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Future EU Finances and Own Resources

I am sorry that my hon. Friend is so critical. I know how keen he is on the redistribution of wealth. I should have expected him to say what a good deal this budgetary arrangement is for a relatively wealthy country such as the United Kingdom, with its great economic success, and to refer to the UK’s opportunity to use its influence to persuade all EU member states to recognise their obligations to some countries that are significantly less well off and ensure that the budget assists them in their development.