Norman Lamb opposes Theresa May’s deal, backs People’s Vote
The news that the Lib Dem MP for Eastbourne, Stephen Lloyd, is going to vote for Theresa May’s Brexit deal triggered speculation about what Norman Lamb, usually seen as the least enthusiastic pro-European amongst the party’s MPs, will do.
The New European has the answer:
I have a responsibility to make the best judgment in the national interest. I do not think this deal resolves anything. Therefore I cannot back Theresa May’s deal. She has attempted to find a place between two stark positions. But I have been lobbied by both Remainers and Leavers to vote against the deal.
Since the referendum, we have not confronted a lot of the issues we face as a country – a lot of the issues that led to the Brexit vote in the first place. And the deal would only prolong the agony.
If the deal healed the divide in our nation I would be happy to vote for it. But it does not. I do not think we achieve our object by supporting it…
The road to salvation is fraught with high danger but I believe that we must go back to the people. There is no guarantee that it would heal the divide. But I do think this is the best way out of the current position we are in.
I have always argued the case for Remain. But I would like Britain to be in a radically reformed European Union not to go back to the status quo we had before – that would not answer any of the concerns people had.
Norman, you have hit the nail on the head.. what we should do is sing the peace and democracy that a europe has established and out the reforms we want to see in the EU
“..usually seen as the least enthusiastic pro European amongst the party’s MP’s…..”
Doesn’t your opener pre suppose that the only way to be an enthusiastic pro European is to be an enthusiast for the EU as it is?
In a very reasoned statement Norman points out that he voted for Remain and always argues the case for Remain but thinks the EU needs drastic reform. When I was a member of the then 62 strong LD Parliamentary Party I knew plenty of my colleagues who would have agreed with that viewpoint.
Norman touches on something rarely expressed by remainers. I think the strongest pro-remain argument with waverers and soft Brexiters is that only as a member can we influence the future direction of the EU and mold its shape not to be at odds with Britain and other alliances we hold dear, like the transatlantic alliance, NATO, Commonwealth…