MPs vote AGAINST giving Parliament power over trade policy
Date: 19 January 2021
Campaigns: Trade
“This gives Johnson a blank cheque to sign toxic trade deals which threaten public services and food standards” say campaigners
MPs rejected amendments to the Trade Bill this afternoon which would have:
- Guaranteed MPs a vote on trade deals
- Protected the NHS, food, animal welfare and environment standards
- Prevented trade deals with countries engaged in acts of genocide or serious human rights violations
The ‘ping-pong’ process will continue as the Bill now returns to the Lords.
Jean Blaylock, trade campaigner at Global Justice Now said:
“Yet again MPs have rejected a series of amendments which would have offered some protection from this government’s toxic trade agenda. Most shocking of all, they have refused to give themselves the power to meaningfully scrutinise or stop trade deals, writing Boris Johnson a blank cheque to negotiate away our rights and protections in trade talks with countries like the USA.
“We need to keep fighting for our democratic rights if we want to stop Johnson’s government from using trade deals to threaten public services like the NHS, and trample on food standards.”
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Photo: Bibi Siva/Shutterstock
