Opposition parties push for new vote to extend Brexit transition period
Labour, the Liberal Democrats, the SNP, and other opposition parties are trying to force a vote on new legislation to extend the Brexit transition period. Photograph: Kirsty O'Connor/PA. - Credit: PA Wire/PA Images
Westminster opposition parties are pushing ahead with plans to force a vote on extending the Brexit transition period.
Opposition MPs have written to Commons leader Jacob Rees-Mogg requesting a vote on new legislation that would extend the transition period.
Labour, the Liberals Democrats, the SNP and other parties submitted a draft bill to repeal that the current section of the EU Withdrawal Bill that prevents ministers from requesting an extension by the end of June.
You may also want to watch:
In the letter, Layla Moran (Lib Dems), Clive Lewis (Labour), Caroline Lucas (Green party), Tommy Sheppard (SNP), and Liz Saville Roberts (Plaid Cymru) said evading calls to extend the Brexit transition period would be tantamount to 'turning a deaf ear to the public' at a time of 'national crisis'.
Most Read
- 1 Tory minister admits UK rejected EU's music visa offer in order to 'take back control' of borders
- 2 Priti Patel fails to appear in Commons to answer questions on missing police records
- 3 Iain Duncan Smith defends calling Donald Trump 'a decent man'
- 4 Kwasi Kwarteng confirms post-Brexit review of workers' rights
- 5 The bigot we should have called out on day one
- 6 Leave EU website suspended after EU registry blocks move to Ireland
- 7 Bob Geldof vindicated over pro-EU fishing stunt, suggests broadcaster
- 8 Brandon Lewis unable to explain to Piers Morgan reason for UK having 'worst COVID death in the world'
- 9 Brexiteer MP criticised after suggesting No 10 should break Northern Ireland Protocol
- 10 Boris Johnson blames seafood companies for post-Brexit sales slump
They argued that a lot has changed since the first Brexit vote in January and that the coronavirus and a tidal-wave change in opinion in favour of an extension warranted a new vote on the matter.
'The UK has experienced the devastating impact of coronavirus, causing over 41,000 deaths, a record fall in GDP and unprecedented restrictions to our daily lives,' they wrote.
'None of us could have predicted then the scale of the damage to the country that would be caused by this pandemic.
'In light of this dramatic change in circumstances, it is only right that parliament should be given the chance to make its voice heard again on this critical issue. Failure to do so would be to turn a deaf ear to the public at a time of national crisis.'
Commenting on the issue, Lib Dems leadership hopeful Layla Moran warned that it was not 'too late' for an extension.
She said: 'A no deal Brexit at the end of this year would strike a devastating blow to people's livelihoods, businesses and the NHS just as we begin to turn the corner from the coronavirus.
'It's not too late to stop this monumental act of national self-harm in its tracks and agree to an extension.
'MPs have not been consulted on Brexit since before the pandemic hit in January. Given the scale of the damage done by coronavirus and the significant public support for an extension, parliament must now be given a say.'
Become a Supporter
The New European is proud of its journalism and we hope you are proud of it too. We believe our voice is important - both in representing the pro-EU perspective and also to help rebalance the right wing extremes of much of the UK national press. If you value what we are doing, you can help us by making a contribution to the cost of our journalism.
