UK's Labour to propose amendment aimed at avoiding no-deal Brexit

 

FILE PHOTO: Britain's Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn delivers his keynote speech at the Labour Party Conference in Liverpool, Britain, September 26, 2018. REUTERS/Phil Noble/File Photo

 

EDINBURGH (Reuters) - Britain's main opposition Labour Party set out its bid to block a "no deal" Brexit on Wednesday, saying it wanted to put the idea to a vote in parliament during a debate on the exit agreement Prime Minister Theresa May has negotiated.

 

On Dec. 11 May has to pull off what looks like an unlikely victory in parliament to approve the deal she agreed in Brussels on Sunday. Britain's parliament is deeply divided on the issue and time is running short to ratify the deal and complete preparations ahead of Britain's planned departure from the European Union on March 29.

 

Many in her own Conservative Party and among the opposition have said they will vote against her Brexit deal. She argues that if it is rejected, Britain will leave the bloc without any agreement.

 

Labour reject that outcome and are seeking to put political pressure on her during the debate by proposing a so-called amendment to the approval motion - a manoeuvre which could be used to show parliament opposes a no-deal exit.

 

"Labour will oppose Theresa May's botched Brexit deal that puts jobs, rights and people's livelihoods at risk," leader Jeremy Corbyn said in a statement.

 

"There is a sensible deal that could win the support of parliament, based on a comprehensive customs union, with a British say in future trade deals, and a strong single market deal that protects rights at work and environmental safeguards and helps us to rebuild our economy and expand our public services," Corbyn said.

 

May will likely have to defeat the Labour amendment at a vote. If she loses, the result does not have the power to force her hand, but it could prove politically impossible to ignore and thus prevent an exit deal being ratified.

 

Labour would work across parliamentary party divides to keep all options open to protect Britain from a no-deal scenario, and said a general election was "the best outcome for the country."

 

Earlier on Wednesday, Labour's finance chief John McDonnell told the BBC that if a general election were not possible, Labour could push for a second EU referendum -- something May has consistently ruled out.

 

(Reporting by Elisabeth O'Leary; Editing by William James)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2018-11-29

46 minutes ago, webfact said:

"There is a sensible deal that could win the support of parliament, based on a comprehensive customs union, with a British say in future trade deals, and a strong single market deal that protects rights at work and environmental safeguards and helps us to rebuild our economy and expand our public services," Corbyn said.

what is this deal that Corbyn has dreamed up.

The amendment needs to read ‘out under the negotiated deal or remain’.

 

Brexit is a crock, always was and always will be.

 

It was based on lies and the truth has come out.

 

Time for parliament to stop fighting the civil war within the Tory party and to act on what is best for the U.K.

 

 

1 hour ago, Chomper Higgot said:

The amendment needs to read ‘out under the negotiated deal or remain’.

 

Brexit is a crock, always was and always will be.

 

It was based on lies and the truth has come out.

 

Time for parliament to stop fighting the civil war within the Tory party and to act on what is best for the U.K.

 

 

Couldn't agree more. The Tory party ought to be ashamed of the friction and fractures that have been caused by in-fighting and are still causing, looking after their own interests ahead of the country. For that reason alone, I support Corbyn and the Labour party's approach. 

2 hours ago, steve187 said:

what is this deal that Corbyn has dreamed up.

Norway plus

1 hour ago, Grouse said:

Norway plus

If it had to be Norway plus, I would go for that, rather than one of the other disastrous economy destroying Brexit options on offer. Alternatively Corbyn would have to be dragged kicking and screaming to the remain alter, however even McDonnell is beginning to see the writing on the wall (Ambition lurks maybe!). 

Whatever happens, I console myself with the image of the Brexiteer Boomer in his final days, lying in his bed and gloating over having severely damaged the futures of his childrens' and grandchildrens' generation, only to discover that they are now in the majority and have taken us back into the EU. They may decide that there is no real reason for them to fund our pensions anymore, I for one wouldn't blame them.

All he seems to be interested in is causing a stalemate, ruling out the negotiated deal or hard brexit,  or is Labour proposing the third option "remain" or just intent on bringing down the government, does Labour really want a general election in January?

1 hour ago, Basil B said:

All he seems to be interested in is causing a stalemate, ruling out the negotiated deal or hard brexit,  or is Labour proposing the third option "remain" or just intent on bringing down the government, does Labour really want a general election in January?

Fair analysis. Corbyn is a leaver, his claim to be able to re-negotiate the Brexit terms are as groundless as those of any leaver on the far right. The EU have said "Thats the deal - take it or leave it", it is sensible to believe that they meant it. He may not have the support of most of his party on this, but the gross dinosaurs like Len MacCluskey are still behind him. Would Labour be wise to want a general election now -  the Tory tabloids plus the Times and the Torygraph, will claim he is a direct descendent of Stalin - I don't think so. On the other hand the Tories are tearing themselves apart - difficult question.

