Express & Star

MEPs - why we sided with the EU over trade talks

Labour Euro MPs say they voted to block trade talks between the Government and the European Union in a bid to put pressure on Theresa May's Government.

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Pro-Remain Labour MEP Sion Simon sided with the EU against the UK over Brexit trade talks

Pro-Remain West Midlands MEPs Sion Simon and Neena Gill sided with the EU by voting against Brussels opening post-Brexit trade talks with the UK.

They were among 26 British MEPs to back the motion proposed by Brexit coordinator Guy Verhofstadt, which blamed the UK for there being no 'sufficient progress' in the talks so far.

In a joint statement, Mr Simon and Ms Gill said: "Workers and businesses in the West Midlands need a government that can deliver for Britain in the Brexit negotiations - but the Tories are failing.

"There’s still time for this crisis-hit Tory government to deliver an agreement to allow the next stage of talks to begin, but it is their own failure in negotiations, not a European Parliament resolution, that’s preventing talks from continuing.”

A vote on the motion was passed by 557-92, although the result was largely symbolic as the EU's member states will make the final decision.

All 19 UKIP MEPs - including West Midlands' representatives Bill Etheridge, Jill Seymour and Jim Carver - rejected the motion, although the party’s own amendment calling for a new trade deal was defeated.

Two Tory MEPs who rebelled and backed the motion have been disciplined by their party.

Richard Ashworth and Julie Girling were both suspended following a consultation between the party’s European Parliament chief whip, Dan Dalton, and Downing Street.