Agenda item

Notice of Motion Regarding "Brexit Britain" - Given By Councillor John Booker and to be Seconded by Councillor Keith Davis

That this Council:-

 

(a)       notes that more than 17 million voters voted 'Leave', giving the Government the largest democratic mandate in the history of British politics and believes (i) there should be no question of turning back, (ii) Article 50 is a trap designed to obstruct countries from leaving the EU and (iii) there was no legal or moral obligation to use Article 50, the UK has the legal right to withdraw from the EU unilaterally;

 

(b)       expresses the view that Parliament must resume its supremacy of law-making without restriction, and that Britain must be completely free from the jurisdiction of the European Court of Justice, and must be free to relinquish its membership of the European Court of Human Rights, if we wish to do so;

 

(c)        believes that Britain must have full control of immigration and asylum policies, and border control, and must not be bound by any freedom of movement obligation;

 

(d)       also believes that the UK must take its seat in its own right on the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and resume its sovereign right to sign trade agreements with other entities or supra-national bodies; must have full rights to set its own tariff and non-tariff barriers consistent with WTO rules; and must leave both the EU single market and the customs union;

 

(e)       further believes that the UK's full maritime sovereignty must be restored and we must have control of our maritime exclusive economic zone, which stretches 200 miles off the coast, or to the half-way point between the UK and neighbouring countries, and that there must be no constraints on our fishing fleet, other than those decided upon by the UK Parliament;

 

(f)        expresses the view that the UK must not pay any 'divorce' payments to the EU, nor contribute to the EU budget, and must be paid back its share of financial assets from entities such as the European Investment Bank, in which £9 billion of UK money is vested; and

 

(g)       is concerned at the possibility of a withdrawal agreement being signed which means the UK leaves the EU in name but not in substance, and believes that if the Rt. Hon. Theresa May MP signs such an agreement she will have betrayed Britain to the EU, just as every Prime Minister has done since 1972.

 

Minutes:

8.1

It was formally moved by Councillor John Booker, and formally seconded by Councillor Jack Clarkson, that this Council:-

 

 

 

(a)       notes that more than 17 million voters voted 'Leave', giving the Government the largest democratic mandate in the history of British politics and believes (i) there should be no question of turning back, (ii) Article 50 is a trap designed to obstruct countries from leaving the EU and (iii) there was no legal or moral obligation to use Article 50, the UK has the legal right to withdraw from the EU unilaterally;

 

(b)       expresses the view that Parliament must resume its supremacy of law-making without restriction, and that Britain must be completely free from the jurisdiction of the European Court of Justice, and must be free to relinquish its membership of the European Court of Human Rights, if we wish to do so;

 

(c)        believes that Britain must have full control of immigration and asylum policies, and border control, and must not be bound by any freedom of movement obligation;

 

(d)       also believes that the UK must take its seat in its own right on the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and resume its sovereign right to sign trade agreements with other entities or supra-national bodies; must have full rights to set its own tariff and non-tariff barriers consistent with WTO rules; and must leave both the EU single market and the customs union;

 

(e)       further believes that the UK's full maritime sovereignty must be restored and we must have control of our maritime exclusive economic zone, which stretches 200 miles off the coast, or to the half-way point between the UK and neighbouring countries, and that there must be no constraints on our fishing fleet, other than those decided upon by the UK Parliament;

 

(f)        expresses the view that the UK must not pay any 'divorce' payments to the EU, nor contribute to the EU budget, and must be paid back its share of financial assets from entities such as the European Investment Bank, in which £9 billion of UK money is vested; and

 

(g)       is concerned at the possibility of a withdrawal agreement being signed which means the UK leaves the EU in name but not in substance, and believes that if the Rt. Hon. Theresa May MP signs such an agreement she will have betrayed Britain to the EU, just as every Prime Minister has done since 1972.

