Today the historic Brexit deal was voted on in Parliament, and together we stood up against this bad Brexit. Thousands of you wrote to your MPs, leaders in the European Movement called for MPs to refuse to endorse this catastrophic deal, and I was one of the MPs who stood with you and refused to endorse this deal.

We knew that Boris Johnson would get his deal through the Commons. But I believe, along with over 100 of my colleagues, that this deal should not be endorsed by anyone who believes Boris Johnson’s Brexit deal is bad for the UK.

In the end, 52 MPs abstained and 73 MPs voted against the deal.

The European Movement UK will continue to hold the Government to account for the harm this deal will do to the UK. It was a political choice this government made, and they alone should take full responsibility.

But far from being defeated by the Government’s bad deal for the UK, we recognise that this is the start of a new phase in our relationship with Europe. We will pull together and fight for our future relationship with the EU.

Thank you so much to all European Movement UK members and supporters who stood with me and other MPs as we stood against Boris Johnson’s Bad Deal for Britain.

Stephen Farry, MP for North Down

This is just the start. The European Movement will be holding the government to account for this thin Brexit deal as its impacts unfold. Chip in and help us hold the government to account for its disastrous deal.

Brexit Deal is a Bad Deal for Britain

European Movement leaders Heseltine, Dorrell & Adonis urge MPs and Peers not to endorse a bad deal

Jointly commenting on the UK’s trade deal, European Movement Chair Stephen Dorrell and Vice Chair, Lord Adonis said: 

“The Government has avoided no deal, but we should be under no illusions: this Brexit deal is a bad deal for Britain.

“We call on all opposition voices, including any Conservatives who put country before party, to refuse to endorse the Government’s deal. The Government will get its deal through the Commons - there is no doubt about that - but no MP who believes Boris Johnson’s Brexit is bad for Britain should lend their name to it. 

“This deal bears no resemblance to what was promised; it damages Britain's economy, jobs, security, trade in vital goods and the respect with which the UK is held and opponents of the deal should not allow themselves to be held responsible for its consequences. The only people who should vote for this deal are those who are willing to accept responsibility for its consequences.

“Today marks a nadir in our relationship with our European neighbours. The job of building back what we’ve lost, brick by brick, needs to begin now and we at the European Movement stand ready to lead that fight. But our task will be made harder still if those who know a better deal is possible choose to endorse what is clearly a bad deal for Britain.”

Commenting on the UK’s trade deal with the EU, European Movement President,   

Lord Heseltine, said: 

“We deplore the United Kingdom's decision to sever its connection with the European Union.  It will diminish our influence within our own continent, prejudice our reputation on the world stage and undermine our economic strengths as a gateway to one of the world's largest regional economies.  We remain committed to its vision and to the restoration of this country's participation in it.

“The Government has an electoral mandate and I will not vote against consequential legislation if that might lead to the even worse consequence of a 'No Deal' rupture.  I make clear, however, that I and the European Movement will in no way share in the endorsement of legislation that will do lasting damage to our country's strategic, political and economic interests.”

We hold this government, and this government alone, responsible for this terrible deal. Opposition MPs must refuse to endorse it and lay the blame squarely at the door of this government. 

Will you write to your Opposition MP and ask them not to endorse this bad deal?

If you have a Conservative MP, you can still use this tool to ask them about the impact of this deal in your local community. 

The Government has been forced to listen to you and thousands of others and pull back from the brink of No Deal disaster. But let’s make no mistake, Johnson’s choice of Brexit is a bad deal for Britain.

Our President, Lord Heseltine is right to say that this Brexit deal has no upsides to justify the fanfare with which it has been received.

This bad deal for Britain leaves us in a worse position than we held as a member of the EU. Now that more detail is available we already know that:

• This is a bad deal for our economy. It largely ignores the service industry. This means that we are still in the dark about the long-term implications of Brexit for the service sector that makes up 80% of our economy. One thing is for certain, we have less market access for services.
• This is a bad deal for UK businesses that trade in goods, which will now face more red tape, more bureaucracy and more blockages at our borders.
• This is a bad deal for British food and farming, with customs checks creating extra hoops for our British farmers to jump through, just to make ends meet.
• This is a bad deal for British people. We have lost access to programmes ranging from Erasmus to development funding. We can no longer travel freely in Europe and we have been denied a voice in European bodies that will make decisions that affect our daily lives.

Boris Johnson has chosen to begin the next phase of the UK’s relationship with the EU as a weaker, poorer nation. This is the first trade deal in modern history to implement more barriers to trade.

But far from being defeated by the Government’s disastrous deal, we need to pull together and fight for our future relationship with the EU. There is so much still to fight for, so much to do to protect our future. But right now, nothing is more important than standing up and saying loud and clear: Johnson’s Brexit deal is a bad deal for Britain!

Anna Bird, CEO of the European Movement

Please take just two minutes to make your voice heard and add your name to our urgent statement.

Our Chair Stephen Dorrell 

 “This deal is better than no deal, but it is a bad deal for Britain. The British people have never consented to this deal; it reflects Johnson’s choices.”

Our President Lord Michael Heseltine 

"We must welcome the news that Brexit does not end in the chaos of no deal, but only with the sense of relief of a condemned man informed that his execution has been commuted to a life sentence. 

No deal was always the worst option. It would have added short term upheaval at docks and airports, shortages caused by severed supply lines and massive personal inconvenience to the long term disinvestment and job losses of Brexit itself. 

But Brexit – this Brexit - has no upsides to justify the unsubstantiated claims.

Brexit offers no platform from which to influence Europe’s future and no reason why investment designed for Europe should be invested here.

The European Movement will campaign to hold the government to account for the losses we are about to experience.

And we will fight, over the years ahead, to rebuild our relationship with the European Union, brick by brick.

If you believe in a better relationship with Europe, please join us today.

Thank you for all your support in 2020."

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