In just under ten months the UK will be leaving the European Union political organisation, into what will probably be a transition period of 22 months before the final withdrawal. Most people believe that referendum results should be respected although the political elite do have a habit of trying not to apply that to matters relating to the EU.
Denmark had two referendums on the Maastricht Treaty in 1992 and 1993 and I am particularly struck how the Irish Republic had referendums twice on two EU treaties, namely the Nice Treaty in 2001 and in 2002 and then on the Lisbon Treaty in 2008 and 2009. This was because the first referendum in each case did not produce the ‘right’ result, so the question was put again in order to achieve the ‘right’ result for the political elite. There are those (such as unelected peers) trying to use the same dubious tactics here in the UK by saying that the EU referendum should be rerun.
Quite why referendums on EU matters are not respected as much as those on other matters, I do not know. For example, I haven’t heard any calls in Ireland for a rerun of last week’s referendum on changes to Ireland’s strict abortion laws or indeed any calls here to rerun our AV voting system referendum that we held in 2011.
Despite the scaremongering, we are making good progress in the withdrawal negotiations, such as on guaranteeing EU citizens’ rights and finalising the majority of issues related to our withdrawal. It is in everyone’s interest for future arrangements to work well for us and EU countries.
While Crawley voted strongly for Leave, the Conservatives are committed to see a deal that works for everyone, regardless of whether you voted Leave or Remain. While Labour continues to try and frustrate Brexit for their own political reasons, it is only the Conservatives can be trusted to take back control of our laws, our borders and our money. I am confident we will be successful as a truly global nation that has a constructive relationship with our European friends.
Councillor Duncan Crow, Leader of Crawley Borough Council Conservative Group
28th May 2018