Natalie Bennett: TTIP threatens both our sovereignty and democracy

26 September 2014

* TTIP threatens both our sovereignty and democracy

* Green Party Leader Natalie Bennett to attend ‘Stand up to Ukip’ rally in Doncaster

Green Party Leader Natalie Bennett has slammed Ukip’s support for the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Deal (TTIP), the controversial major EU-US trade deal. The Green Party is the only party to oppose TTIP (1), which puts corporate profit over people and will lead to more NHS services being privatised.

TTIP is a corporate power grab that threatens our public services, environment and democracy, says the Green Party. TTIP would grant corporations the power to sue governments (2), lock-in the privatisation of public services including the NHS, and undo regulations that protect workers, the environment and food safety and standards (3).

Bennett, who will attend a Stand Up to Ukip rally (4) in Doncaster tomorrow (September 27) has backed trade union Unison’s stinging criticism of Ukip over their support for TTIP.

Bennett said:

"It is great to see Unite highlighting this critically important issue. The proposed trade deal is a huge threat to our democracy and our sovereignty.

"We have seen the UK participating in a disastrous race to the bottom on corporate tax rates and wages. We must not also walk into lowering our workers' rights, environmental standards and food health standards. Chicken carcasses washed in bleach, hormone-stuffed beef and open season on pollution are not things we want to import from the US.

“I am pleased to be participating in the Stand Up to Ukip in Doncaster tomorrow. I will be highlighting this issue. I will also focus in Ukip's dangerous, damaging, divisive rhetoric on immigration and the way other parties have failed to challenge it." 

Unite general secretary Len McCluskey, speaking ahead of Ukip's national conference in Doncaster, said: "It's no surprise that Ukip has failed to oppose a dangerous trade deal that lets Brussels override our sovereign right to determine the future of our health. 

"It's proof that Ukip are just disgruntled Tories that put the interests of big business ahead of the interests of working people. 

"TTIP gives US companies taking over our health service the right to sue the British Government outside of British law and British courts. They will get the potential to be awarded billions of British taxpayers' money, with no right of appeal."

1 http://greenparty.org.uk/news/2014/07/11/green-party-ttip-trade-deal-is-a-corporate-power-grab,-that-must-be-stopped/

In November 2013 Caroline Lucas, Green MP for Brighton Pavilion, tabled an Early Day Motion, raising concerns about TTIP and calling for negotiations to be frozen, and in February this year opposed TTIP when it was debated in Parliament.

2 TTIP proposes to include the ISDS (Investor-State Dispute Settlement) mechanism. Already in action in several countries under the existing NAFTA (North Atlantic Free Trade Agreement), this allows corporations to directly sue governments for introducing legislation that reduces their profits.

3 The Center for Food Safety has already raised concerns about the potential for TTIP to establish a Regulatory Cooperation Council, which could result in ‘harmonisation’ of safety standards, meaning that food not meeting EU standards could be sold here anyway. Such products include chemically washed poultry, livestock treated with growth hormones, and genetically modified crops.

http://standuptoukip.org

Back to main news page