Read Sharon's latest Sunderland Echo column below or by going to the Sunderland Echo.
At time of going to print, there are just 197 days until the United Kingdom (UK) leaves the European Union (EU).
Considering that there are still many important and outstanding issues to address as part of the negotiations, you would expect the Government to be diligently focusing on getting the best Brexit deal possible.
Unfortunately, this could not be further from the truth.
Parliament returned from its summer recess last week, and since then the headlines have been dominated by sordid details of Boris Johnson’s private life, and talk of his impending leadership bid.
This country deserves better than to be led into one of the most historic periods of our history by a Government that spends more time talking to itself than it does with our negotiating partners in the EU.
According to the former Brexit Minister Steve Baker, MP, there are now a significant number of Conservative MPs who are actively working to try and derail the Prime Minister’s Chequers plan and have signalled that they won’t vote for it in the House of Commons.
I know that people did not vote to leave the EU only for that decision to be manipulated into an internal battle within the Conservative Party.
Taking this into account, I believe we should be prepared for the very real possibility that the Prime Minister may fail to deliver the Brexit deal that our country needs.
Our withdrawal from the EU is one of the most complex issues our country has faced in generations, and I know that there are strong views on how best to approach it.
That’s why I want to hear from constituents about what they think should happen in this eventuality and other potential scenarios, and more generally their thoughts on how Brexit has played out thus far.
More than 500 people have already taken part in the survey that I launched last month, and I want as many of my constituents to do so as possible. It will be running throughout the rest of the month and into October and can be completed in either of the below ways:
- Online: https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/BrexitSurvey2018
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Via Post: Please contact my office to request a paper version of the consultation by using the details below:
Telephone: 0191 417 2000
Email: [email protected]
Please note that this survey is intended for residents of my constituency only – you can find out if that applies to you by inputting your post code into this website: https://www.theyworkforyou.com/