Marching in London last Saturday in favour of a People’s Vote on the terms of Brexit, alongside perhaps over 1,000,000 others, was, for me, an unbelievably emotional and inspiring experience.
In particular, it was amazing to talk to so many people who already see that:
(a) The UK has never lost its sovereignty nor its control over its “money, laws and borders.” We’ve simply been failed by a generation of party-politically-obsessed, personally self-interested, professional politicians in Westminster;
(b) The massive disadvantages of any sort of Brexit deal – let alone a catastrophic ‘no-deal’ Brexit – must somehow be avoided; and
(c) In contrast, the overwhelming advantages of remaining in the EU create a Remain Dividend (not to be confused with the bogus “Brexit Dividend” touted by Vote Leave in 2016) that’s hugely compelling.
My own personal perspective on the “Remain Dividend” within our grasp is as follows:
• Huge surge in confidence and business investment in the UK
• Bounce back to becoming the fastest-growing G7 economy again (as we were before the EU Referendum in 2016)
• Save the outrageous costs of Brexit and nugatory trade negotiations
• Rescue the NHS from the outflow of EU workers
• Benefit from the collective power of EU membership to:
– Progressively eliminate tax avoidance by corporations and rich individuals
– Continue leading the world in terms of reversing climate change
– Preserve over 70 years of peace in Europe; resist Russian expansionism; and help protect us all from terrorism
• Boost our universities and science through continued EU membership
• Invest this “Remain Dividend” in fixing our current domestic crises in, especially: housing; healthcare; social care; policing; and other public services
• Invest the time Westminster currently devotes to Brexit in building a fairer, more just, more equitable society in the UK instead
Just a thought . . .
Alan Meekings
by email
