British High Commissioner to New Zealand Laura Clarke told Q+A while there is little appetite for a no-deal Brexit from either the UK or the EU, they are preparing on a contingency basis for this scenario.

“From a New Zealand perspective we have put measures in place to ensure that bi-lateral trade can continue as it does now.”

Laura Clarke says agreements were signed when the Prime Minister was in London in January and others are being finalised now. She says these are agreements that make sure that we’ve got the same standards in terms of these goods that are being traded; that bi-lateral trade can still continue. Revenue and Customs will be surging resources to the border in the event that that happened to mitigate against any delays.

“Even though no one wants a no-deal Brexit an enormous amount of work ..is going in to preparing for that in case it happens and mitigating against it so the lamb does still get to Easter lunch tables when it needs to.”

Laura Clarke says she is confident that they will find a way through that works for the EU, that works for the UK and works in terms of our economic and security co-operation.

“The government has been really clear that it doesn’t support staying in the customs union, that part of the point of Brexiting is to be able to have your own trade policy and be able to do your own free trade agreements.”

Laura Clarke says once the UK leaves the EU it will have its own national immigration policy which will be a skills-based immigration system. And that would be on top of all the existing arrangements that exist for New Zealanders to live, work, travel, study in the UK.

“I don’t see any downsides in terms of New Zealanders in terms of access to the UK as a result of Brexit; I only see upsides.”

She denies Brexit is about the UK becoming more isolationist or “turning in our ourselves”.

Please find the full transcript attached.

Q+A, 9:30pm Mondays on TVNZ 1 and one hour later on TVNZ 1 + 1.
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