 

 

8.2

Whereupon, it was formally moved by Councillor Adam Hurst, and formally seconded by Councillor Lisa Banes, as an amendment, that the Motion now submitted be amended by the deletion of all the words after the words “That this Council” and the addition of the following words:

 

 

 

(a)       believes that, moving forward, the priority should be to prioritise jobs and living standards, build a close new relationship with the EU, protect workers’ rights, consumer rights and environmental standards, provide certainty to EU nationals and give a meaningful role to Parliament throughout negotiations;

 

(b)       believes that negotiating priorities should have a strong emphasis on retaining the benefits of the Single Market and the Customs Union – which are essential for maintaining industries, jobs and businesses in Britain;

 

(c)        believes it is important that the Government ensures the regions of the UK will receive funds on the same basis as they did when we were in the EU;

 

(d)       further believes we should guarantee existing rights for all EU nationals living in Britain and secure reciprocal rights for UK citizens who have chosen to make their lives in EU countries; EU nationals do not just contribute to our society, they are part of our society, and they should not be used as bargaining chips;

 

(e)       welcomes the Labour Party’s commitment to retain the Human Rights Act and adhere to the European Court of Human Rights;

 

(f)        confirms that asylum and EU freedom of movement are completely unrelated, and condemns the continued misrepresentation and muddying of the waters by UKIP, particularly demonstrated by the disgraceful “Breaking Point” poster unveiled by Nigel Farage MEP in the EU referendum campaign;

 

(g)       is concerned that a Conservative Brexit will weaken workers’ rights, deregulate the economy, slash corporate taxes, sideline Parliament and democratic accountability, and cut Britain off from our closest allies and most important trading partners;

 

(h)       believes that leaving the EU with ‘no deal’ is the worst possible deal for Britain and that it would do damage to our economy and trade and that ‘no deal’ should be rejected as a viable option and, if needs be, the Government should negotiate transitional arrangements to avoid a ‘cliff-edge’ for the UK economy; and

 

(i)         recognises that the issues that affect our continent now will continue to do so in the future and it is important that we continue to work constructively with the EU and other European nations on issues such as climate change, refugee crises and counter-terrorism.

 

 

8.3

It was then formally moved by Councillor Joe Otten, and formally seconded by Councillor Sue Alston, as an amendment, that the Motion now submitted be amended by the deletion of all the words after the words “That this Council” and the addition of the following words:-

 

 

 

(a)       believes:-

 

(i)         that there is mounting and undisputable evidence of the damage that ‘Brexit’ would cause both to the national economy and to the local economy in Sheffield and the surrounding region;

 

(ii)        this would involve damage to our international relationships, the reducing influence with other states and the complete loss of say and control over the rules of the European Single Market and Customs Union, the largest market in the world;

 

(iii)       that the Government has totally mismanaged the Brexit negotiations and has failed to work closely with local authorities and listen to our concerns;

 

(iv)       that businesses within the Sheffield City Region, like those elsewhere in the UK, are reconsidering investment plans in new production and new jobs while they await the Brexit deal; and

 

(v)        that the current rights of EU citizens living in the UK should always be fully protected and not used as a bargaining chip by the UK Government;

 

(b)       notes:-

 

(i)         that extensive polling analysis by YouGov has revealed that a second referendum would swing to Remain, as Leave voters have ‘second thoughts’ on their original vote in 2016;

 

(ii)        the increasing problems that the NHS is having in recruiting nurses and doctors since the decision to leave the European Union was made and that this is having a real impact on the health of local residents;

 

(iii)       with concern, the potential impact of Brexit both on our local economy and on established mutually beneficial partnerships and links with European cities;

 

(iv)       that the UK economy is now the slowest growing economy in Europe, reducing the prosperity of the UK and our local residents;

 

(v)        that new investment in the Sheffield City Region is being jeopardised and new job opportunities are being lost; and

 

(vi)       that inflation caused by Brexit-related depreciation of the pound is driving up living costs for the poorest residents, a further squeezing of living standards; and

 

(c)        resolves to ask the Leader of the Council to:-

 

(i)         write to our local Members of Parliament and the Rt. Hon. James Brokenshire MP (Secretary of State for Housing, Communities & Local Government), expressing this Council’s strong desire for a vote on the final deal, including the option to maintain full EU membership; and

 

(ii)        write to all Leaders of local authorities in the UK urging them to also adopt a policy calling for a vote on the final deal, including an option to maintain full EU membership.

