Theresa May broke the Ministerial Code over Brexit. Can we have some outrage please?

Theresa May in Grimsby: She might as well have said, “There isn’t even this much truth in what I’m saying about your rights.”

Cabinet ministers – and the prime minister above all – have an obligation to be truthful. It’s one of the seven principles of public life enshrined in the Ministerial Code – and one that Theresa May broke flagrantly in her speech on Brexit in Grimsby the other day.

She was trying to claim that her deal means the rights of employees will be protected – more than they would be if the UK remains in the European Union. This is not true.

She said: “We have … committed to protecting the rights and standards currently set at the EU level – from workers’ rights to environmental protections.

“And this week we have said that if the EU expands workers’ rights, we will debate those measures in Parliament and decide if we want to follow suit.

“But we will not tie ourselves in automatically to follow EU changes without Parliament having its say.

“That would mean weakening workers’ rights if the EU ever chose to do so. And it would not be taking back control. The UK has led the way in the EU, and we will lead the way outside it.

“Leaving with the deal means workers’ rights will be protected.”

“That would mean weakening workers’ rights if the EU ever chose to do so.” Oh, really?

Economist Jonathan Portes spotted the falsehood:

So did Steve Peers of the University of Essex:

She lied to us all.

She tried to tell us the EU could weaken workers’ rights in the UK when in fact it is her government that is more likely to do that.

There will be nothing to stop her from weakening employees’ rights, once the UK leaves the EU.

I wonder if any enterprising member of Parliament may be motivated to set the record straight – and to request an investigation into the prime minister’s breach of the code that all government ministers must observe, or resign.


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No Comments

  1. Stu March 10, 2019 at 4:39 am - Reply

    No outrage, will never happen I’m afraid because this is one single drop in an ocean of lies.
    Although it should never have been accepted as the norm, it has unfortunately been allowed to happen and May’s lies are just “one of those things”.

  2. Jeffrey Davies March 10, 2019 at 6:39 am - Reply

    she lies every time she opens her mouth

  3. nmac064 March 10, 2019 at 9:23 am - Reply

    Corruption lies and fraud come as second nature to May and her dishonest cronies.

  4. nmac064 March 10, 2019 at 9:24 am - Reply

    Corruption lies and fraud come as second nature to May and her dishonest cronies. Haven’t several of her cronies resigned for breaking ministerial codes?

  5. trev March 10, 2019 at 11:01 am - Reply

    It’s astonishing what they get away with.

  6. heather harman March 10, 2019 at 12:32 pm - Reply

    This is even more important – news that Broke yesterday!

    When T May triggered Article 50 in the legal circumstances that existed then and now a serious crime was committed

    The importance of getting this out now is clear – MP’s it seems are woefully ignorant of the fact that triggering Article 50 the way it was done – was a serious crime. It is not feasable to legal bods that May was unaware of that. So getting this out now is to get the messge to ALL MP’s no matter what side they are on. They have a big decision on Tuesday.

    This is also being widely pushed through the Brexit groups in the Uk nd abroad. PLEASE HELP. Getting the country used to the idea that this HAS HAPPENED is every bit as important as being granted the summons!

    https://www.stopbrexitmisconduct.org.uk/?fbclid=IwAR2oSFmT0nwn6o7njHvmIrUDzTyAgN7ZEuvfL1uZjdOQtLiri0WIzsncY9o

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