Speaking at the British Chambers of Commerce
conference, Labour’s Shadow Brexit Secretary MP will say:
“Following the Prime Minister’s commitment yesterday to
resign before the next phase of negotiations begin, it’s even
more of a blindfold Brexit - because we now know that the outcome
of our future relationship with the EU is not going to be
determined by her.
“My biggest fear is that unless Parliament takes a stand
now, the outcome of the negotiations is going to be determined by
the outcome of next Tory leadership contest.
“It could be a Brexit.
“A Brexit.
“Or a Brexit.
“That should give anyone considering supporting May’s deal
on Friday serious concern.
“Equally, if the Prime Minister tries to separate the
Withdrawal Agreement and the Political Declaration altogether,
that only makes matters worse.
“We would be leaving the EU, but with absolutely no idea
where we are heading. That cannot be acceptable and Labour will
not vote for it.
On separating the Withdrawal Agreement and the
Political Declaration, MP said:
“The truth is, you can’t separate the Withdrawal Agreement
and the Political Declaration. And the Prime Minister knows
it.
“On 14th January – when pleading with MPs
to back her deal the first time round, she told the Commons there
was:“absolute clarity on the explicit linkage between the
withdrawal agreement and the political declaration”
“The PM continued, saying that: “the link between
[the two documents] means that the commitments of one cannot be
banked without the commitments of the other. The EU has been
clear that they come as a package.”
“And she was right.
“Because the joint letter from President Juncker and
President Tusk on 14th January said: “As for
the link between the Withdrawal Agreement and the Political
Declaration….it can be made clear that these two documents, while
being of a different nature, are part of the same negotiated
package”.
“The Prime Minister and the EU know these documents cannot
be separated. Yet now she may ask the Commons to pretend they
can.
“But I want to clear – Labour will not support this latest
desperate attempt by the PM.
“To now to split the Withdrawal Agreement and Political
Declaration would leave us with the blindest of blindfold
Brexits.
“Labour will not countenance that.”