 

 

8.4

The amendment moved by Councillor Adam Hurst was put to the vote and was carried.

 

 

8.4.1

(NOTE: Councillors Simon Clement-Jones, Bob Pullin, Richard Shaw, Adam Hanrahan, Mohammed Mahroof, Joe Otten, Martin Smith, Roger Davison, Shaffaq Mohammed, Paul Scriven, Sue Alston, Andrew Sangar, Sue Auckland, Steve Ayris, Gail Smith, David Baker, Penny Baker, Vickie Priestley and Mike Levery voted for paragraphs (b) to (i) and abstained from voting on paragraph (a) of the amendment, and asked for this to be recorded.)

 

 

8.5

The amendment moved by Councillor Joe Otten was then put to the vote and was negatived.

 

 

8.6

The original Motion, as amended, was then put as a Substantive Motion in the following form and carried:-

 

 

 

RESOLVED: That this Council:-

 

(a)       believes that, moving forward, the priority should be to prioritise jobs and living standards, build a close new relationship with the EU, protect workers’ rights, consumer rights and environmental standards, provide certainty to EU nationals and give a meaningful role to Parliament throughout negotiations;

 

(b)       believes that negotiating priorities should have a strong emphasis on retaining the benefits of the Single Market and the Customs Union – which are essential for maintaining industries, jobs and businesses in Britain;

 

(c)        believes it is important that the Government ensures the regions of the UK will receive funds on the same basis as they did when we were in the EU;

 

(d)       further believes we should guarantee existing rights for all EU nationals living in Britain and secure reciprocal rights for UK citizens who have chosen to make their lives in EU countries; EU nationals do not just contribute to our society, they are part of our society, and they should not be used as bargaining chips;

 

(e)       welcomes the Labour Party’s commitment to retain the Human Rights Act and adhere to the European Court of Human Rights;

 

(f)        confirms that asylum and EU freedom of movement are completely unrelated, and condemns the continued misrepresentation and muddying of the waters by UKIP, particularly demonstrated by the disgraceful “Breaking Point” poster unveiled by Nigel Farage MEP in the EU referendum campaign;

 

(g)       is concerned that a Conservative Brexit will weaken workers’ rights, deregulate the economy, slash corporate taxes, side-line Parliament and democratic accountability, and cut Britain off from our closest allies and most important trading partners;

 

(h)       believes that leaving the EU with ‘no deal’ is the worst possible deal for Britain and that it would do damage to our economy and trade and that ‘no deal’ should be rejected as a viable option and, if needs be, the Government should negotiate transitional arrangements to avoid a ‘cliff-edge’ for the UK economy; and

 

(i)         recognises that the issues that affect our continent now will continue to do so in the future and it is important that we continue to work constructively with the EU and other European nations on issues such as climate change, refugee crises and counter-terrorism.

 

 

 

8.6.1

(NOTE: Councillors Simon Clement-Jones, Bob Pullin, Richard Shaw, Adam Hanrahan, Mohammed Mahroof, Joe Otten, Martin Smith, Roger Davison, Shaffaq Mohammed, Paul Scriven, Sue Alston, Andrew Sangar, Sue Auckland, Steve Ayris, Gail Smith, David Baker, Penny Baker, Vickie Priestley and Mike Levery voted for paragraphs (b) to (i) and abstained from voting on paragraph (a) of the Substantive Motion, and asked for this to be recorded.)