Before MPs’ debate, No.10 organises plane with EU deal for Boris to sign

Only 5 hours debate allowed before EU deal is rammed through at lightning speed

This behaviour is now nothing short of contemptuous towards our democracy

Three Brexit Facts4EU.Org articles on a momentous day in UK history – Part One

We are a moderate voice in the Brexit debate.
Today, however, with the mainstream media seemingly absent on the subject of basic democratic procedures and proper scrutiny, we feel we must speak out. Readers may not agree with all of the contents of our three articles today, but we hope you will all support the need for an alternative voice to be heard.

Today Parliament has been granted a few hours to debate the UK-EU ‘trade deal’ before it is signed by the Prime Minister in No.10 Downing Street.

No.10 announced yesterday that it had organised an RAF aeroplane to bring the UK-EU ‘Trade and Cooperation Agreement’ over to the UK, the moment it has been provisionally been signed by the EU Council President and the EU Commission President today. The document will be accompanied by EU and UK officials.

Meanwhile it was also announced yesterday that MPs would be given only five hours to debate the Bill which will enact this treaty, starting at 09.30 this morning. It seems that the RAF plane with the treaty will arrive before Parliament has even completed its hideously-truncated consideration of the largest trade treaty in UK history.

Forget sovereignty for a moment, this argument is about democracy

This article is not about whether the UK-EU ‘Trade and Cooperation Agreement’ is acceptable or not. We have made – and are making – those arguments separately. This article is about the democratic process. The rush to get this deal rail-roaded through, without anything resembling proper scrutiny and debate, is quite extraordinary.

This criticism doesn’t only apply to the UK Government. In Brussels, we have never seen the usually-languorous machinery move so quickly – particularly in holiday time – to get a deal signed, even if only provisionally. This, in our experience, is not a good omen.

It is worth pointing out once again that the EU Parliament has been given two months to review and debate this ‘trade deal’. Today the UK Parliament will debate and ratify this deal in one single day. Meanwhile the EU will only apply it provisionally and will not ratify it for another two months at least.

Where’s Gina Miller? Where’s the Supreme Court? Where are the Remain-dominated media?

When the Prime Minister attempted to prorogue Parliament in September last year, the Government was subjected to howls of protest from the usual Remain campaigners and the Remain-dominated media. Boris Johnson was then dragged through the courts (although he did not attend) and the Government was ordered back to Westminster.

Where are the howls of protest about the abuse of the democratic process now?

Today's articles:

PART ONE: This article
PART TWO: The Government applied 20 trade deals ‘provisionally’ this year – why not for the EU deal?
PART THREE: ‘The Starry-Eyed Chamber’ – short reflections on the surrender of the Ex-Spartans

Finally, we know times are difficult for many people this Christmas - they are for us too. Covid has affected us all, and it has definitely affected the level of donations we receive from members of the public. With no other source of income, we rely on our readers to keep us going.

We are most grateful to readers who have donated in recent days, but we badly need more readers to do the same if we are to continue researching facts, scrutinising, publishing, and lobbying MPs. Quick, secure, and confidential donation links are below this article, or you can use our Donations page here. If you have never donated before, please, please, keep us going with a donation now. Thank you so much.

[ Sources: No.10 | UK Parliament ] Politicians and journalists can contact us for details, as ever.

Brexit Facts4EU.Org, Wed 30 Dec 2020

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Reader Comments 7

1. Brock the Elder , Wednesday, December 30, 2020, 07:33:

I don't trust the EU, the document could have text inserted or modified before Boris signs it. Once had a contract with Airbus who did exactly that and cost the company dear, the sales manager signed the contract then realised afterwards that we had to deliver into Toulouse not the original destination of Gloucester as agreed. Just a minor point you would think but the cost of next day delivery ate well into any profit on the product.
This is why I don't trust anyone in the EU, they are sneaky and it's the sort of thing they would do, bumbling Boris could if not checked before signing could lead us into a whole lot of trouble. The EU have not negotiated in good faith and have tried to trap the UK into various agreements, I suggest the ERG group check the final deal again before the buffoon signs it, remember the first deal was a draft and these EU criminals could remove and insert anything to gain advantage.

2. Frank Gil , Wednesday, December 30, 2020, 08:46:

The E.U. Is only applying the agreement on a provisional basis until 28th February 2021. Therefore, the E.U. Have not passed this agreement as such.
So why is BORIS trying to rush and get this deal through on such short notice and without Proper scrutiny by Parliament!!!!.

3. Not4EU, London , Wednesday, December 30, 2020, 09:04:

It is a disgrace. One has to question just WHY, as with the WA/PD, there is a rush to formally sign a Treaty that appears to be a cut & paste job from all sorts of agreements (Netscape? How long ago did that wane?), including the Lisbon Treaty. That our so-called MPs are willing to approve this shows the potemkin Council chamber of the EU that they've become.
This is a sign of a controlled Govt, not one in control. They have been shown to lie about the Scamdemic, with no actual evidence & nonsensical assertions that simply do not make sense, and this is no different.
If this is not provisionally signed, then it is bye bye Con party. Starmer is voting for it as he knows that it can be used for a swift re-entry to the gravy train for the 'special, approved people'. The only irony is that, apart from Liebore, those most vociferously against a 'no deal' will be voting for that. For once I support them in this aim.

4. Howard Jukes , Wednesday, December 30, 2020, 09:22:

We’re not leaving the EU, we’re rejoining under worse terms.

5. Ann Oxley , Wednesday, December 30, 2020, 10:07:

We are not leaving just struck a trade deal as with any other country

6. Joyce Dibnah , Wednesday, December 30, 2020, 11:33:

By-by Boris!! We will not forget at the ballot box. The British public are once again left to pick up the pieces of a trashed economy and a brainless government. What decent persons would agree to a treaty they had not read? We will be living on the bones of our backsides for another decade or more. Where are the people we need with a backbone and the integrity to push back against the madness that is pulling this country down

7. Joe , Wednesday, December 30, 2020, 12:30:

I'm really liking our new way of getting things done. Very decisive. I'm impressed with the resolve on Boris. He gets my vote.
In just 4 short years we left the EU. It's been worth the wait & I'm glad Boris wasted no more time in reading yet more stuff.
We'd have to read forever otherwise! We are tired, lets enjoy our freedom!!
It's signed, Labour has greed to it without even reading it either because we all know that this is what we all want, most of us anyway.

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