‘We need parties to work together for a safer Brexit’

I DESPAIR with politics especially after reading the latest letter from Councillor Joe Porter.

He says that Mrs May “managed to bring the Conservative party and country together”, and then he criticises her negotiated deal as it is not radical enough for him.

Where has he been? The country, the Conservative party and parliament are absolutely divided. Parliament is in chaos and politicians are losing the trust of the electorate with the posturing and arguments by the hardliners on all sides. There has been a vote of no confidence in the prime minister by her own party.

He states that 17.4 million people voted to leave the EU but he does not mention that 16.1 million voted to remain.

Of those who voted that represents 52 per cent to leave and 48 per cent to remain. To me, and I am sure to many others, that is marginal especially as 13 million people eligible to vote chose not to do so! There is no clear majority.

Everyone who voted in the referendum over two years ago did so based on the information available at the time. Things have changed and we are now beginning to realise the practical reality of Brexit and what the cost will be. So we are now faced with a national crisis and no agreement in parliament or in the country whatsoever.

It has been said many times that it would go against democracy to have another vote!

How can that be true? The basis of democracy is that votes are cast based on information and promises given by the parties who seek to be elected or to win a vote. If those promises are not kept or if circumstances change then the electorate can change their minds the next time they are allowed to vote.

I would personally back a people’s vote or general election but I am very uncomfortable with what the outcome of either may be as I suspect that the electorate would be, yet again, fed with a lot of half-truths and outright lies. I have no trust in hard line politicians.

So I believe that the time has come for moderates on all sides to come together and work for the common good. This country deserves better than we are getting at the moment. I doubt that I am the only person who thinks this.

I still believe that we should remain in the EU but I have come to the conclusion that we immediately need a parliament which will work together, putting aside party politics to minimise the effect of the catastrophe that is Brexit.

To do this would involve good will on all sides.

Unfortunately I see little evidence of this goodwill being shown by our elected representatives.

We will all lose financially come what may if we leave but surely it is not unreasonable to ask politicians on all sides to work together for the common good rather than bicker and promote radical policies that they may well believe to be valid but which leave behind the moderate majority of this country, especially those who are already the worse off. John Belfield Leek