Brexit isn’t working and the Tories are clueless about what to do

As the reality of leaving the EU hits home, only 22% of the public think that Brexit is having a “Good impact” on the UK in general. Less than 10% of people think that Brexit has been good for prices or the NHS. 

On every meaningful measure Brexit has been a catastrophe for the UK according to an Observer poll in December.

In contrast to the Conservatives, the Liberal Democrats have policies that would help repair our relationship with the European Union and set us on a path back to where we should be, at the centre of Europe.  The Liberal Democrat leader, Ed Davey said “We want Britain to be back at the heart of Europe, but we’re also realistic that’s going to take some time”.

In a speech in March Ed Davey said “Liberal Democrats are the only ones with a real plan to fix Britain’s trade. To tear down the Conservatives’ trade barriers, rip up their red tape, and rebuild the ties of trust and friendship with our European neighbours. Because as liberals we are proud internationalists.”

The Lib Dem plan is to rebuild confidence in the UK as a willing and trustworthy partner to the European Union.  We would seek to remove the trade barriers created by the unnecessary “hard” Brexit with the aim to place the UK–EU relationship on a more formal and stable footing by seeking to join the Single Market.  We will also look to engage with EU institutions on standards and seek to avoid divergence from EU regulatory frameworks and standards on products, workers’ rights, the environment and consumer rights.  At the same time, we would seek to rebuild the social, cultural and academic links that have been so damaged by Brexit.

Liberal Democrats recognise that right now Europe is not the main issue on the doorstep.  Voters are rightly more concerned about the cost of living and the disastrous damage that the Conservatives have done to the NHS and public services in general.  However, the Liberal Democrats have always been a pro-European party and we will continue to advocate strongly for closer links with the EU.

Details of the Observer opinion poll can be found here.

Details on Liberal Democrats policy on Europe can be found here.