Actions/Lobbying

Urgent: Represent us have forwarded a request 13 November 2017

An urgent message from the Conservative Group for Europe:

On Friday, we were all told that the House of Commons will be asked to amend the EU Withdrawal Bill to write an Exit Date – 29 March 2019 – on the face of the Bill.

Both our Chair, the Rt Hon Dominic Grieve QC MP, and our deputy chair, Antoinette Sandbach MP, are opposed to this. The proposal is fundamentally flawed. We appeal to all members of the CGE to give all the support they can to our chair and deputy chair.

We appeal to you to contact any MP you know – and your own MP – to tell them that that you believe that the idea of writing a fixed Exit Date on the face EU Withdrawal Bill is completely wrong and ask them to oppose it. Even if the MP is known to be a Brexiteer contact him or her – it matters a great deal that ALL MPs should know that there is strong opposition to this proposal. This applies to MPs of ALL parties.

Almost all MPs have email addresses that you can find by going to www.Parliament.uk and putting your postcode or constituency or the MP’s name into the search engine.

• If you are writing to your own MP, remember to give your address. Put “URGENT” in the subject line – and try to follow up with a phone call to the MP’s office and ask the staff member who answers to make sure that the MP sees your message BEFORE tomorrow’s debate
• If you are writing to a friend/contact put “FROM AN OLD FRIEND” or “WE MET AT>>>” in the subject line – this means your email should be passed on even though you are not a constituent

The CGE have published a briefing note by Joe Egerton entitled FIXING THE EXIT DATE – A TERRIBLE GAMBLE. You can use this to reinforce our message by emailing it to your MP and other MPs you know.

You will find possible covering words for an email below.

It is really important that we all act today to support MPs who are trying to stop an amendment that could be a disastrous mistake for our country. The amendment may be voted on today (Tuesday) so don’t delay

AND PLEASE CONTACT ALL YOUR FRIENDS AND COLLEAGUES AND ASK THEM TO EMAIL MPS AS WELL

A Terrible Gamble - PDF

WORDS FOR COVERING THE PDF OF FIXING THE EXIT DATE – A TERRIBLE GAMBLE

• If the MP is a Conservative, use words like “I have been given a briefing note by a fellow Conservative with over 30 years’ experience of financial regulation. He is very concerned that putting a fixed Exit Date on the face of the EU Withdrawal Bill will increase the risk of serious financial disruption and perhaps cause a credit crunch. Please read this paper. Please ask whether the Bank of England was consulted before the decision to support a fixed exit date was taken. Please also ask Hilary Benn and Nicky Morgan as Select Committee chairs whether they have had time to investigate the risks that putting 29 March 2019 on the face of the EU Withdrawal Bill create.”
• If the MP is NOT a Conservative, use words like “I am a constituent who lives at ( ). I have read a paper I am attaching. Please look at it. Please ask Hilary Benn as Chair of the Brexit Committee and Nicky Morgan as Chair of the Treasury Committee whether their Committees have had a chance to consider the risks this paper identifies. Please also do all you can to find out whether the Bank of England was consulted by No 10 before the decision to write an Exit Date of 29 March 2019 onto the EU Withdrawal Bill was made.”

Another Europe is possible:

http://www.anothereurope.org/template-letter-stop-the-powergrab-plot/

Template letter – stop the Powergrab Plot

Dear [your MP’s name]

From Tuesday 14th November, the House of Commons will be debating amendments to the European Union (Withdrawal) Bill. As your constituent, I am writing to you to express my deep concern about the content and potential implications of the Bill as it stands. In particular, the current draft of the Bill is a threat to:

• Workers’ rights in particular the rights of agency workers, protections for working time, and enforcement of the prohibition on discrimination.
• The environment in particular ensuring that environmental protections are effective, and polluters bear the cost of pollution, water safety, and air quality.
• Human rights particularly prohibitions on the torture trade and protections for privacy.
• Consumer protection particularly the regulation of dangerous chemicals and food safety.
• Financial regulation particularly in the event that Brexit negotiators are unable to secure the concessions required to maintain the City of London’s access to the EU.

