John Baron MP calls ‘red card’ a washed-out lottery ticket in today’s sovereignty debate

MP criticises No 10 in feeding negative immigrant narrative when describing EU backseat ‘emergency brake’

This afternoon John Baron MP is leading a House of Commons debate on Parliamentary sovereignty and the EU renegotiations. In his speech [attached to this press release], he criticises the ‘red card’ system as insufficiently asserting sovereignty, and highlights the flaws in the ‘emergency brake’ proposal.

John said,

“The so-called ‘red card’ system is nothing more than a washed-out lottery ticket. It would be like a football referee getting out his ‘fraction’ of a red card, only then having to consult with 14 other officials before deciding what to do – by which time the game is over.”

“The Government’s ‘emergency brake’ proposal is flawed and feeds a negative narrative about immigrants. It ignores the fact that almost all EU immigrants come to Britain to work hard, and that large-scale EU immigration can not be stopped whilst we adhere to the EU’s ‘freedom of movement’ principle. This ‘emergency brake’ can only be used by the EU backseat driver.”

“The Prime Minister misses the importance of Parliamentary sovereignty, focusing too heavily on ‘Project Fear’ issues, such as immigration and jobs. Yet, it is the loss of Parliamentary sovereignty which really lies at the heart of our uneasy relationship with the EU.”

Ends
Word Count: 228
Date: 4th February 2016

Word Count
• Attached is John’s speech, which will be delivered this afternoon.
• The debate’s motion, together with the list of MPs supporting the debate, is online at: http://goo.gl/kCQuu9 (p. 5).
• For further information, please see John’s press release of 3rd February [‘John Baron MP takes Prime Minister’s advice and organises Parliamentary debate tomorrow on sovereignty’].