Dear Sirs
I am 50 years of age. I have always voted Labour in every election at every level and I still receive your e-mails. I sent donations to the Labour campaign of Ed Miliband.
I have two children aged 16 and 19.
Brexit is not only an utter fiasco but it is now a dangerous ideological dark valley.
I agree with virtually all your policies in terms of restoring hope and equality to a financially divided nation where opportunity is so unequal.
However, the plain fact is that Brexit was conceived by a viciously right wing of the tory party and secured by the people using a tissue of lies and deceit. A Brexit which threatens disaster-capitalism now. An economic outcome achieved through the stoking of bigotry and xenophobia.
Labour’s position on Brexit has to change if there is any prospect of achieving its aims. Full stop. Anything else is simply fantasy. There is no “Jobs First” Brexit. There is only a Brexit of:-
- Economic underachievement and/or stagnation;
- Loss of regional and global influence;
- Isolation;
- Increasing xenophobia and bigotry as the factors above materialise.
Dangerous times need brave people. Do it. Make the tories own “Brexit” and make them pay the price they deserve for the vast amounts of public money they have wasted saving their own political bacon. Only a deluded minority will now believe if looking with honest reflection that anything good will become of Brexit. It won’t and you must know that. Go for the jugular. Go back to Cameron and the MP’s which he should have had the guts to sling out to UKIP. Expose the cause. Expose the reality. Make them own their catastrophe and remind the nation why this happened.
My support for Labour has presently gone. The futures of my country and my children are too important not to have these cheats brought properly to account and for the madness to be ended.
Yours sincerely
Labour’s response received this morning:-
Dear Marc,
Thank you for contacting us about exiting the European Union.
Labour accept the referendum result and recognise that Britain is leaving the EU. But unlike the Conservatives, we believe that jobs and the economy must come first in the negotiations. That means rejecting ‘no deal’ as a viable option, negotiating strong transitional arrangements to ensure there is no cliff-edge for the economy and putting much greater emphasis on retaining the benefits of the Single Market and the Customs Union.
Labour will not accept any watering down of workers’ rights and environmental standards as a result of Brexit. We will seek significant improvements to the Government’s Repeal Bill to ensure there is proper oversight of the use of new powers and no drop in EU rights and protections.
We are also clear that we would unilaterally guarantee rights for EU nationals living in the UK and seek reciprocal rights for UK nationals living in the EU. The Prime Minister’s limited and conditional offer is too little, too late.
We will seek a strong, collaborative new relationship with the EU – not as members but as partners. This means changing the tone of the negotiations, and seeking to remain a member of common European agencies that benefit the UK such as Europol, Eurojust and the Erasmus scheme.
The Prime Minister has no mandate or parliamentary majority for her Brexit strategy. Her belligerent approach has left Britain without allies or good will across Europe. As a result, Britain enters negotiations in the worst possible position.
The Prime Minister must now change her approach. She must drop ‘no deal’ as a viable option and put much stronger emphasis on jobs, the economy and retaining the benefits of the Single Market and the Customs Union. She must also bring Parliament back into the Brexit process – it is vital that Parliament is involved throughout the negotiations, including through a truly meaningful vote on the final deal.
Only a Labour Government can prevent a reckless Tory Brexit, build a close and collaborative future relationship with the EU and deliver a Brexit deal that protects jobs, the economy, rights and living standards. As we hold this weak and unstable Tory administration to account on Brexit, we stand ready to take over the negotiations and to secure the best deal for Britain.
Best wishes,
George
Membership Services and Correspondence
The Labour Party