Labour table NINE amendments to Article 50 Bill including right to REJECT Brexit deal

PA

Jeremy Corbyn's party will table nine amendments to the Article 50 legislation

Jeremy Corbyn’s party have announced they will add a series of conditions to the proposed legislation, which was introduced to Parliament today.

Brexit Secretary David Davis presented the European Union (Notification of Withdrawal) Bill to the House of Commons this afternoon.

It is expected to move through Parliament before Theresa May's deadline of March 31 to trigger Article 50.

The Bill follows the Supreme Court's ruling this week the Prime Minister must first gain the consent of MPs and peers before beginning EU divorce negotiations.

The short proposed Bill contains two clauses, but Labour have proposed significantly adding to its word-length with a series of conditions.

These include a demand for a parliamentary vote on Britain’s final exit deal before it reaches MEPs in the European Parliament, tying the Government to an ambition to protect workers’ rights and full tariff-free Single Market access, guaranteeing EU migrants’ rights in the UK and regular consultation with all UK parliaments during the Brexit talks.

Mr Corbyn said: “Labour will seek to amend the Article 50 Bill to prevent the Government using Brexit to turn Britain into a bargain basement tax haven off the coast of Europe. Our country can do much better than that.

“We respect the will of the British people, but not the will of this Tory government to impose fewer rights at work and worse public services, while the largest corporations pay even less tax.

“Labour will ensure that the British people, through Parliament, have genuine accountability and oversight over the Brexit negotiations because no one voted to give Prime Minister Theresa May a free hand over our future."

Theresa May's 12 point Brexit plan
Mon, January 16, 2017

It's finally here!

Play slideshow

1 of 7

Continued cooperation with the EU to tackle terrorism and international crime.

Labour will seek to amend the Article 50 Bill to prevent the Government using Brexit to turn Britain into a bargain basement tax haven

Jeremy Corbyn

Mr Corbyn today confirmed he will impose a three-line whip on Labour MPs to vote in favour of Article 50, although a number of his MPs – including members of his shadow cabinet – could rebel against him.

Labour’s amendments will be:

i) Allow a meaningful vote in Parliament on the final Brexit deal. Labour’s amendment would ensure that the House of Commons has the first say on any proposed deal and that the consent of Parliament would be required before the deal is referred to the European Council and Parliament.

ii) Establish a number of key principles the Government must seek to negotiate during the process, including protecting workers’ rights, securing full tariff and impediment free access to the Single Market.

iii) Ensure there is robust and regular Parliamentary scrutiny by requiring the Secretary of State to report to the House at least every two months on the progress being made on negotiations throughout the Brexit process

iv) Guarantee legal rights for EU nationals living in the UK. Labour has repeatedly called for the Government to take this step, and this amendment would ensure EU citizens’ rights are not part of the Brexit negotiations.

v) Require the Government to consult regularly with the governments in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland throughout Brexit negotiations. Labour’s amendment would put the Joint Ministerial Committee (JMC) on a statutory footing and require the UK Government to consult the JMC at least every two months.

vi) Require the Government to publish impact assessments conducted since the referendum of any new proposed trading relationship with the EU. This amendment seeks to ensure there is much greater clarity on the likely impact of the Government’s decision to exit the Single Market and seek new relationship with the Customs Union

vii) Ensure the Government must seek to retain all existing EU tax avoidance and evasion measures post-Brexit

Both the Liberal Democrats and SNP are likely to introduce their own amendments to the Article 50 Bill.

Original Article