Call for Cambridgeshire to back ‘people’s vote’ on Brexit

There are calls for Cambridgeshire County Council to join a push for a “people’s vote” on Brexit amid fears leaving the EU could be harmful for local businesses and residents.

On October 16, a motion will be put to the council calling for them to back a campaign for a “people’s vote” on whether or not leaving the EU is still the best course of action after the UK voted to leave in 2016.

Lib Dem Cllr Susan van de Ven will put the motion to the full council.

The motion calls on the council to note what she says are “the economically damaging effects of Brexit on local residents and businesses”, as well as “the poor progress made by government in planning for withdrawal from the European Union”.

According to the motion, the council’s own current business planning cites risks arising from Brexit including the effect of a national economic downturn and workforce recruitment and retention issues.

The motion says people in Cambridgeshire could be negatively hit by rising prices if the UK leaves the EU.

It reads: “Any further rise in cost of living arising from a national economic downturn will inevitably fall to Cambridgeshire residents, in turn bringing further pressures on this council, which is already facing significant financial challenge in delivering essential public services to the people it is meant to serve.”

Last month, South Cambridgeshire District Council voted to back a “people’s vote” on the terms of Brexit.

The motion was backed by 28 Councillors, with 11 voting against it and two abstaining. As a result, the motion passed.