Labour Hypocrites
Jeremy Corbyn accuses the Conservative Government of risking a UK jobs meltdown by pursuing a hard Brexit from the European Union,.
Yet just the other day the Labour front bench leadership walked through the voting lobby at Westminster with the Conservatives to strike down an amendment from Scottish Labour MP, Iain Murray, which would have allowed the UK to remain a member of the EU Single Market and Customs Union.
After siding with the Tories in yet another Brexit vote, Corbyn's supporters tried to explain away their actions by claiming that Murray's amendment was 'illiterate'.
Which is nonsense, of course, because the Labour leadership could have brought forward its own considered amendment about remaining in the Single Market and Customs Union to protect UK jobs - yet chose not to do so.
Read the detailed reports below via links to Politics Home and The Independent.
Read the detailed reports below via links to Politics Home and The Independent.
https://www.politicshome.com/news/uk/political-parties/labour-party/news/90796/labour-mps-fury-frontbench-over-vote-quit-single?
Labour splits over Brexit burst into the open after the party's frontbench ordered MPs to vote against a bid to keep the UK in the single market and customs union.
John McDonnell and Jeremy Corbyn have insisted the result of the EU referendum must be respected. Credit: PA Images
Former Shadow Cabinet member Ian Murray tabled an amendment to a government bill which would have prevented duties being charged on imports to the UK after the country quits the EU.
Remain-backing Labour MPs, as well as some Conservatives, voted for the move in the Commons tonight.
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However, the amendment was defeated by 311-76 after Labour MPs were whipped to vote with the Government against it.
One Labour backbencher said: "Labour policy is to stay in the customs union and single market, at least in transition, so the anti-hard Brexit MPs' views are that this is not the time to give the Government carte blanche to impose tariffs taking us out of the customs union and single market.
"Yet we have just witnessed the spectacle this evening of the Labour frontbench whipping MPs to vote with the Tories against Ian’s amendment which would have helped in the effort to stop the Tories pursuing a hard Brexit. Even Tory MPs voted for Ian’s amendment, thus putting up a stronger opposition to their government than the official opposition.
"The SNP, Green MP, Plaid and the LibDems - the other progressive parties in the Commons - voted for Ian’s amendment, and yet the frontbench has betrayed Labour voters who thought we would stop a hard Brexit, instead going through the lobby with the Tories and the likes of Johnson, Gove, Fox and the rest. We just watched John McDonnell and Barry Gardiner literally walk through the lobby with David Davis."
Mr Murray, the MP for Edinburgh South, said: "It is disappointing that this amendment was defeated but the fight for customs union membership is far from over.
"The Government’s reckless, ideological decision to pull us out of the customs union will damage trade with the EU, our biggest economic partner, and risk chaos at our ports with lorries backing up motorways as they face reams of new red tape. And it will make a hard border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland inevitable.
"Customs union membership is simply the best economic option for our country. Leaving it for fantasy new trade deals which cannot replicate the trade we do with Europe is no solution."
Former shadow minister Chuka Umunna, a supporter of Remain, took to Twitter to make clear his anger.
Former Shadow Cabinet member Ian Murray tabled an amendment to a government bill which would have prevented duties being charged on imports to the UK after the country quits the EU.
Remain-backing Labour MPs, as well as some Conservatives, voted for the move in the Commons tonight.
Labour to stage Commons vote forcing Government to hand over Brexit assessments
Keir Starmer MP: Labour will protect Britain from a 'no deal' Brexit
John McDonnell says Labour in talks with Tory MPs to stop 'no deal' Brexit
However, the amendment was defeated by 311-76 after Labour MPs were whipped to vote with the Government against it.
One Labour backbencher said: "Labour policy is to stay in the customs union and single market, at least in transition, so the anti-hard Brexit MPs' views are that this is not the time to give the Government carte blanche to impose tariffs taking us out of the customs union and single market.
"Yet we have just witnessed the spectacle this evening of the Labour frontbench whipping MPs to vote with the Tories against Ian’s amendment which would have helped in the effort to stop the Tories pursuing a hard Brexit. Even Tory MPs voted for Ian’s amendment, thus putting up a stronger opposition to their government than the official opposition.
