Remainer MPs erupted at Brexit in a debate on rejoining the European Union. Labour MP Stella Creasy branded the UK’s exit from the bloc as a “disaster” while also taking a swipe at arch-Brexiteer and Clacton MP Nigel Farage.
It came as MPs discussed an e-petition to return to Brussels in a Westminster Hall debate. Ms Creasy, who chairs the Labour Movement for Europe, said: “If the member for Clacton was in the country I’m sure he would be telling all of us that we need some straight talking so let’s have some straight talking about all of this.
“Brexit is a disaster. It’s a disaster by anybody’s metric, not least those who purported that this was somehow the hallowed land.
“The pandemic has spared some of the blushes of those people who still try to claim that we’ve got some elusive sovereignty as a result of leaving the EU but we can see the damage, our constituents can see the damage.”
But she admitted that it would take “years” to rejoin the bloc.
Elsewhere during the debate, Liberal Democrat MPs Manuela Perteghella and Wera Hobhouse both declared themselves a “product of the EU”.
Ms Hobhouse, originally from Germany, said: “I was fighting to the last to stop Brexit.
“I was shocked and grieving when we left in January 2020 and I took it almost as a personal failure that we couldn’t stop Brexit.”
Ms Perteghella, who was born in Italy before moving to the UK as a student, said: “I worked as a lecturer for many years and saw firsthand the importance of collaborative research projects with our colleagues in EU universities, the positive impact of Horizon (Europe) and of Erasmus plus.”
Cabinet office minister Abena Oppong-Asare MP said: “I know that members have raised concerns about opportunities for young people, and have raised their proposals for the youth mobility scheme.”
She added: “However we do not have plans for a youth mobility agreement. We, of course, listen to sensible proposals but we have been clear there will be no return to freedom of movement, the customs union or the single market.”
Ms Oppong-Asare said the Government was elected on a manifesto of closer ties with the bloc, and referred to the UK and EU summit that will take place in May.
She added: “As a Government we will be open minded and pragmatic about proposals that would improve British people’s security, safety and prosperity, while keeping clear our red lines that we will not compromise on.”
