Eastern Greens call on the Government to allow the trade deal negotiated between the EU and representatives from the UK to have proper parliamentary scrutiny by Westminster and the European Parliament.
Welcoming the news of a potential trade deal between the U.K. and the E.U., former Green MEP and Eastern Green Party Deputy Coordinator, Catherine Rowett said:
“This has been drawn up with unseemly haste at a wholly inappropriate time. We are already under extreme pressure from the pandemic. Parliament is in recess. No competent government would have approached this in such a shambolic and embarrassing way. This was clearly not the ‘oven ready deal’ Britons were promised at last December’s general election.
“Negotiations to reach a deal should have been completed this summer. This matters because we risk losing benefits secured over 40 years of membership that safeguarded workers’ rights, environmental protections and a level playing field across all kinds of production and trade. e details of the deal need to be checked, because the chances that we could get anything near as good as the deal we had before are very slim. With no representation in EU decisions we are in a weak place.
It appears that the deal that has been agreed will now be rushed through both EU and UK Parliaments without detailed scrutiny by either House because of the sabre rattling and grandstanding.
Neither Parliament will have the opportunity to scrutinise the deal. The East of England’s economy is at risk, including farming, fisheries, scientific research, manufacture, sea ports and freight haulage. There is little doubt that Brexit will bring further job losses and drive many small businesses into bankruptcy, on top of devastation caused by the pandemic. We have seen what happens when borders are obstructed or closed.
We look forward where we can rebuild a better relationship of trust and collaboration between the U.K and E.U. For now what is clearly needed is a short extension to allow ratification and of the deal in the new year.
A fairer approach would have seen the government check their proposed deal with the people to make sure that it still has majority support at the ballot box. We should have been offered the chance to decide to keep our old relationship. This government does not have a majority of voters behind it. It shouldn’t be taking damaging decisions without full consensus.