What will be interesting is the outcome of the current issue before the ECJ on whether Article 50 can be withdrawn, considering our current government tried to block this being adjudicated by the ECJ it may just be their lifeboat.

7 hours ago, Chomper Higgot said:

what is best for the U.K.

Easy to say : stay and then.... Think twice 

2 hours ago, Nigel Garvie said:

Fair analysis. Corbyn is a leaver, his claim to be able to re-negotiate the Brexit terms are as groundless as those of any leaver on the far right. The EU have said "Thats the deal - take it or leave it", it is sensible to believe that they meant it. He may not have the support of most of his party on this, but the gross dinosaurs like Len MacCluskey are still behind him. Would Labour be wise to want a general election now -  the Tory tabloids plus the Times and the Torygraph, will claim he is a direct descendent of Stalin - I don't think so. On the other hand the Tories are tearing themselves apart - difficult question.

The 'EU' in question are politicians also, and I'm sure they'll be willing to negotiate with Corbyn as to the Norway + deal - if it came to that. Plenty of May's red-line water to flow under the bridge before that, though.

8 hours ago, Chomper Higgot said:

Brexit is a crock, always was and always will be.

 

It was based on lies and the truth has come out.

 

Time for parliament to stop fighting the civil war within the Tory party and to act on what is best for the U.K.

 

 

The amendment needs to read ‘out under the negotiated deal or remain’.

 

No can do. The nation has voted to get out. Our political leaders need, for once, to do as we have told them.

1 hour ago, sawadee1947 said:

Easy to say : stay and then.... Think twice 

How about leave on WTO rules and come back in 43 years and think about rejoining. Perfectly reasonable.

48 minutes ago, Krataiboy said:

The amendment needs to read ‘out under the negotiated deal or remain’.

 

No can do. The nation has voted to get out. Our political leaders need, for once, to do as we have told them.

If only they could!  What the people voted for isn't being delivered and can't be because it was based on lies that could never be realised.  Still let's go with it anyway like good little voters.  All together now, bend over and brace yourselves!

3 hours ago, Krataiboy said:

The amendment needs to read ‘out under the negotiated deal or remain’.

 

No can do. The nation has voted to get out. Our political leaders need, for once, to do as we have told them.

Norway + deal will respect the vote of leaving the EU. 

3 hours ago, Laughing Gravy said:

How about leave on WTO rules and come back in 43 years and think about rejoining. Perfectly reasonable.

it's a no-deal scenario that wouldn't be in the best interest of the UK.

"There is a sensible deal that could win the support of parliament, based on a comprehensive customs union, with a British say in future trade deals, and a strong single market deal that protects rights at work and environmental safeguards and helps us to rebuild our economy and expand our public services," Corbyn said,

 

in the Customs Union, in the Single Market, a British say in future trade deals: isn’t that exactly what the UK currently enjoys as a Member State of the EU? Sometimes one wonders whether these politicians know what they are talking about.......

4 hours ago, Krataiboy said:

The amendment needs to read ‘out under the negotiated deal or remain’.

 

No can do. The nation has voted to get out. Our political leaders need, for once, to do as we have told them.

Why should this be the first time? Wouldn’t it be better to follow the views of the electorate where those views were not so clearly founded on the most mendacious of lies and the least coherent of policies, perhaps on something that would cripple the economy for decades.

 

there may be a first time for everything, but this does not need to be it.

49 minutes ago, damascase said:

"There is a sensible deal that could win the support of parliament, based on a comprehensive customs union, with a British say in future trade deals, and a strong single market deal that protects rights at work and environmental safeguards and helps us to rebuild our economy and expand our public services," Corbyn said,

 

in the Customs Union, in the Single Market, a British say in future trade deals: isn’t that exactly what the UK currently enjoys as a Member State of the EU? Sometimes one wonders whether these politicians know what they are talking about.......

Exactly. Britain voted to give up its say, to opt out of the Big Boys’ Club and play by ourselves.

 

 

4 hours ago, Laughing Gravy said:

How about leave on WTO rules and come back in 43 years and think about rejoining. Perfectly reasonable.

leave on WTO March 2019 and there will be a comprehensive deal agreed within weeks.

 

As for Corbin - it is a failure right out of the blocks, the UK will be unable to strike "independent" trade deals around the world so what would be the point of leaving ? -

it really is as stupid as they come, Labours 6 tests are one short - should have been 7

6 hours ago, Krataiboy said:

The amendment needs to read ‘out under the negotiated deal or remain’.

 

No can do. The nation has voted to get out. Our political leaders need, for once, to do as we have told them.

