Author Topic: Labour leadership challenger Owen Smith to oppose Brexit without further vote!  (Read 3604 times)

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Offline John

Brexit: Owen Smith opposes Article 50 move without vote



24 August 2016



Owen Smith says he will try to stop Theresa May formally triggering Brexit unless she promises a referendum on the final deal or calls a general election to approve it.
The Labour leadership challenger said his party should not give the Tories a "blank cheque" on negotiations.
But rival Jeremy Corbyn said Parliament had to "work with" the result of the referendum.
Ministers said they would deliver on the "decisive" referendum verdict.
The UK voted to leave the EU by 52% to 48% in a referendum on 23 June but the manner and timing of the country's departure remains uncertain.
The prime minister has said she will not begin the formal legal process of separation by activating Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty this year, insisting that a "sensible and orderly departure" from the EU will take time.

However, she has come under pressure from some senior Conservatives to begin the process in early 2017 amid press speculation about possible delays.
Speaking on Wednesday, Mr Smith said the British people were "lied to" by those campaigning to leave the EU and they deserve to have a say on the terms of the exit.
He told BBC Radio 5 live: "It would be irresponsible of Theresa May to simply trigger Article 50 and sleepwalk out... Labour still believes that we should be a part of the European Union."

'Look of Brexit'

Mr Smith says he will "fight tooth and nail" to keep the UK in the EU and said that under his leadership, Labour would oppose the triggering of Article 50 in a future Commons vote unless certain conditions were met.
He rejected accusations he was trying to override democracy, saying if Labour believed working people were worse off by the settlement he could "legitimately put it back to the British people".
"Theresa May says that 'Brexit means Brexit' - but nobody knows what Brexit looks like," Mr Smith said.
"It could involve trashing workers' rights and environmental protections, opening our NHS up to foreign competition, making it harder for us to trade with our neighbours and damaging our economy."
He added: "Under my leadership, Labour won't give the Tories a blank cheque.
"We will vote in Parliament to block any attempt to invoke Article 50 until Theresa May commits to a second referendum or a general election on whatever EU exit deal emerges at the end of the process."
It is not yet known whether Mr Smith will have the chance to vote against Article 50.
A legal challenge is under way to try to ensure Parliament has a say before Article 50 is triggered, but the government says this can happen without the need for a Commons vote.

Jeremy Corbyn's campaign said blocking Brexit could cost Labour votes
Mr Smith is pressing the Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, who he is seeking to topple, to match his commitment.
In the immediate aftermath of the referendum result, Mr Corbyn called for Article 50 to be invoked immediately but he has since distanced himself from the comments, saying he misspoke and due time was needed for the UK to determine its negotiating strategy.
Article 50 gives the sides two years to negotiate the terms of the split, with any extension having to be agreed by all 28 EU members.
At a campaign event in London, Mr Corbyn said: "People voted for a variety of reasons, but nevertheless they voted."
He set out what would be his "red lines" for Brexit, including full access to the EU single market, retention of workers' rights and allowing EU nationals in the UK to remain.
Sam Tarry, Mr Corbyn's campaign director, told BBC News Mr Smith's Article 50 pledge would cost Labour "an awful lot of seats".
"If he wants to use parliament to block, you know, us going into Brexit, I think that would be deeply unpopular with millions and millions of working class, potentially Labour, voters all across the country," Mr Tarry said.
"I think we need to have a bit more of a considered position."

'Colourful' language

Most Labour MPs supported a vote to stay in the EU - but the Labour Leave campaign said Mr Smith's pledge was "electoral suicide".
"It is time for the Labour Party to put behind itself the divisions of the past and accept the result of the vote," said John Mills, Labour Leave's chairman.
Sir Patrick McLoughlin, the chairman of the Conservative Party, said: "The result of the referendum was clear and decisive and we in the Conservative Party will deliver on the people's verdict.
"Whether it's Jeremy Corbyn or Owen Smith, Labour are too divided and out of touch to make a success of Brexit."
In his round of interviews, Mr Smith also faced questions about his use of the word "lunatic" at a campaign event.
"What you won't get from me is some lunatic at the top of the Labour Party," he told party members in Hammersmith.
Mr Corbyn's campaign urged him to apologise, saying his comment was offensive to people with mental illness.
Mr Smith told the Today programme he had not been referring to Mr Corbyn but had been referring to himself and apologised to anyone who was offended by the use of the word, saying his language would be "less colourful in the future".


http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-37167253
« Last Edit: August 24, 2016, 01:19:12 PM by John »
A malicious prosecution for a crime which never existed. An exposé of egregious malfeasance by public officials.
Indeed, the truth never changes with the passage of time.