There are many hundreds of amendments tabled from all sides of the House, and it will not be clear which amendments will be selected for debate and exactly when they will be debated until the day itself. I am therefore asking you to vote for amendments which:

• Safeguard our human rights, including retaining the Charter of Fundamental Rights
• Guarantee that the government will not use additional powers to take away workers’ rights, environmental protections, migrants rights and consumer protections currently contained in EU legislation.
• Ensure that delegated powers are subject to clear and effective lines of accountability
• Prevent an unprecedented transfer of powers from Parliament to the Executive
• Ensure that Henry VIII powers are either removed or subject to a super-affirmative procedure
• Guarantee a fair settlement and transfer of powers for devolved administrations in Cardiff and Edinburgh
• Guarantee that the Brexit process will not end peace in Northern Ireland

For more information, this briefing may be helpful.

Kind regards,

[your name]

[your postal address within the constituency]

Best for Britain:

https://bestforbritain.org/ Have a campaign which will ask your MP to support the amendments to the Withdrawal Bill

European Movement London branch (London4Europe)

have posted these models http://www.london4europe.co.uk/eu_withdrawal_bill_write_to_your_mp :

MODEL LETTER: CORE PARAGRAPHS

Dear

EU (WITHDRAWAL) BILL: REFERENDUM ON THE TERMS

I urge you to support amendments to the Bill that will provide for a referendum on the terms of Brexit before the final decision is made. A vote on an idea does not commit us to follow whatever plan is later produced. Having started with a referendum, only another referendum has the political authority to confirm or change course.

The Need for a Referendum on the Terms of Brexit

MPs will make an independent judgement on the merits of Brexit and of the Brexit deal when they vote on the terms of the withdrawal agreement.

They will also have to pay regard to the June 2016 referendum result – the major democratic event on Brexit in recent times. But referendum votes were cast without knowing what Brexit meant. Therefore the 2016 result will be a poor quality guide to MPs of what the public think at the end of the process. Even so it will not be possible for MPs to disregard it.

Nor did the 2017 election help. Both main parties promised the electorate that we would get the benefits of EU membership without the obligations. It would be surprising if the final withdrawal agreement matched those aspirations.

If we are not at the EU table, we are on the menu. The UK, with 2% of world GDP, has limited negotiating leverage with our major trading partner, the EU (22% of GDP). It should be no surprise that the only outcome of the ongoing negotiations will be a deal inferior to what we enjoy now as an EU member. The Government’s threat to walk away from the EU negotiations is not credible. Crashing out will hurt us far more than the EU.

So there should be a referendum on the terms with the option to Remain.

That is standard project management practice. No-one takes a project from idea to implementation without a review of the project once there is a definite plan whose benefits, costs and risks can be properly assessed. In the context of Brexit, that project review relates to the terms of Brexit agreed with the EU (or to a Brexit on no terms).

It would also align with the Chilcot Inquiry into the Iraq War. One of its lessons was the danger of making a final decision to go ahead without having studied an implementation plan.

Since we started the process with a referendum then as a matter of political legitimacy it must be for the electorate as a whole to say whether the project should go ahead or not once the terms are known.

It would place an unfair burden on MPs to ask them to choose whether Brexit should go ahead if they think the terms are not good for Britain but the 2016 referendum is still the electorate’s last word.

Opinion polls tell us that the country is still divided half and half on whether Brexit is a good idea. Similar proportions call for the Government to press on regardless and for a second vote on the final deal. Amongst those calling for a second vote a referendum is preferred 2:1 to a Parliamentary vote.

We can assume that the call for a rethink will rise substantially when the Brexit negotiations are ended and for the first time we know what Brexit actually means. While some Leave voters will be happy with the outcome, others will not wish to pay the price or will think that it is not the version of Brexit that they voted for.

