MP hopefuls challenged to name a single benefit of Brexit at Cheltenham hustings

MP hopefuls were asked what they thought of Brexit and if they could name one benefit for the UK from leaving the EU at a hustings in Cheltenham. Hundreds of people packed St Matthew’s Church to ask questions of the future Member of Parliament for Cheltenham on June 23.

They were asked if they agree that Brexit has harmed the UK financially, culturally and socially. And the member of the audience asked if the candidates could mention a single benefit from leaving the EU.

Labour’s Lara Chaplin said her friend’s fishmonger’s business went under due to Brexit. She said he voted to remain in the EU but after 40 years of heartbreak he had to close his business because it costs £100 for the paperwork to send fish to Europe.

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“It decimated that industry and continues to decimate that industry,” she said. Ms Chaplin said the only benefit from Brexit is that the country no longer blames the EU for the “monumental mess” the country is in at the moment.

Labour wants to review the trade deals which have been signed by the Government, she added. But Independent Daud McDonald claimed that Brexit has not been allowed to happen yet.

“All the problems we are having due to Brexit are being caused by the European Union, in my opinion,” he said. He was interrupted by hecklers who shouted “rubbish”.

He continued to say that his wife is French and while Brexit has caused him some difficulty going on holiday “it’s a price he is quite willing to pay”. The UK needs time for Brexit to work, he said.

Liberal Democrat Max Wilkinson said his party’s internationalist values have not changed one iota but that we recognise the world has changed and the relationship with the EU.

“Were this election about rejoining we would be having a different discussion but the European Union at the moment definitely wouldn’t have us back because the Tories have totally blown up our relationship with Europe both culturally and politically.

“It’s an absolute shame and stain on this country.”

He said the Lib Dems would take unilateral steps to rebuild relationships with the EU. And when the country and EU is ready for the discussions, the Lib Dems have the ambition to rejoin the Single Market. The Single Market allows the unrestricted movement of goods, services, capital, and people throughout the territory.

Green Party candidate Daniel Wilson said they would look to rejoin the EU as quickly as possible because Brexit has been an unmitigated disaster on all fronts. He said the relationship with the EU has broken down and people are worse off.

“I do business with Europe every week and it’s a bloody nightmare,” he said. “It’s cost jobs in this country because people have moved offices to other parts of EUrope.

“We should look to get back into the EU as soon as possible.”

Conservative Alex Chalk who voted to remain in the EU said the mandate was one for a departure from Europe not a rupture. “That’s why I was one of a small number of MPs who thought we should be looking to try and find some sort of sensible middle way to stay in the customs union.”

But he said he found it extraordinary that there were MPs on the Remain and Leave sides that walked through the same lobby together after refusing to compromise. However, he rubbished the suggestion that the UK has blown up its relationship with Europe.

“It’s manifestly not the case and we should be very careful before talking our country down,” he said. “I travelled as minister for defence procurement, I spoke to my French and German counterparts.

“We are working together to produce 155[mm shells] ammunition and to support the war in Ukraine which is about protecting the international rules based order and standing up against aggression.”

He said Europe values the UK and its contribution. The International Monetary Fund has said over the next five years the UK is forecast to grow more than France and Germany, he added. And he said there was a time during Covid that there were more people vaccinated in Cheltenham than the entirety of France and Germany put together, he concluded.