"The SNP, Green MP, Plaid and the LibDems - the other progressive parties in the Commons - voted for Ian’s amendment, and yet the frontbench has betrayed Labour voters who thought we would stop a hard Brexit, instead going through the lobby with the Tories and the likes of Johnson, Gove, Fox and the rest. We just watched John McDonnell and Barry Gardiner literally walk through the lobby with David Davis."
Mr Murray, the MP for Edinburgh South, said: "It is disappointing that this amendment was defeated but the fight for customs union membership is far from over.
"The Government’s reckless, ideological decision to pull us out of the customs union will damage trade with the EU, our biggest economic partner, and risk chaos at our ports with lorries backing up motorways as they face reams of new red tape. And it will make a hard border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland inevitable.
"Customs union membership is simply the best economic option for our country. Leaving it for fantasy new trade deals which cannot replicate the trade we do with Europe is no solution."
Former shadow minister Chuka Umunna, a supporter of Remain, took to Twitter to make clear his anger.
The Tories wanted us to vote for their Resolution tonight paving the way for them to yank us out of the Customs Union and Single Market. I promised voters in #Streatham at the election that I would fight tooth and nail against this which is why I voted against the Govt 1/2
.@IanMurrayMP deserves great credit in leading the charge against the Government by tabling his amendment which I voted for. It is vital we put clear red water between the Labour position and a Tory hard Brexit if we're to truly put jobs first during this #Brexit process 2/2
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/brexit-latest-jeremy-corbyn-theresa-may-conservatives-no-deal-boris-johnson-a8050571.html
Brexit pushed through by in-fighting Conservatives is the 'biggest risk' Britain faces today, Jeremy Corbyn warns
Labour leader says a 'no deal' Brexit will lead to a 'jobs meltdown'
By Caroline Mortimer - The Independent
Jeremy Corbyn says Theresa May needs to get a grip on her Cabinet - EPA
Jeremy Corbyn has branded the prospect of a “no deal” Brexit amid Conservative uncertainty the “biggest risk” facing the UK.
The Labour leader attacked Theresa May for failing to manage her Cabinet which is “split down the middle” and said it was time to get a grip on her govern in order to end the Brexit confusion.
Writing in The Sunday Times, Mr Corbyn said: “The government can’t give a lead because the cabinet is split down the middle, spending more time negotiating with each other than with the EU.
“That gives the whip hand to grandstanding EU negotiators. One week the Home Secretary says a ‘no-deal’ exit from the EU would be ‘unthinkable’. The next week the Brexit Secretary insists ‘no deal must be an option’.”
He claimed the Conservatives were using Brexit as a “device to drive down wages and conditions, deregulate consumer and environmental protections and slash corporate taxation in a destructive race to the bottom”.
The Islington North MP said the Brexit talks were currently at a “crucial” stage but the Tories’ “chaotic dithering” risked a “jobs meltdown” if the UK were to crash out of the union with no deal and job-creating investment decisions are delayed or moved to another country.
He said that Labour is instead proposing a “jobs-first” Brexit which will include “a new co-operative relationship with Europe” and a “time-limited transitional deal on the same basic terms as now”.
Jeremy Corbyn has branded the prospect of a “no deal” Brexit amid Conservative uncertainty the “biggest risk” facing the UK.
The Labour leader attacked Theresa May for failing to manage her Cabinet which is “split down the middle” and said it was time to get a grip on her govern in order to end the Brexit confusion.
Writing in The Sunday Times, Mr Corbyn said: “The government can’t give a lead because the cabinet is split down the middle, spending more time negotiating with each other than with the EU.
“That gives the whip hand to grandstanding EU negotiators. One week the Home Secretary says a ‘no-deal’ exit from the EU would be ‘unthinkable’. The next week the Brexit Secretary insists ‘no deal must be an option’.”
He claimed the Conservatives were using Brexit as a “device to drive down wages and conditions, deregulate consumer and environmental protections and slash corporate taxation in a destructive race to the bottom”.
