September 12, 2017 9.39 am This story is over 78 months old

‘Henry VIII is my kind of b*****d’, says Tory MP as colleagues vote through EU repeal bill

Watch what he had to say.
Gainsborough MP Sir Edward Leigh

Lincolnshire MPs have voted along party lines in one of the first major parliamentary votes on Brexit, with veteran Gainsborough MP Sir Edward Leigh delivering a memorable speech in which he described infamous 16th century king Henry VIII as his kind of b*****d.

MPs supported the EU Withdrawal Bill by 326 votes to 290 in the early hours of Tuesday, September 12, effectively giving Prime Minister Theresa May a Brexit majority of 36 with seven Labour rebels.

Please be aware of some strong language towards the end of the video.

The bill will transfer EU laws to Britain and has labelled a “power grab” by critics.

A number of Conservative MPs also raised concerns about plans to rewrite some laws without consulting Parliament, known as “Henry VIII powers”, but none voted against the bill on Tuesday.

Read more about Henry VIII powers here.

Speaking earlier in the debate on September 11, Edward Leigh said: “There is a lot of false anger. I have sat through many debates in which shadow Secretaries of State puffed themselves up. We have heard a lot about Henry VIII.

“When I was a rebel I used to care about these things. Now I am a loyalist I let the government get away with it in many ways. Henry VIII is a b*****d, but he is my kind of b*****d.

“I have made my point. Listen to the House, accept some amendments and ensure that this process is time limited.

“The key thing for our constituents is this: that we leave the EU at the end of March 2019; that any implementation period lasts only two years; and that we then become an open, free-trading nation with the whole world, with a free trade agreement with the EU.

“Stick to the essentials, be confident, be generous with the House and we will win this battle.”

All Greater Lincolnshire Conservative MPs voted for the bill apart from Nick Boles, who was absent for the vote.

The votes largely went along party lines, with the three Lincolnshire Labour MPs opposing the bill.

Voted for

  • Victoria Atkins (Louth and Horncastle)
  • John Hayes (South Holland and the Deepings)
  • Sir Edward Leigh (Gainsborough)
  • Caroline Johnson (Sleaford and North Hykeham)
  • Andrew Percy (Brigg and Goole)
  • Martin Vickers (Cleethorpes)
  • Matt Warman (Boston and Skegness)

Voted against

  • Nic Dakin (Scunthorpe)
  • Karen Lee (Lincoln)
  • Melanie Onn (Great Grimsby)