The biggest issue by far at the moment that local people are raising with me is Brexit. This week on Friday 29th March was supposed to be the day we left the EU and entered the transition phase. The antics of Westminster MPs have delayed this until April or May, but there is a risk of a longer delay and with that comes even more uncertainty for our economy.
Had MPs backed the deal to leave the EU, we would be leaving the EU this week and in an orderly manner. But by not doing so, a can of worms has been well and truly opened. We now risk the democratic mandate to leave the EU ultimately not being enacted at all. Should that happen, not only would our country be humiliated, the breech in trust between politicians and the public would be irreparable. For me, upholding our democracy must come first and the referendum result must be respected. We now need to leave the EU as soon as possible, as promised by every Conservative and Labour MP who was elected in the 2017 General Election.
While media attention may focus on Conservatives like Jacob Rees-Mogg, the behaviour of Labour MPs has been absolutely appalling. Their motivation is trying to bring down the government and they have refused to support any deal whatsoever negotiated by a Conservative-led Government. By playing such silly games In a hung parliament like we have now, Labour under Jeremy Corbyn are showing they aren’t even fit for opposition - yet alone for government.
It is worth noting that at the 2nd attempt to get the EU leaving deal through Parliament, it was supported by a majority of Conservative MPs but only by 3 Labour MPs. Brexit can be delivered on 22 May if (mostly Labour) MPs start putting the national interest first and back the deal. The agreed deal with the EU is the only sensible way that guarantees we leave the EU. Almost everyone I meet is rightly saying it is time for the country to get this sorted out and to move on.
Councillor Duncan Crow, Leader of Crawley Borough Council Conservative Group
27th March 2019