The Islington North MP said the Brexit talks were currently at a “crucial” stage but the Tories’ “chaotic dithering” risked a “jobs meltdown” if the UK were to crash out of the union with no deal and job-creating investment decisions are delayed or moved to another country.
He said that Labour is instead proposing a “jobs-first” Brexit which will include “a new co-operative relationship with Europe” and a “time-limited transitional deal on the same basic terms as now”.
Labour and Brexit (16/11/17)
The Times cartoonist Morten Morland explains Jeremy Corbyn's latest policy position on Brexit after the Labour leader contradicted himself yet again over the prospect of the UK remaining a member of the EU Single Market.
The madness of Brexit is illustrated in this article from Politics Home which reports that the UK is preparing to 'buy back' into a collaborative research programme run by the European Union (EU).
The position of the both the Conservative Government and Labour opposition is that they want to leave the European Union, but at the same time wish to retain all the benefits of remaining in the EU which strikes me as more than a little dishonest.
Why would our neighbours allow us to allow to walk away from a 'club' with agreed rules, fees and regulations - only for the UK to come back and demand membership benefits on its own terms.
Now this is completely crazy if you ask me, because membership organisation simply don't operate on a 'have your cake and eat it basis' including UK trade unions, for example.
If someone leaves a trade union, they would be laughed at for demanding they continue to receive all the 'benefits' of trade union membership.
Yet 'having things both ways' is exactly what Jeremy Corbyn and the Tories are demanding.
https://www.politicshome.com/news/uk/technology/science/news/88677/uk-preparing-pay-£1bn-stay-eu-science-programme?
UK 'preparing to pay £1bn to stay in EU science programme'
The battle over 'Brexit' shifted focus to the Supreme Court today, but the real fight is over the terms on which the UK will continue to trade with its European neighbours.
I though the issues were summarised well in a reported conversation between Carlo Calenda, Italy's economic development minister and Boris Johnson, the UK's foreign secretary.
Calenda recalled their exchange as follows:
Safe Pair of Hands (19/11/16)
A confected row has broken out over comments by a judges in the UK Supreme Court (Lady Hale) who observed recently that the Brexit referendum was not legally binding.
Now the dogs in the street know this to be true, even Nigel Farage accepts the advisory nature of the EU referendum, yet some of our politicians and the right-wing press are up in arms because Lady Hale has set out the pros and cons of an appeal case that the Supreme Court has to consider in December.
All I can say is that Lady Hale was one of the five judges who sat on the landmark FoI (Freedom of Information) case against South Lanarkshire Council back in 2013 - and that turned out OK, as regular readers know.
Read the full story via the following link to The Guardian, but if you ask me the decision is in safe hands.
https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2016/nov/15/supreme-court-judges-views-on-article-50-legislation-anger-leave-campaigners
Supreme court judge hints at legal hitch that could seriously delay Brexit
Lady Hale raises possibility of PM having to replace 1972 act before triggering article 50, incurring wrath of anti-EU Tories
Battle Over Brexit (04/09/17)
The madness of Brexit is illustrated in this article from Politics Home which reports that the UK is preparing to 'buy back' into a collaborative research programme run by the European Union (EU).
The position of the both the Conservative Government and Labour opposition is that they want to leave the European Union, but at the same time wish to retain all the benefits of remaining in the EU which strikes me as more than a little dishonest.
Why would our neighbours allow us to allow to walk away from a 'club' with agreed rules, fees and regulations - only for the UK to come back and demand membership benefits on its own terms.
Now this is completely crazy if you ask me, because membership organisation simply don't operate on a 'have your cake and eat it basis' including UK trade unions, for example.
If someone leaves a trade union, they would be laughed at for demanding they continue to receive all the 'benefits' of trade union membership.
Yet 'having things both ways' is exactly what Jeremy Corbyn and the Tories are demanding.
https://www.politicshome.com/news/uk/technology/science/news/88677/uk-preparing-pay-£1bn-stay-eu-science-programme?
UK 'preparing to pay £1bn to stay in EU science programme'
By John Ashmore - Politics Home
The UK is ready to pay around £1bn to remain part of the European Union's science and research fund, Horizon 2020.
The UK is ready to pay around £1bn to remain part of the European Union's science and research fund, Horizon 2020.
