At the last election, all three parties stood on a platform of a referendum on the European Union Constitution, which will transfer significant powers from Britain to Brussels. In Manchester, all three parties stood on platforms of that referendum.
Out of the five Manchester MPs (including Wythenshawe and Sale East), only one of Manchester’s MPs stood up to the platform he was elected on. Graham Stringer, Labour MP for Manchester Blackley stood up to the Government Whips, and voted as he was elected to do, to allow the people a referendum on the EU Constitution. This is more than could be said of the rest of Manchester’s MPs - Gerald Kaufman (Manchester Gorton) and Paul Goggins (Wythenshawe and Sale East) voted to reject a referendum for the British people, as did Ancoats and Clayton’s MP, Tony Lloyd (Manchester Central). John Leech, the Lib Dem MP for Manchester Withingon followed the Lib Dem whip, and…abstained! It asks the question what the point of the Lib Dems really is.
While the Conservatives, 20 ‘Other’ MPs, 29 Labour rebels, and 13 Lib Dem rebels supported the motion, the Labour and Lib Dem whips prevented the will of the British people being expressed. Congratulations to Graham Stringer, bringing principles back to the Labour benches.
Posted in Manchester, National
