'Give us a number!' Umunna PULLED UP as he claims Tory rebels ready to THWART Brexit
CHUKA UMUNNA was quizzed by a Sky News host after the Remainer MP claimed there was a majority in Parliament that would vote to keep the UK in the customs union post-Brexit.
Chuka Umunna GRILLED over Customs Union figures
The Labour MP has been fighting to keep the UK close to the EU's key institutions and believes a majority in Parliament will now vote to stay in the customs union.
A group of cross-party MPs, including Chuka Umunna, tabled an amendment which was added to the Government’s Taxation (Cross-Border Trade) Bill – also known at the customs or trade bill – which would effectively keep the UK in a customs union.
Speaking on Sky News, Mr Umunna said that there was enough MPs in Parliament who would back the amendment which would decimate Britain’s chances of being able to trade with the rest of the world after Brexit.
He said: “There is a majority for us to continue to participate in the customs union, yes.
“I think really it’s about time that the Government and the hard-right, the European Reform Group, I call them the economic ruin group because they are intent on taking us down this route of a hard destructive Brexit.
“Of course, Theresa May put that to the people in the general election in June 2017 and she lost her majority. They are seeming to continue to ignore that fact.
“Parliament is in the driving seat in this process and we reflect where the people are and the people do not want a hard destructive Brexit.”
Mr Umunna could not name the Conservative MPs that would be willing to rebel against their own party for the Government to lose the amendment.
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There is a majority for us to continue to participate in the customs union, yes
Sky News host, Tom Macleod, stepped in demanding to know what Tory MPs were willing to vote for the amendment.
He said: “Okay so you have got the majority in the House of Commons. How many Tory MPs are within that majority, give us a number?”
As Mr Umunna said he would not “specify” a number, the host insisted he must have a “rough idea” who would rebel.
Mr Umunna replied: “I would say that I believe if you look at the numbers that there were that led to Parliament getting a meaningful
Eleven Conservative MP’s rebelled from Theresa May’s Government in December and voted for a meaningful vote on the Brexit deal.
Labour MP Mr Umunna said he could not give a “precise figure” after he was pressed by the host, but he did say that he thought Jeremy Corbyn next week would announce next week that Labour
Mr Corbyn will deliver a speech next week to give more clarity over Labour’s position on Brexit and is also expected to take a softer line with his demands.
The Labour Party leader is thought to be preparing to back the UK remaining in a customs union when Britain cuts ties with the European Union.
The Taxation (Cross-Border Trade) Bill is not expected to return to parliament until after Easter after Theresa May pushed it back in fears of a damaging defeat.
It is unknown if Labour would support the bill, but shadow chancellor John McDonnell has already said the party is interested in creating a new customs union.
He said:
"The reason we are saying a customs union is because we don't want the same asymmetric relationship that Turkey
"What we would want is to negotiate around our ability to influence the trade negotiations that would take place on behalf of us all, both ourselves and other European countries in terms of trade via a customs union."