MPs and peers called on to reject flawed Tory deal
By Mark Johnston
Recall of Parliament, 30 December 2020 - Voting Recommendation
At its meeting on Tuesday the LDEG Executive agreed unanimously to reject the Tory Government's Brexit Deal and calls on the Party's MPs and peers to vote against the European Union (Future Relationship) Bill when it comes before Parliament this week.
Whilst there is no deal that could replace the benefits of EU membership, the terms of this Brexit Deal are especially bad - it is in effect a Reduced Trade Agreement - the first in history designed to reduce trade and shrink our economy. It represents a series of political choices by the Tory Government, none of which are necessary to fulfil the mandate of the 2016 Referendum.
♦ Our Freedom of Movement, the automatic right to live and work in 27 other countries, has been stolen from us, and our skills and qualifications no longer guaranteed transferable;
♦ No Customs Union - our EU trade in goods and agricultural products will be subject to unnecessary costly bureaucratic red tape, delays and higher costs;
♦ No Single Market - our EU trade in Services - including financial services - is hardly covered and will be subject to further lengthy negotiations;
♦ No longer a rule-maker we shall become a rule-taker, with our ability to influence greatly reduced, as we are excluded from the process of crafting new EU laws;
♦ In Education, the outstanding ERASMUS programme, enabling British students to study across Europe, has been abandoned;
♦ Without access to the European Arrest Warrant Scheme or the Schengen Information System database, our country is left less safe and secure;
♦ And this Deal threatens the integrity of the United Kingdom - encouraging the dividing of our nations.
LDEG and the Liberal Democrats will continue to campaign for the closest possible relationship with the European Union and to use every opportunity to restore the benefits of membership.
UK withdrawal from the European Union is bad for our country. It diminishes our standing and influence on the continent and in the world and will make our country and its people poorer.
Voting against this bad Tory Deal is the beginning of our efforts to rebuild a relationship with Europe consistent with our values and one that we can be proud of.
David Chalmers, Chair
Liberal Democrat European Group