The point of no return is near but we still have the chance to change course |
I am writing to you today to mark 'Brexiversary'; the midway point between the triggering of Article 50 and the Government's arbitrarily enforced 'exit date'. On Brexit, my views have not changed. But it is important to take this opportunity to restate my promise to continue fighting for the people of Britain to have their say on the final deal.
Brexit, of any type, is not in Britain's interest.
It inevitably means cutting ties with our closest friends and neighbours and abandoning a project that has delivered much positive social and environmental change in Britain and across Europe. More than that, it means departing from a union that has fostered solidarity and proven one of the most successful peace projects in recent history.
Brexit, of the type a bitter and divided Tory government is dragging us towards, is a monumental calamity.
The Government's approach to negotiations has been unforgivably shambolic; driven by a desperate need to appease its own hard-right fringe. The result is that we, the people of Britain, will have no idea what kind of post-Brexit future we're heading towards when, on 29 March 2019, we leave the European Union.
All that we can be sure of as we approach the point of no return is that any and all Brexit outcomes will have hugely damaging economic impacts, according to the Government's own (secret) studies. The fact the transition period delays the worst of these impacts until 2020 is of little comfort when the fundamental question of what our future relationship with the EU will look like remains unanswered. In the meantime, it's clear that any notion of “taking back control” has been hijacked by the Tory Government planning to give itself, as part of the Withdrawal Bill, unprecedented powers to bypass Parliamentary democracy.
The referendum was supposed to signal the start of a democratic process, not the end of democracy.
As your Green MEP, I passionately campaigned for a Remain vote in the EU referendum. I felt a profound sense of disappointment at the result as did voters in Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, and Oxfordshire and Surrey, East and West Sussex who voted overwhelmingly to Remain; across the region, more than 48% of people voted to Remain. These voices are being increasingly sidelined by a Government desperately afraid of its own Brextremist fringe and in hock to the DUP.
But, despite the odds, a hostile right-wing media, and powerful vested interests, we will not be deterred in the fight to maintain the closest possible relationship with our European neighbours.
In the European Parliament, MEPs have consistently sent clear messages through Resolutions that the UK Government must put forward actual and real solutions on citizens’ rights, peace in Northern Ireland and social and environmental justice post-Brexit. We’ve had wins; securing protections in the resolution for citizens’ rights, the environment, food safety and animal health and welfare standards.
However, as “nothing is agreed until everything is agreed”, I remain deeply concerned that there are still fundamental questions over the Irish border issue and citizens’ rights that remain unanswered.
What is more, almost every day new details emerge about vital information being kept from the public while allegations about a potentially illegal disinformation campaign run by Leave groups continue to mount.
I stand committed to the 'Green Guarantees' I set out after the referendum: safeguarding environmental laws, defending freedom of movement, supporting young people to study and work across Europe; guaranteeing workers’ rights, jobs, food safety and animal welfare by advocating single market and customs union membership. And, finally, Greens are fighting for a People's Poll on the final terms of any deal - with remaining in the EU an option on the ballot.
Although the point of no return is near, we still have the chance to change course.
I will continue fighting for a future best served by working across borders; one that protects our economy, our environment, and our communities. Above all, I still believe that we are fairer, greener and safer inside the European Union.
Brexit, of any type, is not in Britain's interest.
It inevitably means cutting ties with our closest friends and neighbours and abandoning a project that has delivered much positive social and environmental change in Britain and across Europe. More than that, it means departing from a union that has fostered solidarity and proven one of the most successful peace projects in recent history.
Brexit, of the type a bitter and divided Tory government is dragging us towards, is a monumental calamity.
The Government's approach to negotiations has been unforgivably shambolic; driven by a desperate need to appease its own hard-right fringe. The result is that we, the people of Britain, will have no idea what kind of post-Brexit future we're heading towards when, on 29 March 2019, we leave the European Union.
All that we can be sure of as we approach the point of no return is that any and all Brexit outcomes will have hugely damaging economic impacts, according to the Government's own (secret) studies. The fact the transition period delays the worst of these impacts until 2020 is of little comfort when the fundamental question of what our future relationship with the EU will look like remains unanswered. In the meantime, it's clear that any notion of “taking back control” has been hijacked by the Tory Government planning to give itself, as part of the Withdrawal Bill, unprecedented powers to bypass Parliamentary democracy.
The referendum was supposed to signal the start of a democratic process, not the end of democracy.
As your Green MEP, I passionately campaigned for a Remain vote in the EU referendum. I felt a profound sense of disappointment at the result as did voters in Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, and Oxfordshire and Surrey, East and West Sussex who voted overwhelmingly to Remain; across the region, more than 48% of people voted to Remain. These voices are being increasingly sidelined by a Government desperately afraid of its own Brextremist fringe and in hock to the DUP.
But, despite the odds, a hostile right-wing media, and powerful vested interests, we will not be deterred in the fight to maintain the closest possible relationship with our European neighbours.
In the European Parliament, MEPs have consistently sent clear messages through Resolutions that the UK Government must put forward actual and real solutions on citizens’ rights, peace in Northern Ireland and social and environmental justice post-Brexit. We’ve had wins; securing protections in the resolution for citizens’ rights, the environment, food safety and animal health and welfare standards.
However, as “nothing is agreed until everything is agreed”, I remain deeply concerned that there are still fundamental questions over the Irish border issue and citizens’ rights that remain unanswered.
What is more, almost every day new details emerge about vital information being kept from the public while allegations about a potentially illegal disinformation campaign run by Leave groups continue to mount.
I stand committed to the 'Green Guarantees' I set out after the referendum: safeguarding environmental laws, defending freedom of movement, supporting young people to study and work across Europe; guaranteeing workers’ rights, jobs, food safety and animal welfare by advocating single market and customs union membership. And, finally, Greens are fighting for a People's Poll on the final terms of any deal - with remaining in the EU an option on the ballot.
Although the point of no return is near, we still have the chance to change course.
I will continue fighting for a future best served by working across borders; one that protects our economy, our environment, and our communities. Above all, I still believe that we are fairer, greener and safer inside the European Union.
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Brexiversary: there's still time to change course - click to play |
Working across the South East of England
To keep in touch with my constituents, I have a team of staff based in the UK:Constituency Coordinator - Monika Baunach, email: keithtaylor@greenmeps.org.uk
Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire - Karen Barass, email: karen@greenmeps.org.uk
Surrey and Sussex - Vicki Elcoate (Surrey lead), email vicki@greenmeps.org.uk and Phelim Mac Cafferty (Sussex lead), email phelim@greenmeps.org.uk
Hampshire and the Isle of Wight - Eloise Shavelar, email eloise@greenmeps.org.uk
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