Audio & video

  • Speaking after AFCO Committee vote on Withdrawal Deal

    Last week, I spoke for the final time on this Committee, immediately after they voted (reluctantly) to approve the withdrawal agreement, prior to it being presented to the European Parliament next week.

  • Speaking in the European Parliament Brexit Debate

    My contribution to the Brexit debate in the European Parliament, outlining how Boris Johnson is playing the blame game, tabling proposals that are unworkable and which he knows the EU and people on the island of Ireland will reject.

  • Victoria Derbyshire Show

    Interviewed by Joanna Gosling on the European election results and what this might mean for shifts in Labour Party policy.

  • Sky News Interview 27 May

    Speaking on Sky News, the evening after the election results, explaining that they show that votes for Remain supporting parties have increased and beaten votes for Leave voting parties.

  • Sky News Interview 9 May

    Interview with Adam Boulton on All Out Politics on Labour’s European Election manifesto.

  • Today Programme 9 May

    My interview with Nick Robinson prior to Labour’s launch of the manifesto for the European elections.

  • ‘We are bound by more than just Treaties’.

    Speaking in the final European Parliament session before the May elections, the day after the terrible blaze at Notre Dame de Paris, I reflect on President Tusk’s comments that ‘we are bound by more than just treaties’.

  • Courtesy Leo Wilkinson

    Radio Humberside Interview 11 April

    After an unpredictable few days and weeks, the EU27 and the UK have agreed to a further extension until 31 October 2018. Here I talk about what this means for our continued membership, MEP elections in May, Brexit and the increasing possibility of a confirmatory ballot.

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    BBC News Interview – Friday April 5

    Talking to BBC News about the extension of Article 50, European elections and the importance of having a confirmatory ballot on whatever deal emerges.

  • Rally against Brexit in Brussels

    Speaking to a lively crowd of Brits and other EU citizens outside the European Council building as the 28 heads of government considered the Article 50 extension request from the UK.

  • Rebutting Mike Hookem

    Last night, UKIP MEP Mike Hookem made a somewhat outrageous, disgraceful speech and immediately left the chamber. This was my response.

  • Speaking in Portcullis House

    I was invited to speak to members on the left of the political spectrum on the the possible way forward to a second referendum on Brexit.

  • Courtesy JPC

    People’s Vote Rally at Parliament Square

    Speaking at the People’s Vote rally, minutes before the meaningful vote is announced on 15 January.

  • Interview on Sky – 14th December

    Interviewed on Sky News alongside Charles Tannock MEP to discuss the developing situation with Brexit, as Theresa May returns empty handed from Brussels two days after the damaging no-confidence vote from her MPs.

  • Brexit Chaos Continues

    Speaking in EP on the continued Brexit chaos as Theresa May cancels the meaningful vote on the Withdrawal Agreement that she expected to lose.

  • Sky News Interview – 25 November

    On the day that the EU Council agreed the Withdrawal Agreement and the text of the Political Declaration, I was interviewed by Adam Boulton on Sky News.

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    Challenging false narratives about the European Union

    Speaking in the European Parliament debate on the Evaluation of the Lisbon Treaty (for which I was Rapporteur) to dispel some of the false narratives that opponents of the EU like to peddle.

  • Courtesy JPC

    Deadlock on Brexit due to paralysis inside Tory Party

    Speaking in the Conclusions of the October EC debate as the UK government misses yet another deadline, leaving only a few months remaining to negotiate any Brexit deal.

  • JP

    The Tory’s Costly and Chaotic Brexit

    Speaking in the European Parliament debate in preparation for the next European Council meeting on 18-19 October, I point out that the Brexit being offered to the UK, including Leave voters, is not what they were told and not what many voted for.

  • EPLP Leader’s Speech to Labour Conference

    My address to Labour Conference on the achievements of the EPLP and our position on Brexit.

  • Sky Interview 24th September

    Interviewed by Adam Boulton while at Labour conference.

  • Screenshot JPC

    Leeds For Europe

    Speaking on a panel at the Leeds for Europe event in September on why there are increasing calls for a People’s Vote.

  • LBC Radio Interview – 27th August 2018

    Radio Interview with LBC’s Matt Stadlen on Brexit, the People’s Vote campaign and Labour’s evolving policy position. (8 minutes long.)

  • Screenshot JPC

    Sky News Interview 10th July 2018

    Talking to Adam Boulton on Sky News about Theresa May’s newest Brexit fudge that emerged from Chequers and prompted the resignations of David Davis and Boris Johnson.

  • Screenshot JPC

    Interview on Daily Politics

    I was interviewed by Jo Coburn on Friday’s Daily Politics show, discussing the lack of progress with the Brexit negotiations at the crucial June European Council. 

