Sirs,
It is clear many people are worried about voting on Thursday. Although widely criticised, politicians normally enable us to get on with our daily lives without the stress of having to make decisions which will affect many others, as well as our own well-being, for generations to come. Even those who have decided must wonder what the Referendum result will bring, as nobody is able to honestly tell what the fall out will be (especially with a Leave vote), and many feel overwhelmed and undecided even this close to the poll.
It isn’t just one decision; the lid has been lifted on issues of our economic future, immigration and nationality, ‘control of our country’, research and technology, security and other issues. They are all tied in with the stark choice on the ballot paper. As someone commented to me, everyone should vote because if they don’t and wake up the next morning to find/feel the result is ‘the wrong one’, they will always regret it. The consequences will soon manifest themselves, and we have to keep some sort of perspective in an already volatile world environment.
The Referendum was called probably to appease internal Conservative divisions and get them through the 2015 General Election, as much as for ‘letting the people decide’. It will certainly have political consequences. Leavers talk of taking back control. Who exactly will take control: a newly elected right-wing government after a General election, Jeremy Corbyn constantly under the thumb of the unions, the current split government more concerned with whether Boris will lead them than the interests of the country?
Who will face Putin, and the might of the global businesses? A few older people have said when I was handing out leaflets ‘The Second World War was fought to free us from Europe’. My father along with many others ended up fighting against the deluded ambitions of Hitler, and were determined that the horrendous futility of yet another European war should be avoided. They were not fighting to ‘go it alone’ and Churchill himself knew that the days of Britain ruling the seas were over, and was desperate for the USA to come in as soon as possible. The USA wants us in Europe because it is tired of being dragged across the pond, and believes we are stronger in the EU than out of it. Why are the SNP, so desperate to break up the United Kingdom, staunch supporters of Remain?
I believe we should remain in Europe and not turn our backs, but whatever happens on Thursday we shouldn’t let the politics of hate sweep over us.
Yours,
Sue Knowles
Chair, Marlborough Lib Dems