Triggering Article 50: Why I Won't Greenlight Theresa May's Destructive Brexit - Thursday 2nd Feb 6.30pm

In a message to party members today Stella Creasy MP writes: 

"Today Parliament began debating the law that will give the Prime Minister the power to trigger Article 50 and so Britain leaving the European Union. 

Given the high volume of correspondence I have been getting on this issue, this email is to update you all on what is happening and how you as a Walthamstow resident can have your say.

Despite asking us to give her the power to trigger Article 50, the Prime Minister still has not published a white paper to set out the details of the deal she will seek for Brexit. 

But what we do know as we debate this bill is that she intends for Britain to leave the single market and has rejected outright negotiations on this matter. 

The Referendum last year determined Britain should leave the EU. This legislation is our only opportunity to shape how this happens. 

Such a hard Brexit approach will not deliver the best or even a good deal for our country. That is why I will be voting against giving Theresa May the power to trigger Article 50 in this way and have joined with other MPs to try to halt the progress of this bill because of our fears for the damage this form of Brexit could do to our economy and our country. 

Tomorrow- Wednesday 1st February –I will be speaking on this in Parliament at the 'Second Reading' of the Bill. With over 100 MPs also seeking to speak in the short time I will set out the priorities Walthamstow residents identified last Sunday at our community workshop. 

The top three areas were as follows: 

• Securing maximum access to the single market, 
• The status of EU citizens in the UK and 
• Protection of employment rights.

If a majority of MPs vote for this bill at this ‘Second Reading’ it will then proceed into 'committee stage' where it can be amended. 

Please note that suggestions being distributed on the internet that voting against a bill at Second Reading means you cannot amend it at Committee Stage are completely false - indeed, as of today I have already co-signed 87 amendments with colleagues on this legislation.

After the Second Reading and ahead of any Committee Stage, I am holding another community workshop on Thursday 2nd February at 6.30-8pm in the Wood Street area to discuss the outcome of tomorrow’s debate and account for my actions to local residents and Labour members, as well as discuss what will happen next. 

If you would like to join this event on Thursday please RSVP for the full venue details to help us with the logistics by Wednesday evening and you will receive these details on Thursday morning. 

All Walthamstow residents are welcome - whether they voted to leave or remain in the EU- but please note these sessions are only for Walthamstow residents.

Thank you to everyone who came on Sunday and I look forward to continuing to work with you on Thursday as Walthamstow responds to this Government's plans for Brexit."

Stella Creasy MP

Labour and Cooperative MP for Walthamstow

Don't forget - 

RSVP for the full venue details

Where, this week, to find Stella Creasy MP for Walthamstow

• Sunday 29th January - hosting a public workshop on Brexit for Walthamstow residents - see below for details. 
• Monday 30th January- Wednesday 1st February - participating in debates and discussions on Brexit within parliament and in Walthamstow to update residents on this matter. 
• Thursday 2nd February - holding the first 'accountability session' for Labour Party Members and local residents regarding the Brexit vote 6-8pm.

Walthamstow's Brexit 'Red Lines' - this Sunday. RSVP by noon Saturday

Yesterday, following the publication of the government bill to trigger 'article 50' Walthamstow MP Stella Creasy sent an invitation to party members and local residents (scroll down to rsvp):

"In the last 24 hours the Government has ripped up the parliamentary schedule for the coming two weeks and announced they are fast tracking legislation to give the Prime Minister the power to trigger Article 50.

I believe this timetable for a decision so crucial to the future of our nation is completely unacceptable. 

The Government is only allocating 5 days to examine this legislation – for the legislation that enabled Britain to enter the European Union there were 39 days of debate, the Maastricht Treaty had 41 days and the Treaty of Lisbon had 25 days of scrutiny.

Tonight I have co-signed amendments to this bill to set out some "red lines" on what the Government must protect for our nations future. This includes a ‘reasoned amendment’ declining to give this legislation further parliamentary time to progress because of the absence of any safeguards for British interests in the single market. 

The other amendments cover a range of issues- from the conditions under which we could trade with other European countries, protecting the rights of EU citizens and UK citizens in the workplace to ensuring Parliament can have a say on any final deal with Europe. 

At this time, I cannot confirm which of these amendments, if any, will be selected for debate as this will be the decision of the Speaker of the House of Commons. 

I have helped draft these amendments following the feedback I have had from Walthamstow residents to date. 

Despite this extremely short timetable which was not of my choosing, I am determined to try to give residents of Walthamstow the chance to continue to air their views. That’s why this Sunday 28th January at 5.30pm- 7pm I will be holding a workshop on the "redlines" Walthamstow wants to see when it comes to Brexit. 

This is open to all Walthamstow residents- whether they voted to leave the EU or remain in it last year- and will be your opportunity to help shape the concerns that I raise with the Government in the coming days. 

It's free to attend and the venue is in Central Walthamstow but due to venue size spaces are limited. 

To help us manage this event and ensure we have materials for all who attend please RSVP, giving your full name and full address, and you will receive details of the venue for this event. Please do this by 12pm on Saturday 27th January 2017. 

Please do feel free to share this invite with others interested in this subject – please note however this event is only for Walthamstow residents so all who attend will need to confirm they are constituents.

I would also encourage Labour Party members to continue to send me their thoughts on the Party's conduct on Brexit so that I may ensure our local Party Executive is aware of your views. 

