Caerphilly County Borough’s MPs will all vote against Theresa May’s Brexit deal on Tuesday, December 11.
The three MPs voted in favour of triggering Article 50 last year, with their constituencies all voting to leave the European Union in 2016.
But Islwyn’s Chris Evans, Merthyr and Rhymney’s Gerald Jones and Caerphilly’s Wayne David, who all represent Labour, have outlined the reasons why they will block the deal.
Mr Evans, who has branded the deal “nothing more than a series of ambiguous hopes and aspirations by a struggling Prime Minister,” said in a recent press article: “There are no guarantees on jobs. Here in Islwyn we are lucky to have many well paid manufacturing jobs.”
He added: “The goods made here are sold all around Europe and the money earned by workers is ploughed back into our local economy. This deal will limit access to the European market, potentially reducing the goods these factories produce.
Mr Evans told Caerphilly Observer: “The Tories have had two years to negotiate this deal. I will not be forced into voting for a bad deal for the people of this country because we are being threatened by a last minute ‘No Deal’ Brexit. This deal is not what the people of Islwyn voted for. Therefore I will not support it.”
Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney MP Gerald Jones said: “What Theresa May has managed to do is unite everyone in opposing it. The deal doesn’t protect jobs, doesn’t protect workers’ rights and doesn’t protect environmental standards.
“These are the things that we have come to take for granted. Things that we have fought for and have had from the European Union. There is no certainty on the future relationship with the EU – it’s far too vague and not something worthy of support.”
Mr David will also oppose the deal Mrs May has negotiated.
In an open letter to constituents, which can be read below, Mr David said: “I have not taken this decision lightly, but I believe that it would be enormously damaging for the people of this country and, in particular, the people of the Caerphilly constituency, if Britain were to leave the EU on the basis of what the Prime Minister has negotiated.
For Mr David, protecting local jobs has been a key factor in his decision.
He said: “Much of this area’s prosperity and the employment prospects of a large number of people depends on Britain having a positive relationship with our largest and nearest trading market.”
He added: “A ‘No Deal’ Brexit would be a disaster for the Caerphilly constituency and the Prime Minister must be prevented from even contemplating such a course of action.
“You can be assured that I have taken into account the many representations I have received and I will always follow a course of action which has, at heart, the best interests of the people I represent.”
Wayne David’s open letter to constituents
On Tuesday 11 December, I will be participating in the most important vote in the House of Commons for a generation – the vote on Britain’s withdrawal process from, and our future relationship with, the European Union (EU).
I voted in favour of negotiations to begin the withdrawal process (Article 50) but having read the result of Theresa May’s negotiations, I will be voting against what has been negotiated.
I have not taken this decision lightly, but I believe that it would be enormously damaging for the people of this country and, in particular, the people of the Caerphilly constituency, if Britain were to leave the EU on the basis of what the Prime Minister has negotiated.
Fundamental to my concern is that the withdrawal agreement deals only with the process of Britain’s ‘departure’ from the EU. For after December 2020, the only thing that has been agreed is a short political declaration which is extremely vague. In other words, if Parliament accepts Theresa May’s package, we have no real idea what this country’s relationship with the EU will be like in the long term.
This is an extremely important point as much of this area’s prosperity and the employment prospects of a large number of people depends on Britain having a positive relationship with our largest and nearest trading market.
There are also huge problems with the short-term withdrawal agreement, not least the weak commitments to workers’ rights and environmental standards. There are also the issues of how much European legislation will continue to apply to the UK and our access to the Single Market. Jobs must be a central concern.
In addition, there is the issue of Northern Ireland and the failure of the withdrawal agreement to map-out a clear way forward for the complex relationship between Northern Ireland, Britain and Ireland. This is, of course, fundamental to the peace process.
In essence, this is why I will be voting against Theresa May’s deal on 11 December. I will also be voting against any attempt to take Britain out of the EU without an agreement. A no deal Brexit would be a disaster for the Caerphilly constituency and the Prime Minister must be prevented from even contemplating such a course of action.
These are difficult times and no decisions of magnitude are easy. But you can be assured that I have taken into account the many representations I have received and I will always follow a course of action which has, at heart, the best interests of the people I represent.
Wayne David, MP for Caerphilly
