Daily Record

We deserve the truth about PM’s Brexit talks

- Kezia Dugdale is leader of Scottish Labour

THIS time last year I was campaignin­g hard for Britain to remain in the EU.

Twelve months on, and not only have we been through a referendum when voters chose to leave the EU, we have a different Prime Minister who is now hanging on to her job by a thread.

It has been an extraordin­ary period of upheaval in British politics.

This week, the Brexit talks got under way but we still have no idea what the final outcome will be.

Theresa May was intent on a hard Brexit, yet her authority has been crushed after a general election which saw her lose her majority. Her vision of an extreme Brexit has been rejected.

Jeremy Corbyn is assembling a government in waiting at Westminste­r, and the formidable Keir Starmer is leading our constructi­ve approach to Brexit.

He has made clear to the Prime Minister that she must take a different tone and approach, and be much clearer about the benefits of the single market and the customs union.

And she has to be clear about how she’s going to allow Parliament to have a much greater role in scrutiny as we go through the process of leaving the EU.

Alternativ­ely, she could step aside and let Labour guide us through the process instead.

We want to scrap the Conservati­ves’ Brexit White Paper and replace it with fresh negotiatin­g priorities that have a strong emphasis on retaining the benefits of the single market and the customs union – which are essential for maintainin­g industries, jobs and businesses in Britain.

Labour will always put jobs and

ARISE Sir Big Yin. No matter your view on the honours system, few can argue that Sir Billy Connolly deserves to be recognised for making us laugh for so many years.

And as we bask in some summer sun, I’m reminded of his great joke: “There are two seasons in Scotland: June and winter.”

the economy first. The outcome of the Brexit talks will have major ramificati­ons for Scotland.

Nicola Sturgeon is quietly hoping it is a disaster – anything to build up a fresh grievance for her campaign for independen­ce. She doesn’t care much about getting a good deal.

The UK Government should be transparen­t and open as talks get under way, and that includes involving opposition politician­s and devolved administra­tions. The Welsh Labour Government are committed to making the process work for the entire UK, unlike Sturgeon.

That’s why she must first publicly remove a second independen­ce referendum from the table. The outcome of Brexit should not be used by the SNP to demand a second vote. Even Sturgeon must see that it makes no sense to ask to join the UK negotiatin­g team at the same time as calling for a vote to leave the UK.

As there are demands for a cross-party Brexit team, similarly the First Minister should meet with opposition parties prior to each negotiatio­n meeting to ensure she presents the broad view of the Scottish Parliament, not just of the SNP.

And she should report back to other parties and to Parliament about how she’s got on. What she claims other people said can no longer be trusted, so the negotiatio­ns must be open, transparen­t and properly recorded so we can see the whole picture.

We are embarking on a pivotal moment in our country’s history. My fear is that May and Sturgeon are not up to the job.

 ?? tam.cowan@dailyrecor­d.co.uk follow @kdugdalems­p ?? Kezia Dugdale
tam.cowan@dailyrecor­d.co.uk follow @kdugdalems­p Kezia Dugdale
 ??  ?? WHAT A KNIGHT Billy Connolly in his younger days
WHAT A KNIGHT Billy Connolly in his younger days

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