The Brexit department will set out the plans later this week - Credit: PA Images
David Davis' Brexit department will set out its plans in a fresh position paper on Wednesday, the Times reports.
They may also include paying into other research programmes such as the Galileo satellite navigation system and Copernicus, the earth observation programme run in partnership with the European Space Agency.
Although it is run by the EU, the Horizon scheme does have associate agreements with countries outside the bloc such as Switzerland, Norway and Israel.
However relations between the two negotiating teams appear to be fracturing, with Mr Davis yesterday accusing EU counterpart Michel Barnier of being "silly".
The Brexit Secretary told the Andrew Marr Show that the European Commission is refusing to begin discussions on in order to pressurise the UK into paying a hefty 'divorce bill'.
"Of course [Mr Barnier] wants to put pressure on us, which is why the stance this week in the press conference - bluntly, I think it looked a bit silly, because there plainly were things that we achieved."
Mr Davis also urged potential Tory rebels to back the Government's EU Withdrawal Bill when it comes before the Commons this week.
First Secretary of State Damian Green has warned that backbenchers who fail to support the legislation risked letting Jeremy Corbyn into Downing Street.
But Mr Davis said: "This bill is about ensuring continuity. Anybody - Remainer or Leaver - should support this bill."
David Davis' Brexit department will set out its plans in a fresh position paper on Wednesday, the Times reports.
They may also include paying into other research programmes such as the Galileo satellite navigation system and Copernicus, the earth observation programme run in partnership with the European Space Agency.
Although it is run by the EU, the Horizon scheme does have associate agreements with countries outside the bloc such as Switzerland, Norway and Israel.
However relations between the two negotiating teams appear to be fracturing, with Mr Davis yesterday accusing EU counterpart Michel Barnier of being "silly".
The Brexit Secretary told the Andrew Marr Show that the European Commission is refusing to begin discussions on in order to pressurise the UK into paying a hefty 'divorce bill'.
"Of course [Mr Barnier] wants to put pressure on us, which is why the stance this week in the press conference - bluntly, I think it looked a bit silly, because there plainly were things that we achieved."
Mr Davis also urged potential Tory rebels to back the Government's EU Withdrawal Bill when it comes before the Commons this week.
First Secretary of State Damian Green has warned that backbenchers who fail to support the legislation risked letting Jeremy Corbyn into Downing Street.
But Mr Davis said: "This bill is about ensuring continuity. Anybody - Remainer or Leaver - should support this bill."
David Davis' Brexit department will set out its plans in a fresh position paper on Wednesday, the Times reports.
They may also include paying into other research programmes such as the Galileo satellite navigation system and Copernicus, the earth observation programme run in partnership with the European Space Agency.
Although it is run by the EU, the Horizon scheme does have associate agreements with countries outside the bloc such as Switzerland, Norway and Israel.
However relations between the two negotiating teams appear to be fracturing, with Mr Davis yesterday accusing EU counterpart Michel Barnier of being "silly".
The Brexit Secretary told the Andrew Marr Show that the European Commission is refusing to begin discussions on in order to pressurise the UK into paying a hefty 'divorce bill'.
"Of course [Mr Barnier] wants to put pressure on us, which is why the stance this week in the press conference - bluntly, I think it looked a bit silly, because there plainly were things that we achieved."
Mr Davis also urged potential Tory rebels to back the Government's EU Withdrawal Bill when it comes before the Commons this week.
First Secretary of State Damian Green has warned that backbenchers who fail to support the legislation risked letting Jeremy Corbyn into Downing Street.
But Mr Davis said: "This bill is about ensuring continuity. Anybody - Remainer or Leaver - should support this bill."
David Davis' Brexit department will set out its plans in a fresh position paper on Wednesday, the Times reports.
They may also include paying into other research programmes such as the Galileo satellite navigation system and Copernicus, the earth observation programme run in partnership with the European Space Agency.
Although it is run by the EU, the Horizon scheme does have associate agreements with countries outside the bloc such as Switzerland, Norway and Israel.
However relations between the two negotiating teams appear to be fracturing, with Mr Davis yesterday accusing EU counterpart Michel Barnier of being "silly".
