Conservative candidate Tom Hunt calls on Ipswich Labour to respect referendum result!
Tom Hunt, has today (31/12/2018) called on Ipswich Labour MP Sandy Martin to make clear that he fully respects the clear verdict that the people of Ipswich expressed in June 2016 to leave the EU and to oppose a second referendum that would include remaining in the EU as an option.
The call follows a column that was published in the Star earlier this week by Mr Martin that stated, “In any case, given the referendum vote in 2016 it would be undemocratic to cancel Brexit without another referendum.” In addition to this column piece in the Star, the Ipswich Labour Party also published a “BREXIT UPDATE” in the Ipswich Flyer free publication that stated,” But if, as I suspect, that option is not available to us then let us ask the people directly, including those who were too young to vote last time, because they are the residents who will have to live the longest with the consequences.
The author of the Flyer piece is unknown with the piece simply titled, “News from the Ipswich Labour Party.”
Tom Hunt stated:
“I disagree with Mr Martin’s view that it would be undemocratic to cancel Brexit without another referendum. My view is that it would be deeply undemocratic to cancel Brexit FULL STOP. The democratic verdict to leave the EU, expressed by over 58% of people in Ipswich needs to be fully respected, no ifs or buts.
“Over the past few weeks its become clear to me that Sandy Martin MP and the Ipswich Labour Party are increasingly flirting with a second referendum that is motivated primarily by a desire to overturn the verdict of the June 2016 referendum.
“Just over two years ago almost 40,000 people in Ipswich voted to leave the EU, over 58% of those who voted, its imperative that this verdict is fully respected.
“I’m glad that Mr Martin believes it would be undemocratic to simply revoke the referendum result with a stroke of a pen. However I want him to go further by categorically ruling out personally supporting a second referendum that would include remaining in the EU as an option. Perhaps I’m wrong but it would seem to me that the Ipswich Labour Party are extremely close to publicly supporting such an option. In my view, to do so would be treat the clear democratic verdict that was expressed in Ipswich just over two years ago with contempt.
“I appreciate Brexit is a divisive issue and that there are many different opinions on the best way forward and the best type of deal. By all means, lets have that debate. However, please lets put talk regarding a second referendum and cancelling Brexit to bed. It’s last thing we need.”
Tom Hunt added:
“As it happens I voted to leave the EU. However, this isn’t about how each one of us voted. It’s about respecting the democratic vote took place both in the country and in Ipswich. I hope Mr Martin is able to alleviate my concerns regarding his position on the issue.”
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