Tory MP Iain Duncan Smith told TalkRadio there were many factors that would decide how “powerful” the UK’s negotiating stance would be in trade discussions with the EU. Mr Duncan Smith noted the fact Boris Johnson’s Government had an 80 seat majority in the House Commons would help the UK in negotiations. He explained how this would put more pressure on the EU during the talks as the bloc would no longer be able to rely on the House of Commons to slow progress.

The Tory MP also noted the UK would appear stronger as the EU would have to travel to London during the talks rather than officials always meeting in Brussels.

During the interview, he reflected on what he believed made the UK appear weak during the previous Brexit negotiations.

He said: “Bear in mind in the previous Brexit negotiations we always went to Brussels, we had to go over to them which is always a sign of weakness I always thought.

“Now it is different, having got the 80 seat majority. It is now dawning on the EU that the Government will get whatever it wants done.

DON’T MISS: Sir John Curtice predicts surprising Boris Johnson Brexit challenge

“The EU has no fallback to Parliament therefore it is all in the negotiations.

“The second point is that the EU has to come to London, that is the key bit because it puts the power back in London’s hands, back in our hands.”

The TalkRadio host Julia Hartley-Brewer questioned Mr Duncan Smith on how important the location of the talks was regarding agreeing on a successful trade agreement.

He replied: “It matters massively.

“When they had the Vietnam war negotiations to end the war they spent about two years discussing the shape of the table.

“It mattered that much who people sat next to and who they did not sit next to.

“So these things do matter because at the end of the day your power and potency in a negotiation is a matter of a lot of different things.

READ MORE:

Gibraltar fury: How UK ‘went soft’ on illegal Spanish fishing [REVEALED]
How Charles Michel’s government collapsed over migration [ANALYSIS]
Tony Blair blamed EU for ‘destroying jobs and draining resources’ [QUOTE]

“One of those things is a demonstration that you are different from what you were.

“We were very weak before and we are now much stronger, it is Europe who I think is somewhat more weak.

“I think it is the absolutely right thing to say we will put the paper down and tell the EU what we want and they can decide whether they want to meet us anywhere.

“If you don’t, we have said before, we will leave come what may at the end of the year.”

Source: Read Full Article