‘Party loyalty placed above democracy’

LAST Tuesday, February 9, the House of Commons voted not to accept the amendment from the House of Lords that would have obliged the government to bring all future proposed trade deals to the House of Commons for debate and decision.

That means all trade deals can be decided by the government without reference to the Commons.

That also means individuals and communities must be vigilant and organised to ensure the government fully understands and accepts that unacceptably lower standards of animal welfare, unacceptable forms of food processing, such as chlorinated chicken, farming which is making no contribution to carbon reduction, and deals which grossly disadvantage developing countries will not be tolerated.

Had the Commons accepted the Lords’ amendment last Tuesday, they would have scored a significant victory for democratic scrutiny and decision-making, but 343 Tories, along with eight Democratic Unionists, voted against democracy.

However, inspiringly, Opposition parties – Labour, Alliance, Greens and Independents – were joined by 13 Conservatives who defied their party whip.

Sadly, our Staffordshire Moorlands MP was not one of her 13 colleagues to support democracy.

Perhaps Karen Bradley would attempt an explanation for her desire to put ‘party loyalty,’ as blindly following the whip is called, above the desire for democratic decision making.

Peter Kent-baguley Leek