---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Having spent six years as Europe…"
description: "\"Having spent six years as Europe Minister, I am in no doubt about the technical challenge Brexit presents lawmakers.\" — David Lidington"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c08/david-lidington-7277_brexit_having-spent-six-years-as-europe-ministe_356309.jpg"
---

#  Having spent six years as Europe Minister, I am in no…

![“Having spent six years as Europe Minister, I am in no doubt about the technical challenge Brexit presents lawmakers.” quote by David Lidington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c08/david-lidington-7277_brexit_having-spent-six-years-as-europe-ministe_356309.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c08/david-lidington-7277_brexit_having-spent-six-years-as-europe-ministe_356309.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c08/david-lidington-7277_brexit_having-spent-six-years-as-europe-ministe_356309.jpg)

> “Having spent six years as Europe Minister, I am in no doubt about the technical challenge Brexit presents lawmakers.”

[David Lidington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-lidington/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Brexit creates complex technical and legislative hurdles for lawmakers to resolve.

**In simple terms:** Brexit is technically challenging for lawmakers.

Key Takeaway

Recognize and address technical details in policy.

Themes

politics policy legislation

Mood

concerned analytical

Type

political policy

When to use this quote

- parliamentary drafting
- policy implementation
- international negotiations
- public communication

Key Concepts

European Union regulatory complexity

Questions to Reflect On

- How can legislators acquire necessary technical expertise?
- What mechanisms ensure technical issues are addressed?

A Different Perspective

Technical challenges can stall progress without clear expertise.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Brexit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brexit/) [Doubt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doubt/) [Europe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/europe/) [Lawmakers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lawmakers/)

## Related quotes

> [We have the power, as lawmakers, to find ways to support our young men and identify solutions to the hardships they regularly experience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucy-mcbath/we-have-the-power-as-lawmakers-to-find-ways-to-support-our-young-men/)

[Lucy McBath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucy-mcbath/)

> [Lawmakers should focus on building strong coalitions, including across the aisle, as they create, draft, and develop effective legislation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abigail-spanberger/lawmakers-should-focus-on-building-strong-coalitions-including-across/)

[Abigail Spanberger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abigail-spanberger/)

> [Massachusetts became the first state to marry gay couples, though lawmakers say allowing gay couples to get married raises a lot of questions. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/massachusetts-became-the-first-state-to-marry-gay-couples-though/)

[Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/)

> [There are online forms you can fill out to send to your lawmakers, demanding that nothing - nothing at all or in any way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-cavett/there-are-online-forms-you-can-fill-out-to-send-to-your-lawmakers/)

[Dick Cavett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-cavett/)

> [What is... disturbing to me is that many of these pro-Israeli lawmakers sit on the House International Relations Committee despite the obvious conflict of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cynthia-mckinney/what-is-disturbing-to-me-is-that-many-of-these-pro-israeli-lawmakers/)

[Cynthia McKinney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cynthia-mckinney/)

> [“Today I wore a pair of faded old jeans and a plain grey baggy shirt. I hadn't even taken a shower, and I did…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sierra-d-waters/today-i-wore-a-pair-of-faded-old-jeans-and-a-plain-grey-baggy-shirt-i/)

[Sierra D. Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sierra-d-waters/)

> [Those close to Mr. Obama say he grows irritated at being misunderstood - not just by opponents who insinuate that he caters to African-Americans,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-kantor/those-close-to-mr-obama-say-he-grows-irritated-at-being-misunderstood/)

[Jodi Kantor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-kantor/)

> [I have examined the death penalty under each of its two aspects: as a direct action, and as an indirect one. What does it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-hugo/i-have-examined-the-death-penalty-under-each-of-its-two-aspects-as-a/)

[Victor Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-hugo/)

> [President Obama hosted lawmakers Thursday saying he wanted bipartisan input on health care reform. Nobody's mind was changed. At the summit's end he threatened…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/argus-hamilton/president-obama-hosted-lawmakers-thursday-saying-he-wanted-bipartisan/)

[Argus Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/argus-hamilton/)

> [ We've learned something about President-elect \[Donald\] Trump's choice for secretary of defense. Lawmakers in Congress intend to proper debate over whether retired General James… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-inskeep/we-ve-learned-something-about-president-elect-donald-trump-s-choice/)

[Steve Inskeep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-inskeep/)

> [Yesterday I, along with a bipartisan Congressional Delegation of lawmakers, inspected the detention facilities at Guantanamo used to house individuals detained in the War…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-ryun/yesterday-i-along-with-a-bipartisan-congressional-delegation-of/)

[Jim Ryun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-ryun/)

