Dear Sir,
It was reported in the Northern Echo on the 10th of May that Phil Wilson MP is calling for ‘People’s vote’ on the final Brexit deal. It is a second referendum on leaving the European Union that he is calling for. Over 58% of people in this constituency voted to Leave the EU. Therefore, seeing the sitting MP for Sedgefield calling for a second referendum is a clear betrayal of his constituents wishes.
During the referendum campaign, both sides made it clear that a vote to Leave the EU was to leave it in all its entirety including leaving the single market, customs union to take back control of our borders, money and laws.
In the General Election 2017 Phil Wilson campaigned on a manifesto to respect the referendum result however it has become clear Labour have changed their position on Brexit many times before and will do so again before the next General Election.
What of Mr Wilson’s concerns? Mexico has a free trade agreement with the EU without having to be in the Single Market and Customs Union and without agreeing to free movement of people. The Isle of Man, which is not a member of the EU, trades tariff free and has a work permit system. Of course, no one would expect the transition to be totally smooth after membership of the EU for over 40 years but the regaining of our independence and our ability to strike our own trade deals throughout the world would more than compensate for that. There would be a period of transition with some not benefitting initially but this is a decision for the long term and ultimately would be of benefit to all.
Why does Mr Wilson want the UK to be shackled to the corpse of the EU even though it is a diminishing export market in percentage terms for our country having dropped 14% in 14 years. On a global scale, the EU’s share of the world’s GDP has dropped from 31.6% in 1980 to 22% in 2016. Many of those of us who voted for independence see the EU as a failing project.
Mr Wilson, where does your loyalties lie – to your Sedgefield constituents or to Brussels?
John Grant
UKIP
