The Liberal Democrats proposed an amendment to the King’s Speech calling on the Government to begin negotiations with the EU on a new customs union.
Liberal Democrat MP Tom Gordon has backed calls for closer ties to the EU to support North Yorkshire families and businesses struggling with the cost-of-living crisis caused by Brexit and Trump’s war on Iran.
The Liberal Democrats’ amendment to the King’s Speech called on the Government 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 in North Yorkshire.
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.
With the impact of Trump’s war on Iran continuing to affect the cost of food and fuel, there has never been a more important time for the UK to strengthen relationships with Europe.
Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey warned it was a “make or break” moment for Labour MPs. Which was ultimately voted down the amendment.
It means local businesses in North Yorkshire and Harrogate, particularly those in farming, tourism and retail will continue to face soaring costs and mountains ofpaperwork since Brexit.
A new customs union would provide immediate, practical relief, removing tariffs and bureaucratic barriers that are pushing up prices and holding back growth in our local economy.
Despite the Liberal Democrats winning a previous non-binding vote on the customs union in December, the Government voted against the amendment.
Tom Gordon said:
Families in north Yorkshire are still paying a daily Brexit premium on their shopping, their energy bills and their livelihoods.
Today, Labour had the chance to start fixing that and they refused.
A customs union with the EU is the most immediate, practical step we can take to ease the cost-of-living crisis, and North Yorkshire deserves better than a Labour Party too timid to act.
