Exiting Europe - Makes No Sense for Medway
Replying to one of our local party members, who raised the question of what a "no-deal" scenario would have on the economy, Kelly Tolhurst said "the Government must prepare for all possible outcomes, including a "no-deal". At present, the economy has remained strong, with good levels of economic growth." However, the Government is failing from one crisis to the next when it comes to "no-deal" Brexit preparations. It was only after the lack of preparedness among UK exporters to the EU was exposed by the Liberal Democrats that the Government acted to fast track export registration. The 'Operation Yellowhammer' leaks exposed the Government's own analysis of the scale of the fallout a "no-deal" Brexit would have for the whole country including delays at the border of food, fuel and medicine shortages, and rising prices in our shops. For the Medway Towns the ramifications for many businesses will be profound as they face up to a new set of challenges of life outside the EU. For example, the setting-up of tariff records, which have not been in place since Margaret Thatcher signed off the Single Market Agreement. The impact on the local economy with a "no-deal" shall effect thousands of jobs which depend on our membership and added to that number of other businesses who then lose their local customers, the effect on the Medway area shall be comparable, if not worse, than the closure of the dockyard. The Liberal Democrats are the only UK-wide party committed to stopping Brexit. Therefore we must protect support to industries in Medway such as manufacturing, supply-chain businesses, farming, tourism and the creative industries, as well as regional support for deprived areas. The withdrawal agreement signed off in November 2018 is now dead and the prospect of a substantive renegotiation before October 31st is not now realistic. In light of the news to suspend Parliament, it is clear now that the Government is intent on leaving with a "no-deal". The Liberal Democrats are leading the fight to stop Brexit and passionately believe that the UK is better off in the European Union. ENDS |