Worthing MPs react to leave campaign's EU referendum victory

Worthing's two MPs have reacted to the leave campaign's EU referendum victory this morning
Worthing borough councillor Bryan Turner and Worthing West MP Sir Peter Bottomley (photo submitted). SUS-160624-060848001Worthing borough councillor Bryan Turner and Worthing West MP Sir Peter Bottomley (photo submitted). SUS-160624-060848001
Worthing borough councillor Bryan Turner and Worthing West MP Sir Peter Bottomley (photo submitted). SUS-160624-060848001

East Worthing and Shoreham MP Tim Loughton, a Vote Leave supporter, tweeted this morning: “This is above all a victory for the democratic process and the EU needs to understand and respect that as we negotiate our future relationship.”

But Sir Peter Bottomley, Worthing West MP, said: “The voting result is not the one I had wished for.

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“Northern Ireland and Scotland voted in. Wales and England voted leave. I recognise the need to make the best of the new situation.

“The UK needs to come together, work together and to make the best of a tricky situation - it is the consequence of Labour’s leadership failure to maintain their support for EU membership, not helped by the near irrelevance of the Liberal Democrat leadership. The referendum came because of long-standing Conservative differences.

“A prominent UKIP representative has said we should maintain the Single Market free trade arrangement. Others have said no to that.

“Some say Article 50 negotiations have to start at once, other leavers say they want the system used for Greenland (population half of Worthing’s 110,000).

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Whatever the possible long term economic benefits of leaving, my sympathy goes to those whose jobs and businesses may be at risk now.

“The difficulties may go well beyond the increased costs of holidays abroad and the greater costs of our imports.

“The local vote was what I expected. The national vote was not.

“I shall continue to work for the long term greater good of our community and our country.”

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Worthing and Adur were two of the eight areas in Sussex to back the leave campaign. The only result not yet declared is Wealden.

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