Alfie

  • Guest
Corbyn vs Smith.  Not much of s choice is it?  Corbyn will of course win, and Labour will limp on to the next crisis. 

How sad.

Offline John

I think Owen Smith has effectively shot himself in the foot by making this pronouncement yesterday.  It will not go down well with voters in the Labour heartlands who so fervently voted for Brexit despite Corbyn and his cronies.

Labour voters on the whole are being disenfranchised more and more and that can only be good news forTheresa.
A malicious prosecution for a crime which never existed. An exposé of egregious malfeasance by public officials.
Indeed, the truth never changes with the passage of time.

stephen25000

  • Guest
I think Owen Smith has effectively shot himself in the foot by making this pronouncement yesterday.  It will not go down well with voters in the Labour heartlands who so fervently voted for Brexit despite Corbyn and his cronies.

Labour voters on the whole are being disenfranchised more and more and that can only be good news forTheresa.

Two-thirds of Labour voters , voted to remain.

Offline G-Unit

Owen Smith has little to offer. 'I'm just as radical as him but I wear a nice suit and the PLP like me' isn't going to be enough imo.
Read and abide by the forum rules.
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Offline Miss Taken Identity

Owen Smith has little to offer. 'I'm just as radical as him but I wear a nice suit and the PLP like me' isn't going to be enough imo.

I agree G. I trust JC more than this cretin. How dare he tell the people who didn't elect him as an MP or a spokes person on their behalf that he was going to stop Brexit.... oh the arrogance...oh the cheek of it.
'Never underestimate the power of stupid people'... George Carlin

Offline G-Unit

I agree G. I trust JC more than this cretin. How dare he tell the people who didn't elect him as an MP or a spokes person on their behalf that he was going to stop Brexit.... oh the arrogance...oh the cheek of it.

I expect some 'expert' told him it was a vote winner. He's too dim to realise that, like the PLP rebellion, it would be seen as further proof of the contempt politicians have shown for democratic elections.
Read and abide by the forum rules.
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Offline Angelo222

Jeremy Corbyn has been exposed as a liar while Owen Smith is so completely out of touch to even matter..oh the woes of Labour!  @)(++(*
De troothe has the annoying habit of coming to the surface just when you least expect it!!

Je ne regrette rien!!

Offline Miss Taken Identity

I expect some 'expert' told him it was a vote winner. He's too dim to realise that, like the PLP rebellion, it would be seen as further proof of the contempt politicians have shown for democratic elections.

Indeed!  I have lost the link but Bliar has been doing the rounds saying we don't really need to leave the EU...So Owen  could be a puppet for blair n crew.
'Never underestimate the power of stupid people'... George Carlin

Offline sadie

Indeed!  I have lost the link but Bliar has been doing the rounds saying we don't really need to leave the EU...So Owen  could be a puppet for blair n crew.
What does Blair get out of us staying in the EU ?

Cos, imo, there surely must be something

Offline puglove

What does Blair get out of us staying in the EU ?

Cos, imo, there surely must be something

Obviously, I'm persona non grata here, and, if I'm honest, I've never really "got" you, but......can you honestly defend what the McCanns did?
Jeremy Bamber kicked Mike Tesko in the fanny.

Offline Jean-Pierre

Obviously, I'm persona non grata here, and, if I'm honest, I've never really "got" you, but......can you honestly defend what the McCanns did?

You seem to be a bit lost.  This is the Brexit forum. 

Offline Alice Purjorick

Labour leadership challenger Owen Smith to oppose Brexit without further vote!

It doesn't matter what either side say. What matters are Parliamentary Rules and Procedures.
Presumably The Squeaker's Office will comment and rule if required.
"Navigating the difference between weird but normal grief and truly suspicious behaviour is the key for any detective worth his salt.". ….Sarah Bailey