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by Richard Greenwood on 22 October, 2018
On Saturday 20th October a number of MK Lib Dems travelled down to London to support the People’s Vote campaign. On the day it is estimated that over 700,000 people marched, the second largest protest this century, with only the Stop the War march with an estimated 1 million people being larger – which is another time the Lib Dems went against the government and media barons to fight on the right side of history!
The Milton Keynes Liberal Democrats have been campaigning to support the People’s Vote campaign, and it is clear that when people know about the campaign – regardless of how they voted in 2016 – there is a massive amount of support for a People’s Vote on any Brexit deal.
We felt the time is right to submit a motion to MK council to try to build on the cross-party support for the campaign that already exists.
However people voted in 2016, it is clear that most people didn’t vote for what is now happening!
Promises and predictions were made on either side, and whichever way people voted, they voted for our country to be better off.
Among other things, the Leave campaign promised:
Many people voted for the reasons above, and they voted for our country to be better off. Based on how Brexit is going they no longer expect the things they voted Leave for to be delivered.
In addition to the positive promises of Leave no longer looking likely, people are unhappy that serious issues such as the following weren’t discussed properly at the time of the 2016 referendum, and the debate failed to properly inform them.
As a result more and more people are backing the People’s Vote campaign, including many who voted Leave in 2016. And the People’s Vote campaign isn’t one to just stop Brexit, it will be up to the people to decide if Brexit is good enough.
If the deal agreed by the government lives up to the promises of 2016 people will vote to Leave again. If any deal agreed fails to live up to the positive promises of 2016, then people will have a right to change their minds!
We’ve been out campaigning making the positive case for a People’s Vote, making people more aware (see one of our ‘Brexitometers’ by clicking here) as Lib Dems, and some of our activists have also been working alongside members of other parties and none as part of the cross-party campaign group European Movement: Milton Keynes (see one of their ‘Brexitometers’ here!). The People’s Vote is in line with the policy our party has had since 2016, as our party has long believed that the promises made by the Leave campaign are undeliverable, and the people should have a right to vote again once the reality of Brexit is known and any deal (or lack of deal!) is on the table.
In addition to the People’s Vote, one of the highest priorities of our party has been to confirm the rights of those who have come from the EU to work here and contribute, as nurses, teachers and many other essential roles. That is especially true for those who have made a life in the UK, contributing to the UK and bringing up their families here, the government should commit to ensuring the existing rights of non-UK EU citizens already living here are maintained!
We have also now submitted a motion to Milton Keynes council, calling on the council to back the People’s Vote campaign. The wording of our motion, to be discussed on Wednesday 24th October is below:
MK People’s Vote Councillor McCall – 10 October 2018
1. That this Council notes that for the 2016 Referendum:
2. That this Council further notes that since the 2016 Referendum:
3. That this Council therefore:
Please advise how I can come and support the peoples vote in Milton Keynes. I live in Westcroft
While we’d replied to you by email I’ve just realised we’d not replied here for others interested in getting involved.
Details of the cross-party European Movement group which is pushing the People’s Vote campaign in MK, and has support from local Lib Dems is on their Facebook page here. https://www.facebook.com/EuropeanMovement.MiltonKeynes/
They can also be contacted by email here: [email protected]