Labour MPs told: Reject May’s Brexit deal
THE SNP’s Westminster leader has written to Scottish Labour MPs calling on them to reject the Prime Minister’s Brexit deal and support a second referendum.
Ian Blackford also warned in his letter that supporting Jeremy Corbyn’s EU withdrawal proposals would serve a “devastating blow” to our communities. He said Scotland voted to remain and that the “nation must not be dragged out” against its will.
Blackford added: “We are less than 50 days away from Brexit date and in Westminster both the Prime Minister and leader of the so-called opposition are leading Scotland and the UK hand in hand off the Brexit cliff edge.
“When the PM returns to Parliament with her deal, Scottish Labour MPs must stand up for Scotland’s economic and social interests, and reject the deal and Corbyn’s plan to throw his support behind it.”
Shadow Scots secretary Lesley Laird said that Labour remain convinced that the best outcome is a general election to get rid of the Tory Government.
Meanwhile, May has questioned Corbyn’s call for the UK to remain in a customs union with Brussels but said she wanted further talks with Labour on a Brexit deal. READ IAN BLACKFORD’S
WHILE the chaos of the UK Government’s shambolic Brexit negotiations has dominated the headlines, the Tories have sneaked through a cut to pension credit which could see some couples up to £7000 worse off.
During Prime Minister’s Questions last week, I raised this shameful move – which would affect thousands across Scotland and the whole UK.
Pension Credit is a benefit designed to top up income for pensioners with a weekly income below a set amount.
The change proposed would mean that for couples where one person is of state pension age and the other is below, the individual in receipt of state pension would no longer be able to claim Pension Credit to top up their household income.
The cut was part of the Welfare Reform Act that was voted for in 2012, yet it’s only now that the UK Government has signalled its intention to implement this clause without debate or a vote in the House of Commons – seven years and two governments after it was voted on.
Age UK has pointed out couples claiming in the future could be nearly £140