Labour MEP for Yorkshire & Humber
We go into this general election with the government claiming we have passed the point of no return, in that a notification under Article 50 of Britain’s intention to leave the EU cannot be reversed. They’re wrong. Britain still has the right to change its mind. For a start, there is a clue in the […]
Theresa May has sprung an early election, breaking her earlier pledges not to, for three reasons: She knows the Brexit negotiations will very quickly cause her problems, as the unpalatable choices she has to make will alienate many voters and elements in her party – better to have the election before that begins to bite! […]
Theresa May talks of strengthening the Union and not returning to the borders of the past in Ireland. But in reality her actions only serve to undermine the Union between Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
Higher education is one of the sectors of the British economy that will be most clearly and negatively affected by Theresa May’s blind pursuit of a hard Brexit.
I recently had the pleasure of visiting Associated British Ports (ABP) and Siemens in the Port of Hull. These two companies provide thousands of jobs for the city of Hull and the wider Yorkshire & Humber region, as well as being key sponsors of the Hull City of Culture 2017.
Politicians have to understand the public’s concerns about immigration and take action on this. But leaving the European single market primarily because of its provisions on freedom of movement would have a major economic cost, while at the same time changing very little, if anything, in terms of the UK’s ability to control migration. But there is a way to square the circle…
As we celebrate women’s history month it is important not just to look at the past achievements, but to look ahead and see how we can ensure we continue the fight for equality.
The EU’s role has been important.
On Saturday I spoke to a crowd of over 1,000 people who were protesting agains the tory hard Brexit which they did not vote for. This is a summary of my speech.
That Theresa May should come down on the side of the hard Brexiteers should not be a surprise. As a long serving Home Secretary, she must take much of the blame for setting – and failing to keep – a target of reducing net immigration to Britain to tens of thousands a year.
Theresa May’s statement that we won’t be trying to stay in bits of the EU means that, in principle, we shall also be leaving more than 40 EU agencies (including some located in Britain) which perform tasks on behalf of all member states, including us, over a wide range of policy areas.
I had the great pleasure to attend a superb performance of the Grimethorpe Colliery Band on Saturday – and of being reminded of the significance of the deep-rooted Brass Band tradition. I had the honour of meeting conductor Ian Shires and star cornetist Roger Webster. Brass bands are about music – but more than music. Many are […]
Read more about why European Parliament voted for the agreement.
The government’s determination to push the European Union (Notice of Withdrawal) Bill through the Commons with such limited time for debate to consider the many implications of such a momentous decision, is a serious affront to the parliamentary sovereignty that they claimed to hold dear.
The response to the referendum result is still playing out in both of Britain’s main political parties. While the last few weeks have given the appearance – in stark contrast to before the referendum – of a united Conservative party and a divided Labour Party, this could change significantly in the coming period. On the […]
The following is a summary of the Government’s Brexit White Paper – together with my comments in red: Great repeal bill and control of UK laws “We will bring forward a White Paper on the Great Repeal Bill that provides more detail about our approach.” The first promise of this white paper is to promise […]