Thread by @JonathanArnott

A thread explaining what the European Parliament is voting on today, whilst Westminster votes on Brexit. In just one short voting session, a reminder of what the EU is doing - and the chilling nature of what Remain would actually mean.

The EP votes on deploying the European Border and Coast Guard Agency in Albania. Albania is not even a member of the EU. Borders and coastguards should be matters of national sovereignty for all nations, especially non-EU ones.

There's legislation on the Customs Union allocating €950 million which states that there will be 'costs' to the UK of leaving (not clear if this is in addition to the 39 billion.

There's a legislative report to spend €1.3 BILLION on purchase, maintenance and upgrade of customs controls equipment. As long as the UK leaves the EU, we shouldn't be paying towards this.

There's a string of votes on European elections, seeking to interfere with (amongst other things) the process of election to choose people based upon gender not merit.

The UK is due to receive a €9 billion refund from the money it invested in the European Investment Bank, but this won't be fully paid until 2054. The European Parliament votes to remove a Director from the UK anyway.

If the UK were in the EU post-2021, we'd be on the hook for our share of a €6bn commitment on energy which the European Parliament votes on today.

There's a report on how EU funding can be used to reform nations' public sectors. Yet this should not be for the EU to decide for the UK. EU funding is often weaponised in such ways.

Another report covers member states' tax policies, seeking to tell them how they should organise their own income tax policies for example. Not part of the EU's power at present, but a clear intention to grab more power.

A vote on an amendment to allow nations to end the 'tampon tax' fails, by just one vote. 318-319.

This is all just one day - and this is a short voting session today. There'll be a much, much longer one tomorrow.

Society is talking a lot about the consequences of Brexit. Yet we should be aware of the consequences of Remain! Remain does NOT mean the status quo.