No Scottish Labour MPs back bill to rejoin EU customs union

A Lib Dem bill on forging an agreement between the UK and the bloc passed by 101 votes to 100 in the House of Commons on Tuesday afternoon.

But all of the 37 Scottish Labour MPs abstained along with most of their party colleagues from across the UK.

SNP Foreign Affairs spokesperson Stephen Gethins said: “We all know Brexit has hammered households and businesses, but it’s within the gift of the Labour Government to do something about it – they have admitted it’s the root cause of this broken economy, but they’re not prepared to anything about it. That ‘do nothing’ Labour Party policy on Brexit is costing us £250 million per day.

“It is depressing, but unsurprising that not one Scottish Labour MP voted for even the minimal step of returning to the EU customs union. Instead of standing up for Scotland, they only ever stand up for Keir Starmer and are doing damage to the Scottish economy as a result.

“The fact is no government serious about fixing broken, Brexit Britain would leave itself outside the world’s largest single market - but just like the Tories, the Labour Party are doomed to follow the same path.

“Scotland’s future is as a wealthy, dynamic nation within the EU, but that only comes through a fresh start with independence – the chance for Scots to choose that future comes in May next year.”

Eleven Scottish MPs voted in favour of rejoining the customs union, while five were against.

Eight of the nine SNP MPs voted in favour, as did three of the six Scottish Lib Dems. Scots Lib Dem MP Susan Murray was one of the tellers who verify the vote on the pro-customs union side.

The five Scottish Conservative MPs were the only Scots who voted against it.

Some 13 English Labour MPs voted for the customs union, while three voted against.

The vote had initially been a tie with 100 MPs voting for and 100 voting against.

Deputy Speaker - and former Tory minister - Caroline Nokes then cast the deciding vote in favour.

Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch and Reform UK leader Nigel Farage did not vote - even though either of them would have been decisive in killing off the bill.

Sir Keir Starmer also did not vote - although the Prime Minister rarely casts a ballot, especially on opposition motions.

The bill is unlikely to go any further because the UK Government will not give it time.

Tory MP for West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine Andrew Bowie said: “The House of Commons just voted on joining the EU Customs Union.

“It was a tie. The Deputy Speaker had the casting vote and voted Aye. I swear it’s not 2019.”

In 2019 - under Conservative Prime Minister Theresa May - there were several ‘meaningful votes’ on the UK leaving the EU.

Lib Dem leader Ed Davey said: “Today was a historic victory for the Liberal Democrats – winning a vote in Parliament to finally end the economic nightmare of the Conservatives' broken Brexit deal.

“Across the country, people are crying out for real change and a solution to the cost-of-living crisis. A customs union with the EU is the single biggest step the government could take to grow our economy, put money back into people's pockets and generate billions for our public services.

“The Prime Minister must now listen to Parliament and the public, drop his self-imposed red lines and finally go for proper growth through an ambitious trade deal with the EU."