Commons Voice

THE biggest problem with Brexit is the large number of unknowns.

We don’t know how the Bridgend constituency voted. Across the County Borough of Bridgend, which includes the Bridgend and Ogmore constituencies, the vote was to leave.

In the 19 wards across my constituency, I have seen projections based on demographics with 16 wards voting remain, but the honest answer is no one knows.

No one knows the impact of leaving the Single Market or the Common Market on local jobs.

Will tariff free trade be agreed for imports and exports to and from Europe? We import 27% of our food from the EU, if there is a 7% tariff on food and cars, the local effect will be devastating.

What will happen to EU born people living locally? Many have married and settled in the area for many years.

There are concerns about immigration but little known about the needs of the workforce to meet the demands of employers. There is low unemployment locally.

Do the unemployed have the skills needed? If not how will local companies fill vacancies?

There is disparity been the numbers of retired and those employed.

Paying for public services and pensions needs large numbers employed and paying tax and National Insurance.

By 2050 it is projected that there will be 2.9 workers for every retired person.

From the 1970s it was 3.3 workers to a retiree. Life expectancy after retirement used to be short but today one in two babies are expected to live to be 100.

Will we face reductions in state pensions or yet further increases in retirement ages?

My job is to protect my constituents from the worst possible scenarios.