Brexit deal: Lewes Greens call for council to back People's Vote

Green District Councillors Tony Rowell, Joanna Carter and Johnny Denis call for a Peoples Vote

Prime Minister Theresa May unveiled a draft withdrawal agreement for the UK leaving the EU last week, but several of her cabinet members resigned including Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab.

The People’s Vote, a nationwide campaign, is calling for the public to be given another say on the terms of the final Brexit deal.

A group of Green councillors have submitted a notice of motion, due to be discussed on Monday (November 26), asking the council to back a People’s Vote including an option to remain.

Joanna Carter, who represents Lewes Bridge, said “It is clear that any deal will have huge impact on jobs, and on the welfare and prospects of local people, especially in relation to tourism, trade and Newhaven Port.

“It is vital that the council puts local residents’ interests first, and sends a clear message to Government on this issue.”

The Greens have also requested a report considering the strategic risks arising from Brexit that will affect the council and district.

Meanwhile Vic Ient, Lib Dem councillor for Kingston, has submitted a separate motion asking the council to form a task force to assess the risks of Brexit to Newhaven Port.

His motion says: “The currently designated date for leaving the EU is March 29, 2019. There has been much talk about the effect on our airports and at the port of Dover.

“However, to my knowledge, there has never been any discussion on what risks affect the local people in Lewes District caused by an exit. I am especially concerned with Newhaven Port.”

He suggested they invite the county council and other appropriate public and commercial organisations ‘to participate in assessing the risks and developing proposals to limit the difficulties which may be faced in relation to the import-export location of Newhaven’.

Last week Maria Caulfield, Conservative MP for Lewes, criticised Mrs May’s draft Brexit deal as a ‘betrayal’ of the referendum result.

She called it a ‘is a disastrous deal for the country’ and said she would be voting against it in Parliament.