and economic institution of any standing from the IMF to the OECD, the Bank of England to the Institute of Fiscal Studies, to express their concerns at the risk to the economy.
We have witnessed in the last 72 hours the reaction of the world markets to shifts in the polls pointing to a possible Brexit. £100bn has been knocked off the value of shares and the value of the pound has dropped. The Brexit campaign in four days has done more damage to capitalism than the Socialist Workers Party (SWP) in 40 years.We have witnessed in the last 72 hours the reaction of the world markets to shifts in the polls pointing to a possible Brexit. £100bn has been knocked off the value of shares and the value of the pound has dropped. The Brexit campaign in four days has done more damage to capitalism than the Socialist Workers Party (SWP) in 40 years.
I’ve spent a lot of time with a lot of international trade negotiators - these are very unsentimental folk.I’ve spent a lot of time with a lot of international trade negotiators - these are very unsentimental folk.
And the idea, it’s almost laughable simply to say it, that you can pull out of the world’s largest economic bloc and then say to these unsentimental folk - who have driven such a hard bargain with that bloc of 500m - ‘We want not just the same, we want better deals, a better set of conditions on behalf of an economy of only 60m’.And the idea, it’s almost laughable simply to say it, that you can pull out of the world’s largest economic bloc and then say to these unsentimental folk - who have driven such a hard bargain with that bloc of 500m - ‘We want not just the same, we want better deals, a better set of conditions on behalf of an economy of only 60m’.
Who do the Brexit camp think these negotiators are? They’re not stupid, they’re not naive.Who do the Brexit camp think these negotiators are? They’re not stupid, they’re not naive.
They will just snigger and I look in vain, I’ve scoured the internet this morning, for apparently all these freedom-loving nations who will cut these favourable deals with us as we depart, apparently, to this world of milk and honey where effortlessly people will give us concessions which they didn’t give to a bloc of 500m.They will just snigger and I look in vain, I’ve scoured the internet this morning, for apparently all these freedom-loving nations who will cut these favourable deals with us as we depart, apparently, to this world of milk and honey where effortlessly people will give us concessions which they didn’t give to a bloc of 500m.
Can you find anyone? Have the Indians said ‘Yep, oh sure, we’ll give you what you want’? Have the Americans said it? Have the Canadians said it? Have the Australians said it? Has anyone said it?Can you find anyone? Have the Indians said ‘Yep, oh sure, we’ll give you what you want’? Have the Americans said it? Have the Canadians said it? Have the Australians said it? Has anyone said it?
Not a single country anywhere in the world has said they will give better terms of trade to the United Kingdom on its own than the European Union.Not a single country anywhere in the world has said they will give better terms of trade to the United Kingdom on its own than the European Union.
The world’s supply chain has globalised itself and I have to say to you if I’m honest, when I listen to the arguments of some of our opponents in this debate, while they frame them in terms of a hostility to the European Union, I do sometimes wonder whether what I’m hearing is a hostility to the globalisation of our economy.The world’s supply chain has globalised itself and I have to say to you if I’m honest, when I listen to the arguments of some of our opponents in this debate, while they frame them in terms of a hostility to the European Union, I do sometimes wonder whether what I’m hearing is a hostility to the globalisation of our economy.
The reason I will be voting to remain in is because frankly I don’t trust the Germans and the French to run Europe without us being there at that table keeping them at close heel. To my mind our job in Europe is to maintain the balance of power and that is utterly crucial. Because when we have walked away from Europe we have found ourselves having to pay for that with an enormous amount of blood and an enormous amount of treasure.The reason I will be voting to remain in is because frankly I don’t trust the Germans and the French to run Europe without us being there at that table keeping them at close heel. To my mind our job in Europe is to maintain the balance of power and that is utterly crucial. Because when we have walked away from Europe we have found ourselves having to pay for that with an enormous amount of blood and an enormous amount of treasure.
I do believe in peace and I do believe in good relations. What really troubles me however is when the majority voting system and the decisions are taken behind closed doors are so manifestly undemocratic, it is impossible to justify, and it becomes a kind of dictatorship behind closed doors.I do believe in peace and I do believe in good relations. What really troubles me however is when the majority voting system and the decisions are taken behind closed doors are so manifestly undemocratic, it is impossible to justify, and it becomes a kind of dictatorship behind closed doors.
