Politics

Jeremy Corbyn jeered by MPs for refusing to back UK leaving EU on October 31


Mr Corbyn, responding to Prime Minister in the Commons, claimed the new and Political Declaration were “even worse” than that negotiated by previous PM . He said: “We are having a debate today on a text for which there is no economic impact assessment and no accompanying legal advice. “This Government has sought to avoid scrutiny throughout this process and yesterday evening made empty promises on workers’ rights and the environment.”

Mr Corbyn told the raucous House of Commons: This Government cannot be trusted and these benches will not be duped. Neither will the Government’s own workers.

The head of the civil service union Prospect met yesterday with the Rt Hon Member for Surrey Heath.

He said: “I asked for reassurances that the government would not diverge on workers’ rights after Brexit. He could not give me those assurances”.

“And as for the much-hyped “world-leading Environment Bill”, the legally-binding targets will not be enforceable until 2037.”

Boris Johnson Jeremy Corbyn

Jeremy Corbyn was loudly jeered by Tory MPs (Image: PA)

Boris Johnson

Boris Johnson speaking in the Commons before Mr Corbyn’s response (Image: Parliament TV)

Mr Corbyn claimed a vote for Mr Johnson’s plan would be “a cut manufacturing jobs”, adding: “This deal would inevitably lead to a Trump trade deal, forcing the UK to diverge from the highest standards and expose our families to chlorine-washed chicken and hormone-treated beef.

“The deal fails to enshrine the principle that we keep pace with the EU on environmental standards and protections, putting at risk our current rules, from air pollution standards to chemical safety – all at a time when we face a climate emergency.

“And as for workers’ rights, we cannot simply give this government a blank cheque.”

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The deal would lead to a “Trump trade deal”, which Mr Corbyn argued would force the UK “to diverge from the highest standards and expose our families to chlorine-washed chicken and hormone-treated beef”.

He said: “As for workers’ rights, we cannot simply give this government a blank cheque.

“Mr Speaker, you don’t have to take my word for all of this. Listen to the TUC’s Frances O’Grady, who says:

“’This deal would be a disaster for working people. It would hammer the economy, cost jobs and sell workers’ rights down the river.'”

Mr Corbyn then responded testily to the jeers of Tory MPs, saying: “She does represent six million workers in this country!”

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Jeremy Corbyn

Jeremy Corbyn talks in the Commons (Image: PA)

Mr Corbyn said he recognised the “frustration and fatigue” across the country, and within Parliament, in respect of Brexit.

“However, he said: “We simply cannot vote for a deal that is even worse than the one this House rejected three times.

“The Government’s own economic analysis shows this deal would make the poorest regions even poorer.

“And could cost each person in this country over £2,000 per year.”

Brexit calendar

What’s next for Brexit (Image: Daily Express)

Mr Corbyn also referred to comments by Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab that the deal represented “a cracking deal for Northern Ireland”, given they would retain frictionless access to the single market.

He added: “It does beg the question Mr Speaker, why can’t the rest of the UK get a cracking deal by maintaining access to the single market?

“The Taoiseach said, it “allows the all-Ireland economy to continue to develop and one which protects the European single market”.

John Bercow

Speaker John Bercow addresses MPs (Image: Parliament TV)

“Some members of this House do welcome an all-Ireland economy, but I didn’t think that included a Government of the Conservative & Unionist Party.

He also referred to Mr Johnson’s remarks about arrangements for Northern Ireland, saying: “The Prime Minister declared in the summer: ‘Under no circumstances will I allow the EU or anyone else to create any kind of division down the Irish Sea.’

“You cannot trust a word he says.”

Mr Corbyn concluded: “Mr Speaker, voting for a deal today won’t end Brexit.

“It won’t deliver certainty and the people should have the final say.

“Labour is not prepared to sell-out the communities we represent.

“We are not prepared to sell out their future. And we will not back this sell-out deal.”



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