1. Welcome to “The Labour MPs guide to voting for a deal”.
2. Part 1. – “Respecting the Referendum”. 
3. The Referendum was fought on “taking back control”.
4. This arguably does not mean Northern Ireland signed up to regulations that it has no control of while the rest of the UK is not.
5. Polls after the referendum also indicated that peopled voted to get their sovereignty back.
6. If having Sovereignty back means Northern Ireland signed up to an agreement on which they can leave at any time, then they are where the UK was before the referendum.
Just without the representation...so...the opposite of getting sovereignty back.
Just without the representation...so...the opposite of getting sovereignty back.
7. More importantly, on the basis Labour is not in power. In terms of ‘respecting the referendum’, does the deal meet the standards the Conservative government set?
8. Should it not meet those standards, it is important for MPs to remember it has been a tradition that Labour hold the Conservative party to account to what it has said to the electorate, favouring this approach over a “Well I want to get on with something else” attitude.
9. Part 2. – What did the manifesto that Labour MPs actually say about leaving the European Union.
10. This won't be achieved by empty slogans, therefore, the first thing an MP must do is make sure they do not fall for empty slogans
11. They must not, under any circumstances, repeat the empty slogans of the Conservative Prime Minister
12. If part of the country is going to be under the jurisdiction of ECJ, then it’s a good time to push for an extension of this to cover Euratom.
13. Especially if the Conservative advisor says that there was no need to not have this coverage.
14. In accepting a deal, MPs must consider if it makes it a fairer economy.
15. An example of a less fairer economy, for example, would be one part of the Union having a greater economic advantage over another.
16. It is imperative that when looking at the deal that Labour MPs consider the national interest
17. When the manifesto says “national interest” this did not mean, and I can’t stress this enough, “if the nation is interested”.
These are very different concepts and not to be confused under any circumstances.
These are very different concepts and not to be confused under any circumstances.
18. Labour MPs must reject Theresa May’s reckless approach. This is not the time for recklessness.
19. Agreeing to a deal without understanding and debating the details properly, for example, would be a really good example of a 'reckless approach'.
20. Labour MPs are to reject ‘no deal’ as a viable option
21. It is, therefore, advised that Labour MPs vote for an amendment that insures against ‘no deal’ while they are taking the time to understand and debate the deal in a manner that is not the aforementioned: 'reckless approach'.
22. When reviewing the deal, it is advised that MPs question how the relative closeness of the future relationship will affect our membership of European organisations.
23. While ensuring that workplace laws, consumer rights, and environmental protections are guarded.
24. MPs should do all the can to avoid the trap of saying these protections are legally binding when they are not. Legal commentators have an annoying habit of picking up on such tiny discrepancies.
25. MPs should ensure the deal fully supports the principles and structures inherent within the Good Friday Agreement, and not damage the peace process.
26. The level of success will be measured after the fact. If Labour MPs vote for a deal which leaves civil unrest in Northern Ireland, then arguably, they have proper f***ed up.
27. MPs should be mindful that it is always the last chance for a deal. It was last time, it is this time, and it will be next time. This should not make them feel pressured to do what they think is wrong for the country,
28. And that this is not about what Labour MPs can stand, what they like, want, or feel. This is about what the country needs.
29. It is not for you as an MP, or the 244 MPs, or the electorate. It’s for everybody, of any age, in this country and the generations to come.
For the many, not the few.
/End
For the many, not the few.
/End
