Why I backed move to trigger Brexit – MP
SOUTHPORT MP John Pugh has spoken out about why he voted to trigger Brexit. Prime Minister Theresa May asked MPs to vote on whether they backed Brexit in Parliament on December 7.
Labour put forward a motion, with an amendment by the Government that challenged the Commons to respect the wishes of the UK people who voted in favour of Brexit by invoking Article 50 by March 31, 2017.
The motion was carried with a majority of 372.
MPs John Pugh (Southport) and Rosie Cooper (West Lancashire) both took part in the vote.
Liberal Democrat Mr Pugh voted in favour of triggering Article 50 to respect the referendum result. His stance on Brexit had been clear throughout the campaign and he was a passionate member of the remain camp.
Mr Pugh sent a statement to the Visiter to explain why he voted against his initial vote and against the small majority of his constituents who voted to remain.
He said: “To add to the complexity, although the country voted by a small percentage to exit, my constituents voted by a small percentage to remain. There are clearly strong passions and raw feelings on both sides and no chance whatsoever of me making everyone happy.
“I voted remain but with the firm view that the EU needed change and reform.
“It’s one of those subjects which people avoid bringing up in company for fear that it will provoke a row.
“Either way, people agree that exiting the EU will have major consequences but disagree about what they may be.
“One reason why they disagree is because no-one knows the terms of what our relationship would be following exit - with what is currently by some significant margin our largest trading partner.
“My view is that any agreement the Government can get before being concluded should be put to the British public for ratification through a second referendum. This just seems rational unless you believe that absolutely any agreement will do so long as we exit.
“The issue of triggering Article 50 or beginning the process started by the referendum I see as a different issue because its only through triggering Article 50 that one can find out what the future deal is.
“It does not seem logical for me to call for a referendum on an alternative deal and also seek to prevent that deal emerging.
“There is much still to understand about our future relationships with other countries and their effect on our standard of living, and most predictions made by either side come with definite health warnings. In such a context, exploration of available options and a public decision on them seems the sanest course of action.”
West Lancashire Labour MP Ms Cooper was also one of the 461 MPs who voted for the plans to trigger Article 50 to begin the formal process of leaving the European Union.
On the same evening, she also voted for a Labour Party motion calling on the Government to publish its Brexit plan before the start of the two-year exit negotiations.
Speaking after the vote, she said: “Leaving the European Union is the most important issue facing this country for generations.
“There are strongly held views on both sides of this debate. Here in West Lancashire, 55% of people voted to leave the EU.
“As my votes show, having voted for there to be a referendum in the first place, I believe that the result of the referendum must be respected. Leaving the EU is the will of a majority of British voters.
What do you think about the triggering of Article 50 in Parliament? Email us at visiternews@southportvisiter.co.uk