MP backs meaningful vote proposal
Dr Lisa Cameron insists MPs must have a meaningful vote over Brexit ahead of a House of Commons showdown today.
The East Kilbride, Strathaven and Lesmahagow MP joined her SNP colleagues in walking out last Wednesday after Westminster party leader Ian Blackford was ordered from the chamber by Speaker John Bercow at Prime Minister’s Questions.
Mr Blackford had been furious with the limited amount of time available to debate devolution matters relating to the United Kingdom’s withdrawal from the European Union (EU) and called for a private sitting of parliament.
He refused to sit down when asked to do so by Mr Bercow who then expelled him from the rest of the day’s business – Mr Blackford’s colleagues walked out of the chamber in solidarity.
This afternoon’s House of Commons activity promises to be no less dramatic with MP Dominic Grieve’s amendment that would give MPs a meaningful vote, even if the government fails to reach a Brexit deal with the EU, to be tabled again.
The House of Lords backed the amendment in a vote on Monday night with a majority of 119 which means it is sent back to the House of Commons.
“There requires to be a meaningful vote on the Brexit deal because parliament needs to hold government to account and to have appropriate scrutiny of what is to be one of the most defining pieces of legislation of the century,” Dr Cameron told the News on Monday.
“I am on my way down to Westminster to speak in the debate that was granted to Ian Blackford MP after we left the Commons during PMQs in solidarity with his position.
“Seventeen minutes for the minister to speak then no debate to be had before the vote took place last week was entirely undemocratic and unacceptable.
“These are important matters which must be debated – they relate to powers being repatriated to Westminster from the EU, powers that are currently in the domain of the Scottish Parliament and which, if taken control of by Westminster, as the UK Government seek to do, fundamentally undermine the principles of the devolution settlement”.
The UK is scheduled to leave the EU on March 29, 2019 after a referendum which took place two years ago delivered a victory for the Leave campaign.