Lib Dem London Spokesperson hits out at Labour’s “empty words” after refusal to back closer ties to EU

Liberal Democrat MP and Spokesperson for London Luke Taylor has hit out at Labour MPs for refusing to back a Liberal Democrat amendment to the King’s Speech which would have built closer ties with the EU - saying they should “hang their heads in shame”.

The amendment called on the Government to immediately begin negotiations for a UK-EU Customs Union to slash red tape for businesses, cut import costs, and help bring down the prices of everyday goods, from food on supermarket shelves to household energy bills, for hard-pressed families.

The party urged Labour MPs and the Government to fix the damage left behind by the architects of the botched Brexit deal - Nigel Farage and the Conservatives. Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey warned it was a "make or break" moment for Labour MPs - who ultimately voted down the amendment.

Commenting, Luke Taylor MP, said:

"Families and businesses across London deserved so much better today - Labour MPs throughout the capital who voted against this motion should hang their heads in shame.

“They have let down families struggling with their bills, business owners struggling to keep their heads above water, and public services who need the investment that faster growth would unlock.

“After recent talk from Labour leadership hopefuls about reversing the damage of Brexit, you might have hoped they would summon the courage to do the right thing by the country and back the plan.

“But it turned out to be just more empty words, presumably because they want all the glory but none of the work of actually fixing our broken relationship with Europe.

“Only the Liberal Democrats are showing the leadership needed to develop a new partnership with our nearest and closest neighbours.

“A customs union with the EU is the most immediate, practical step we can take to ease the cost-of-living crisis, and London deserves better than a Labour Party too timid to act."