On Tuesday 15 January Theresa May’s Brexit withdrawal agreement was rejected by British MPs with 432 votes against 202 votes in favour. The majority of those 432 votes against the deal were cast by Labour Party and other opposition MPs; but there was also considerable opposition from Conservative backbenchers – more than 100 voted against.
To get a better view of East London’s current thinking, we looked at how our Parliamentary representatives voted. Leyton and Wanstead MP John Cryer (Labour) plus Chingford and Woodford Green MP lain Duncan Smith (Conservative) did not make a comment on the situation – both however voted against the withdrawal agreement as proposed by Theresa May.
Rushanara Ali of Bethnal Green and Bow, and Lyn Brown of West Ham both voted against the agreement. MP Stella Creasy of Walthamstow, stated May’s deal is not one to be accepted by Parliament, due to the number of votes against it. Creasy also mentioned that solutions can be sought by looking at what’s happened in other countries:
“I think we should learn from other countries because we are not unique in having difficult decisions to make and disagreements about the way forward as a country. But we are stubborn as a country about our democracy.”
Stephen Timms, Labour MP for East Ham – who voted against the deal, stated; “The honorable thing would be for the government to go – it clearly does not command the confidence of parliament.”
Wes Sterling, MP for Ilford North stated his position by Tweeting on the day of the vote:“Huge queues just to get into the ‘no’ lobby. Not so much for the ayes. The deal’s had it, the deal’s had it.”
Prime Minister Theresa May paid little regard to the historic defeat of her Withdrawal Agreement Bill. She is set to present a revised Bill to the House on Tuesday 29 January 2019.
