Bradford MPs not backing Brexit deal

In a sign that the Prime Minister is struggling to get her deal through Parliament not one MP polled by the Telegraph & Argus supported it.

MPs are due to vote on the plan on Tuesday after five days of debate in the House of Commons.

Labour MPs Naz Shah, Imran Hussain, Judith Cummins, John Grogan and Alex Sobel were joined by Tory Philip Davies in opposing the deal negotiated with the EU.

Conservatives Stuart Andrew and Craig Whittaker will be the only MPs from neighbouring constituencies backing Mrs May.

But the MPs differ in their reasons and what option they would vote for instead.

Ms Shah (Bradford West) said: "It's clear from the fiasco that we've seen in recent days this Government is not fit to lead the country, nor to deliver a Brexit agreement that won't leave us in a worse position than we already find ourselves in through years of Tory austerity.

"The Prime Minister can't deliver a Brexit agreement that won't be voted down on Tuesday, so instead she should withdraw this botched agreement.

"I support the Labour position in wanting a new, comprehensive and permanent customs union, with a British say in future trade deals. That would support businesses and jobs and ensure no hard border in Northern Ireland."

Mr Hussain (Bradford East) said: “After a miserable two years of negotiations, all that the Prime Minister has brought back is a dog’s dinner of a deal that fails to protect jobs, workplace rights and environmental standards, and compromises our security.

“Bradford is one of the most deprived cities in the UK, with high unemployment and low wage growth, and this deal will do nothing to improve this situation, but will instead leave people even poorer. I cannot support any deal that will leave people in Bradford and across the country worse off, and I will not be supporting the Prime Minister’s deal.

“Instead of ploughing on with this botched deal, the Prime Minister should set new negotiating priorities that will see businesses in Bradford have continued access to vital European markets for both goods and services, assurances that we will not fall behind the EU in workers’ rights or protections for consumers and the environment, and sufficient guarantees on national security.”

Ms Cummins (Bradford South) said: “I plan to vote against the deal on Tuesday. The botched deal negotiated by the Prime Minister is not good enough for my constituents or the country.”

Mr Davies (Shipley) was equally scathing: “The deal doesn’t even come close to respecting the result of the referendum, even by the criteria set out by the PM herself.

“I will therefore be voting against this deal and will be trying to ensure Brexit is properly and fully delivered.

“I will certainly not be voting to hand over £39bn to the EU with nothing in return in a deal which keeps us shackled to the EU in perpetuity.

“We need to leave the EU not sign up to a con.”

Mr Grogan (Keighley) said: "The deal the Prime Minister is offering us is reality a blind Brexit. It buys a few months of stability but effectively kicks all the difficult decisions about our relationship with Europe down the road.

"It will mean years ahead of wrangling which will not be good for business or jobs. After we are out of the European Union our negotiating position will be much weakened - all details of any new trade deal with the European Union would have to be agreed by all the European Union governments.

"It would be much better to have firm arrangements in place now. To protect jobs in manufacturing in Keighley which depend on exports to the European Union I believe we need to be as close as we possibly can to the customs union and single market."

Mr Sobel (Leeds North West) said: "If the opportunity to vote to renegotiate, to join EFTA or for another public vote on EU Membership arises in Parliament, I will vote for any and all of these. I will not vote for the Prime Minister’s blank cheque and I will oppose a no deal Brexit with every fibre of my being."

Mr Andrew (Pudsey) said: "I will be voting with the government on Tuesday. 

"At the time of the referendum I committed to honour the result, whichever way it went. The majority of the contact I have had with constituents has drawn me to conclude that I should back the proposed deal. Whilst not perfect, it does at least set us on the course of leaving the EU, honour the vote of the referendum, whilst ensuring we do so in a pragmatic and sensible way."

Mr Whittaker (Calder Valley) said: "As the deal is only about the withdrawal and implementation period, I am quite pragmatic about the agreement. I say this as this is purely a stepping stone to get to another place.

"Are there things which I am uneasy about? Yes, but not enough to make me think that voting against the deal is the best option – not least because this could end up with Brexit not being delivered at all.

"It is for these reasons that I will be voting to back the deal and will back the Prime Minister."

Skipton MP Julian Smith did not respond to a request for his position but he is the Government's Chief Whip and is expected to back the deal.

With three days of the five-day debate complete, Press Association analysis showed that of 163 MPs who have spoken, just 27 have indicated they will back Mrs May’s deal compared to 122 - including 29 Tories - who will vote against.