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Henry Smith

Crawley MP’s Downing Street rejection gains national media’s attention

Henry Smith MP accused Prime Minister Theresa May of not ‘bringing Brexit home’.

Published

8 months ago

on

(CN24 interpretation) Henry Smith after England 'brings it home'.

Crawley MP Henry Smith has publicly declined an invitation from Number 10 to watch England play a historic match against Croatia in the 2018 World Cup semi-finals.

The Conservative MP expressed his concern that attending the screening at Downing Street would be ‘a bad omen for football coming home’.

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This comes after David Davis, Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union and Foreign Secretary, Boris Johnson, both resigned. Henry’s reaction has caught the attention of the national press and has been featured in a number of newspapers.

It was then revealed this morning that two Conservative Party vice-chairs left their roles, and hitting out against PM Theresa May in the process.

Ben Bradley and Maria Caulfield both criticised plans to keep close ties with Europe after Brexit.

Mansfield MP Ben Bradley said:

“Being tied to EU regulations and the EU tying our hands when seeking to make new trade agreements will be the worst of all worlds,

“If we do not deliver Brexit in spirit as well as in name, then we are handing Jeremy Corbyn the keys to Number 10.”

Speaking out on Twitter, Henry Smith said:

“Seeing as the Prime Minister isn’t bringing Brexit home I’m concerned attending would be a bad omen for football coming home…I’ll pass.”

The invitation was sent out by Chief Whip, Julian Smith, by ‘kind permission of the Prime Minister’. MP for Skipton and Ripon, Julian Smith responded to the Crawley MP’s tweet of rejection.

He said:

“Henry if you would like to transfer your invite to a constituent let me know. Let me have their name first thing-they will be welcome.”

But Henry was quick to once again snub the offer.

With a voter turnout of 73.2%, Crawley residents voted 58.4% in favour of leaving the EU. The Crawley MP recently spoke of his commitment to working for his ‘constituents and country first’:

“Last year I stood on an election promise to deliver the British people’s 2016 referendum decision (by the largest number in our democratic history) to leave the EU, ECJ, Customs Union, Single Market and open border access. I work for my constituents and country first, and always.”

More Henry Smith: Crawley MP celebrates 70 year partnership between Macmillan & NHS

The Twitter spat is a clear demonstration of the divide that has emerged in the Tory Party.

Does this then mean the Crawley MP will be watching Crawley’s Gareth Southgate’s team on a screen in a pub… in Crawley?

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Henry Smith

Crawley MP Henry Smith condemns Brexit uncertainty

Henry Smith MP has spoken out against the uncertainty and democratic damage of Brexit not being delivered and in Parliament last week called for the instruction given by the people of Crawley and the UK to leave the EU not to be delayed beyond 29th March 2019.

Published

5 days ago

on

18th February 2019

By

Speaking in the House Of Commons on Friday 15th Feb, Mr Smith partook in a debate and made his strong feeling very clear.

Here are some of the highlights of what he said:

“It’s been three years since the Brexit referendum was called. With exit day of 29th March only weeks away, I urge the Prime Minister to take a robust approach to the continued negotiations with the EU.

“One of the biggest reasons for the current uncertainty is the continued calls for another vote of the people. Crawley residents – and indeed voters across the UK – have already spoken clearly and it’s up to the Government to carry out their will.

“The previous day I asked Theresa May at Prime Minister’s Questions for assurances over our departure on the date set out in law of 29th March 2019 – the people’s Brexit must not be denied.”

He then followed it up about Crawley itself:

“The message I get is as follows. Just the other day, I was walking down Tilgate shopping parade in my constituency, and as is typically the case, someone came up to me and wanted to know about the current Brexit debate in Parliament.

“They said, “Why aren’t we getting on with the decision we made two and a half years ago?” That is a compelling argument.”

Mr Smith continued on the subject of Brexit uncertainty and the countries relationship with Europe:

“We have heard this afternoon calls for a so-called people’s vote. I would argue that we had a people’s vote in 2016. We have also heard calls for an extension of article 50, to delay our departure from the European Union.

“We have heard from those Members concern about the uncertainty of Brexit. The one thing that will maintain uncertainty is questioning the democratic decision that was taken by holding a second referendum.

“That would certainly do a lot to damage our democracy and prolong uncertainty, as would a delay to article 50, and that is before we even get into the issues of whether the remaining 27 members of the EU would allow article 50 to be extended and, if article 50 were to be extended beyond July, of EU elections.”

“Yes, we absolutely should be seeking and honouring a deep and close relationship with our neighbours and allies in Europe, but the trouble with a customs union, which Labour Members advocate, is that it would prevent us from doing the global free trade deals that, in a world that is getting smaller, are key to our prosperity.

“The key to this country’s future prosperity is our unique global links, and being a conduit for that thanks to our proximity to Europe. We must be robust in the ongoing negotiations, and I support the Prime Minister in continuing them.

“I have never known an EU negotiation that did not go down to the last moment, and I therefore remain optimistic about our future. For goodness’ sake, we should be more optimistic as a House and country, because our best years are ahead.” r

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