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Brexit: Labour MPs who want PM's deal should 'be honest' Brexit: MPs who reject deal 'should look voters in the eye'
(about 2 hours later)
Labour MPs should "be honest" and back Boris Johnson's new Brexit deal, a senior Welsh Conservative has urged. The Welsh secretary says Labour MPs in Leave-voting areas will have to "look their constituents in the eye" if they reject Boris Johnson's Brexit deal.
Monmouth MP David Davies said: "I know there are Labour MPs who want to back the deal, they just need to be honest with themselves." Alun Cairns said 80% of MPs were elected for parties pledging to honour the result of the 2016 referendum.
But anti-Brexit Pontypridd Labour MP Owen Smith told BBC Wales: "I don't think many back it, I think some may." He played down concerns about workers rights, and said the deal could make Wales wealthier.
The deal was "very reckless" regarding Northern Ireland and "very damaging" for the whole of the UK", he said. Anti-Brexit Labour MP Owen Smith said he thought some colleagues would back the deal in the Commons on Saturday.
However, he thought the deal was "very reckless" regarding Northern Ireland and "very damaging" for the whole of the UK".
Prime Minister Boris Johnson has claimed he will win what is expected to be a knife-edge Commons vote on the deal on Saturday.Prime Minister Boris Johnson has claimed he will win what is expected to be a knife-edge Commons vote on the deal on Saturday.
Mr Davies, a leading Welsh Brexit campaigner in the run-up to the 2016 referendum, said: "Labour have got to make their minds up now. Are they against Brexit, in which case let them say so, let them be honest with the public and just say so, or are they going to vote for a deal. Speaking to BBC Wales Today, Mr Cairns said: "This is a time to act on the instructions where 80% of MPs stood on a manifesto to deliver Brexit.
"We've had endless stuff about how no-deal will lead to Armageddon. I don't believe it, if you believe that no-deal will be Armageddon, then vote for this deal. "So I would say to those MPs, of all political persuasions that stood on a manifesto that said we would honour the outcome of the referendum, we will deliver Brexit - this is the time to do it.
"There are enough who want to vote with us, I know that privately there are a number of Labour MPs who want this deal to go through. They recognise that people have voted to leave. "They will have to look at their constituents in the eye in the near future to say that they voted against their wishes, should they vote not to leave the European Union and against this deal.
"Nobody is going to get exactly what they want. I could write a wish list but no-one will get 100% of what they want. At the end of the day this is a great compromise, it works for everyone." "I think this deal answers the calls of the public, answers the needs of business and answers the excitement about the opportunity of leaving."
But Mr Davies had a warning for MPs not prepared to vote for the deal. Mr Cairns rejected claims the deal could lead Irish hauliers to avoid Welsh ports and take their goods direct to the EU mainland instead.
"I would much rather leave with a deal than no deal - but they need to be in no doubt that we'll be pushing hard for a no-deal Brexit if that's the only way we can do it and respect the result." He said there is significant investment going on into the port of Holyhead, and there would be "extra opportunity of employment prospects in that part of world".
Mr Smith, who was sacked as shadow Northern Ireland secretary by Jeremy Corbyn last year for calling for Labour to back another EU referendum, said any Labour MPs backing the deal would be "doing a disservice to their constituents". He dismissed worries that the deal could lead to a weakening of workers rights. Provisions for the latter were moved from withdrawal agreement to the political declaration, which is not legally enforceable.
Mr Cairns said: "As we strike deals around the world, be that with the US, New Zealand, or Australia, there is no way we can compete on a low wage, low skill basis where rights are not as strong."
'Make their minds up'
Pro-Brexit Monmouth Tory MP David Davies - who unlike Mr Cairns had campaigned to leave the EU - said Labour MPs who wanted to back the deal "just need to be honest with themselves".
"Labour have got to make their minds up now," he said.
"Are they against Brexit, in which case let them say so, let them be honest with the public and just say so, or are they going to vote for a deal?"
He added: "I would much rather leave with a deal than no deal - but they need to be in no doubt that we'll be pushing hard for a no-deal Brexit if that's the only way we can do it and respect the result."
Pontypridd Labour MP Owen Smith, who was sacked as shadow Northern Ireland secretary by Jeremy Corbyn last year for calling for Labour to back another EU referendum, said any Labour MPs backing the deal would be "doing a disservice to their constituents".
