Brexit: local councils voice concerns

A survey of local authorities, published today, has found serious concerns about what Brexit will mean for their area. Find out more.

Liberal Democrat Local Government spokesperson, Wera Hobhouse, said: “These reports are a damning indictment of how this Tory government are handling negotiations. When local authorities are voicing genuine concerns that Brexit could cause ‘social unrest’, Number Ten need to start taking note. Right across the country we are seeing councils raise fears about the impact of Brexit on their communities. The economic uncertainty surrounding the UK will disrupt the ability of councils to fund vital public services. This is not what people voted for. If we are to truly ‘take back control’ we must give the people a Final Say and a chance to Exit from Brexit.”

A draft motion:

CAMPAIGN FOR A PEOPLE’S VOTE

Council notes that two years have passed since the EU Referendum and little concrete progress has been made in negotiating the terms of the United Kingdom’s withdrawal from the EU.

Council:

• a) recognises the significant support it has received through EU funding over many years;
• b) [ONLY IF RELEVANT] recalls that a clear majority of [OUR AREA] residents voted to remain in the EU;
• c) notes the stark warnings from companies such as Airbus, Vauxhall Motors, Jaguar Land Rover and BMW about the impact of Brexit on British manufacturing;
• d) recognises the mounting popular concern at the prospect of leaving the EU with either a bad deal or no deal at all;
• e) notes the reports from 1 August highlighting the serious concerns local authorities have over delivery of public services post-Brexit including potential civil unrest;
• f) notes the participation of over 100,000 people in the march for a People’s Vote in London on 23 June;
• g) shares the anxiety of EU citizens living in the [OUR AREA] who feel unwelcome in the land where they have made their homes, and uncertain about their future; and accordingly supports the call for a People’s Vote on the final Brexit deal with an option to remain in the EU, and urges [OUR AREA’S] MPs to join the campaign for a People’s Vote in the interests of the residents and businesses in [OUR AREA].