On Tuesday 14th November, MPs will begin debating amendments to the European Union (Withdrawal) Bill. There is no doubt that this is a decisive moment for our country, and an opportunity for our representatives in Parliament to take back control from a Government that is taking us towards a dangerous cliff-edge Brexit. We need a final say on Brexit!
We hope that many MPs will vote against the EU (Withdrawal) Bill in its final reading later this year (or early next year), and urge everyone to support MPs who are likely to do so. However, regardless how they intend to vote in the final reading, we know that there are many MPs from across the political spectrum, whether Labour, Conservative, Liberal Democrat, Green, Plaid Cymru or SNP, who are aghast at the Government’s willingness to pursue a clearly disastrous “no-deal” Brexit, at their failure to unilaterally guarantee the rights of non-UK EU citizens living in the UK, and at their staggering power grab that will allow them to strip away key rights, standards and protections for our workers, our environment and indeed all of us as citizens.
Over 400 amendments have been tabled to this Bill, many of which will not be included in the final debate, so in most cases it’s not yet possible to identify specific amendments to urge MPs to back. However, two key amendments are Amendment 7 and NC4, which aim to give Parliament a final say on any Brexit deal.
So, we are asking you to contact your MP – there is advice on how to do this on our website and you can find a list of local MPs and their contact information here – and ask them to support amendments to:
- Ensure that in the event of no deal, or a deal that is clearly not in the UK’s interest, Parliament can halt Brexit. An amendment tabled by Conservative MP Dominic Grieve, and supported by nine other Conservative MPs – including South Cambridgeshire MP Heidi Allen – would achieve this by requiring a new act of Parliament to approve the final deal before we can leave the EU. This proposed Amendment 7 has already received substantial cross-party support and we encourage you to meet with or write to your MP to ask them to add their name to its supporters and vote for it when it is debated. Another amendment – NC4 – would ensure that the vote is held before the UK leaves the EU in March 2019, even if no deal has been agreed by then, which would be particularly important if the EU withdrawal Bill sets an exit date. You can find a letter template for Amendment 7 on the European movement website, and one for Amendments 7 and NC4 on the Represent Us website.
- Ensure that the rights of non-UK EU citizens living in the UK are preserved, and the UK grants them these rights unilaterally. This would not only end the uncertainty they, their friends and their families have faced, but would also be the quickest and most certain way to safeguard the rights of UK citizens living and working in other EU member states.
- Ensure that the additional powers the Government is seeking in the Bill (the so-called Henry VIII powers) cannot be used to weaken or remove crucial rights and freedoms, including human rights, workers’ rights, environmental protections and consumer protections.
- Ensure that the UK remains a member of the European Single Market, which is so important to our economic prosperity.
- Ensure that the UK remains a member of the EU Customs Union, which greatly reduces red tape and delays when doing business with our largest market, and which is crucial to maintaining the open and frictionless border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland that is necessary to preserve peace there.
- Retain the Charter of Fundamental Rights in order to safeguard our human rights.
These amendments will not by themselves stop Brexit, but they will reduce the chances of a disastrous “no deal” Brexit, and help protect all our rights if Brexit does happen. Most importantly, they will give MPs the right and the opportunity to stop Brexit before March 2019. It is then up to us, through our local and national campaigns, to create the right circumstances for our MPs to take the opportunity to end Brexit and take our place as a full and fully engaged member of the EU again.
Please let us know if your MP replies to your email/letter by emailing us at info@cambridgestays.org.uk
Now get writing, and good luck!
0 Comments