Parliament's Role in Trump Trade Deal: A Frustrating Dance
Uncertainty over Labour's pledge for an MP vote on Trump's trade agreement evident with Starmer's recent stance.
It's a jolly old sesh, isn't it? The idea of our honorable MPs getting a say in a trade deal with ol' Donny T, the former POTUS, doesn't seem too far-fetched, does it? But, according to our cherished leader, Sir Keir Starmer, well, things ain't quite so simple.
In the halls of Parli'ment, the Lib Dem bloke, Clive Jones, raised the issue. He's keen as mustard on Parliament having the final say on any trade deal, including one with the Yanks.
"This ain't new, mate," Clive said, a former toy company director, who led the British Toy and Hobby Association. "Labour promised to do this in a 2021 policy paper, so I'm bloody well asking this government to keep their word," he continued.
Clive moaned about the current arrangement, stating that members of Parliament have no vote or voice on trade deals. In response, dear ol' Keir sounded like a grumpy cat, saying that Parliament has a well-established role in scrutinizing and ratifying trade deals.
Later, Ed Davey, the Lib Dem, took a swing at the Prime Minister. "Will the government give MPs a vote on the floor of the House on any deal they agree with President Trump? Yes or no?" he asked. But like Clive, he didn't get a straight answer.
"If it is secured, it will go through the blasted procedures for this House," Keir replied tetchily.
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What About that 2021 Labour Policy?
Remember that policy paper that Labour cooked up in 2021? Emily Thornberry, who was serving as Shadow International Trade Secretary at the time, had some bold ideas for giving the parliament a better say in trade negotiations.
She vowed to reform parliamentary scrutiny of trade agreements and grant MPs the right to debate the proposed negotiating objectives for future trade deals and vote on the resulting agreements. Emily also promised sufficient time for detailed scrutiny both of the draft treaty texts and of accompanying expert analysis on the full range of implications, including workers' rights.
Seems solid, doesn't it? But with the Labour Party now in power, things have taken a bit of a u-turn. Sadly, tactics that once seemed as clear as a crisp morning are now nothing but a confusing muddle.
So, what's the beef? Supporters argue that while parliament's role may be well-established, it's contrary to what Labour promised in opposition. Stay tuned to see if things change or if this is just another old dance.
[1] Constitutional Reform and Governance Act 2010 (CRaG)[2] Labour's trade policy: putting workers first (2021), Emily Thornberry[3] Parliamentary Scrutiny of Trade Agreements Bill[4] Citizens' Manifesto for a Better Parliament (2023)
- Sir Keir Starmer's response to calls for Parliament to have the final say on trade deals, such as a potential one with President Trump, indicates a complexity in the issue beyond a simple yes or no answer.
- Emily Thornberry, a former Shadow International Trade Secretary, proposed in a 2021 policy paper to reform parliamentary scrutiny of trade agreements and grant MPs the right to debate and vote on the resulting agreements, promising sufficient time for detailed scrutiny.
- Critics argue that the current arrangement, in which members of Parliament have no vote or voice on trade deals, contradicts what Labour promised in opposition, but it remains unclear if this will change.
- The Constitutional Reform and Governance Act 2010 (CRaG) and the Parliamentary Scrutiny of Trade Agreements Bill, as well as the Citizens' Manifesto for a Better Parliament (2023), are relevant to the ongoing debate about the role of Parliament in trade negotiations.