"I hope that they see sense and look beyond the very simple argument 'let's get Brexit done', or whatever the latest pile of nonsense cliché that the Tories are coming up with to whip people up to vote for it," he told Radio Wales Breakfast."I hope that they see sense and look beyond the very simple argument 'let's get Brexit done', or whatever the latest pile of nonsense cliché that the Tories are coming up with to whip people up to vote for it," he told Radio Wales Breakfast.
"The truth is you don't make a decision like this that is going to influence the direction of our country and the opportunities for our children and grandchildren for generations to come simply because you're bored of the conversation. Mr Smith said the deal was "reckless" for Northern Ireland. Under the deal Northern Ireland would remain in the UK's customs union, but there would also be customs checks on some goods passing through en route to Ireland and the EU single market.
"You make it for the right reasons and anybody who looks at this can see that it's a very reckless deal in respect of Northern Ireland and it's a very damaging deal in respect of the whole of the UK."
Under the deal Northern Ireland would remain in the UK's customs union, but there would also be customs checks on some goods passing through en route to Ireland and the EU single market.
The Northern Ireland Assembly - which has been suspended since January 2017 - would get a vote every four years on whether to continue with the new trading arrangements based on a simple majority,The Northern Ireland Assembly - which has been suspended since January 2017 - would get a vote every four years on whether to continue with the new trading arrangements based on a simple majority,
"For Wales it's potentially really problematic - this notion of a hard border down the Irish Sea is obviously going to pose problems for Welsh ports, Holyhead and Pembroke, you can see significant difficulties for those parts," Mr Smith added."For Wales it's potentially really problematic - this notion of a hard border down the Irish Sea is obviously going to pose problems for Welsh ports, Holyhead and Pembroke, you can see significant difficulties for those parts," Mr Smith added.
Former Labour Welsh and Northern Ireland Secretary Peter Hain sees the Brexit deal as "an agenda for a low-standards and low-tax haven - a Singapore-on-Thames". Former Labour Welsh and Northern Ireland Secretary Peter Hains said he feared for the "long-term stability" and peace process in Northern Ireland".
Under the agreement Northern Ireland would remain in the UK's customs union, but there would also be customs checks on some goods passing through en route to Ireland and the EU single market. He claimed the Brexit deal harboured "an agenda for a low-standards and low-tax haven - a Singapore-on-Thames".
"I fear for the long-term stability and peace progress in Northern Ireland," he said.
"Remember Brexit will not be finished with this deal. It's just the beginning of years of uncertainty as Britain begins to negotiate new trade deals with the EU and 70 other countries.""Remember Brexit will not be finished with this deal. It's just the beginning of years of uncertainty as Britain begins to negotiate new trade deals with the EU and 70 other countries."
Plaid Cymru Westminster leader Liz Saville Roberts has led a cross-party letter to Chancellor Sajid Javid urging him to publish the impact assessments of the deal before MPs vote on the agreement on Saturday.Plaid Cymru Westminster leader Liz Saville Roberts has led a cross-party letter to Chancellor Sajid Javid urging him to publish the impact assessments of the deal before MPs vote on the agreement on Saturday.
"If Boris Johnson is so confident that this deal is a good one, what good reason could he have for refusing to disclose vital details from the House of Commons?" she said."If Boris Johnson is so confident that this deal is a good one, what good reason could he have for refusing to disclose vital details from the House of Commons?" she said.
"It is unfair to ask members of Parliament to partake in a vote that could have serious ramifications for our country for decades to come, without allowing us the time to fully scrutinise the details."
With MPs voting this weekend on whether to back Mr Johnson's deal on leaving the European Union, First Minister Mark Drakeford will visit Northern Ireland and the Irish Republic on Friday.With MPs voting this weekend on whether to back Mr Johnson's deal on leaving the European Union, First Minister Mark Drakeford will visit Northern Ireland and the Irish Republic on Friday.
He will assure business leaders that Wales wants a strong relationship with firms whatever happens with Brexit.He will assure business leaders that Wales wants a strong relationship with firms whatever happens with Brexit.
"I will be emphasising the fundamental importance of the relationship which Wales has with the island of Ireland and with colleagues in Belfast and in Dublin as well and how we want to go on working to make sure that those relationships go on being productive and close in the future," he said.