LETTER: Frustrated by Brexit

Like every other voter across the UK, I’m hugely frustrated by how Brexit negotiations have gone since the EU referendum in 2016.

Obviously, Theresa May and Boris Johnson have both done everything wrong in this respect from the outset. I could say more about this, but won’t, as our country is where it is now, and there’s no going back.

So, what is the current Conservative government, backed by Sir John Hayes MP, currently proposing? Answer: “Get Brexit Done”.

Doubtless, many voters will enthusiastically cheer, “Yes, get Brexit done, get Brexit done, get Brexit done!” However, is this really the optimal way forward for our country?

If the Advertising Standards Authority were given permission to regulate political advertising, in the way it regulates commercial advertising, it would certainly tell the Conservative Party to stop using the phrase “Get Brexit Done” and, instead, force it to change this phrase to read “Get Brexit Started”. This is because Brexit won’t get “done” by January 31, 2020, but merely get “started”.

After January 31, 2020, our country will face decades of economic uncertainty and continuing renegotiation, with a view to renegotiating the over 123 international trade agreements and over 750 other international agreements from which we currently benefit by virtue of EU membership, including current membership of the EU Single Market and Customs Union.

So, the Conservative Party’s current rallying call of “Get Brexit Done” needs to be interpreted as “Get Brexit Started”.

Hence, I’d advise voters locally to ask Sir John Hayes MP to specify the net benefits of Brexit that he, personally, will guarantee to be delivered, and by when. Personally, to date, I’ve yet to receive any answer from Sir John Hayes to this question, and can only wonder why.

Personally, I believe the best way forward is to hold a Confirmatory Vote on the terms of Brexit actually on offer.

Alan Meekings
by email