Voters need final say – Lib Dem
SIR VINCE CABLE SAYS BREXIT DEAL MUST BE PUT BEFORE ELECTORATE AS HE VISITS CITY UNIVERSITY
Voters should have the final say on whether the UK leaves the EU or chooses to stay, says Sir Vince Cable.
Speaking exclusively to the Sunderland Echo, the Liberal Democrat leader outlined the party’s view on a whistle-stop tour of Sunderland University yesterday.
It was looking increasingly like the UK may be unable to reach a deal before it leaves in 2019, he said
“It will be particularly economically damaging if the Government is not able to reach a satisfactory Brexit deal, and it looks as if there are very high risks of that happening.
“Why else would you spend £600million of taxpayers’ money on measures that would not be necessary if you did not fear crashing out?
“But crashing out would be absolutely devastating.”
The consequences of leaving with ‘no deal’ could be particularly bad for the North East, said Sir Vince.
“It would be very serious for your supply chain industries like Nissan and Hitachi and companies like that, which have bits and pieces flowing across national boundaries, currently with- out any obstacle.
“European markets are very important and the Customs Union and the Single Market are absolutely fundamental to a lot of companies here. We depart from that at our peril.”
Voters should have the final say on any deal – or lack of deal: “What we are saying is that when we know what is going to happen, when we know the terms of the deal, or no deal, the public should be given the final say.
“Are you happy with this, do you want to push on with it or want to exit from Brexit?”
Sunderland had voted to leave the EU and the party respected that view: “We don’t want to contradict their judgement but we want to give them a choice as to whether they are happy,” said Sir Vince.
The Government had given Nissan reassurances about the future, but refused to reveal what it had said.
“It has all been keep secret, whichmeansyouworryabout howrealitis.Theproblemwith thatis,whataboutalltheother companiesintheUK?Youcan’t just solve the problem by aimingatonecompany,important though it is.”
During his visit Sir Vince toured the university’s new medical teaching facilities and the Hope Street Xchange business centre.
He was full of praise for the latest development. “This university is a fantastic institution – it a bit of a hidden gem,” he said.