In a passionate speech in today’s debate today Clive Efford demanded that the Government ensure that Parliament was given a central role in scrutinising the Brexit process.

Clive explained that he would he would reluctantly vote for the motion triggering Article 50 because as a democratically elected MP he could not ignore the result of the referendum.  “We can’t say to the public we know better” he said.

He told MPs that it was “folly” to assume, as leave campaigners do, that the UK can just fall out of the EU and rely on World Trade Organisations trading terms without the economy suffering.

He asked “What is going to happen with those countries who have vested interests, like Spain, who might want to use this vulnerability of the UK to open up negotiations about Gibraltar? Would Argentina start to challenge agreements with the UK to open up negotiations about the future of the Falklands Islands?”

He criticised the performance of the Government – and Boris Johnson in particular – since the referendum “The Government has clearly shown that it is not to be trusted with these negotiations without oversight from the House of Commons.”  That is why it is vital that Parliament has the key role in scrutinising these negotiations “MPs have a duty to scrutinise this process and the Government should not stand in the way of democratic accountability” he said.

To see a video of Clive’s speech click here.  To see a written transcript click here.