EK politicians have say on controversial deal
East Kilbride’s politicians have had their say on the Prime Minister’s Brexit deal ahead of a defining vote in the House of Commons next Tuesday.
Under-fire Theresa May faced a backlash when she defended the withdrawal agreement, negotiated with the European Union, to MPs by saying it “delivered on the result of the EU referendum”.
Mrs May and Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn have reportedly agreed to a TV debate on Sunday evening.
Mr Corbyn described Mrs May’s deal as “botched” in the Commons and Liberal Democrat leader Sir Vince Cable joined MPs from a number of parties in calling for the PM to back a People’s Vote “with the option of remaining in the European Union”.
The SNP have called for a second vote on the terms of the final deal while five days of parliamentary debate began yesterday.
East Kilbride, Strathaven and Lesmahagow MP Dr Lisa Cameron said: “All eyes are on events at Westminster as MPs, including myself, come together on December 11 for the meaningful vote to make one of the most defining decisions in Parliament’s history.
“Key issues include the implications of the Northern Irish backstop and the UK Government’s own analysis that Brexit makes us poorer, despite the bogus claims of the Brexit bus.
“I take my responsibilities as your MP forward resolutely to make sure there is a viable outcome and to oppose a no deal or hard Brexit scenario – single market and customs union does least damage economicically; but if Parliament can’t decide, it may be back to a People’s Vote.”
Linda Fabiani, MSP for East Kilbride, said: “This deal presented by the UK Prime Minister has many, many flaws – not least the potential effect on businesses here in East Kilbride and Scotland as a whole.
“The SNP position is clear – to keep the UK within the single market and customs union and for an option of a second vote on the final terms of the deal.”
Central Scotland Labour MSP Monica Lennon insists there must be a General Election if Mrs May’s deal fails to win support.
She said:“Theresa May’s Brexit deal is bad for the country and fails to meet Labour’s demands that it must protect jobs, our economy and deliver for all nations and regions of the United Kingdom. She must go back to Europe and renegotiate better terms.
“If the Tories cannot secure enough parliamentary support for their shambolic deal, which looks increasingly likely, they must make way for a General Election.
“If they refuse to do that, Labour supports all options remaining on the table.”
Tory Central Scotland MSP Graham Simpson focused on the Northern Ireland issue while criticising the stance of First Minister Nicola Sturgeon.
He said: “The UK has always had differences between its nations: the judgment is whether the agreement allows a more fundamental break, with a ‘backstop’ that treats Northern Ireland differently.
“Whatever form of Brexit, we won’t tolerate Nicola Sturgeon’s grandstanding.
“One thing is clear: Nicola Sturgeon has completely misjudged the Scottish public, again. She said, again, that she wants another independence referendum – ignoring the 2014 result – and making any uncertainty even worse.
“And never forget – Scotland’s trade with the rest of the UK worth nearly four times that of the EU. For the SNP, the answer is always independence.”