Labour MPs attempt to reintroduce old Brexit deal
A number of Labour MPs are seeking to reintroduce the old Brexit agreement, struck during Theresa May’s leadership, in the hope of blocking a no-deal.
Stephen Kinnock and a team of 17 MPs including Gloria De Piero, John Mann, Caroline Flint and Sarah Champion, who argue that a further extension will “leave the most of the country banging their head against the wall”.
A statement issued by the group said: “Most people are fed up with talking and hearing about Brexit, and just want the referendum result of 2016 to be honoured. “
Noting that “each time a deadline comes, it passes with little being achieved to progress our departure”, the group set out its plans to table two amendments to the Benn-Burt bill, which will seek an extension to Article 50 until 31 January.
The first will make it a “clear aim” of the bill to pass a Brexit deal by that new deadline at the latest. The second is that the government publish a draft of the Withdrawal Agreement Bill “as it was available to ministers on 21 May 2019” saying this “offers us a base to build on the strong compromises that were produced by the cross-party negotiations”.
The statement insists that Labour withdrew support for this bill only because the party did not believe May could get the support of her own party.
As a result, the MPs argue, it was never discussed or debated on in the Commons.
Main image: Getty