The Brexit Secretary told the Andrew Marr Show that the European Commission is refusing to begin discussions on in order to pressurise the UK into paying a hefty 'divorce bill'.
"Of course [Mr Barnier] wants to put pressure on us, which is why the stance this week in the press conference - bluntly, I think it looked a bit silly, because there plainly were things that we achieved."
Mr Davis also urged potential Tory rebels to back the Government's EU Withdrawal Bill when it comes before the Commons this week.
First Secretary of State Damian Green has warned that backbenchers who fail to support the legislation risked letting Jeremy Corbyn into Downing Street.
But Mr Davis said: "This bill is about ensuring continuity. Anybody - Remainer or Leaver - should support this bill."
Battle Over Brexit (05/12/16)
The battle over 'Brexit' shifted focus to the Supreme Court today, but the real fight is over the terms on which the UK will continue to trade with its European neighbours.
I though the issues were summarised well in a reported conversation between Carlo Calenda, Italy's economic development minister and Boris Johnson, the UK's foreign secretary.
Calenda recalled their exchange as follows:
Johnson: "I don’t want free movement of people but I want the single market."
Calenda. “I said, ‘No way."
Johnson: "You’ll sell less prosecco.’
Calenda: "I said, OK, you’ll sell less fish and chips, but I’ll sell less prosecco to one country and you’ll sell less to 27 countries.’
Game, set and match to the Italian minister, if you ask me.
Safe Pair of Hands (19/11/16)
A confected row has broken out over comments by a judges in the UK Supreme Court (Lady Hale) who observed recently that the Brexit referendum was not legally binding.
Now the dogs in the street know this to be true, even Nigel Farage accepts the advisory nature of the EU referendum, yet some of our politicians and the right-wing press are up in arms because Lady Hale has set out the pros and cons of an appeal case that the Supreme Court has to consider in December.
All I can say is that Lady Hale was one of the five judges who sat on the landmark FoI (Freedom of Information) case against South Lanarkshire Council back in 2013 - and that turned out OK, as regular readers know.
Read the full story via the following link to The Guardian, but if you ask me the decision is in safe hands.
Lady Hale raises possibility of PM having to replace 1972 act before triggering article 50, incurring wrath of anti-EU Tories
Lady Hale is one of 11 judges due to rule on whether the government can trigger article 50 without a vote by MPs. Photograph: Supreme Court/PA
By Anushka Asthana and Rowena Mason - The Guardian
A supreme court judge has raised the prospect that Theresa May would have to comprehensively replace existing EU legislation before the government could even begin Brexit, in a move that could seriously delay the process.
In a speech that angered leave campaigners, Lady Hale said the supreme court judges could go further than simply forcing May to publish a short piece of legislation to approve the triggering of article 50.
The deputy president of the court said that next month’s case – in which the supreme court will hear the government’s appeal against a high court ruling that MPs must approve the triggering of article 50 – raised “difficult and delicate issues” about the relationship between government and parliament.
“Another question is whether it would be enough for a simple act of parliament to authorise the government to give notice, or whether it would have to be a comprehensive replacement of the 1972 act,” she said in comments to law students in Kuala Lumpur that were published online on Tuesday. The European Communities Act 1972 took the UK into the then European Economic Community.
By Anushka Asthana and Rowena Mason - The Guardian
A supreme court judge has raised the prospect that Theresa May would have to comprehensively replace existing EU legislation before the government could even begin Brexit, in a move that could seriously delay the process.
In a speech that angered leave campaigners, Lady Hale said the supreme court judges could go further than simply forcing May to publish a short piece of legislation to approve the triggering of article 50.
The deputy president of the court said that next month’s case – in which the supreme court will hear the government’s appeal against a high court ruling that MPs must approve the triggering of article 50 – raised “difficult and delicate issues” about the relationship between government and parliament.
“Another question is whether it would be enough for a simple act of parliament to authorise the government to give notice, or whether it would have to be a comprehensive replacement of the 1972 act,” she said in comments to law students in Kuala Lumpur that were published online on Tuesday. The European Communities Act 1972 took the UK into the then European Economic Community.
