City MP votes down Theresa May’s deal saying it won’t protect Portsmouth’s public services
Stephen Morgan MP has voted against Theresa May’s Brexit proposal tonight. Resulting in a shattering defeat for the government, the largest ever beating the previous defeat of Ramsay MacDonald in 1924.
The vote, described as a ‘Meaningful Vote’, gave MPs a chance to respond to Theresa May’s unpopular proposal for exiting the European Union. The vote, held at the House of Commons resulted in a crushing defeat with MPs across the House uniting against the deal which would cost jobs and the economy.
Speaking in the Chamber ahead of the vote, the Portsmouth South MP said that whilst the referendum of 2016 should be “respected” the complexities of Brexit mean that people deserve a “final say” on the matter.
Stephen Morgan MP said:
“It is clear that no one in the referendum voted for this half-baked deal put forward by the Prime Minister”.
Mr Morgan, who’s grandparents and parents lived in Portsmouth said he could not vote for the deal because it would make Portsmouth poorer, threaten its Public Services and jeopardise jobs.
“For the QA Hospital, it would mean; staff shortages induced by the Prime Minister’s continuation of the ‘hostile environment’; a reduction in shared research and international cooperation, and it threatens the prosperity needed to fund our much-loved local NHS.”
Stephen Morgan MP also expressed concerns about the impact of the deal on the International Port of Portsmouth, the risks posed to the effectiveness of the Navy and on jobs in the city.
“It also threatens Portsmouth International Port; which generates over £7m directly to the council’s coffers to fund local services in an area where a third of children live in poverty and in a city forgotten for too long by government.”
Stephen Morgan MP has said that a ‘no deal’ Brexit would be a disaster for Portsmouth and the UK. He expressed that he is “committed to working cross party to stop a ‘no deal’ at all costs “as it would “disproportionately affect the most vulnerable people in society”.
Mr. Morgan stressed that he had to vote down the deal, citing the importance of the decision on future generations as a key factor.
“The importance of this deal is not just for us here today, but for the generations that will inherit the consequences of our actions.
It is a privilege to stand here and represent a constituency that contributed so greatly to this nation’s success.
I cannot jeopardise Portsmouth’s future by voting for a deal that will make my home city poorer.”
