BIRMINGHAM CITY COUNCIL AND OPPOSITION TO TRANSATLANTIC TRADE AND INVESTMENT PARTNERSHIP

Early day motion 1109, tabled 22 February 2016 by Roger Godsiff (Labour). Signed by 12 members.

That this House congratulates Birmingham City Council, the largest local authority in Europe, on having passed a motion opposing the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP); believes that TTIP exists to transfer power and wealth into the hands of global multinational companies whose only concern is profit; notes with concern that TTIP would remove or weaken protections for workers' rights, health and safety, food standards, environmental protection and personal data protection; further believes that TTIP has the potential to seriously damage local and national public services, including the NHS; considers that the secrecy surrounding the terms of TTIP is undemocratic, unaccountable and dangerous; observes that the people of Birmingham will have no opportunity to influence either the terms of TTIP or whether the treaty is adopted, yet will be affected by it; applauds Birmingham councillors who have stated that public service must come before private profit; believes that councils have every right to source goods and services locally and ethically, in order to support local jobs and businesses and ensure high-quality provision; further notes with concern that under TTIP councils would not be able to prioritise small, local businesses over global conglomerates with no concern for local wellbeing or local knowledge; urges other councils to acquaint themselves with the provisions in TTIP and consider whether this trade deal has the potential to damage local services, jobs and businesses; and supports entirely all councils which choose to make a stand against this dangerous and damaging trade deal.

Signatures by party: Labour 11, Scottish National Party 1.