Labour promised MPs a vote on Trump trade deal - now Starmer doesn't seem so sure Will MPs get a vote on a trade deal with Donald Trump? It used to be Labour policy, though Sir Keir Starmer didn't sound keen on the idea at PMQs earlier. The PM was challenged, first, by Lib Dem MP Clive Jones, who wants a guarantee that parliament has the final say on any trade deal - including one with the US. Watch: Could Trump do a deal with the UK? "This idea is not new," said Jones, who used to be a director of various toy companies, and was president, chairman and director of the British Toy and Hobby Association, no less. "It's exactly what Labour promised to do in an official policy paper put forward in 2021, so I am asking this government to keep their promise." And, toying with the PM, he complained: "Currently, members of parliament have no vote or voice on trade deals." Starmer gave one of those non-answers we're becoming used to at PMQs, saying rather tetchily: "As he knows, parliament has a well-established role in scrutinising and ratifying trade deals." 'The known procedures' Later, Sir Ed Davey had a go. "Will the government give MPs a vote on the floor of the House on any deal he agrees with President Trump? Yes or no?" he asked. He fared no better. Starmer said again: "If it is secured, it will go through the known procedures for this House." So what are parliament's "well-established role" and "the known procedures"? And what did Labour promise in opposition back in 2021? The 2021 promise was, in fact, one of those worthy pledges parties make in opposition and then either conveniently forget about or water down when they're in government. Watch: The chancellor's trade deal 'red lines' explained The policy paper referred to by Jones was "Labour's trade policy: putting workers first", published in September 2021 by Emily Thornberry when she was shadow international trade secretary. The secretary of state back then was none other than Liz Truss. Whatever happened to her? Come to think of it, whatever happened to Thornberry? U-turn if you want to… Back then, the idealistic Labour MP declared in her policy paper: "We will reform the parliamentary scrutiny of trade agreements… "So that MPs have a guaranteed right to debate the proposed negotiating objectives for future trade deals, and a guaranteed vote on the resulting agreements…" A guaranteed vote. Couldn't be clearer. And there was more: "…with sufficient time set aside for detailed scrutiny both of the draft treaty texts and of accompanying expert analysis on the full range of implications, including for workers' rights." Sufficient time for detailed scrutiny. Again, couldn't be clearer. So what's changed? Labour are in government now, that's what. Parliament's role may be, as Starmer told MPs, "well-established", but that - according to opponents - is the problem. It's contrary to what Labour promised in opposition. Lib Dem leader Davey hit back at the PM: "I'm very disappointed in that reply. There was no 'yes' or 'no' response. We do want a vote, and we will keep pressing him and his government on that." And true to their word, Lib Dem MPs Jones and Richard Foord, have already tabled private member's bills demanding a final say on any trade deal with Trump. Watch this space. And also watch out for Labour MPs also backing that demand before long.