Borough Council To Debate Brexit Motion

Published on: 4 Dec, 2018
Updated on: 4 Dec, 2018

By Amina Sahbegovic

Guildford Borough Council (GBC) is to debate a motion regarding the Brexit agreement at the next full meeting, tonight (Tuesday, December 4).

The motion proposed by the Lib Dem group leader, Caroline Reeves (Friary & St Nicolas), if accepted, would result in the council leader being asked to write to the four MPs representing parts of Guildford Borough asking them to support a “People’s Vote” on the Brexit deal. The motion is seconded by Nils Christiansen (Con, Holy Trinity).

The 27 countries of the EU approved the separation agreement with the UK, as well as the political declaration to define the framework for the future relationship between London and Brussels. Prime Minister Theresa May said in “a letter to the nation”: “It is a deal for a brighter future, which enables us to seize the opportunities that lie ahead.

Both councillors acknowledge that sovereignty on this matter lies with Parliament, but stress that the nature of the final deal will have a significant and long-lasting impact on Guildford’s residents. While the UK voted Leave during the EU Referendum, Guildford’s residents were against Brexit with 56.2% voting Remain, opposed to 43.8% voting Leave.

Cllr Reeves told The Dragon: “In 2016, by a slim margin, Britain voted for Brexit, although Guildford voters were strongly in favour of Remain, as I and other Liberal Democrats still are. But now there is a huge wave of unease among those Brexit voters who realise they were deceived by the dubious claims that originally won their support.

“Now this convoluted deal on the table threatens many of the values, rights and freedoms of a life we had enjoyed while in the EU. As more people realise the damaging impact of leaving the EU would have, more would opt for a second vote.”

But not all councillors agree. Cllr Christian Holliday Con, (Burpham), who organised the Leave campaign in the borough, urges members not to support the motion. “Forcing another referendum because the result of the first referendum is disliked is straight out of the EU text book on how to ignore the wishes of ordinary people whilst continuing to drive the federalist agenda forward,” he said.

“It is one of the many reasons for such a huge chasm between the peoples of Europe and the elites of the EU’s political class. For GBC to become associated with such a trend by approving this motion would be deeply unfortunate, especially as we have elections ourselves next year and we expect the result of those elections to be respected.

“In 2016 we voted as one constituency, the United Kingdom, and the United Kingdom voted to Leave.  It would be unprecedented in the history of this country for the result of a public vote, approved by Parliament, not to be implemented.  More people voted to Leave the European Union than have ever voted for anything else in our history and the Government made it clear that they would implement the decision.

“Ignoring a vote in which 33.5 million people took part would be a tragic precedent to set for our democracy. For these reasons the motion should fail.”

The motion to be debated reads, in full: “In accordance with Council Procedure Rule 11, Councillor Caroline Reeves to propose, and Councillor Nils Christiansen to second, the following motion: “This Council notes that a draft Brexit deal has been agreed between the UK Government and the Europ ean Commission. We acknowledge that sovereignty on this matter lies with Parliament, but the nature of the final deal will have a significant and long lasting impact on all our residents. Guildford’s EU Referendum result was strongly in favour of Remain, a s opposed to the narrow margin nationally in favour of Leave. Regardless of the outcome of the meaningful vote in Parliament, this Council resolves: (1) That the people should have scrutiny of what is being negotiated on their behalf and an opportunity to vote on the final Brexit deal, including the option to remain in the EU. (2) That the Leader of the Council be asked to write to the four MPs representing residents of this borough asking them to support a ‘People’s Vote.”

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