Thread re Prime Minister on #BBCtoday @BBCr4today re #EU just now: she got her catchphrase in early and followed the classic media training advice 'repeat, repeat, repeat'. 3 years ago it was 'Long-term economic plan', now it is 'when we leave the EU free movement will end'
or 'when we leave the EU we will take back control of our money, our laws and our borders'. All of which is based on fallacy - claim of net out-flow of money has been demonstrated clearly many times, we elect our MEPs and the MPs who debate the EU regs and we have border controls
Astonishingly disdainful way she thinks of UK workers - they will be trained for the low skilled jobs currently done by people from EU27 countries, but we will still allow people in if they will have salary of £50k. She had no plan for immediate recruitment e.g. for care homes
When pushed on immigration and negotiations, she focussed on tourism and said it will all be fine for people to go on holiday. What about the creative industries and others who regularly work across the whole EU28 now? She ignored potential impact of deal on trade deals
Asked about Ireland there appeared to be still no plan - repeated references to the backstop and new proposals 'in due course'. WE ARE WEEKS AWAY PRIME MINISTER! YOU ARE RUNNING OUT OF TIME! (no apologies for shouty text there)
there was some blather about a 2-fold message: to Labour, stop playing politics and act in national interest and to own party, let's come together and get the best deal for Britian'. Now there is an apple-pie messasge if ever I heard one. Brexit is due to be disastrous
disastrous for the 110,000 people I represent in Bristol West, where businesses of all sizes tell me they cannot prepare for next March because they have no idea what to prepare for. Some are preparing by leaving. Others pore over the 'no deal' papers as that is all there is
this disaster is of course a disaster for jobs in those businesses & supply chain of big businesses such as aerospace industry if they decide to scale down because of end to free movement of goods, people and services needed to make and maintain aeroplane wings, for example
It's a disaster for those UK citizens who work across the whole of the EU28 at the moment regularly but do not reside in any of the EU27 as permanent residents, such as touring musicians - there is no provision for them, beyond a verbal commitment I had from Culture Minister
It's a disaster for people from the other EU27 who currently live permamently, often with partners and families and jobs, in the UK, as this uncertainty means appalling breach of their right to family life
It's a disaster for anyone who, like me, wants us to have as close as possible a relationship with EU, as it sounds as if the Prime Minister intends to plough on regardless of all of these problems, taking us into a 'no deal', crash out next March with no transition if necessary
The PM's interview did not cover wider aspects of immigration such as possible improvements to how we respond to refugees, implementing the commitment we have made as a country to the UN Global Compacts on Refugees and on Migrants, for example, or family reunion,or #Dubs children
I will be focussing my day today on the #AgricultureBill (as Shadow DEFRA whip), which has 2nd reading next week, and on the government's proposals on immigration (as chair of the @APPGRefugees hoping to secure amendments to Imm. Bill)
for the Immigration Bill, I am still hoping actual text is written so that amendments re refugees will be 'in scope', so we can try to secure right to work at 6 mnths, end to indefinite detention, protection for survivors of torture, restoration of legal aid, family reunion etc
I'm working with colleagues across all parties as well as refugees & refugee NGOs on how we achieve all of these. But there is no escaping fact that Brexit, as @bbclaurak said after the PM interview, is overshadowing everything, like a dark star, sucking the energy out of P'ment
Risks for us Parliamentarians: we vote down the eventual deal because it is a rubbish deal, and the PM, supported or provoked or inspired or whatever by her Hard Brexiteers says to us 'whatevs, you've just voted down the deal, so it's on you when I now crash us out without one'
Don't get me wrong, I intend to vote against a rubbish deal, but no deal is also a rubbish deal. So if Parliament votes down the deal, which it could well do, we will be in constitutional crisis and we must NOT let T. May and the ERG be the sole decision-makers
It will be exactly then when the PM needs to heed her own words not to 'play politics' but to act in the national interest. Which will need all options considered, including further votes such as so-called 'People's Vote' or a General Election. Risks in all directions but...
As a remainer, representing a remain constituency, I continue to argue that the best relationship for UK to have with the EU is remaining full members and that if we cannot, we have to try to have as close as possible to membership of Single Market and Customs Union
So I understand why some people turn to the 'People's Vote' as a possible solution - I do. I have yet to see or hear about a strategy for how we remainers would win that vote. It is not even clear what would be on the ballot paper, particularly if P'ment had voted down the deal
If we have voted down the deal, technically it should surely only be no deal or remain on the ballot paper. which is sort of like the 2016 question. But have we actually dealt with the underlying causes of that 2016 result? including cheating, lying and misinformation?
never mind the utter disconnectedness many people do seem to feel with the EU - I don't, but I can see that many many do. That's not been dealt with, in fact it could be worse. So there are risks and unknowns behind how we get that vote, what on ballot paper and how to win
&lack of a plan for what to do following the vote, if there was a result to remain, or to crash out without a deal, or to leave on a bad deal - remember that local businesses are desperate for some clarity so I can see why, if that was on the ballot paper, they might vote for it
As a REMAINER, representing a REMAIN constituency, it would be irresponsible of me not to look at risks. If we have another referendum, and there is a vote for LEAVE on any terms at all, that's it, we're out,no political space for any sort of close relationship e.g. SM/CU
So I cannot just simply stand by and criticise, I have to investigate, to shine a light of the potential and actual Brexit impact on local jobs and civic society, I have to consult, I have to challenge the govt. Here is a list of what I have done recently: debbonaire.co.uk/my-work-on-bre…