> [You should go to the polls, organize yourself. But once lawmakers are chosen, they must be respected.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lech-walesa/you-should-go-to-the-polls-organize-yourself-but-once-lawmakers-are/)

[Lech Walesa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lech-walesa/)

> [One difficulty in making the Senate work the way it was intended is that America's electorate is increasingly divided into red and blue states,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olympia-snowe/one-difficulty-in-making-the-senate-work-the-way-it-was-intended-is/)

[Olympia Snowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olympia-snowe/)

> [More importantly, the Court forgets that ours is a government of laws and not of men. That means we are governed by the terms…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonin-scalia/more-importantly-the-court-forgets-that-ours-is-a-government-of-laws/)

[Antonin Scalia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonin-scalia/)

> [When I talk to different lawmakers, I'm trying to get them to reach across the aisle. There's legislation out there that would be helpful…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-arquette/when-i-talk-to-different-lawmakers-i-m-trying-to-get-them-to-reach/)

[Patricia Arquette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-arquette/)

## More by David Lidington

> [In Africa, animals and the natural landscape allow local communities to support themselves, as there is a constant source of money from tourism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-lidington/in-africa-animals-and-the-natural-landscape-allow-local-communities/)

[David Lidington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-lidington/)

> [The rule of law and the independence of the judiciary underpin our democracy and lie at the heart of our way of life. They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-lidington/the-rule-of-law-and-the-independence-of-the-judiciary-underpin-our/)

[David Lidington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-lidington/)

> [The closer you get to Number 10 the more you see what a back-breaking job that is, the pressure is absolutely constant and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-lidington/the-closer-you-get-to-number-10-the-more-you-see-what-a-back-breaking/)

[David Lidington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-lidington/)

> [Cyber attacks are not going away.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-lidington/cyber-attacks-are-not-going-away/)

[David Lidington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-lidington/)

> [Like anyone from any party who has stood for election, I've often had the depressing experience of meeting an 18- or 19-year-old new voter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-lidington/like-anyone-from-any-party-who-has-stood-for-election-i-ve-often-had/)

[David Lidington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-lidington/)

> [The U.K. has always had good track record in providing leadership and a constructive agenda for change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-lidington/the-u-k-has-always-had-good-track-record-in-providing-leadership-and/)

[David Lidington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-lidington/)

> [I am the man who stands on the stage spinning plates on the top of poles. Every now and then the PM gives me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-lidington/i-am-the-man-who-stands-on-the-stage-spinning-plates-on-the-top-of/)

[David Lidington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-lidington/)

> [Open and fair competition within free markets encourages innovation, meaning fresh perspectives can be applied. The private sector also brings skills and knowledge to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-lidington/open-and-fair-competition-within-free-markets-encourages-innovation/)

[David Lidington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-lidington/)

> [In a world of competing conflicts and challenges, the U.K.'s investment in global security, and a willingness to trial new approaches and respond to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-lidington/in-a-world-of-competing-conflicts-and-challenges-the-u-k-s-investment/)

[David Lidington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-lidington/)

> [As the Chair of the National Security Council Sub-Committee overseeing the CSSF and Prosperity Fund, I am proud of what it has achieved in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-lidington/as-the-chair-of-the-national-security-council-sub-committee/)

[David Lidington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-lidington/)

> [Like my constituents, I have had to immerse myself in the detail about HS2 precisely because of the massive and permanent impact it would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-lidington/like-my-constituents-i-have-had-to-immerse-myself-in-the-detail-about/)

[David Lidington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-lidington/)

> [Many people might wonder why conserving wildlife should be considered so important when there are wider issues of global and national interest, such as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-lidington/many-people-might-wonder-why-conserving-wildlife-should-be-considered/)

[David Lidington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-lidington/)

> [The U.K. is at the heart of intelligence gathering with our allies to call out hostile activity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-lidington/the-u-k-is-at-the-heart-of-intelligence-gathering-with-our-allies-to/)

[David Lidington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-lidington/)

> [If we could end the old fashioned idea that feeling down is something to be ashamed of, something that you shouldn't burden others with,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-lidington/if-we-could-end-the-old-fashioned-idea-that-feeling-down-is-something/)

[David Lidington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-lidington/)

> [Government has learned a lot from the business world - and I hope that some companies will recognise they can learn from each other,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-lidington/government-has-learned-a-lot-from-the-business-world-and-i-hope-that/)

[David Lidington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-lidington/)

[Explore all 93 David Lidington quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-lidington/)

## More Brexit quotes

> [No-deal Brexit could be Boris Johnson's biggest deception yet - worse than the Boris bus or the lies that had him sacked as a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-davey/no-deal-brexit-could-be-boris-johnson-s-biggest-deception-yet-worse/)

