Letter: The Consequences of Brexit Reach Much Further Than Guildford

Published on: 13 Mar, 2017
Updated on: 14 Mar, 2017

From Julia McShane

Lib Dem borough councillor for Westborough

In response to: We Can Make Brexit Work

Congratulations to Paul Bishop and to the four people he has employed since January.

But sadly, Brexit is not just about Mr Bishop or his new employees, is it?

It’s also about the millions of other people in our slowly disintegrating country for whom prices are rising and jobs in industries, like car manufacturing, are uncertain.

EU citizens here in the UK, who are to be used as bargaining chips, probably won’t feel much comfort from his comments, nor will their partners, children and families who have a cloud of uncertainty hanging over their future.

What a pity Mr Bishop didn’t think to tell us how he intends to make Brexit work or how he is going to keep all of Guildford’s residents in employment?

I’m sure he means well but it’s probably worth remembering that in the real world the consequences of Brexit reach much further than the boundaries of Guildford.

Responses to Letter: The Consequences of Brexit Reach Much Further Than Guildford

Paul Bishop Reply

March 15, 2017 at 7:37 am

In response to Julia McShane, I am more than happy to go into more detail if she desires.

As she may have understood from my letter, I reach well beyond the boundaries on Guildford. But as a local resident, employment and business in the local area is close to my heart and worthy of more effort than to simply give up as many seem to want to do after Brexit.

Business strategy in a changing market is worthy of a few more words than are available on this page, but there are many forums in the local and national area where strategies are discussed and any useful inputs from a councillor are always welcome.

Not everyone is aware of the race to the bottom UK manufacturing was facing in the EU, with the many grants on offer making it more viable to close UK factories, pay redundancy and then re-open in the low cost EU country?

Nor is their a general awareness of the EU loans being offered to non EU countries to boost their economies prior to their joining. It sounds good, except for one example where this outward investment cost 1,400 jobs in Southampton. And if anyone thinks our manufacturing Industry is suddenly only at threat now, then I’m sorry, but they need to get out talking to real businesses a bit more.

Regarding Cllr McShane’s final point regarding residents used as pawns. A simple way to get around this would be for the EU to agree all UK citizens will have leave to remain granted and then the same will be done to EU nationals. If the EU do not want to do this, then unfortunately it is an EU decision to use this as a bargaining chip.