  • Screenshot JPC

    Government proposals for Brexit break promises to fishing industry

    Speaking in the Fisheries committee of the European Parliament on the leaked government white paper for its post-Brexit fisheries policy. They cannot deliver what was promised during the referendum campaign.

  • UK government not ready to negotiate Brexit

    Two years after the referendum, the Conservative government still has not clarified its starting position for the Brexit negotiations. 

  • Short Speech in Future of Europe Debate

    Short speech during the Future of Europe debate on 30th May 2018

  • EU laws reduce red tape

    Speaking in a debate on the Better Law Making report I explain how the EU has a higher threshold than many national parliaments for introducing regulations, and how these reduce red tape across all 28 countries. Divergence creates more complexity, as the UK government is quickly discovering.

  • Three Reasons why the EU is a good thing

    Short and Sweet!

  • Interview Still

    Interview with Core Politics on Brexit

    Discussing the Labour Party’s positions on various aspects of the ongoing Brexit negotiations – May 2018.

  • Time for a change within Britain – or Harry Potter wizardry

    Speaking in European Parliament on the May’s magical ‘Harry Potter’ border plans for Ireland. (13th March 2018)

  • On whether the UK has the option to change its mind

    My reply to Sean Kelly MEP’s ‘blue card’ question.

  • Response to Donald Tusk & Jean-Claude Juncker statements

    Speaking in the European Parliament on the conclusions of the European Council meeting in December.

  • Statement on progression to Phase 2 negotiations

    Speaking on 13th December. Although we are moving onto phase 2 of negotiations, we must not pretend the phase 1 issues are settled,

  • Challenging a UKIP point of order on Select Committee visit

    Challenging a UKIP point of order on the visit of the Commons Select Committee. 15th November 2017.

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    Speaking on European Council’s ‘insufficient progress’ decision

    I spoke to parliament about the European Council’s decision that insufficient progress has been made on Brexit negotiations, as expected, and of the divisions within the Tory party causing this.

  • MEPs vote that ‘sufficient progress’ has not been made on Brexit talks

    MEPs today voted, rightly in my view, that there has not yet been ‘sufficient progress’ in the Brexit negotiations. As Acting Leader of the EPLP, I have issued this statement and here is my speech in the parliament’s debate:

  • Courtesy JPC

    Sky News Interview : Adam Boulton

    Talking with Adam Boulton about the many complex challenges with Brexit negotiations, the importance of protected food names for the British Economy and why we should remember that Brexit is ‘if’ not ‘when’, until we know what kind of deal is on offer.

  • Yorkshire, Brexit and the General Election – A film from FRANCE 24 (in English)

    FRANCE 24 came over to Yorkshire to film a piece on how people and politicians in the region felt about Brexit and the General Election. It was a pleasure to take them to University of Leeds and Digital Exchange in Bradford to explore the views of students and the technology community. Pour nos amis français, il ya a une version en français aussi.

  • My response to EU Brexit Guidelines

    Addressing the European Parliament about the clear guidelines set out by the European Council for Brexit negotiations.

  • Statement in European Parliament on the Brexit Resolution

    Today the 73% of the European Parliament agreed a resolution in response to article 50 being triggered. It is Labour’s responsibility to hold Theresa May’s government to account for their promise secure “exactly the same benefits”.

  • Speaking at Unite for Europe rally

    On 25th March I spoke to thousands of protesters in Parliament Square about why should keep fighting this government on Brexit.

  • Associate Citizenship

    I spoke to LBC’s Clive Bull about the proposal from Mr Charles Goerens, one of Luxembourg’s MEPs, for associate citizenship of the EU for nationals of a former Member State.

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    More complications of Brexit

    I replied to Alyn Smith MEP on Brexit. (You can view my original statement here.)

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    Complications of Brexit

    I spoke in the European Parliament on complications following from the Brexit vote. (You can watch my response on this subject to a question from another member here.)

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    On behalf of the 48%

    I spoke in the European Parliament on behalf of “the 48%”.

  • BBC Sunday Politics

    I appeared on the BBC Sunday Politics show alongside Rachael Maskell MP, Amjad Bashir MEP and Baroness Warsi.

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    Q&A with Jonny Walker

    I took live questions on Facebook in a 90-minute conversation hosted by Jonny Walker, a high-profile local musician whom I bumped into in Bradford a couple of days ago.

  • Made in Leeds screenshot

    Made in Leeds

    I took part in a four-way debate on the EU referendum for Made In Leeds TV, a local station in Yorkshire. You can watch the film in four segments on their website: Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4

  • BBC Politics

    Sunday Politics

    I appeared on the Sunday Politics show to talk about future plans for the EU. The video is available for 30 days on the BBC website, and my interview starts at 35:04. Watch the video here.

