Deep divisions exposed by Brexit

IN the run-up to the referendum I worked full-time for the Britain Stronger In Europe campaign in the North East of England.

It was obvious to all of us that the economic case for the region to stay in the EU was stronger than perhaps anywhere else in the country.

But it was also clear from very early on our core message was falling on deaf ears, and no surprise that 58% of the region wanted out.

Our volunteers were faced with the bitterness, anger and suspicion of the establishment that sits behind that emphatic Leave vote week-in week-out on the streets.

This “save the economy” petition Remain shoved down their throat wouldn’t settle in a region scarred by declining town centres, foodbanks and the country’s highest unemployment rate.

They certainly were not going to stomach it coming from Cameron and Osborne.

The North East has the lowest proportion of foreignborn residents of anywhere in the UK but the fear of immigration is now endemic.

The Leave campaign kindled the fire. Our campaign’s relentless negativity and the Labour leadership’s weak response allowed the flames to spread. People don’t care about employment rights when they would do anything for a few more hours at work.

Tell people for every £1 we put into the EU, the North East gets £10 back in jobs, trade, investment and growth. Tell them the cars made at Nissan will be made somewhere else

in Europe if we vote to leave.

The response was always the same: “Well, I have nothing and they are coming to take the rest.”

This deeply damaging narrative has taken hold.

Pat Glass, Labour MP for North West Durham, was pulled from the final day of campaigning after police deemed a death threat made against her to be credible.

In a separate incident, spray-painted across a bridge in Durham last week were the words “Jo Cox deserved it, Durham next”.

People will have had many good reasons for voting Leave. I respect that as part of our democracy.

But there can be no doubt this campaign has divided our communities further.

On Thursday the North East gave the establishment a kicking. Many now fear it will respond in kind.