Nonsense. "The nation" has been lied to by being promised something that is not and never was possible. A shady second-hand car dealer promised them a Ferrari for the price of a Nissan, and, after they signed the purchase agreement, presented them a broken bicycle, together with the demand to "respect" the contract. The people have the right withdraw from that, or consider it void altogether. 

Two and a half years ago Tusk, Barnier, Juncker, etc, told Cameron to go and fly his kite thinking us Brits would not shoot our balls off.

 

Well we did, now after two and a half years we are at a cross roads, to the (hard) right, a road of no return and no clue as to what is a head, straight on a road no one wants to go, to the left Norway but we do not even know if the road is open, or a long walk back the road we came, but at least we know it.

 

Lets see what the ECJ says about withdrawing article 50...

1 hour ago, welovesundaysatspace said:

Nonsense. "The nation" has been lied to by being promised something that is not and never was possible. A shady second-hand car dealer promised them a Ferrari for the price of a Nissan, and, after they signed the purchase agreement, presented them a broken bicycle, together with the demand to "respect" the contract. The people have the right withdraw from that, or consider it void altogether. 

I don't see Brexiteers marching on Westminster to demanding another referendum. And your implication that they are all too dumb to have made the right decision is as arrogantly insulting as it is unsupportable.

 

 

 

 

4 hours ago, Krataiboy said:

I don't see Brexiteers marching on Westminster to demanding another referendum. And your implication that they are all too dumb to have made the right decision is as arrogantly insulting as it is unsupportable.

 

 

 

 

I’ve never made the argument that Brexiteers are dumb, but it appears we have one who is not smart enough to figure out that those who got the result they wanted would not march in calls for another referendum.

12 hours ago, smedly said:

leave on WTO March 2019 and there will be a comprehensive deal agreed within weeks.

 

As for Corbin - it is a failure right out of the blocks, the UK will be unable to strike "independent" trade deals around the world so what would be the point of leaving ? -

it really is as stupid as they come, Labours 6 tests are one short - should have been 7

The rationale is that Corbyn respects the referendum result. Norway is not in the EU, but is still a member of the single market and upholds the four freedoms, including the customs union. That is the deal that Corbyn is championing.

 

May, on the other hand, apart from leaving the EU like Norway and ONLY what the UK voted for, has determined that also leaving the single market and the customs union would be part of that withdrawal, which is totally incorrect. So she has cobbled together a 'deal' that just won't work as good as remaining in the EU. 

 

Corbyn's suggestive is that a Norway + deal would satisfy the referendum result and place the UK economy on a better footing than May's deal, going forward. As he places the country above political infighting by the tories, I support his stance.

3 hours ago, Chomper Higgot said:

I’ve never made the argument that Brexiteers are dumb, but it appears we have one who is not smart enough to figure out that those who got the result they wanted would not march in calls for another referendum.

I don't think I've used the word dumb; plenty of others but not dumb.

 

May and Co make the mistake of believing we are all dumb. She is about to find out the hard way that some of us are not so dumb. She will be booted out shortly with the worst record of any priminister that I can recall. What a dreadful legacy.

On 11/29/2018 at 3:50 AM, Grouse said:

Norway plus

 

what is plus?

 

 

and what on earth is meant by "leave on WTO rules" ? weird expression

 

leaving on a jetplane is more comfortable

 

and to those who say that Norway is in CU, she isn't

 

 

 

34 minutes ago, stephenterry said:

The rationale is that Corbyn respects the referendum result. Norway is not in the EU, but is still a member of the single market and upholds the four freedoms, including the customs union. That is the deal that Corbyn is championing.

 

May, on the other hand, apart from leaving the EU like Norway and ONLY what the UK voted for, has determined that also leaving the single market and the customs union would be part of that withdrawal, which is totally incorrect. So she has cobbled together a 'deal' that just won't work as good as remaining in the EU. 

 

Corbyn's suggestive is that a Norway + deal would satisfy the referendum result and place the UK economy on a better footing than May's deal, going forward. As he places the country above political infighting by the tories, I support his stance.

I agree with a lot of this, but I doubt that Corbyn - who is a leaver at heart - would be so glibly calling to "respect the referendum result" if it had gone the other way, it is just a tool for him, to keep the growing number of pro EU young momentum supporters at bay. . Infighting in the Labour party would be much more evident if they were in power.

  Meanwhile the infighting in the Tories and their utter inadequacy in dealing with Brexit is driving the nation to despair. People wake in the morning crying out for some news on any other topic

The problem with Norway + is that it leaves the Brexiteers without their pound of flesh. It becomes more and more evident that the one of the things they care about most (If not the most)  is Immigration. Ironically the Tory tabloid campaign to encourage hatred of dark skinned immigrants is irrelevant to Brexit, they don't actually come from Europe. 

What have the Roman's ever done for us?

 

could somebody please explain what is meant by Norway +?

I understand Norway but I do not understand +?