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Green Party EU spokesperson responds to Labour’s position on Brexit

25 April 2017

Responding to a speech by Keir Starmer, outlining Labour’s approach to Brexit negotiations if the Party wins the general election in June, Molly Scott Cato, Green MEP for the South West and the Party’s speaker on EU relations, said:

“A softer and more distinctive approach from Labour is welcome; to date Labour have danced to the Tories extreme and reckless Brexit tune, voting to trigger Article 50 without fighting for any conditions and effectively handing Theresa May a blank cheque.

“Greens would go much further than Labour and offer guarantees in areas not even mentioned by Keir Starmer.  

“We would not only guarantee existing rights for all EU nationals but defend free movement, especially for the young. We want young people to continue to enjoy the rights enjoyed by their parents and grandparents – the right to travel, study and work across Europe.

“Like Labour, we would ditch the great repeal bill, but replace it with more than just an EU rights and protections bill. We will push for a Great Reform Bill, to deliver a fair and proportional election system, reform of the House of Lords and a written constitution. Greens believe that the best way to protect jobs and workers’ rights is by remaining in the single market.

“Of course jobs and the economy are critically important in the negotiations with the EU, but by prioritising these above all else, there is a danger the environment gets side-lined. With the Tories plotting a bonfire of regulations that protect our air and water quality, safeguard valuable wildlife habitats and help tackle climate change, we need a new Environmental Protection Act and a new Clean Air Act to ensure environmental protections are maintained and enhanced.

“Labour’s call for parliament to be given a truly meaningful vote on the final Brexit deal is welcome, but their reluctance to give British people the same right shows a disregard for democracy. Greens believe that the people of the UK must be given an opportunity to accept or reject the future that is on offer at the end of the two-year Article 50 process through a ratification referendum.”

Notes:

1. http://mollymep.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/Green_guarentees-2.pdf  

Molly Scott Cato is Green MEP for the South West of England and Gibraltar and is one of 50 Green/EFA MEPs in the European Parliament. She sits on the Economics and Monetary Affairs Committee, PANA committee investigating tax evasion and the Agriculture and Rural Development Committee. Molly is parliamentary candidate for Bristol West in the June 8th general election.

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Green Party •

Press release: Change of Her Majesty’s Ambassador to Kuwait

2013 – present Serbia, EU Ambassador and Head of EU Delegation 2010 – 2013 Belgrade, Her Majesty’s Ambassador 2007 – 2010 FCO, Director, Russia, South Caucasus and Central Asia Directorate 2004 – 2007 Cairo, Deputy Head of Mission 2000 – 2003 Warsaw, Consul-General and Director for Trade Promotion 1996 – 1999 Moscow, First Secretary Political (External) 1993 – 1996 FCO, Head, UN Peacekeeping Section, United Nations Department 1990 – 1993 Warsaw, Second Secretary, Know-How Fund 1988 – 1989 FCO, Desk Officer, East Africa Department read more

HM Government

Welsh seafood producers to cast their nets far and wide at global showcase

The event, which takes place in Brussels between 25th and 27th April, provides an ideal platform to showcase high-quality Welsh seafood and gives Welsh producers a valuable opportunity to engage with over 30,000 buyers and suppliers from over 150 countries.

The important work of the Welsh Seafood Cluster will also be highlighted at Seafood Expo Global 2017. The cluster brings together fishermen, fishmongers and aquaculture businesses that have an ambition to grow and is dedicated to adding value to fish and shellfish caught or farmed on Welsh shores. 

Joining Rebecca Evans at the event will be Welsh Seafood Cluster businesses the Lobster Pot, Extra Mussels, Bangor Mussel Producers, WM Shellfish and South Quay Shellfish. 

Looking forward to her attendance at Seafood Expo Global 2017, the Minister said:

“We all know Wales has a wide range of world class food and drink producers who are really making their mark on the world stage. Our seafood is a hugely important part of our food and drink offer.

“The seafood industry makes a significant contribution to the Welsh economy. The latest figures show Aquaculture is worth £17.2M and the shellfish caught off the Welsh coast is worth £10.6M. The Seafood Cluster continues to grow in strength and ambition and I am sure it will play an important part in increasing the value of the sector even further. 

