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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/global/2017/sep/09/mps-consensus-approach-brexit-stephen-gethins
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| MPs need to take a new approach over Brexit | MPs need to take a new approach over Brexit |
| (6 days later) | |
| Monday marks the 20th anniversary of the referendum that led to the reestablishment of the Scottish parliament, two decades since I cast my vote in favour hoping for a new outward looking Scotland as a student newly returned from my Erasmus year – a beneficiary of the opportunities for young people provided by our EU membership. | Monday marks the 20th anniversary of the referendum that led to the reestablishment of the Scottish parliament, two decades since I cast my vote in favour hoping for a new outward looking Scotland as a student newly returned from my Erasmus year – a beneficiary of the opportunities for young people provided by our EU membership. |
| That referendum promised a new kind of politics in Scotland. The leaders of the three pro-devolution parties – Labour under Donald Dewar, the SNP under Alex Salmond and the Liberal Democrats under Jim Wallace – cast aside their differences to campaign together for a Scottish parliament they believed in. | That referendum promised a new kind of politics in Scotland. The leaders of the three pro-devolution parties – Labour under Donald Dewar, the SNP under Alex Salmond and the Liberal Democrats under Jim Wallace – cast aside their differences to campaign together for a Scottish parliament they believed in. |
| That was not always a given but it was that cross-party consensus-building on the work of Scotland’s civil society that led to success and a completely different constitutional landscape, not just in Scotland but across the UK. Even the Conservatives have been, mostly, won over to devolution. | That was not always a given but it was that cross-party consensus-building on the work of Scotland’s civil society that led to success and a completely different constitutional landscape, not just in Scotland but across the UK. Even the Conservatives have been, mostly, won over to devolution. |
| On that anniversary on Monday, MPs will be voting on the second reading of the EU withdrawal bill – a piece of legislation that will have a deep and lasting impact on all of us, whether we like it or not. However, a Westminster parliament of minorities brings opportunities for MPs willing to reach out beyond traditional party boundaries. | On that anniversary on Monday, MPs will be voting on the second reading of the EU withdrawal bill – a piece of legislation that will have a deep and lasting impact on all of us, whether we like it or not. However, a Westminster parliament of minorities brings opportunities for MPs willing to reach out beyond traditional party boundaries. |
| It is difficult to argue that the past 15 months since the EU Referendum have been constructive or that good progress has been made in negotiations. The grossly negligent Vote Leave campaign set the scene for the current chaos by failing to provide any details on what leaving the EU actually meant. And the exasperation felt by EU officials seeking to make sense of the UK’s position is palpable. | It is difficult to argue that the past 15 months since the EU Referendum have been constructive or that good progress has been made in negotiations. The grossly negligent Vote Leave campaign set the scene for the current chaos by failing to provide any details on what leaving the EU actually meant. And the exasperation felt by EU officials seeking to make sense of the UK’s position is palpable. |
| The Tory extreme Brexit was clearly rejected at the general election. Parliament should reject this ill-thought-out bill and take back control over this process. We need to build consensus around key issues in Westminster just as others have tried elsewhere in the UK. Labour and Plaid Cymru in Wales made a joint submission on Brexit and the first minister of Scotland produced a compromise proposal from a group of experts taken from the judiciary, academia and diplomatic community as well as different political parties. | The Tory extreme Brexit was clearly rejected at the general election. Parliament should reject this ill-thought-out bill and take back control over this process. We need to build consensus around key issues in Westminster just as others have tried elsewhere in the UK. Labour and Plaid Cymru in Wales made a joint submission on Brexit and the first minister of Scotland produced a compromise proposal from a group of experts taken from the judiciary, academia and diplomatic community as well as different political parties. |
| There is common ground to be found in the House of Commons. Most MPs agree that EU nationals should be given the right to remain. A recent paper by MPs from across the House stressed the importance of maintaining the customs union. Lawyers on all benches are deeply uncomfortable with the Tory government’s power grab and widespread use of Henry VIII powers that even David Davis tried to scrap when he was on the backbenches. Those of us representing constituencies that include universities take little persuasion of the benefits of continued membership of Horizon 2020 and continued collaboration opportunities with European partners. | There is common ground to be found in the House of Commons. Most MPs agree that EU nationals should be given the right to remain. A recent paper by MPs from across the House stressed the importance of maintaining the customs union. Lawyers on all benches are deeply uncomfortable with the Tory government’s power grab and widespread use of Henry VIII powers that even David Davis tried to scrap when he was on the backbenches. Those of us representing constituencies that include universities take little persuasion of the benefits of continued membership of Horizon 2020 and continued collaboration opportunities with European partners. |
| After the EU referendum, the leaders of both Scottish Labour and the Scottish Conservatives argued that the UK should retain membership of the single market. The question remains whether Scottish Labour can convince the rest of its party and whether the 13 Scottish Conservatives hold to their leader’s original position. | After the EU referendum, the leaders of both Scottish Labour and the Scottish Conservatives argued that the UK should retain membership of the single market. The question remains whether Scottish Labour can convince the rest of its party and whether the 13 Scottish Conservatives hold to their leader’s original position. |
| The government is making a mess of withdrawing from the EU. That affects us all. Hung parliaments require opposition to step up and governments to listen, and the SNP in Westminster will work with others and make our voices heard. | The government is making a mess of withdrawing from the EU. That affects us all. Hung parliaments require opposition to step up and governments to listen, and the SNP in Westminster will work with others and make our voices heard. |
| Stephen Gethins is the MP for North East Fife and SNP spokesperson for international affairs and Europe | Stephen Gethins is the MP for North East Fife and SNP spokesperson for international affairs and Europe |
| Brexit | Brexit |
| The Observer | The Observer |
| Article 50 | Article 50 |
| European Union | European Union |
| Foreign policy | Foreign policy |
| Scottish National party (SNP) | Scottish National party (SNP) |
| Devolution | Devolution |
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