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Labour byelection candidate would vote against Brexit bill Labour byelection candidate would vote against Brexit bill
(about 1 hour later)
Christian Wolmar, Labour’s candidate against Zac Goldsmith in the Richmond Park byelection, would vote against a Brexit bill in the House of Commons if he became an MP. Christian Wolmar, Labour’s candidate to face Zac Goldsmith in the Richmond Park byelection, has said he would vote against a Brexit bill in the House of Commons if he became an MP.
Wolmar, a transport expert and campaigner, who was selected to fight the seat despite calls by some senior Labour MPs for the party to stand aside and back the Liberal Democrats, said he would not be willing to give Theresa May a “blank cheque” by voting to trigger article 50 without further reassurances. Wolmar, a transport expert and campaigner, was selected to fight the seat despite calls by some senior Labour MPs for the party to stand aside and back the Liberal Democrats.
“I really think we should do everything to try to prevent what is a disaster for Britain and a disaster for the people we stand up for,” he said. “There’s the vote coming up, over the enactment of article 50. I think personally I would vote against it.” He said he would not be willing to give Theresa May a “blank cheque” by voting to trigger article 50 without further reassurances.
Without clear pledges from Theresa May about how she would conduct negotiations with the other 27 EU member states, Wolmar said MPs would not have enough information about the process they would be triggering by backing article 50. “We don’t know what it’s about. What would we be voting for?” “I really think we should do everything to try to prevent what is a disaster for Britain and a disaster for the people we stand up for,” he said. “There’s the vote coming up over the enactment of article 50. I think personally I would vote against it.”
The government has said it will appeal against Thursday’s high court judgment that May cannot trigger article 50 without allowing parliament a say. If it were to lose the appeal in the supreme court, the Brexit secretary David Davis, has said the government would bring a bill to both houses of parliament. Without clear pledges from the prime minister about how she would conduct negotiations with the other 27 EU member states, Wolmar said MPs would not have enough information about the process they would be beginning by backing article 50. “We don’t know what it’s about. What would we be voting for?”
Wolmar said as things stand he would oppose such legislation, even if it were a simple bill authorising the government to invoke article 50. “How could one possibly support something that has no real meaning?” he asked. “You’re giving the government a blank cheque.” The government has said it will appeal against Thursday’s high court judgment that May cannot trigger article 50 without giving parliament a say. If it were to lose the appeal in the supreme court, the Brexit secretary, David Davis, has said the government would bring a bill to both houses of parliament.
Labour appeared to be in disarray over its Brexit stance this weekend, after Jeremy Corbyn hinted in a Sunday Mirror interview that he was prepared to block the triggering of article 50. However, the leader subsequently clarified the party’s position, tweeting: “We won’t block article 50 but will fight for a Brexit that works for Britain.” As things stand, Wolmar said he would oppose such legislation, even if it were a simple bill authorising the government to invoke article 50. “How could one possibly support something that has no real meaning?” he asked. “You’re giving the government a blank cheque.”
Wolmar said Brexit was a key issue on the doorsteps in Richmond Park, and was likely to be at the heart of the byelection, since Goldsmith, who resigned from the Conservative party over Heathrow, campaigned for Britain to leave the EU. Labour appeared to be in disarray over its Brexit stance this weekend, after Jeremy Corbyn hinted in a Sunday Mirror interview that he was prepared to block the triggering of article 50. However, the Labour leader subsequently clarified the party’s position.
Wolmar is a long-time campaigner against a third runway at Heathrow, and believes the London area already has enough airport capacity. Since the Conservatives have said they will not stand an official candidate against Goldsmith, Wolmar’s selection means all three main candidates are against Heathrow expansion. There must be transparency and accountability on Brexit terms. We won't block Article 50 but will fight for a Brexit that works for Britain
He said it would have been wrong for Labour not to stand in Richmond Park and throw its weight behind the Liberal Democrat candidate, Sarah Olney, as the Green party has done. Wolmar said Brexit was a key issue for people in Richmond Park and likely to be at the heart of the byelection given that Goldsmith, who resigned from the Conservative party over the approval of a third runway at Heathrow, campaigned for Britain to leave the EU.
Wolmar is a longstanding campaigner against the third runway and believes the London area already has enough airport capacity. Since the Conservatives have said they will not field an official candidate against Goldsmith, Wolmar’s selection means all three main candidates are against Heathrow expansion.
He said it would have been wrong for Labour not to stand in Richmond Park and throw its weight behind the Lib Dem candidate, Sarah Olney, as the Green party has done.
“I’m very firm about this. I think we’re doing the right thing. This is not a time when Labour should abandon the field to a rightwing party and a slightly right of centre party. I think it’s very important that we give people the chance to vote. We are the anti-austerity party,” Wolmar said.“I’m very firm about this. I think we’re doing the right thing. This is not a time when Labour should abandon the field to a rightwing party and a slightly right of centre party. I think it’s very important that we give people the chance to vote. We are the anti-austerity party,” Wolmar said.
Advocates of a “progressive alliance” between left-of-centre parties suggest Labour could have stood aside in exchange for the Liberal Democrats not standing against Labour MP Ruth Cadbury in the neighbouring Brentford and Isleworth seat at the next general election. Advocates of a “progressive alliance” between left-of-centre parties suggested Labour could have stood aside in exchange for the Lib Dems not standing against the Labour MP Ruth Cadbury in the neighbouring Brentford and Isleworth seat at the next general election.
At last year’s general election, Goldsmith got 58% of the vote, with the Liberal Democrats on 19%, and Labour on just 12%. At last year’s general election, Goldsmith won 58% of the vote, with the Liberal Democrats on 19% and Labour on 12%.
Wolmar, who lives in Jeremy Corbyn’s Islington North constituency, backed him for the Labour leadership in 2015, but then had such serious doubts about the way Corbyn was running the party that he supported Owen Smith’s challenge over the summer. However he said: “I now totally support Jeremy; we have got to all get together.” Wolmar, who lives in Corbyn’s Islington North constituency, backed him for the Labour leadership in 2015, but then had such serious doubts about the way Corbyn was running the party that he supported Owen Smith’s challenge over the summer. However, he said: “I now totally support Jeremy; we have got to all get together.”
The author of a number of transport books, Wolmar sought nomination as Labour’s candidate for London mayor, but came fifth of six candidates in the primary election last year, with less than 6% of the vote. The author of a number of transport books, Wolmar sought the Labour nomination for London mayor, but came fifth out of six candidates in the primary election last year with less than 6% of the vote.