We in this House make our decisions based upon speeches which are made in public, which are reported, the votes are there, we’re held to be accountable. This is not the case in the European Union.We in this House make our decisions based upon speeches which are made in public, which are reported, the votes are there, we’re held to be accountable. This is not the case in the European Union.
Whilst I cannot say that Neil died as a result of the CFP [Common Fisheries Policy], I can say it contributed to the economic pressure he felt when deciding to fish alone.Whilst I cannot say that Neil died as a result of the CFP [Common Fisheries Policy], I can say it contributed to the economic pressure he felt when deciding to fish alone.
5.31pm BST5.31pm BST
17:3117:31
These figures, from YouGov’s Joe Twyman, are quite telling.These figures, from YouGov’s Joe Twyman, are quite telling.
Which groups + organisations do Leave supporters trust on #EURef? Generally none. Academics most trusted for Remain. pic.twitter.com/3EpFtAtsADWhich groups + organisations do Leave supporters trust on #EURef? Generally none. Academics most trusted for Remain. pic.twitter.com/3EpFtAtsAD
Over two thirds of Leave supporters (+ quarter of Remainers) say it is wrong to rely too much on 'experts'. #EURef pic.twitter.com/PahJsgFiJcOver two thirds of Leave supporters (+ quarter of Remainers) say it is wrong to rely too much on 'experts'. #EURef pic.twitter.com/PahJsgFiJc
5.26pm BST5.26pm BST
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Severin CarrellSeverin Carrell
My colleague Severin Carrell has sent me more about Michael Gove’s father denying claims made by his son that the family’s fish processing firm in Aberdeen was destroyed by the European Union’s fisheries policies. Here is some extra material left out from Severin’s story for space reasons because it was written for publication in the paper.My colleague Severin Carrell has sent me more about Michael Gove’s father denying claims made by his son that the family’s fish processing firm in Aberdeen was destroyed by the European Union’s fisheries policies. Here is some extra material left out from Severin’s story for space reasons because it was written for publication in the paper.
Other senior figures in the Scottish fishing industry said Aberdeen’s fishing businesses suffered too from competition from Peterhead, which was offering far better facilities for the fishing fleet, in the 1980s – the time when Gove gave up his company EE Gove and Sons.Other senior figures in the Scottish fishing industry said Aberdeen’s fishing businesses suffered too from competition from Peterhead, which was offering far better facilities for the fishing fleet, in the 1980s – the time when Gove gave up his company EE Gove and Sons.
That competition came at the same time as Aberdeen’s port facilities were under heavy pressure from vessels needed in the rapidly expanding North Sea oil and gas industry; industrial unrest from dock workers, and the impact of the cod wars.That competition came at the same time as Aberdeen’s port facilities were under heavy pressure from vessels needed in the rapidly expanding North Sea oil and gas industry; industrial unrest from dock workers, and the impact of the cod wars.
John Buchan, one of the organisers of the Fishing for Leave flotilla on the Thames and a vocal supporter of Gove’s Brexit campaign, told the Guardian many larger trawler firms in Aberdeen went bankrupt because the new 200 nautical miles territorial limits closed down the Icelandic and north Norwegian fishing grounds after the cod wars. But the smaller trawlers moved to Peterhead, which is now the UK’s largest fishing port. “It all linked up,” Buchan said.John Buchan, one of the organisers of the Fishing for Leave flotilla on the Thames and a vocal supporter of Gove’s Brexit campaign, told the Guardian many larger trawler firms in Aberdeen went bankrupt because the new 200 nautical miles territorial limits closed down the Icelandic and north Norwegian fishing grounds after the cod wars. But the smaller trawlers moved to Peterhead, which is now the UK’s largest fishing port. “It all linked up,” Buchan said.
Gove Snr confirmed these were factors when he spoke to the Guardian on Tuesday morning.Gove Snr confirmed these were factors when he spoke to the Guardian on Tuesday morning.
“You had all that going on,” he said. “To be quite honest, I just decided to sell up and go ahead and try and make a good living, I can get a job with someone, I could be more or less employed and know I was going to be employed.“You had all that going on,” he said. “To be quite honest, I just decided to sell up and go ahead and try and make a good living, I can get a job with someone, I could be more or less employed and know I was going to be employed.
