May urged to speak to MEPs who could veto her Brexit deal
THERESA May has been urged to go to the European Parliament and address directly the MEPs who could reject the Brexit deal she hopes to negotiate.
Cynon Valley Labour MP and former MEP Ann Clwyd argues it is a “necessity” that she speaks to the whole parliament.
Under the process for leaving the EU, any agreement on a future relationship requires the consent of the European Parliament.
The warning comes as concern mounts about the consequences of Brexit if a deal is not secured to ensure that future trade is not impeded. This week Aston Martin raised the prospect of production coming to a halt if an agreement is not reached on vehicle certification.
Last month Mrs May told the Welsh MP she had spoken to the president of the European Parliament about either addressing MEPs or the “Conference of Presidents” – a group which includes the chairmen of the political groups – and she said she believed a date was being negotiated.
Ms Clwyd is gathering support among MPs for a joint letter urging the PM to address the entire parliament. The MP said she now has more than 50 signatories.
She states: “At this point we believe that speaking to the whole European Parliament is now a necessity. We are sure that you need not be reminded that the European Parliament will have a veto on the terms we agree when leaving the EU.
“We would be grateful, therefore, if you would give assurances that this meeting will occur soon.”
Former foreign minister and Labour Rhondda MP Chris Bryant gave his backing to Ms Clwyd’s push, saying: “Hiding under a rock is not the best way of persuading people of your argument; the Prime Minister will end up with a terrible deal or no deal if she does a noshow. A no deal will put our security and economy in Wales at risk.”
Carmarthen East and Dinefwr Plaid Cymru MP Jonathan Edwards, who is also a vice-chairman of the All-Party Group on European Relations, said: “Ann Clwyd is right in highlighting the importance of engaging with the 27 other EU members. Even the internal nations and regions within European states have a say on Brexit, as was made clear when the Belgian region of Wallonia nearly derailed the EU trade deal with Canada.
“The irony is that countries are able to have their say on Brexit, Wales and Scotland have been told by Westminster that they will have no say at all.”
However, Welsh Conservative MEP Kay Swinburne thought it was a “little early” for Mrs May to address the entire parliament.
She argued that meeting the party group leaders was most appropriate at this time but said that when it became clear what the deal would look like “it becomes important that Parliament gets taken on as an entire entity”.
But Welsh Ukip MEP Nathan Gill backed the call for Mrs May to address the parliament, saying: “Ann Clwyd is right. Most MEPs have shown they believe they represent the EU and not the people who elected them... Left to their own interests I have no doubt they would put their salaries above their duty to voters.”