Last week MPs voted 498-114 to grant the Prime Minister the
power to formally trigger Article 50, the process by which the United Kingdom
will leave the European Union.
I am honoured to have been part of this historic vote by
which, once the Bill has passed through all stages, the Prime Minister will be
able to implement the instruction from the British people in formally starting
the UK’s exit from the EU.
It was important to me to vote not just on behalf of the majority
of residents in Mid-Cornwall who voted for Brexit in last year’s referendum,
but also the majority of people across the country who voted to leave.
Although it is right to acknowledge the 48% of those who
voted to remain, there also needs to be an acceptance that by granting a
referendum we placed this decision in the hands of the British people. It would
be undemocratic to now seek to thwart the implementation of this decision as
some are seeking to do.
I am therefore pleased that MPs overwhelmingly voted for
this Bill, although it was again a shame to see the Liberal Democrats failing
to live up to their name, voting to defy the British People and frustrate the
majority.
In fact, it was bizarre to hear the former Deputy Prime
Minister Nick Clegg, who once said his Party was leading the calls for an EU
Referendum, lead an attack on the people’s decision in the House of Commons
last Tuesday. I suppose in his view Referendums are ok as long as, if you are
unhappy with the result, you can keep demanding another one until you get what
you want.
As a columnist in a leading daily paper said of Clegg, .… “[his] nine-minute contribution was one of
the most nakedly dishonest speeches I have had the misfortune to hear in the
Commons. The man is as shameless as a charity store shoplifter.”
Following the vote the Government published the long awaited
White Paper on Brexit, which expanded on the Brexit Strategy points made by the
Prime Minister earlier in the year. I have included a link to the White Paper
on my website, which you can find below:
This week the Bill will go on to the committee stage, where
various amendments are being tabled to delay or dilute us leaving the EU. I
will certainly do all I can to resist any attempts to do so.
As the formal negotiations begin, along with my Cornish MP
colleagues I will of course be doing my very best to ensure Cornwall gets the
best deal possible from Brexit and look forward to working closely with
colleagues both locally and in Westminster to achieve just that.
As
always, my team and I are here to serve the whole constituency and work hard to
make a real difference to the lives of everyone needing support. If there is an
issue you would like my assistance on then please contact me on either 01726
829379 or office@stevedouble.org.uk. Additionally, I hold regular, appointment
only, advice surgeries across the constituency. Dates of these can be found at:
www.stevedouble.org.uk/events
