Stephen Morgan blasts Government’s hard Brexit plans following Keir Starmer’s visit to Portsmouth
The Tories are letting down people in Portsmouth whether they voted leave or remain, according to Stephen Morgan MP. The Member of Parliament for Portsmouth South says the Prime Minister’s no-deal Brexit would be a disaster for the city, with economic and infrastructural chaos inevitable should the UK crash out of the EU without an comprehensive agreement.
This follows a visit to the city from Labour’s Shadow Brexit Secretary, Keir Starmer today (6/9/18). Morgan and Starmer held discussions with a number of local businesses and employers to hear their concerns regarding a potential hard Brexit.
The pair then headed to Airbus Defence and Space to talk with workers and bosses about the impact of Brexit on the aerospace sector.
The CBI reports that for 40% of companies, uncertainty over the future trade terms has led to cancelled or delayed investment decisions, stifling future growth.
No Brexit Secretary has visited Portsmouth and Ministers have repeatedly refused invitations from local stakeholders to discuss concerns.
Stephen Morgan MP, said:
“The fact that our Shadow Brexit Team have been down to meet before any equivalent Government Ministers is a credit to Keir, but equally damning of the Tories’ complacency on this crucial issue.
The Government has shown little to no interest in Portsmouth when it comes to Brexit. Exit day is months away and they have no plan for our city, and what’s worse, won’t tell us what their no deal exit will mean for the local economy. I fear this is because they know that without a customs union, Portsmouth is headed for economic and infrastructural chaos.
This isn’t about party politics or ideology, it’s about practical issues. I care too much about our city to let the difficult questions go un-asked and the concerns of businesses unheard.
Portsmouth jobs are not a play-thing for fringe Conservatives, it’s my responsibility as MP to stand up for British jobs. The PM shares this same duty, but so far has totally failed in it.”
