Comment Brexit vote: Actions will speak louder than words
MPS have been wrestling with their consciences as they decide how to vote on the Government’s historic Brexit legislation.
Politicians on both sides of the debate about EU membership delivered emotional speeches in a Commons debate before a vote on the European Union (Notification of Withdrawal) Bill, which allows the Prime Minister to begin the Brexit process.
The Commons has now given the Bill its “second reading”. The only choice open to MPs at this stage was to vote for it, or to throw it out (or abstain).
As soon as Labour announced it would vote with the Government, the result was in no doubt. The SNP and Liberal Democrats, and a small group of Labour rebels, attempted to block the Bill, but it was always clear that it would be approved.
Next week, there will be opportunities for MPs to attempt to amend the Bill, for example by adding a demand that the Government regularly consult Parliament about progress it is making in negotiations with EU partners.
This is when the votes become a little more interesting, as Labour will be opposing the Government and could, potentially, persuade a few Tory MPs to join them.
And this will be followed by a vote on the “third reading” of the Bill.
But throughout the whole process, MPs who backed remaining in the EU face a difficult choice between voting for what they really believe – by opposing the legislation – or voting for what appears to be the will of the people, based on the outcome of last year’s EU referendum.
They include Dame Caroline Spelman, Conservative MP for Meriden, who campaigned for “remain”.
Speaking in the Second Reading debate, she explained that she now felt duty bound to vote for Brexit.
She said: “I certainly understand that we have to accept the outcome of democratic elections.”
But she warned that some “leave” voters might be disappointed.
“The subject of immigration dominated the conversations I had on the matter, even when standing outside the gates of the car factory,” she said.
“No distinction was made between EU and non-EU migration, which each account for 50 per cent of migrants. I worry that our electors expect that taking back control will mean that very few migrants will arrive here.
“However, our history as an empire means that there are family obligations to non-EU migrants and an absolute obligation, through the Geneva and The Hague Conven- tions, to provide safe haven for the most vulnerable people, many from countries for which we drew the lines on a map.”
She added: “I hope the electorate will be patient, but they will judge our efforts on their experience, not on our rhetoric.
“I hope that all that is great about Britain is not sacrificed in pursuit of an unrealistic ambition to go back to some mythical time when we were in control of all we surveyed.”
Geoffrey Robinson, Labour MP for Coventry North West, also campaigned for remain.
But he said: “I believe that, as we lost the vote, we have to face the consequences.”
Black Country Conservative MP James Morris, who represents Halesowen and Rowley Regis, also campaigned to stay in. But he chose to see the bright side of leaving, in his Commons speech.
He said: “Leaving the European Union will give us an opportunity to achieve something that has eluded Governments over the past 25 to 30 years – namely, an opportunity to rebalance our economy and lock in the benefits of regional devolution.
“The West Midlands has benefited from European grants for infrastructure development, and as we enter into the negotiation process, it will be incumbent on us to raise the
I hope the electorate will be patient, but they will judge our efforts on their experience, not on our rhetoric
investment levels for infrastructure and skills in the West Midlands.
“For example, the West Midlands currently receives 40 per cent less investment in transport than London and Scotland.
“The region is dependent on manufacturing and transportation, and that discrepancy has resulted in capacity constraints in the West Midlands economy that need to be addressed.”
There were no such dilemmas for those MPs, such as Birmingham Edgbaston MP Gisela Stuart (Lab), who campaigned to leave.
She said “a new modern 21stcentury economic liberal democratic structure” would ensure prosperity and peace.
Some strongly pro-EU MPs refused to give up the fight.
Chris Bryant, Labour MP for Rhondda in Wales, said he would vote against the Bill, adding: “Not in my name. Never, never. never.”
Dame Caroline Spelman