“Yes, oil and everything else came along and things like that. I mean, as you understand, that is just what industry does. It goes on and on and on and you move from one to another. As regards my own business, I just decided that things weren’t going to work well with me, I just decided to pack it in, that’s all.”“Yes, oil and everything else came along and things like that. I mean, as you understand, that is just what industry does. It goes on and on and on and you move from one to another. As regards my own business, I just decided that things weren’t going to work well with me, I just decided to pack it in, that’s all.”
4.58pm BST4.58pm BST
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Tory revolt against Osborne grows as 65 MPs oppose post-Brexit emergency budget planTory revolt against Osborne grows as 65 MPs oppose post-Brexit emergency budget plan
Sky’s Beth Rigby has a list of the 65 Tory MP who are now saying they would vote against George Osborne’s hypothetical post-Brexit budget. This morning there were 57 Tory MPs on the list.Sky’s Beth Rigby has a list of the 65 Tory MP who are now saying they would vote against George Osborne’s hypothetical post-Brexit budget. This morning there were 57 Tory MPs on the list.
List of the 65 MPS publicly opposing Osborne & his #Brexit budget pic.twitter.com/xeS2KxqNDBList of the 65 MPS publicly opposing Osborne & his #Brexit budget pic.twitter.com/xeS2KxqNDB
4.47pm BST4.47pm BST
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According to the BBC’s Laura Kuenssberg, 65 Tory MPs have now signed the letter saying they would not back George Osborne’s hypothetical post-Brexit budget.According to the BBC’s Laura Kuenssberg, 65 Tory MPs have now signed the letter saying they would not back George Osborne’s hypothetical post-Brexit budget.
65 Tory MPs have now signed letter saying Osborne's position 'untenable' if he tried to force thro brexit budget65 Tory MPs have now signed letter saying Osborne's position 'untenable' if he tried to force thro brexit budget
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Severin Carrell
Michael Gove’s father has contradicted claims made by his son that the family’s fish processing firm in Aberdeen was destroyed by the European Union’s fisheries policies, Severin Carrell reports.
Here’s his story.
Related: Michael Gove's father denies his company was destroyed by EU policies
And here’s how it starts.
Michael Gove’s father has contradicted claims made by his son that the family’s fish processing firm in Aberdeen was destroyed by the European Union’s fisheries policies.
Ernest Gove told the Guardian he had sold the business voluntarily because the fishing industry in Aberdeen was being hit by a range of different factors. Those included competition for space in the port from North Sea oil vessels, the Icelandic cod wars, dockworkers’ strikes and new 200-mile limits to control over-fishing.
Michael Gove, who is representing the Vote Leave campaign in a BBC Question Time tonight, has said in speeches and television interviews that his father’s firm “went to the wall” because of the EU’s fisheries policies, and that the common fisheries policy “destroyed” it.
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Severin Carrell
John Swinney, Scotland’s deputy first minister, has said pledges that a Brexit vote would lead to more powers for the Scottish parliament are a “Tory con trick,” after Scottish leave campaigners said Holyrood would be liberated by leaving the UK.
Speaking after former SNP deputy leader Jim Sillars and ex-Tory MSP Brian Monteith said a Brexit vote would unshackle Holyrood from the EU (see 1.24pm), Swinney said:
Those powers would go straight back from Brussels to Westminster, who would have absolutely no obligation to devolve anything.
The leave campaign is led by the very same people who have, at every opportunity, resisted the transfer of powers to Scotland – so their hollow offers of more powers are nothing more than a Tory con-trick.
The way to get more powers for the Scottish parliament is for Scotland to become an independent nation – not to cross our fingers for a Damascene conversation from Boris Johnson and Michael Gove.
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The European commission has today put out a statement about relations with Turkey. It is mostly about the deal designed to stop migrants crossing from Turkey to Greece, but it includes a paragraph on accession (Turkey joining the EU) which says: “Preparatory work continues at an accelerated pace to make progress on five Chapters, without prejudice to Member States’ positions in accordance with the existing rules.”
The significance of this seems minimal, but Vote Leave has issued a press notice about it. Matthew Elliott, Vote Leave’s chief executive, said:
David Cameron wants to “pave the road from Ankara”. It’s disingenuous for him to claim it’s not going to happen when he is campaigning for it, when the commission in their own words are accelerating the bid and when UK taxpayers are paying money to make it happen. Voters want to take back control, not see a border free zone from the English Channel to Syria.
