I don’t often write about Brexit. It is not that I don’t think it’s important; of course it is. But one of the spurs to me wanting to become an MP was the feeling that a group of MPs had paralysed parliament over something that really wasn’t the big issue affecting people’s everyday lives, simply because they personally didn’t like the result of the referendum. Meanwhile, the things that were affecting people’s everyday lives were being neglected.
I did however apply to speak in the debate about the trade deal with the EU. Given the number of senior MPs that would want to speak, I wasn’t hopeful and so it proved – with only 1 of the 107 new MPs on the Conservative side getting to. I would have only got 3 minutes anyway, but here is some of what I would have said.
I would have firstly congratulated the Prime Minister and the many people involved in the negotiation. I know some may turn up their noses at that, but they negotiated a deal in a short timeframe against considerable headwinds, not least being told repeatedly it was impossible and they didn’t really want a deal.
I would have said that as a Leave voter in a 54% Remain constituency, while I was not worried about our future with Brexit, I know some of my constituents were and I am pleased we have agreed a deal. In my visits towards the end of the year I was regularly asked – whether by businesses or farmers – if I thought there would be a deal. There was no panic, just hope there would be. I remained optimistic all year and am pleased we have achieved one.
On the Erasmus Programme, I would have encouraged people to look at the data of who has been benefitting. One study found 51% of UK participants had a high or very high family income and, across Europe, over 60% had at least 1 parent who was an executive, a professional or a technician. The replacement Turing Scheme will specifically target disadvantaged young people who did not participate – as well as let them travel to any country around the World, not just European ones.
I would have also said that while the temptation is to quote back to opposition politicians all the predictions they’ve made that proved wrong these past 4 ½ years, I don’t think that is appropriate. Our country has been through a painful period and it is time to repair the wounds, not rub salt in them.
P.S. On a strictly non-political note, congratulations to local hero, Andy Baker of Play2Give, on his MBE. As a patron of his, I know how well-deserved this is.