Given the extremely high volume of correspondence I am receiving, I will continue to ensure all those who write to me about this bill – whether for or against it- and Labour Party members receive these updates as the most effective way to keep all informed. "

Stella Creasy MP
Labour and Cooperative MP for Walthamstow

Where, this week, to find Stella Creasy MP for Walthamstow

• Sunday 15th January - supporting an Arabian women's empowerment event at Waltham Forest Town Hall. 
• Wednesday 18th January - giving a citizenship lesson at Coppermill School (tbc) 
• Thursday 19th January - taking part in a debate on Kashmir, speaking at a fundraiser for Planned Parenthood and then attending the Walthamstow Labour Party General Committee Meeting
• Friday 20th January - visiting Whittingham School. 
• Saturday 21st January - helping to lead the Women's March for human rights in central London and then taking part in a Tamil Community event in Walthamstow
• Sunday 22nd January- hosting the StowStories event. See below for details.

#StowStories- Community Social Event Sunday 22nd January 2017

Everyday I hear fascinating stories from people in our community about why they made Walthamstow their home. The StowStories events are an opportunity to share these and in doing so promote community cohesion in Walthamstow.

All local residents are welcome to join us on Sunday 22nd January 2017 at 2.30pm - 4pm for the first in a series of community story sharing events to find out more about many the people who make Walthamstow such an interesting place to live. At a time of increased tension, social division and growing concern about hate crime, these informal events will be an opportunity for us all to help strengthen and sustain positive relationships within our community. At this event in January we'll be hearing from Oromo and Kurdish refugees about their journey to E17 as well as some of our younger residents too.

You can drop in any time and children are welcome - to help us ensure we have enough refreshments please RSVP to attend this community event by clicking here and you will receive full details of the venue.

Stella asks: What is your Stow Story? Who or what brought you to Walthamstow?

Stella Creasy MP is inviting local people to join her for a local community event:

"I've lived here for nearly 20 years, after I moved to be with my family. I stayed because I met so many wonderful people from all walks of life who made me feel proud to be part of our area. Everyday I hear fascinating stories from people in our community about why they made Walthamstow their home.

Please join us on Sunday 22nd January 2017 at 2.30pm - 4pm for the first in a series of community story sharing events to find out more about many the people who - like you - make Walthamstow such an interesting place to live.

RSVP to attend this community event; email stella@workingforwalthamstow.org.uk

At a time of increased tension, social division and growing concern about hate crime, these informal events will be an opportunity for us all to help strengthen and sustain positive relationships within our community. At this event in January we'll be hearing from Oromo and Kurdish refugees about their journey to E17 as well as some of our younger residents too.

You can drop in any time and children are welcome - to help us ensure we have enough refreshments please email to attend this community event and you will receive full details of the venue. 

Please do feel free to share this invite with other local residents and I hope you can join us for this inspiring afternoon,

Stella Creasy MP, Labour and Cooperative MP for Walthamstow
p.s. If you can help with this event by bringing food for others to enjoy please do also let us know!

"Come Dine With MP" prize ballot - win dinner with 'Tony' for just £3

Would you like the chance to win dinner with Tony for just £3?

Enter the Come Dine With MP prize ballot and you could win a fabulous dinner with me and one of a number of surprise special guests in 2017. Walthamstow CLP is giving members of the Labour Party the chance to go out for a six course tasting menu dinner at a top London restaurant with a variety of special guests - All you have to do is buy a ticket and you’ll have a chance to win each month. If you buy one month’s entry, it’s £6. But if you buy 12 months’ entry, the cost goes down to £3 a month - just £36 in total.

Buy your Come Dine with MP ticket here

Guests confirmed to take part in 2017 include...

• Tony Robinson, Blackadder Actor and Presenter of Time Team
• Jimmy Wales, Co- Founder of Wikipedia
• June Sarpong MBE, Television presenter, social entrepreneur and Loose Women panellist 
• Harriet Harman, former Leader of the Labour Party and Member of Parliament for Camberwell and Peckham
• David Aaronovitch, Times Columnist and author of Voodoo Histories: the role of Conspiracy Theory in Modern History and Party Animals: My Family and Other Communists
• Jess Philips MP, member of parliament for Birmingham Yardley 
• Lord Alf Dubs, Member of the House of Lords, and sponsor of the Dubs amendment to help child refugees in Europe
• Owen Jones, Owen Jones is a columnist and the author of Chavs: The Demonisation of the Working Class and The Establishment – And How They Get Away With It
• Alan Johnson, Former Labour Health and Education Secretary of State and Member of Parliament for Hull West and Hessle
• Adam Rutherford, Author of a Brief History of Everyone who ever lived
• Jenny Beavan, Multiple Oscar Winning Costume Designer

Whether you enter for a year, six months, three months or just next month this unique ballot in aid of Walthamstow Labour Party's campaign fund is one you don't want to miss...book now to avoid disappointment!

Buy your Come Dine with MP ticket here

Stella Creasy MP
Labour and Cooperative MP for Walthamstow

Please note all funds raised by this ballot will go towards the campaigning activities of Walthamstow Constituency Labour party and Stella Creasy MP. This ballot is promoted by Walthamstow Constituency Labour Party and Stella Creasy, both at 23 Orford Road E17 9NL.

Tickets are not transferrable and only available to members of the Labour Party over the age of 16 to purchase.

Where, this week, to find Stella Creasy MP for Walthamstow

• Monday 9th January - returning to Parliament to challenge the DWP on child poverty. 
• Tuesday 10th January - returning to the Children and Social Work Bill Committee to raise concerns about proposals regarding social work and campaign for relationship and sex education to be part of safeguarding for children in schools. 
• Thursday 12th January - continuing to participate in the Children and Social Work Bill Committee. 
• Saturday 14th January - speaking at the Fabian Society Conference on the future of the left in Britain. 
• Sunday 15th January - supporting an Arabian women's empowerment event at Waltham Forest Town Hall.