Open Britain says government must be held to account on Leave pledges
As Theresa May prepares to invoke Article 50 of the Lisbon treaty tomorrow, triggering the process of Britain leaving the European Union, cross-party campaign group Open Britain has compiled a list of the central promises made to the British people about Brexit.
In a timely reminder of the sunny uplands offered by Vote Leave and senior Brexit campaigners, (some of whom now hold cabinet posts), The Government’s Brexit Contract with the British People is launched today by MPs Nicky Morgan, Chris Leslie and Nick Clegg.
They list the promises as follows:
- EU TRADE. The ‘exact same benefits’ delivered as we currently have within the Single Market and Customs Union.
- TRADE DEALS. Lots of new trade deals with new countries that are ready to sign on the day of our departure from the EU.
- MONEY. Savings from contributions invested in public services, including £350m a week for the NHS.
- NORTHERN IRELAND. No changes to the border between Northern Ireland and the Republic.
- RIGHTS. Citizens’, workers’ and environmental rights currently guaranteed by membership of the EU to be fully protected.
- SECURITY. A deal on security that maintains and enhances our cooperation with the EU.
- UNITED KINGDOM. The integrity of the Union protected and made stronger.
- SCIENCE. Science and research partnerships with the EU strengthened.
- DATE. The UK will be fully out, including required ratification, in 2019.
- IMMIGRATION. A dramatic reduction in net migration while also keeping the UK open to the talent and skills that UK business need.
If this sounds to good to be true, it’s a measure of the fantastic claims made by the Leave side during the EU referendum. But Open Britain argues the government must be held to account for these promises.
It says ‘there is no mandate for the form Brexit takes’, but that ‘a clear direction of travel has been set by the government – and it is largely based on that set by the Vote Leave campaign.’
It says:
“As this process takes place we must ensure people are equipped to make judgements on whether negotiations meet the expectations they had when they voted last year, whether promises made then and since are being fulfilled, and whether our country and economy are likely to be stronger as a consequence of decisions now being taken.”
The group says ‘Vote Leave and the government have made specific promises’, adding:
“Now that Article 50 is being triggered, people will expect these promises to be delivered: this is the government’s Brexit Contract with the British people.
As patriots, we want the best for our country. As realists, we fear the government’s Brexit Contract may not deliver that outcome.
And as democrats, we think that should be a judgement people and parliament are able to make.”
Open Britain supports a vote in parliament on the terms of Britain’s exit deal with the European Union. MPs rejected a House of Lords amendment to the Brexit Bill mandating a ‘meaningful vote’ on the deal, while Prime Minister Theresa May has said that having ‘no deal is better than a bad deal’.
Adam Barnett is staff writer for Left Foot Forward. Follow him on Twitter @AdamBarnett13
See: Heseltine sacking shows Theresa May has zero tolerance for dissenters on Brexit
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2 Responses to “Here are the bold promises Brexiteers made to the British people. How many will be broken?”
John Woods
Anyone who believed those promises is going to be disappointed and it is no service to the honour of Parliament that these promises should contaminate the Brexit negotiations. Get over it, we lost, it is true that no matter how dishonourable the Leave side was, they fooled enough people to win the vote. The Referendum Bill that passed through parliament in 2013 should have insisted on a two thirds majority.
patrick newman
Two thirds majority? The leave campaign could not even muster a simple majority of the electorate. They got 37.5% of the registered electorate and if you also accounted for those not registed but eligible (est 2M) then the leave support was not much over one third. However we are where we are and Labour must challenge wherever the Tories take the opportunity to turn the UK into an employers paradise. Now that the government are enthusiastically aligned with the Brexiteers we have every right to criticise where they are not delivering on the Leave promises.