Following news that the Trade Bill has passed in the House of Commons, without any amendments which would ensure that Parliament can vote on future trade deals, Liberal Democrat spokesperson for International Trade Sarah Olney said: “By refusing to give Parliament a say over future trade deals – going against the wishes of many of their own MPs – it is clear that this Conservative Government’s motto of “taking back control” was just empty words in their ideological pursuit of Brexit.
“As the Liberal Democrats warned, we now have less scrutiny over trade deals than when we were part of the EU. Instead the Government is clearing the way to push through a quick deal with Trump’s America, no matter what the cost to the UK.
“The Liberal Democrats will continue to fight to hold Boris Johnson’s Government to account to deliver the closest possible relationship with the EU and to safeguard high environmental, labour and food standards post-Brexit.”