I today sent the following letter to the Reading Chronicle:

“Whatever the prevailing policy of the Government of the day, we all want to advance our country’s success. However, this Government’s grand unveiling of their half-baked plan for Brexit last week is not best for Reading.

The British people also made a decision in the 1975 referendum, and by a far larger majority then, to remain. With the narrow majority last June, it is clear there is no ‘settled will’ of the British people as to how we associate with our European neighbours and our largest export market. Given the losers of the 1975 referendum did not stop trying to reverse that decision, why should remainers be asked to do so now? There is no finality in any democracy. When a political party loses an election, the opposition does not stop arguing for what it believes in.

British citizens currently enjoy the freedom to travel to, study in, work in and export to the other 27 EU Member States. Why should many who have enjoyed these EU benefits over the past 40 years, deprive future generations of those very same opportunities? It is quite possible that in 20 years, today’s youth will be in power in Westminster, and will seek to ensure our country is prospering and confidently leading in Europe, rather than retreating from it.

Concerned readers may wish to write to their MPs to express their opposition to the invocation of Article 50, or to press for the people to have a vote on the actual departure terms the Government negotiates. Hard working readers deserve the right to know exactly what Brexit means, and have a chance to confirm whether or not they are happy the Government has achieved a better deal with the EU than what we enjoy now.”

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