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This, from the Political Patridge twitter account, has received almost 2,000 retweets.
pic.twitter.com/VNopK1P2Q9
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And, equally predictably, the New Statesman has come out for Remain in this week’s edition. Here’s an extract from its editorial.
There have been moments in Britain’s history when the country could have withdrawn in relatively benign circumstances. This is not one of them. Should Scotland vote to remain while the rest of the UK votes to leave, a second independence referendum and the break-up of the Union could result. Brexit would threaten the hard-won peace in Northern Ireland by encouraging the return of border controls. The UK’s departure would embolden fascists and populists across the continent, most notably Marine Le Pen in France, and enhance Russia’s revanchist ambitions. It is far from inconceivable that Brexit could set in train the break-up of the EU.
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To no one’s surprise, the Spectator has come out in favour of Brexit in this week’s edition. Here’s an extract from its editorial.
The value of sovereignty cannot be measured by any economist’s formula. Adam Smith, the father of economics, first observed that the prosperity of a country is decided by whether it keeps its ‘laws and institutions’ healthy. This basic insight explains why nations thrive or fail, and has been the great secret of British success: intellectual, artistic, scientific and industrial. The principles of the Magna Carta and achievements of the Glorious Revolution led to our emergence as a world power. To pass up the chance to stop our laws being overridden by Luxembourg and our democracy eroded by Brussels would be a derogation of duty to this generation and the next.
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Idris Elba is backing Remain.
My parents immigrated to the UK, worked hard and made a contribution..ME...on that basis VOTE IN....#EUDebate 👊🏾💯 https://t.co/MpGd1yAW3g
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The Trade Union and Socialist Coalition (TUSC), the leftwing group backing Brexit, has put out a statement saying if necessary Labour MPs should vote against the post-Brexit budget measures George Osborne is proposing. In a statement Dave Nellist, the former Labour MP who chairs TUSC, said there would be no point leaving the EU only to carry on with austerity.
Ultimately, Brexit on a capitalist basis will produce broadly the same results as Remain on a capitalist basis – continued austerity, attacks on wages and living standards, cuts and privatisation of public services.
That’s why TUSC stands for an economy based on democratic public ownership of the major companies and banks (see http://www.tusc.org.uk/policy), a vision of a democratic socialist society rooted in Labour’s old ‘Clause Four’.
We stand in solidarity with those Labour politicians who fight for a similar position, in or out of the EU.
But TUSC supports a leave vote, firstly because the EU creates an extra layer of legal obstacles to the labour and trade union movement – against workers’ rights and socialist measures generally – and secondly because the referendum gives us a chance to strike a blow at the Tories and the whole capitalist establishment.
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6 former disability ministers say staying in EU best for disability rights
Six former disability ministers - three Tory, three Labour - have united to sign a joint letter to the Guardian saying that the rights of disabled people are “best protected and advanced by the UK’s continued membership of the European Union”. The list is headed by William Hague, who took the landmark Disability Discrimination Act 1995, through parliament, and it includes Alistair Burt, who is currently a health minister. The others are Dame Margaret Hodge, Maria Miller, Maria Eagle and Dame Anne McGuire.
Here is an extract.
All of our governments have striven to close the disability employment gap. The Disability Discrimination Act 1995 inspired the European Union to adopt EU-wide measures to tackle workplace discrimination against disabled people. In turn, the EU has helped improve our law, ensuring that it covers all employers irrespective of size and offers protection to those associated with a disabled person, particularly helping Britain’s six million carers. Between 2010-14 EU money also supported over 430,000 disabled people –235 disabled people every day - to take steps to move towards paid work.
The single market continues to play a vital role in opening up the world to disabled people, building on the Disability Discrimination Act 2005 by pushing the frontiers of accessible travel, products, services and the Internet. It doesn’t make financial or practical sense for the UK to progress these areas in isolation. For example, there would have been little advantage in the UK legislating to demand assistance for disabled people when travelling by air, if this meant people being able to board a plane in Manchester, yet unable to disembark in Malaga. EU-wide measures enable disabled people to travel on business or holiday with much greater confidence.
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