Please don’t vote purely on Brexit

THE greatest tragedy of the prolonged Brexit saga, is that it has drawn people’s attention away from the other major issues facing the people of this country, particularly in terms of public services.

Regardless of what happens regarding Brexit, this country will still desperately need a properly funded National Health Service and Local Care Services, Improved Social Housing Provision, an Education Service that truly serves future generations, an effective Policing and Law & Order provision and a robust policy for Climate Change and the Environment, to name but a few.

Taken together, the impact of all these services on people’s everyday lives, will be far greater than whether or not we leave the European Union, yet they have received little attention or scrutiny during the Brexit debate.

I can only hope that the political parties make crystal clear their policy priorities during the forthcoming Election Campaign, and that local people will have the good sense to examine them as a package, before casting their vote. To vote in a government for a five year term, purely on the issue of Brexit, would be extremely unwise, and something that many would live to regret.

My political allegiances are well known but, in writing this letter I have tried to stay clear of party politics to make a single point: “Take into account each political party’s whole raft of policies, before casting your vote.”

Mike Jones, Former Labour councillor.