Brexit trade deal motion by Leeds Conservative leader Andrew Carter takes swipe at MPs who voted against bill

Conservative Group leader Andrew Carter has submitted the white paper motion on the UK trade deal for consideration at next week's full council meeting.

It asks that the council's executive board receive a report on the implications of the new relationship with Europe for the city and that an existing cross-party member working group on Brexit continues to meet.

But it also risks reigniting bitter arguments that have swirled around the issue ever since the Brexit referendum result was declared in 2016 as it criticises the stance taken by some MPs in not voting in favour of the deal bill last month.

If approved in its current form, the motion would see the council adopt a position that it "regrets that a number of Labour, Liberal Democrat and other Opposition MPs chose not to support the deal, refusing even at this late stage to accept the decision of the British people in 2016."

None of the 73 MPs who voted against the European Union (Future Relationship) bill on December 30 represent a constituency in the city, although Leeds East MP Richard Burgon (Lab) did abstain.

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Explaining his decision at the time, he wrote on Twitter: "Brexit has happened but the Government’s deal falls well short of what our communities need. I've long fought to stop No Deal. But this Tory deal is a threat to workers’ rights, jobs, our economy and environment. I simply couldn't support it."

The remaining Labour Party MPs for Leeds - Hilary Benn, Fabian Hamilton, Rachel Reeves and Alex Sobel - all gave their backing to the bill, while Leeds Conservative MPs Stuart Andrew, Andrea Jenkyns and Alec Shelbrooke were also among the 521 MPs who voted in favour.

In welcoming the trade agreement that was reached just days before the country faced a no-deal Brexit on January 1, Coun Carter's motion states there will be "greater opportunities" for the UK and Leeds to advance its trade and business relationships globally as a result.

It goes on to ask that the council requests a report for the executive board setting out the implications for Leeds and "how the city can seize the opportunities presented by our new relationship with the EU".

It also requests that the related cross-party member working group continues to meet "in order to inform and guide this work".

The full council meeting will be held on Wednesday January 13 from 1pm.

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