MPs should now anticipate the demand for a rethink that will arise then. Otherwise, Parliament and its Members risk being behind the curve. It is up to Parliamentarians such as yourself to stand up for Britain and our future, ensuring we stand tall in the EU and the world, and not take us back to a less prosperous, isolated and more insecure past.

David Davis’ statement that the “meaningful Parliamentary vote” on the Brexit terms might take place only after we have left shows the bankruptcy of relying on Government assurances. The Government has consistently sidelined Parliament in its handling of Brexit. Theresa May’s insistence that the only options before Parliament will be to Leave on the agreed terms or on no terms show how far the Government uses the 2016 referendum result to narrow MPs’ freedom of manoeuvre. We need to schedule a referendum now into the nation’s political calendar and consciousness.

This is no time for party politics. No matter from what party the MPs who have put down the amendment calling for a referendum on the terms all MPs should unite to give the public the opportunity to change – or confirm – course before a final decision is taken.

The question in the referendum should be whether to leave the EU on the terms agreed by the Government (which might be no-terms), or whether to remain in the EU. Give the electorate the final say – let us take back control!

Yours sincerely

{Give your full name and street address so that the MP knows that you are/ are not a constituent. If you are a party member it is probably worth saying so.}

MODEL LETTER: PARAGRAPHS FOR PARTICULAR MPs

Labour

For Labour, a further advantage to a referendum on the terms is that it would support party unity. As in 1975, it would allow the party to rise above its divisions and electoral concerns. The reason that using a referendum to overcome party problems has not worked for the Conservatives is that Brexit is still a live issue. The referendum on the terms should settle the question, as it did in 1975.

And it would be popular with Labour voters. Professor John Curtice’s analysis (Is Labour’s Brexit dilemma being misunderstood? 12 February 2017) has shown that even in Leave constituencies Labour supporters voted Remain. In opinion polls they are firm for wanting a further vote.

So the Party’s current pro-Brexit stance is opposed by Labour party supporters and voters.

Conservative/ DUP Leavers

Not much good will come of writing to actual Leave supporters. But we might have some fun by quoting back at them the phrase that underpins the Leave argument that there should have been a referendum before EU entry. The then Prime Minister Ted Heath had said that it would be wrong for Britain to enter the European Community without “the full-hearted consent of Parliament and the British people”.

At present, the Government risks taking us out of the EU without the full-hearted consent of the British people. That would of course have serious consequences not just for the country but also for any political party that supported Brexit against the wishes of the majority.

Liberal Democrat/Green

A referendum on the terms is Liberal Democrat and Green party policy. So if you have a LD MP your letter can be much shorter, thanking the party for putting down amendments calling for a referendum. The key point is to urge the LDs to make their case in a non-partisan way so that MPs of other parties will support them.

USEFUL ADDRESSES

Find Your MP

Find the Address for A Peer

Labour Party

Jeremy Corbyn

leader@labour.org.uk

Tom Watson - Deputy Leader of the Labour Party

tom.watson.mp@parliament.uk

Keir Starmer - Shadow Brexit spokesman

keir.starmer.mp@parliament.uk

Hilary Benn - Chairman of the Parliamentary Select Committee that is scrutinising Brexit

bennh@parliament.uk

Conservative – Some Prominent Opponents of a Hard Brexit

The Rt Hon Dominic Grieve MP

dominic.grieve.mp@parliament.uk

Anna Soubry MP

anna.soubry.mp@parliament.uk

Nicky Morgan MP

nicky.morgan.mp@parliament.uk

Ruth Davidson, a member of the Scottish Parliament and Leader of the Scottish Conservatives

Ruth.Davidson.msp@parliament.scot

Lib Dems

(sent to party members 7 December)

Dear MP,

When people voted in the EU referendum last year, little was known about what a future deal with the European Union would look like.

16 months on, it is now very unlikely that any deal will be able to provide the same easy terms of trade and commerce with our most prosperous neighbour.

This is why I believe you, as my MP, should have a meaningful vote on the deal struck with the EU and why everyone in the country should also then be entitled to a Vote on the Deal.

