As we leave the European Union, the UK will have to negotiate trade deals with a number of international partners. Those deals should be subject to parliamentary scrutiny and Parliament should retain the power to reject trade deals that it does not agree with.

During the EU Referendum, we heard a great deal about the importance of ‘taking back control’. That meant restoring parliamentary sovereignty, not handing powers to British ministers to negotiate opaque deals behind closed doors.

The Labour Party is a pro-growth, pro-trade party. We believe that all future trade deals should be conducted openly, transparently, and with a proper focus on retaining all current environmental, labour and social rights. I have had misgivings about the proposed trade deals brought before the House so far – such as the deal between the EU and Canada (CETA) – and this extends to future deals negotiated by this Conservative Government.