[Ed Davey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-davey/)

> [And after Brexit, we will be free to determine our economic future, with control over our money, laws and borders.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liz-truss/and-after-brexit-we-will-be-free-to-determine-our-economic-future/)

[Liz Truss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liz-truss/)

> [No one voted for a Brexit that will tie us to the E.U.'s customs rules and prevent us striking meaningful trade deals of our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jo-johnson/no-one-voted-for-a-brexit-that-will-tie-us-to-the-e-u-s-customs-rules/)

[Jo Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jo-johnson/)

> [The argument that won the Brexit campaign is the one that said take back control... which is another way of saying we want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frans-timmermans/the-argument-that-won-the-brexit-campaign-is-the-one-that-said-take/)

[Frans Timmermans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frans-timmermans/)

> [The audience for facts, evidence and research about microtargeting, Facebook and Brexit is tiny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dominic-cummings/the-audience-for-facts-evidence-and-research-about-microtargeting/)

[Dominic Cummings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dominic-cummings/)

> [I am a passionate, pragmatic, and positive believer in Brexit, and with my three-step plan, we can decisively leave the E.U.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrea-leadsom/i-am-a-passionate-pragmatic-and-positive-believer-in-brexit-and-with/)

[Andrea Leadsom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrea-leadsom/)

> [The important thing with Facebook is to remember that it played a role in facilitating Brexit because it inadvertently allowed leave-supporting groups to use…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nish-kumar/the-important-thing-with-facebook-is-to-remember-that-it-played-a/)

[Nish Kumar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nish-kumar/)

> [Brexit has always been an impossible project, except at the price of massive self-harm.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-adonis-baron-adonis/brexit-has-always-been-an-impossible-project-except-at-the-price-of/)

[Andrew Adonis, Baron Adonis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-adonis-baron-adonis/)

> [Whatever happens with Brexit, what I am absolutely convinced will not happen is that free movement of individuals, free movement of people, will not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-varadkar/whatever-happens-with-brexit-what-i-am-absolutely-convinced-will-not/)

[Leo Varadkar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-varadkar/)

> [I think one of the laughable things about poor old Brexit is that they're so cross - they're furious with everyone. But this isn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-soames/i-think-one-of-the-laughable-things-about-poor-old-brexit-is-that/)

[Nicholas Soames](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-soames/)

> [Brexit has really broken a taboo. The Brits have shown us that you can leave the European Union, and you can come out better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marine-le-pen/brexit-has-really-broken-a-taboo-the-brits-have-shown-us-that-you-can/)

[Marine Le Pen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marine-le-pen/)

> [People are rightly concerned about what Brexit will mean for the country, for their jobs and for their families.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kemi-badenoch/people-are-rightly-concerned-about-what-brexit-will-mean-for-the/)

[Kemi Badenoch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kemi-badenoch/)

> [Brexit is not, thankfully, a question of war. But, like Iraq, Brexit is an act of unprovoked self-harm and a massive strategic mistake that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-adonis-baron-adonis/brexit-is-not-thankfully-a-question-of-war-but-like-iraq-brexit-is-an/)

[Andrew Adonis, Baron Adonis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-adonis-baron-adonis/)

> [I'll keep fighting for the best, most successful Brexit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dominic-raab/i-ll-keep-fighting-for-the-best-most-successful-brexit/)

[Dominic Raab](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dominic-raab/)

> [The skills necessary to change nappies or negotiate Brexit are obviously very different, but both involve a great deal of trust in the competence…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gavin-esler/the-skills-necessary-to-change-nappies-or-negotiate-brexit-are/)

[Gavin Esler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gavin-esler/)

[Browse all 412 Brexit quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brexit/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Having spent six years as Europe Minister, I am in no doubt about the technical challenge Brexit presents lawmakers.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "David Lidington"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-lidington/having-spent-six-years-as-europe-minister-i-am-in-no-doubt-about-the/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Brexit"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-lidington/having-spent-six-years-as-europe-minister-i-am-in-no-doubt-about-the/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c08/david-lidington-7277_brexit_having-spent-six-years-as-europe-ministe_356309.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c08/david-lidington-7277_brexit_having-spent-six-years-as-europe-ministe_356309.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c08/david-lidington-7277_brexit_having-spent-six-years-as-europe-ministe_356309.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Having spent six years as Europe Minister, I am in no doubt about the technical challenge Brexit presents…” — David Lidington",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "David Lidington",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-lidington/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Having spent six years as Europe...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-lidington/having-spent-six-years-as-europe-minister-i-am-in-no-doubt-about-the/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-lidington/having-spent-six-years-as-europe-minister-i-am-in-no-doubt-about-the/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```