I urge you therefore, by November 9th, to add your name to four amendments to the EU Withdrawal Bill.

• Amendment 7: ensures that Parliament has a vote on the Deal. This is an amendment tabled by Conservative MP Dominic Grieve. It has cross-party support.

• Amendment 120: provides for a referendum on the Deal before we leave the EU.

• Amendment 124: ensures that any deal negotiated by the Government must keep Britain in the Single Market.

• Amendment 131: preserves the rights of EU Citizens after Brexit.

I also want the Government to provide a guarantee that, whatever happens, EU citizens in the UK will be protected after Brexit and that we will stay in the Single Market. This is why I want you to sign amendment 124 and amendment 131 too.

I look forward to receiving confirmation that you have signed these amendments or your explanation if you are unable to or unwilling to.

Thank you.

Yours sincerely,

Represent Us:

Will brief you on how to write to your MP if you sign up with them at http://represent-us.uk/

For example

GUIDE TO WRITING TO POTENTIAL LABOUR REBELS

Dear xxxx

- Introduce yourself, explaining you are a constituent, giving your address and that you are writing about the European Union Withdrawal Bill. If it is true say that you voted for the MP in June/have always been a Labour supporter.

- Do not attack the position they took on the second reading (these MPs either voted with the Government or abstained). Go out of your way to say you understand the position they took.

- Then express concerns about the powers the Bill gives to the Tory Government to decide how we are going to exit without Parliament’s approval.

- Ask the MP to vote for one of the amendments that puts control of the exit terms back in the hands of Parliament (NC4 and amendment 7).

- You can add force to this by saying how shocked you would be if he or she, as a Labour MP, voted to put complete control of the exit terms into the hands of a Tory government.

- Emphasise that we need a Brexit that is going to protect jobs and living standards and ask if he/she thinks the Tories on their own can be trusted more than Parliament and the Labour party to do this?

- You could ask why s/he expects Labour supporters to vote for anyone who thinks this.

- One way of finishing is to say "Please do not reply by saying that you must respect the will of the people. I understand that Leave won the referendum and we all need to plan for Brexit.; but the question here is who do you trust more to deliver a Brexit that works for the people of [name of constituency]: the Tories on their own; or Parliament as a whole?"

Here is the entire set of Represent Us letters and instructions:

Model letters

1 = Generic letter for all MPs not in target lists below.

- Note that lobbying Labour is pointless (other than target rebels listed) as we are confident of Labour Party support

2 - Thanking those who have signed Amendment 7

5 = potential Labour rebels

6 = Cabinet Ministers who voted Remain

7 = potential Tory rebels (and all other Conservative MPs who supported Remain at the referendum)

Letters should be personalised and appropriate Subject headers created

Model letter 1 (generic)

To any MP that has not signed amendment 7

Dear xxxx

I am a constituent of yours – my address is xxxxxxxx – and I am writing about the European Union Withdrawal Bill.

I understand that Brexit requires a Bill along these lines, but I am very concerned by the powers this gives to the Government to decide how we are going to exit without consulting Parliament. After all one of the main reasons people gave for voting to leave the EU is to return powers to Parliament.

Perhaps the most important aspect of Brexit is the exit terms – which will have a huge impact on Britain for years to come. However, as the Bill stands Parliament will have no influence on these – a huge democratic deficit.

I understand that from the many amendments that have been tabled, two amendments would deal with this effectively: one tabled by Dominic Grieve (amendment 7) and one by Chris Leslie (NC4). It is excellent that this concern is shared and being addressed across the parties and I very much you will consider signing both these and voting for them in due course. I believe that these two are the most effective in asserting Parliamentary control over the exit terms than some others that have been tabled, even though they look similar.

Yours sincerely

Name

Model letter 2

Thanking MPs that have signed Amendment 7

Dear xxxx

I am a constituent of yours – my address is xxxxxxxx – and I am writing about the European Union Withdrawal Bill. I understand you have signed two important amendments, and I wanted to say thank you and express the hope that they will both be passed.

