Preventing no-deal comes first as MPs prepare for election

JUDITH TONNER

Monklands’ MPs are getting set for another general election – but insist the political priority is first ensuring that Britain does not leave the European Union without a deal.

Neil Gray and Hugh Gaffney both expect to be going back to the polls in the near future, but their respective parties both rejected the government’s attempts to propose a snap election for next month ahead of the October 31 deadline.

Airdrie & Shotts representative Mr Gray told the Advertiser: “I’d relish the opportunity of a general election to give local people and those across Scotland the chance to have our say – but we don’t want Boris Johnson to have control over how that happens as he would engineer it to his advantage and bring on a no-deal Brexit.

“We want the future of Scotland to be decided by the people of Scotland and not decided by Boris Johnson; we want the opportunity to get rid of him as Prime Minister and this chaotic right- wing Tory government.

“He cannot be trusted, so the SNP has led the opposition to ensure Parliament rather than Boris has an element of control over the timing. I want an election to happen as soon as possible once a no-deal Brexit is stopped.”

Mr Gray added of the cont roversial five- week prorogation at Westminster put in place on Monday: “I think Boris thought he could deliver a no-deal Brexit by shutting down parliament.

“He must think we are all stupid; this has nothing to do with a Queen’s Speech and everything to do with Boris Johnson getting what he wants.”

“The [Brexit] deadline should be extended to allow for the people to be able to have their say; there is no evidence that Boris Johnson is trying to negotiate a new deal.”

Airdrie’s MP would be seeking election for a third time in just four years since winning the seat from Pamela Nash of Labour in 2015, and added that local issues would be of importance as ever.

He said: “If reselected as the local candidate, I would campaign on my record of working with my team on over 11,200 cases on behalf of constituents; on leading the campaign to stop Monklands [Hospital] moving to Gartcosh; and my work in Westminster holding the Tory government to account and getting wins for my constituents and people across the UK.”

Coatbridge counterpart Mr Gaffney said of his party: “Labour would welcome a general election, but we believe it should only take place once the UK has avoided the dangers posed by a nodeal Brexit; Boris Johnson has proven untrustworthy, with any election held before October 31 likely to be used by him as a means to force [this] through. Monklands MPs have slammed Prime Minister Boris Johnson

“Our main focus should be on stopping his government crashing the UK out of the EU without a deal; that’s why I supported an extension to Article 50 to January 31.

“Labour would seek to negotiate a deal with the EU which would protect jobs, living standards and the economy and would then put its deal to a public vote, with ‘ remain’ being the other option on the ballot paper.

“I think we’ll be facing a general election sooner rather than later; it’s clear that Boris Johnson’s government has lost the confidence of parliament and that a general election will be the only way for us to get rid of the gridlock.”

He added: “One of the major [election] issues in Coatbridge, Chryston & Bellshill will be the future of Monklands Hospital; [ health secretary] Jeane Freeman’s decision to remove rebuilding on its current site is one which I vehemently oppose.”

Mr Gaffney said: “It ’ s disappointing that the government is choosing to prorogue parliament to prevent MPs from doing their job of holding the government to account in such a crucial time for the country – Boris Johnson is attempting to avoid scrutiny of his plans for both a disastrous no-deal Brexit and a trade deal with Donald Trump.”

Conservative politician Graham Simpson says he is still hopeful that Brexit can take place next month.

The Central Scotland MSP said: “The Prime Minister has made it clear that we will leave the EU on October 31. I hope he is successful in delivering that because to fail – because of a Remainer House of Commons – would be to fail democracy.

“We appear to be in a state of paralysis and a general election may be the only way to resolve matters; it’s rather odd that Labour and the SNP, who have been carping on about the need for an election, are now backing off.

“If there is one, then I have no doubt that the constitution, both in Scotland and the rest of the UK, will be a key campaigning issue and the Scottish Conservatives will always fight for the union, which is more than can be said of Labour these days.”

Untrustworthy?