Chuka Umunna and Anna Soubry to lead cross-party group opposing ‘hard Brexit’
2 min read
MPs opposed to a hard Brexit have formed an all-party parliamentary group in a fresh bid to coordinate opposition to the Government’s strategy for leaving the European Union.
Former Tory minister Anna Soubry and Chuka Umunna, the former Labour shadow business secretary, are set to lead the alliance.
MPs from the Liberal Democrats, the SNP, the Greens and Plaid Cymru have also signed up to the APPG on EU relations.
The move comes as the Prime Minister prepares to publish her Repeal Bill on Thursday – which transposes all EU legislation into British law.
The bill is likely to be the first window for the new group to try to exert its influence when MPs debate the legislation in the autumn.
Theresa May said earlier this year that the UK “cannot possibly” remain within the European single market, as staying in it would mean “not leaving the EU at all”.
Mr Umunna, who last month tabled an unsuccessful amendment to the Queen’s Speech to garner support for staying in the single market, said: “We won’t accept MPs being treated as spectators in the Brexit process, when we should be on the pitch as active players representing our constituents.
“We will be fighting in parliament for a future relationship with the EU that protects our prosperity and rights at work, and which delivers a better and safer world.”
The Repeal Bill is set to reverse the 1972 European Communities Act that took Britain into the bloc, while also adopting all existing EU standards in to UK law.
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