• Privacy policy
  • T&C’s
  • About Us
    • FAQ
    • Meet the Team
  • Contact us
TLE ONLINE SHOP!
  • TLE
  • News
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Sport
  • Opinion
  • Elevenses
  • Entertainment
    • All Entertainment
    • Film
    • Lifestyle
      • Horoscopes
    • Lottery Results
      • Lotto
      • Thunderball
      • Set For Life
      • EuroMillions
  • Food
    • All Food
    • Recipes
  • Property
  • Travel
  • Tech/Auto
No Result
View All Result
The London Economic
SUPPORT THE LONDON ECONOMIC
NEWSLETTER
  • TLE
  • News
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Sport
  • Opinion
  • Elevenses
  • Entertainment
    • All Entertainment
    • Film
    • Lifestyle
      • Horoscopes
    • Lottery Results
      • Lotto
      • Thunderball
      • Set For Life
      • EuroMillions
  • Food
    • All Food
    • Recipes
  • Property
  • Travel
  • Tech/Auto
No Result
View All Result
The London Economic
No Result
View All Result
Home Politics

Peers accuse PM of reducing Parliament to ‘passive observers’ with Brexit Bill

A Lords committee has criticised Boris Johnson’s revision to his Brexit legislation only days before it comes to the upper house for debate.

Joe Mellor by Joe Mellor
2020-01-10 14:47
in Politics
FacebookTwitterLinkedinEmailWhatsapp

Peers have accused Boris Johnson of attempting to reduce Parliament to “passive observers” while he negotiates a trade deal with the European Union.

The Prime Minister’s European Union (Withdrawal Agreement) Bill comfortably cleared the Commons with a majority of 99 on Thursday and will head to the House of Lords next week for consideration.

But the Government has no majority in the upper chamber and, during Theresa May’s tenure, those on the red benches repeatedly dealt out defeats on Brexit.

The tone of a report by the Lords European Union Committee suggests Mr Johnson might also face a few dicey moments over the terms of his Brexit Bill.

In the 94-page document published on Friday, Brexit: The Revised Withdrawal Agreement And Political Declaration, peers weighed in to criticise changes made by the Government to the draft legislation since the thumping Conservative election victory last month.

The committee noted that a previous version of the Bill had “provided a framework” for Parliament to “approve” the UK’s future relationship with Brussels, affording MPs and peers a greater say over the upcoming negotiations.

But the concession, first made by Mr Johnson’s predecessor, Mrs May, in an attempt to pass her withdrawal terms, has been “omitted” in the re-written text, the committee observed.

RelatedPosts

Johnson urges people to ‘hold your horses’ ahead of Sue Gray report publication

Boris Johnson would have been ‘churlish’ to decline Sue Gray’s invite – minister

Susanna Reid on fire as she grills Tory MP over PM’s lawbreaking activities

Sue Gray partygate report set to be published amid heightened scrutiny over PM’s meeting

Lord Kinnoull

Lord Kinnoull, chairman of the committee, said: “The revised EU (Withdrawal Agreement) Bill has significantly weaker arrangements for transparency and democratic oversight.

“The lack of any provision in the Bill for the UK Parliament to scrutinise the future relationship negotiations is set in harsh relief compared to the role the European Parliament will play.

“MEPs will be able to undertake detailed and transparent scrutiny of future EU-UK negotiations while parliamentarians in Westminster will be reduced to passive observers.

“This lack of symmetry runs counter to the spirit and letter of ministerial undertakings given to parliament previously.”

The cross-bencher said his panel was “concerned” that “much of the detail” of the Withdrawal Agreement was being left to the UK-EU Joint Committee – a post-Brexit set-up that will be chaired by the European Commission and attended by a Government minister.

Lord Kinnoull described it as a body that “will not be subject to any parliamentary oversight and that may not even publish details of the decisions it reaches”.

Countdown to leaving the EU
(PA Graphics)

On Thursday, Downing Street urged peers to take heed of the December general election result which delivered Mr Johnson’s 80-seat Commons majority.

“The country did deliver a very clear message that they want Brexit to be resolved,” the Prime Minister’s official spokesman said.

Brexit Secretary Steve Barclay said he anticipated “constructive scrutiny” from peers but added that he had “no doubt that their Lordships will have heard the resounding message from the British people on December 12”.

But in a sign of the battles that are expected to start on Monday, the Liberal Democrats – who have 94 peers – promised they would “continue to fight to hold the Government to account”.

Related – Economic cost of Brexit has already hit £130 billion

Since you are here

Since you are here, we wanted to ask for your help.

Journalism in Britain is under threat. The government is becoming increasingly authoritarian and our media is run by a handful of billionaires, most of whom reside overseas and all of them have strong political allegiances and financial motivations.

Our mission is to hold the powerful to account. It is vital that free media is allowed to exist to expose hypocrisy, corruption, wrongdoing and abuse of power. But we can't do it without you.

If you can afford to contribute a small donation to the site it will help us to continue our work in the best interests of the public. We only ask you to donate what you can afford, with an option to cancel your subscription at any point.

To donate or subscribe to The London Economic, click here.

The TLE shop is also now open, with all profits going to supporting our work.

The shop can be found here.

You can also SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER .

Subscribe to our Newsletter

View our  Privacy Policy and Terms & Conditions

Trending on TLE

  • All
  • trending
Abdollah

‘Rescue us’: Afghan teacher begs UK to help him escape Taliban

CHOMSKY: “If Corbyn had been elected, Britain would be pursuing a much more sane course”

What If We Got Rid Of Prisons?

More from TLE

Boris Johnson needs to act before British industry is flushed down the drain, shipyard workers warn

Rishi Sunak praises ‘world famous Burnley market’ – while stood in Bury Market

Restaurant Review – Quilon

Tottenham Hotspur star was surrounded by vomit & slurring words when pulled over for jumping red light

Fly-tipper dumps whopping “50 tonnes” of rubbish outside Scottish Environment Protection Agency HQ

The TEN probes against Trump he is refusing to cooperate with…

DSEI London arms fair protestors in “No Faith in War Day” acquitted as judge concedes actions were reasonable

Chelsea boss says they matched Liverpool but pundit predicts ‘pain and suffering’ for Lampard

Deadline Day Latest: Chelsea and Arsenal have now reached agreement for the transfer of Olivier Giroud

Navy plucks people from beaches as families affected by wildfires call Australian PM an ‘idiot’

About Us

TheLondonEconomic.com – Open, accessible and accountable news, sport, culture and lifestyle.

Read more

© 2019 thelondoneconomic.com - TLE, International House, 24 Holborn Viaduct, London EC1A 2BN. All Rights Reserved.




No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Sport
  • Entertainment
  • Lifestyle
  • Food
  • Travel
  • More…
    • Elevenses
    • Opinion
    • Property
    • Tech & Auto
  • About Us
    • Meet the Team
    • Privacy policy
  • Contact us

© 2019 thelondoneconomic.com - TLE, International House, 24 Holborn Viaduct, London EC1A 2BN. All Rights Reserved.