Labour failing their duty as Official Opposition on Brexit
This morning Keir Starmer, the shadow Brexit Secretary, refused to answer how any Brexit deal that Labour could negotiate could pass Labour’s ‘six tests’.
Responding to the exchange on the Andrew Marr show, Liberal Democrat Brexit Spokesperson Tom Brake said:
It is clear that Labour’s policy on Brexit is no closer to getting any clearer. After a week in which the Conservative Government’s deal was destroyed in an historic Parliamentary defeat, it is a dereliction of duty for the Opposition to continue without an alternative plan.
The shadow Brexit secretary could not answer how any Brexit deal they negotiated would pass Labour’s six tests, the most crucial being to provide the exact same benefits we currently enjoy as EU members.
The Liberal Democrats are clear; the best deal is the one we currently have. That is why we are continuing to fight for a people’s vote, with the option to remain in the EU.
It is time the Labour Party joined us in holding this shambolic Conservative Government to account.
Fox’s failure to sign trade deals shows Brexiters’ ‘Global Britain’ does not exist
Today Liam Fox, the International Trade Secretary, has admitted the UK has yet to finalise agreements to replace the existing free trade deals that the EU has with 40 big economies if there is a no-deal Brexit.
Responding, Liberal Democrat Brexit Spokesperson Tom Brake said:
Liam Fox has confirmed that the tumult of trade deals that he promised would be signed, the day after Brexit, are stalled. There will not be, and never was going to be, any significant trade deals that could offset the loss of trade with our closest and largest partner.
It is time Fox admitted his grand project is ideological, not economic, and will leave us all poorer. The Brexiters’ vision of ‘Global Britain’ does not exist.
This Conservative Government has not only had two and half years worth of negotiating defeated this week in the House of Commons, but is completely unprepared for a no-deal scenario.
The only serious option left on the table is a people’s vote, with the option to remain in the EU.