“Following the UK’s vote to leave the European Union it is more important than ever we continue to have a presence at trade events like Seafood Expo. By engaging with buyers and suppliers from around the world, our producers have the opportunity to cast their nets far and wide as they try and attract potential new customers and access new markets.

“We are already more than half way towards achieving our target to grow the Food and Drink industry in Wales by 30% to £7 billion by the year 2020. I hope attending events like this can provide an international platform to showcase the very best Wales has to offer, as well as raise the profile of our brand.”

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Welsh Government •

Don’t mention the ‘i’ word – Sturgeon at risk of becoming ‘laughing stock’ over indyref ban

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  • Don’t mention the ‘i’ word – Sturgeon at risk of becoming ‘laughing stock’ over indyref ban

25 Apr 2017

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Nicola Sturgeon risks becoming a “laughing stock” after she claimed her election campaign has nothing to do with independence, the Scottish Conservatives said today.

The First Minister’s claim was made yesterday as polls today show a further slump in support both for independence and a second referendum.

Today, the Scottish Conservatives are publishing quotes from the SNP in recent elections where – as the First Minister did yesterday – the party has tried to argue that its campaign was not about its unpopular plan for independence.

Yet, after each result, the SNP has then gone on to use any gains made to push the case for separation – culminating in Nicola Sturgeon’s demand for a second divisive referendum in March.

Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson said:

“The First Minister risks turning herself into a laughing stock here.

“For the last few months, everyone in Scotland has seen her do nothing else but campaign for an unwanted second independence referendum.

“Yet now there’s an election on, she suddenly tells people independence isn’t the issue for her and orders her troops –  don’t mention the ‘i’ word.

“After the last few months of talking about nothing else, who does she think she’s kidding?​

“We’ve heard it all before. At every election, the SNP says the vote has nothing to do with independence. Afterwards, it claims that separation is ever closer.

“More and more people in Scotland have wised up to these nationalist games.

“And more and more of them know that only the Scottish Conservatives have what it takes to stop the SNP in its tracks and say no to its plans to split our country in two.

“This time round, she won’t get away with it.”

The SNP always says elections aren’t about independence…

·        2016 EU referendum, Nicola Sturgeon: ‘I support an independent Scotland…However, this vote is not about independence” (Herald Scotland, 12 June 2016, link).

·        2016 Holyrood election, Nicola Sturgeon: ‘To propose another referendum in the next parliament without strong evidence that a significant number of those who voted No have changed their minds would be wrong and we won’t do it. It would not be respecting the decision that people made’ (Nicola Sturgeon Speech to SNP Conference 2015, 15 October 2015, link).

·        2016 Holyrood Election, Nicola Sturgeon: ‘If I, the SNP, those who believe in independence, can’t shift opinion from September 2014, we won’t earn the right to ask the question again’ (STV Face to Face, 29 April 2016, link).

·        2015 General election, Nicola Sturgeon: ‘As I have made very clear, this election is not about independence or about another referendum’ (The Scotsman, 29 April 2015, link)

·        2015 General election, Nicola Sturgeon writing for The National: ‘As I have made very clear, this election is not about independence or another referendum, no matter how many SNP MPs may be elected today’ (The National, 7 May 2015).

·        2015 General Election, Nicola Sturgeon writing for The Scotsman: This election is not about independence or another referendum (The Scotsman, 2 May 2015, link).

·        2015 General Election, Alex Salmond: “This election is not about independence or a referendum on independence” (Daily Telegraph, 7 May 2015)

·        2012 council elections, Nicola Sturgeon: “The SNP believe in independence… but the election here is not about independence (Daily Record, 13 April 2012).

·        2011 Holyrood elections, Alex Salmond “I think the people who vote SNP may or may not be supporters of independence…In an election people will have all sorts of reasons for voting for you or against you but we wouldn’t decide a constitutional issue on the basis of an election victory” (Daily Telegraph, 2 May 2011, link).​

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Scottish Conservatives