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Tam Dalyell: Labour MP who died this week said MPs should 'have the balls' to block Brexit | |
(about 2 hours later) | |
Tam Dalyell said MPs should “have the balls” to vote honestly on Brexit in a candid interview less than eight months before he died. | |
The stalwart Labour backbencher, who spent 43 years as an MP and died yesterday, said politicians were being cowards if they did not vote with their guts. | The stalwart Labour backbencher, who spent 43 years as an MP and died yesterday, said politicians were being cowards if they did not vote with their guts. |
His comments, aired on 29 June, five days after the referendum on the UK leaving the EU, are particularly poignant this week after Jeremy Corbyn announced a three-line whip urging his MPs to vote in favour of Article 50. | His comments, aired on 29 June, five days after the referendum on the UK leaving the EU, are particularly poignant this week after Jeremy Corbyn announced a three-line whip urging his MPs to vote in favour of Article 50. |
In a previously unseen edit, released yesterday by BBC journalist David Grossman, who interviewed him for Newsnight, Mr Dalyell tests the water before going on record. | In a previously unseen edit, released yesterday by BBC journalist David Grossman, who interviewed him for Newsnight, Mr Dalyell tests the water before going on record. |
“Am I entitled to say that MPs should have the 'balls' or should we discuss the ‘guts’,” said the 84-year-old. | “Am I entitled to say that MPs should have the 'balls' or should we discuss the ‘guts’,” said the 84-year-old. |
Mr Grossman says “balls is good, balls is fine” and a colleague chimes in: “Absolutely.” | Mr Grossman says “balls is good, balls is fine” and a colleague chimes in: “Absolutely.” |
Mr Dalyell continues: “MPs should have the balls to use their best judgement because parliament is sovereign and if their best judgement, [which] as I understand it is the best judgement of 450-more, is that Britain should remain in the European community. | Mr Dalyell continues: “MPs should have the balls to use their best judgement because parliament is sovereign and if their best judgement, [which] as I understand it is the best judgement of 450-more, is that Britain should remain in the European community. |
“They should have the balls to say so and vote accordingly. This is a matter of cowardice if they don’t.” | “They should have the balls to say so and vote accordingly. This is a matter of cowardice if they don’t.” |
Mr Corbyn, who has insisted the Labour Party would not block the triggering of Article 50, is facing shadow cabinet rebellion after ordering MPs to vote accordingly. | Mr Corbyn, who has insisted the Labour Party would not block the triggering of Article 50, is facing shadow cabinet rebellion after ordering MPs to vote accordingly. |
Any minister or shadow minister who breaks the three-line whip, so called because the instruction is underlined three times on paper, is typically forced to resign from the front bench. | Any minister or shadow minister who breaks the three-line whip, so called because the instruction is underlined three times on paper, is typically forced to resign from the front bench. |
Shadow early years minister Tulip Siddiq has resigned over the dispute already. | Shadow early years minister Tulip Siddiq has resigned over the dispute already. |
Mr Dalyell was a keen pro-European, anti-imperialist and anti-war MP. | Mr Dalyell was a keen pro-European, anti-imperialist and anti-war MP. |
He famously and repeatedly asked subsequent Prime Ministers the so-called ‘West Lothian question’, which argued against giving Scottish MPs votes on English-only matters. | He famously and repeatedly asked subsequent Prime Ministers the so-called ‘West Lothian question’, which argued against giving Scottish MPs votes on English-only matters. |
Mr Corbyn paid tribute to a “titan of parliamentary scrutiny” while Nicola Sturgeon said he was a “real giant of Scottish politics”. | Mr Corbyn paid tribute to a “titan of parliamentary scrutiny” while Nicola Sturgeon said he was a “real giant of Scottish politics”. |