“Historic victory” for the Lib Dems as Parliament votes in favour of UK-EU customs union

The Liberal Democrats have won a historic vote in Parliament in favour of a UK-EU customs union.

The Ten Minute Rule Bill, brought forward by Liberal Democrat Europe Spokesperson Al Pinkerton MP, passed by a majority of 1 vote. The vote breakdown was 100 in favour, 100 against – with the Deputy Speaker casting the deciding vote in favour.

13 Labour backbenchers voted with the Liberal Democrats in favour of negotiating a customs union with the EU. A single Welsh Labour MP - Tonia Antoniazzi (Gower) joined the Liberal Democrats.

The Welsh Liberal Democrats have said that the vote sets a crucial Parliamentary precedent for movement on a deeper trading relationship with Europe.

The UK is losing £250m a day in lost tax revenue due to the economic impact of Brexit, House of Commons Library analysis commissioned by the Liberal Democrats has revealed.

The Welsh Liberal Democrats have stated that they believe small businesses in Wales are particularly exposed to trading difficulties with the EU since Brexit, with a report this summer highlighting that the volume of Welsh exports to the EU fell by around 31% between 2019 and 2024, while EU imports into Wales fell by 20%.

Commenting, Welsh Liberal Democrat Westminster Spokesperson David Chadwick MP said:

“Today was a historic victory for the Liberal Democrats – winning a vote in Parliament to finally end the economic nightmare of the Conservatives' and Nigel Farage’s broken Brexit deal.

“Across Wales, people are crying out for real change and a solution to the cost-of-living crisis. A customs union with the EU is the single biggest step the government could take to grow our economy, put money back into people's pockets and generate billions for our public services.

“The Prime Minister must now listen to Parliament and the public, drop his self-imposed red lines and finally go for proper growth through an ambitious trade deal with the EU."

ENDS

NOTES TO EDITOR:

Please see the vote breakdown here: https://votes.parliament.uk/votes/commons/division/2215

Breakdown in how Welsh MPs voted:

In favour: David Chadwick (LD), Liz Saville Roberts (Plaid), Ben Lake (Plaid), Llinos Medi (Plaid), Ann Davies (Plaid), Tonia Antoniazzi  (Labour)

Abstained (All Labour):

1.      Alex Barros-Curtis – Cardiff West

2.      Torsten Bell – Swansea West

3.      Chris Bryant – Rhondda and Ogmore

4.      Alex Davies-Jones – Pontypridd

5.      Stephen Doughty – Cardiff South and Penarth

6.      Chris Evans – Caerphilly 

7.      Catherine Fookes – Monmouthshire 

8.      Gill German – Clwyd North

9.      Becky Gittins – Clwyd East

10.  Nia Griffith – Llanelli

11.  Carolyn Harris – Neath and Swansea East

12.  Claire Hughes – Bangor Aberconwy

13.  Gerald Jones – Merthyr Tydfil and Aberdare 

14.   Ruth Jones – Newport West and Islwyn

15.  Stephen Kinnock – Aberafan Maesteg 

16.  Anna McMorrin – Cardiff North 

17.  Jessica Morden – Newport East

18.  Kanishka Narayan – Vale of Glamorgan

19.  Andrew Ranger – Wrexham

20.  Nick Smith – Blaenau Gwent and Rhymney

21.  Jo Stevens – Cardiff East 

22.  Mark Tami – Alyn and Deeside 

23.  Nick Thomas-Symonds – Torfaen 

24.  Chris Elmore – Bridgend

25.  Henry Tufnell – Mid and South Pembrokeshire

26.  Steve Witherden – Montgomeryshire and Glyndŵr