  • Football, facts and apps

    I spoke to EU Reporter about the interplay between Euro 2016 football, the EU referendum and how to distinguish facts from fiction in the campaign.

  • Sky News screenshot

    Live questions for Sky News

    After Gordon Brown’s speech in the European Parliament today, I took questions live from Sky News viewers via their live broadcast Facebook page.

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    ITV News debate

    I took part in a debate for ITV news, hosted in Bradford City Academy, against Philip Davies MP.

  • courtesy Tiago Fioreze via Wikimedia Commons

    Interview for Atlantic Insight

    I spoke to Atlantic Insight about the implications of the EU referendum debate in Britain. You can listen to the audio or read a transcript on their website.

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    Impact assessments and regulation

    I make a short statement in Parliament about the improvements to lawmaking in the new ‘inter-institutional agreement’.

  • Debate screenshot

    Debate with Chris Grayling

    I debated issues related to the UK’s EU membership with Chris Grayling MP, Stephen Fidler of the Wall Street Journal, and Socialist MEP Marc Tarabella.

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    VLOG: Project Fear and migration

    Today’s vlog is a discussion of the way eurosceptics are spinning ‘project fear’, especially with regard to migration.

  • Video

    More important than party politics

    I spoke to EU Reporter about the implications of the UK ‘in-out’ referendum for the future of the Union.

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    What goes on at the sidelines?

    I gave an extended video and written interview to ITV News today on the behind-the-scenes details of the European Council summit. A very difficult meeting to chair. You’ve got 28 prima donnas around the table who all think they are right and usually get their own way domestically. They’re suddenly in a meeting where none […]

  • Vlog

    Vlog: The EU summit

    My latest vlog covers what to expect from the upcoming EU summit.

  • Speaking in plenary

    Cameron’s draft reform deal

    I address the European Parliament on Cameron’s draft reform deal.

  • Parliamentary debate

    EU regulation: help or hindrance?

    I talk about the pros and cons of EU regulation in a parliamentary debate.

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    In the debate on steel and competition policy

    I speak in Parliament about how the EU can help support the steel industry in Britain.

  • Parliament screenshot

    In the debate on sea bass

    I respond to Nigel Farage on the issue of sea bass fishing.

  • Sky News

    Sky News interview on Juncker

    I spoke to Sky News about Jean-Claude Juncker’s views on the UK’s place in the EU.

  • Addressing conference

    Conference speech

    I told Labour’s annual conference: “The referendum is not on Cameron’s reforms. The referendum is on the much bigger question of our very membership of the European Union.”

  • BBC Radio 4 logo

    The EU is a place for democratic cooperation

    A short debate on BBC Radio 4’s The World Tonight programme about migration, and the democratic structures that underpin the EU.

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    Migration is a common challenge

    I spoke briefly in the European Parliament about the refugee crisis in Europe and how it can be addressed.

  • Speaking in plenary

    Introducing Commission hearings reform

    I spoke in Parliament to introduce a package of reforms to the way Commissioner candidates are approved by MEPs in future.

  • Screenshot

    Message to GMB congress

    Sadly, I wasn’t able to make it to the GMB congress in Dublin, but here is my message of greeting to them.

  • Le Bar de l'Europe

    At le Bar de l’Europe

    An extended, light-hearted interview for French TV about British attitudes to Europe. It’s in French, so I’ve also provided an English transcript.

  • Strong Baltic Sea plan marks important precedent

    This clip is a contribution I made to the positive vote in plenary on the Baltic multi-annual plan — a key implementation of the newly reformed Common Fisheries Policy. Since this MAP marks the first of the new style plans, it sets important precedents for others to come, namely the upcoming North Sea plan. I’m […]

  • Speaking in plenary

    eCall: a measure with widespread support

    A brief clip of one of my contributions to the debate about eCall.

  • Catalan TV screengrab

    Commenting on Brexit for Catalan TV

    I spoke to the Catalan channel Televisió 3 about possible outcomes of the UK general election, including the threat of a British exit from the EU, opposite ‘el conservador Daniel Hannan’.

  • Speaking at EU reform meeting

    EU reform

    I was asked to speak at a fringe meeting of the Labour party conference this year on the subject of what EU reforms we should be fighting for. You can also read a transcript of my speech.

  • Last Orders election special

    Last Orders election special

    Last night, I appeared alongside Conservative, Lib Dem and UKIP candidates on ITV Yorkshire’s late-night politics show, Last Orders. You can watch the video here.