MEP McClarkin calls amendment to Queen’s Speech “unnecessary”

This week the UK parliament will vote on the Queen’s speech, the mandate for the next parliament and a speech which has been approved by a majority in parliament every year for almost a century. However, a recent amendment to the speech has been tabled to demand an explicit, specific, and unnecessary, exemption for the NHS in TTIP.

Emma McClarkin MEP, Trade Spokesmen for the Conservatives in the European Parliament, commenting on developments in the UK said:

“Despite the fact that all prior trade agreements have included an exemption for utilities and public services, scaremongering has taken centre stage alongside referendum infighting to hold the Queens Speech to ransom. Public statements by both EU and US negotiators and officials that state the protection of public services in TTIP have been ignored.

I understand the frustrations with the EU and I personally want nothing more than to leave, but this addition is reckless and undermines our trading position. The Queen’s Speech is one of the British traditions I am so very proud of and one which should be above political mudslinging.”

Let me be clear, the NHS is not under threat from TTIP; nor would it be under threat in any UK-USA free trade agreement outside the EU. These are fundamental principles of all trade agreements. The myth that TTIP threatens the NHS is a myth that even Labour Members of the European Parliament have agreed is not true.

TTIP must not be waylaid with unnecessary clauses and exemptions to satisfy myths. The tabling of this amendment undermines the UK’s position in these negotiations and I am saddened to see the Queen’s speech used in this way.”