I hope also that you are able to encourage your colleagues to join you in supporting these amendments. The idea that the government can decide everything to do with Brexit without ever having to answer to Parliament is one so undemocratic that I am surprised anyone is opposed to these amendments. So I am very glad you are standing up for our rights and if there is any way any of us in the constituency can assist you, please let us know.

Thank you again for upholding the key principle of parliamentary sovereignty.

Yours sincerely

Name

Model letter 5

To potential Labour rebels (voted with the Government or abstained at second reading)

Dear xxxx

I am a constituent of yours – my address is xxxxxxxx – and I am writing about the European Union Withdrawal Bill. I voted for you in June/have always been a Labour supporter.

I understand the position you took on second reading and that a majority voted to leave in the referendum. However, I am very concerned by the powers the Bill gives to the Tory Government to decide how we are going to exit without Parliament’s approval. I hope you will therefore vote for one of the amendments that puts control of the exit terms back in the hands of Parliament (NC4 and amendment 7).

As a Labour MP, I would be shocked if you voted to put complete control of the exit terms into the hands of a Tory government. We need a Brexit that is going to protect jobs and living standards. Do you think the Tories on their own can be trusted more than Parliament and the Labour party to do this? If you do, why do you expect Labour supporters to vote for you?

Please do not reply by saying that you must respect the will of the people. I understand that Leave won the referendum and we all need to plan for Brexit.; but the question here is who do you trust more to deliver a Brexit that works for the people of [name of constituency]: the Tories on their own; or Parliament as a whole?

Yours sincerely,

Name

Model letter 6

To Cabinet Ministers who supported Remain before the referendum

Dear xxxx

I am a constituent of yours – my address is xxxxxxxx – and I am writing about the European Union Withdrawal Bill. [I am a Conservative voter]

I understand that Brexit requires a Bill along these lines, but I am very concerned by the powers this gives to the Government to decide on the exit terms without consulting Parliament. After all, one of the main reasons people voted to leave the EU was to return powers to Parliament.

The Prime Minister has said [You have said] that the European Union should make an offer that Britain can accept. It seems to me that the amendment tabled by Dominic Grieve requiring a statute to authorise the exit agreement is precisely what is needed to make that more likely: negotiators on both sides will know that the deal has to be good enough for Parliament to accept it.

Crucially, it will also undermine those who – unlike you - are arguing we will be better off without a deal at all. [I am very concerned that if the extreme Brexiteers end up driving policy we will continue to lose votes and Jeremy Corbyn will end up as Prime Minister. There is, as you know, plenty of evidence that this might happen.]

Could I urge you to discuss with your colleagues the merits of the Government backing this amendment?

Name

Yours sincerely

Model letter 7

To Conservative MPs who are pro-European but have not signed amendment 7

Dear xxxx

I am a constituent of yours – my address is xxxxxxxx – and I am writing about the European Union Withdrawal Bill. [I am a Conservative voter]

I understand that Brexit requires a Bill along these lines, but I am very concerned by the powers this gives to the Government to decide on the exit terms without consulting Parliament. After all, one of the main reasons people voted to leave the EU was to return powers to Parliament.

The Prime Minister has said that the European Union should make an offer that Britain can accept. It seems to me that the amendment tabled by Dominic Grieve requiring a statute to authorise the exit agreement is precisely what is needed to make that more likely: negotiators on both sides will know that the deal has to be good enough for Parliament to accept it.

Crucially, it will also undermine those who are arguing we will be better off without a deal at all. [As a Conservative voter I am very concerned that if the extreme Brexiteers end up driving policy we will continue to lose votes and Jeremy Corbyn will end up as Prime Minister. There is, as you know, plenty of evidence that this might happen.]

Please could you join your colleagues who have already signed the amendment and sign it yourself - signalling the widespread Conservative support, that I am sure exists, both for democracy and a constructive deal.

Yours sincerely

Name