Local MP’s explain why they will vote against EU (Withdrawal) Bill on Monday

Wrexham’s MP Ian Lucas and Clwyd South’s MP Susan Elan Jones have said they will be voting against the EU Withdrawal Bill, with the vote due to take place on Monday.

On Thursday MP’s started debating the EU Withdrawal Bill which would change the supremacy of law from the EU to the UK. In basic terms the Bill would convert all EU laws into UK based ones and is seen by some as a ‘technical’ step towards an EU exit, but others see it as a transferring of power to UK Government Ministers rather than Parliament itself.

Back in June last year Wrexham voted ‘Leave’ in the EU Referendum with 41,544 of you wanting out, and 28,822 X’ing for Remain.

Earlier this year a key ‘Brexit Bill’ was voted through Westminster which formally started the leaving process after the Referendum. At the time we asked Wrexham’s MP Ian Lucas on his voting position, which he backed up with a lengthy speech on the day of the vote.

With the debate on the ‘Withdrawal’ Bill ongoing from Thursday and likely through Monday as well we asked our two local MP’s if they had decided how they would be voting on the so called Brexit Bill (also more formally known as the EU (Withdrawal) Bill, or previously the Repeal Bill) and if so, why they had made that choice. The vote itself it likely to take place late in the day on Monday.

Clwyd South’s Susan Elan Jones MP told us yesterday afternoon: “I am very definitely voting against. In common with many MPs across the political spectrum I think the Bill is a desperate power grab by the Government to subvert the democratic will of Parliament.

“It disrespects Wales and the Welsh Government. Theresa May called an unneeded general election to try and get support for a Hard Right Hard Brexit. She ended up losing her majority.

“I will never back a Hard Brexit that does not put jobs and our local economy first.”

Wrexham’s Ian Lucas MP answered our query yesterday by saying: “I will vote against the Bill as it stands – it puts huge and unaccountable power into the hands of Tory Government ministers and side-lines Parliament on key decisions.

“Far from bringing back control to Parliament, it would result in a power-grab for Tory Ministers – and would prevent me, as Wrexham’s MP, from speaking up on issues which directly affect my constituents, their jobs, services and rights.”

“As the Bill stands, Ministers are demanding sweeping powers and no Parliamentary scrutiny. There are very real concerns when Governments – of whatever kind – demand power without accountability.”