This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-44038476
The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 0 | Version 1 |
---|---|
Emily Thornberry: Norway EU option won't work | Emily Thornberry: Norway EU option won't work |
(about 7 hours later) | |
The shadow foreign secretary has told Labour rebels their idea to keep the UK in the single market "will not work". | The shadow foreign secretary has told Labour rebels their idea to keep the UK in the single market "will not work". |
Emily Thornberry said she had a "lot of respect" for people in the party calling for the UK to adopt the same relationship to the EU as Norway. | Emily Thornberry said she had a "lot of respect" for people in the party calling for the UK to adopt the same relationship to the EU as Norway. |
But she said a "British bespoke deal" was needed instead. | But she said a "British bespoke deal" was needed instead. |
Ahead of a Lords vote on the single market issue, the government's Brexit bill has suffered two more defeats at the hands of peers. | |
The Lords voted to remove the exact date of Brexit - 29 March 2019 - from the wording of the EU Withdrawal Bill by 311 votes to 233. | |
And an amendment which means the UK could continue to participate in EU agencies after Brexit was backed by 298 votes to 227. | |
They take the total number of defeats inflicted on the flagship bill to 12. | |
Later the Lords will consider the Labour amendment on the single market. | |
The Labour leadership has been attacked by some in the party for not supporting a move in the House of Lords to keep the UK in the European Economic Area. | The Labour leadership has been attacked by some in the party for not supporting a move in the House of Lords to keep the UK in the European Economic Area. |
The European Economic Area (EEA) includes all the EU members and Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway. These countries get full access to the single market while also making a financial contribution and accepting most EU laws. | The European Economic Area (EEA) includes all the EU members and Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway. These countries get full access to the single market while also making a financial contribution and accepting most EU laws. |
Free movement laws also apply, so EU citizens can move to all EEA countries to work and live. | Free movement laws also apply, so EU citizens can move to all EEA countries to work and live. |
On Tuesday evening the House of Lords continues discussing the government's EU bill and will vote on an amendment aimed at keeping the UK in the EEA. | On Tuesday evening the House of Lords continues discussing the government's EU bill and will vote on an amendment aimed at keeping the UK in the EEA. |
This is not the position of either the Conservatives or Labour, but some Labour members of the House of Lords are annoyed at being told by their party not to support the idea. | This is not the position of either the Conservatives or Labour, but some Labour members of the House of Lords are annoyed at being told by their party not to support the idea. |
Supporters of the 'Norway-style' plan think keeping the maximum-possible access to the single market should be the top priority - but critics say it would mean the UK was still subject to EU laws after Brexit, but with no say in how they are made. | Supporters of the 'Norway-style' plan think keeping the maximum-possible access to the single market should be the top priority - but critics say it would mean the UK was still subject to EU laws after Brexit, but with no say in how they are made. |
Labour's Lord Alli, who has signed the amendment, accused the party leadership of "complete cowardice" by ordering peers to abstain, and several pro-EU Labour MPs have also called for a change of position. | Labour's Lord Alli, who has signed the amendment, accused the party leadership of "complete cowardice" by ordering peers to abstain, and several pro-EU Labour MPs have also called for a change of position. |
But Ms Thornberry told BBC Radio 4's Today programme the party leadership had looked at the "Norway model", but that it would not "fit the British economy". | But Ms Thornberry told BBC Radio 4's Today programme the party leadership had looked at the "Norway model", but that it would not "fit the British economy". |
While "in a way we want to... end up in the same place", she added: "This particular mechanism will not work." | While "in a way we want to... end up in the same place", she added: "This particular mechanism will not work." |
The Labour row comes as the EU (Withdrawal) Bill - key legislation used by the government to enable Brexit - faces more possible defeats in the House of Lords. | The Labour row comes as the EU (Withdrawal) Bill - key legislation used by the government to enable Brexit - faces more possible defeats in the House of Lords. |
Peers have already inflicted 10 defeats on the draft legislation, and a vote later on removing the government's planned exit day of March 29 2019 from the wording of the bill could spell more trouble for ministers. | Peers have already inflicted 10 defeats on the draft legislation, and a vote later on removing the government's planned exit day of March 29 2019 from the wording of the bill could spell more trouble for ministers. |
It marks the final day of the bill's report stage in the Lords, which involves detailed scrutiny and votes on amendments. The government is expected to seek to reverse a number of the Lords amendments when the bill returns to the Commons. | It marks the final day of the bill's report stage in the Lords, which involves detailed scrutiny and votes on amendments. The government is expected to seek to reverse a number of the Lords amendments when the bill returns to the Commons. |