My response to Anne Milton follows:
Dear Anne,
Thank you for, once again, responding quickly to a communication from
me; in this case my email of December 2016. However, sadly, I find the contents
of your response distinctly disappointing and below I note particular instances
of that disappointment. No doubt you will have heard these arguments before
but, as you yourself point out, it is important that you hear your
constituents’ views.
<<..... I do feel that to ignore the results of the referendum
would be damaging to our democracy ...>>.
Given that Brexit will be a nigh-on irreversible action isn’t it
damaging to our democracy that the whim of 17M voters should determine the fate
of all 65M of the population? In particular, is not potentially removing all
rights currently enjoyed by those 65M through their European citizenship
damaging to our democracy?
<<..... committed ..... to respect the outcome of the referendum>>.
The outcome of the referendum was that 37% of the electorate voted
“Leave”. 63% did not. This 63% splits into almost 35% who actively voted
“Remain” and 28% who did not vote. It is reasonable to conclude that the
majority of the latter cohort were content with the status quo ante. The margin of “Leave” votes over “Remain”, at less
than 3% of the registered electorate, was a narrow one which, even at that
time, could be described as equivocal and as subsequent analysis has show
potentially would not be the outcome if the referendum were rerun today. Surely
it would be “respecting” the result of the referendum to understand and act to
alleviate the varied genuine issues and grievances, many having little or
nothing to do with the UK’s EU membership, that motivated many of the “Leave”
voters. As I intimate above, invoking Article 50 “respects” the on-the-day views
of just 37% of the electorate.
<<I will make sure that the interests of my constituents are
raised at every possible opportunity>>.
On what appears to be your reading of the referendum vote, i.e. that
only the difference between “Leave” and “Remain” votes counts, then the
interests of your constituents should be met by the UK remaining within the EU
(the vote in your constituency being approximately 56% “Remain”, 44% “Leave”).
I note that the second part of Article 6 of the MPs’ Code of Conduct states
that an MP “has a special duty to their constituents”. I have great difficulty
in understanding how your vote for invoking Article 50 complies with that duty.
<< ..... invoking Article 50 by 31 March 2017>>.
I have yet to read a sensible rationale for this deadline. As anyone
with a modicum of understanding of game theory will know
(a) giving away gratis details of your position tends to
strengthen that of the opposite party, something that has already become
abundantly clear in this case; and
(b) very often delaying
tactics are the key to obtaining the optimal outcome to a negotiation.
On the assumption
that all arguments for putting a halt to the Brexit process fail I suggest that
the multifaceted and complicated negotiations that will be required make delay
a particularly important avenue to pursue. To take one instance, the next EU
parliamentary elections will take place in mid-2019. Why trigger Article 50
early when by delaying the UK can ensure that it is still an EU member when
these elections take place and EU budgets are decided by the Commission, and
thus still have considerable negotiating power? This March 2017 date smacks of
domestic politics with an eye to the national parliamentary elections in 2020.
If this is the reasoning then it is hardly acting in the best interests of the
UK.
<<I hope that this response has......answered the questions you
have raised>>.
As you did not specifically answer each question I raised I set out
below my interpretation of your letter. I would be obliged if you would correct
any misunderstanding on my part:
> Do you still believe that remaining in the EU is in the best
interests of the UK? From the contents of your letter I surmise that, should
the referendum be rerun, you would once again vote “Remain”.
> If not, what fundamental changes have taken place in order for you
to alter your opinion? You appear to believe that the on-the-day will of just
some 26% of the population trumps the best interests of the UK and you are
willing, therefore, to support a process that cannot deliver anything more than
second best and may well deliver something very much worse.
> If you do still believe that the best interests of the UK are to
remain in the EU will you vote against invoking Article 50 (should you have the
opportunity)? No.
> Will you vote against revocation of the European Communities Act
1972? No.
Yours sincerely
Richard Bawden
I rather doubt that this will do any good apart from making me feel slightly better. Hey ho.
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