The Brexit agreement – a bad deal, but the alternative was worse

04 Jan 2021

Many of you have written to me in relation to the votes on the EU (Future Relationship) Bill which was rushed through Parliament on 30th December 2020. First of all, this is a very sad time for all of us who value the closest possible relationship with the EU –…

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Government votes down child refugee protections in EU Withdrawal Agreement Bill

23 Jan 2020

As Shadow Brexit Minister, yesterday I defended five crucial Lord Amendments to the EU Withdrawal Agreement Bill (WAB). These changes were important. One amendment would have made it easier for unaccompanied child refugees to join family members in the UK, while another would have made life easier for EU citizens…

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My Question for the Secretary of State for Exiting the EU

15 Jan 2020

Yesterday during the Oral Questions for the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, I challenged the Secretary of State about the government’s treatment of EU citizens, from the despatch box. This is disgraceful. The Conservatives have refused to provide paper proof of status for EU citizens, rejected Labour’s…

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Challenging the Tories as Shadow Brexit Minister

08 Jan 2020

In my new role as shadow minister for the Department for Exiting the European Union, I led the Opposition challenge to the government on the Withdrawal Agreement Bill (WAB), which implements the government’s Withdrawal Agreement and takes us out of the European Union on 31st January 2020. This legislation is…

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My record on Brexit

26 Nov 2019

People in Bristol West continue to ask about my position on Brexit and I’m happy to let you know where I stand. I voted and campaigned for the UK to remain in the European Union. I still believe that the best relationship that the UK can have with the EU…

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Remaining in the EU

07 Nov 2019

Over the last three years I’ve campaigned alongside the people of Bristol West for the UK to remain in the European Union. My experience in Parliament as an Opposition Whip through a time of national crisis has meant I’ve gained support from other Members of Parliament and worked behind the…

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My work on Brexit

05 Nov 2019

People often ask me what I am doing to fight against the Tories’ disastrous Brexit. As a remainer, I believe we need a relationship which is as close as possible to the European Union. Brexit has been a large part of my work in Parliament and the constituency since I…

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Brexit and the law – a simple yes or no from the Attorney General?

The European Union (Withdrawal) (No. 2) Act 2019 requires the Prime Minister to ask for an extension unless Parliament has agreed a withdrawal agreement; or agreed to leave without one. So, in oral questions to the Attorney General on Thursday 3 October 2019, I asked him to confirm that if…

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The government is not protecting touring musicians from the effects of Brexit

I have campaigned for a long time with the Musicians’ Union for the government to understand that so many musicians’, artists’, and creative technicians’ livelihoods depend on the visa and tariff-free travel rights that our EU membership currently gives. I am furious that the government are still unable to reassure those…

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Update on arrangements for the UK leaving the EU on 31st October with no withdrawal agreement in place

23 Aug 2019

Background This week we had the confusing information from the Home Secretary that free movement will end on 31 October, in the event of the UK leaving the EU with no withdrawal agreement. However, the government has also stated that the deadline is still December 2020 for EU citizens currently…

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BREAKING: I announce vote to stop a new PM suspending Parliament to crash us out of the EU

18 Jul 2019

BREAKING: Parliament has just voted overwhelmingly to effectively prevent the new Prime Minister from suspending our sovereign parliament in order to crash the country out of the EU without a deal. Many of you have told me you wanted me to do everything in my power to stop Boris Johnson…

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BREAKING NEWS: Labour supports the campaign to remain in the EU

09 Jul 2019

I have always been a proud pro-European, and I am honoured to represent Bristol West – a constituency where 4 out of 5 people voted to remain in the European Union in 2016 – as your MP. So I am delighted that Jeremy Corbyn has confirmed today that whoever wins…

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Time for the government to plan for ‘no Brexit’?

Citizens of other European Union countries were recently turned away from voting in the European Parliament elections, despite their legal right to vote. The blame for this fiasco must lie with the government, which failed to confirm that the UK would take part in these elections until the last minute.…

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The PM’s European Union ‘deal’ – is this what people really voted for?

Today, Jeremy Corbyn told the Prime Minister that if she believes her deal is what people voted for, she should put it to the people. I agree. She keeps bringing it back to Parliament, hoping we will have changed our minds. We continue to vote it down. Instead of trying…

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Leaving the EU must not jeopardise Bristol’s creativity

Bristol has a well-deserved reputation as one of the world’s most creative cities. But our place at the forefront of creative industries is jeopardised by the government’s chaotic attempts to leave the EU. Musicians, film-makers, artists and others working in the creative industries desperately need reassurance that they will be…

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Five reasons you should vote Labour in the European elections

15 May 2019

My top five reasons why you should vote Labour in the European Parliament elections on 23 May: 1. Labour has successfully stopped Tories’ woeful attempts to take us out of the European Union. We successfully fought for the ‘meaningful vote’ in Parliament, and subsequently beat the government three times, by…

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The Prime Minister has two options: cancel Brexit – or put her deal to the people

Today I confronted the Prime Minister with her shrinking options when it comes to the European Union. May’s only way out is likely to be another public vote – or remaining in the EU. She has often said that the options are her deal, no deal, or staying in the…

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EU students are not Brexit bargaining chips

Whatever our future relationship with the EU, we should do everything to ensure our universities continue to welcome students from around the world. While we’re members of the EU, we have a reciprocal arrangement with 27 other countries – UK students studying abroad and EU students studying here are charged…

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European Union update

05 Apr 2019

This blog is about my recent work on the European Union. A reminder: I believe we should remain in the EU Please be assured that I believe the best thing for the UK would be to remain a full member of the European Union. From meeting constituents and receiving many…

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The government’s Brexit plan is hammered – AGAIN

We defeated the government’s Withdrawal Agreement again, this time by a majority of 58 votes. Today’s result, 286 to 344, was another massive defeat for this unpopular Brexit plan. As a Labour Whip I get to be a Teller, which usually means counting the votes. Today I was very proud…

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The government has failed on Brexit – MPs now need to take charge

Despite humiliating failure after crushing defeat, the Prime Minister is still failing to consider any possible alternative to her so-called ‘deal’. Today I challenged Brexit Minister Kwasi Kwarteng to give MPs a vote on different options to move out of this crisis. The Prime Minister and government ministers keep complaining…

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