Ed Gouge from the Isle of Wight Labour Party shares this news. Ed
The Island Labour Party is to ask Andrew Turner what his proposals are to mitigate the impact on the Island of the UK leaving the EU.
Deb Gardiner, Island Labour Chair said,
“Andrew Turner has been a supporter of Brexit for years, but has so far offered precious little in terms of a clear strategy for the Island’s future.
“Now that the people have spoken there are questions that urgently need to be answered.”
Key questions
The Island Labour Party Secretary is writing to Mr Turner to ask his view on some of the key questions that now arise:-
- What is his vision for a post-Brexit UK? Does he favour the Norwegian option which entails payments to the EU, acceptance of many EU regulations and the continued free movement of people. Or does he expect the same golden deal which until now has only been offered to Switzerland?
- What are the implication for Island firms and the farming industry? Does he intend for us to remain part of the Single Market? If not then will we trade with the EU under World Trade Organisation rules which mean there will be 15% tariffs on British agricultural products entering the EU and 5-10% tariffs on manufacturing goods. Has he discussed these implications with Island exporting firms and the farming industry?
- If we leave the Single Market, will he vote for a points based immigration system for people from the EU that want to work here, as the Leave campaign proposed? How will this system work? Has he assessed the impact of such a system on St Mary’s Hospital, care homes, farming and Isle of Wight tourism?
The Island is home to many elderly people and will he guarantee to vote against any attempt by the Conservative government to renege on its election commitment to maintain the triple lock on state pensions? The letter will suggest questions that our MP should be asking. The letter will say, “There are other questions that need to be answered straight away. These should be addressed to the Government but, as we now have a caretaker government you may not get any answers, and so they must also be addressed to Conservative party leadership candidates to get guarantees from them:- - The Leave campaign claimed that if we came out of the EU there would be more money for services. Will last week’s decision by the Local Government Minister not to provide any more funds for the Isle of Wight Council now be reversed?
- Will Island farmers receive the same amount of financial support that they have received from the EU? A significant part of the Common Agricultural Policy fund goes to rural development generally and so will this also be guaranteed?
- Will Assisted Area status, which provides economic support for Island firms, not only be maintained but now extended to the whole Island?
Ed Gouge, Island Labour Secretary,
“Island companies and Island workers need swift reassurance. How can they move forward with confidence and invest without answers to these questions?
“It is time for some detail from government ministers and our MP if we are not to go into economic recession.”
