Strategy ‘affront to democracy’

LIBERAL Democrats will seek to rally parliamentary opposition to the Government’s Brexit strategy by tabling an amendment to the flagship EU Withdrawal Bill, which comes before the Commons on Thursday.

Labour has said it could vote against the Bill, prompting warnings by Tory whips that any revolt by Remain-backing Conservative MPs could be seen as them supporting Jeremy Corbyn.

The Bill will repeal the 1972 act which took Britain into what was then the European Economic Community, as well as transposing all relevant EU legislation onto the UK statute book to avoid abrupt changes in the law at the moment of withdrawal.

Lib Dem Brexit spokesman Tom Brake branded it an “affront to democracy” and made clear his party was ready to vote against it in the second reading division yesterday, following two days of debate.

In a reasoned amendment, Lib Dems will warn that the legislation allows new regulatory agencies replacing EU bodies to be created by secondary legislation, without proper scrutiny by Parliament.

“This Bill represents a major threat to the sovereignty of Parliament and no amount of tweaking and fiddling will make a silk purse of this sow’s ear,” said Mr Brake.

Earlier, Tory Remainer Anna Soubry described reports of a revolt by Tory rebels as ‘nonsense’.

Speaking on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, Ms Soubry added: “I don’t know any Conservative Member of Parliament that isn’t going to vote for this Bill at second reading.”