SOUTH SOMERSET NEWS: Intolerance and bitterness have no place, says Yeovil MP on EU Referendum result

YEOVIL MP Marcus Fysh – who supported the Brexit campaign in the EU Referendum – has said that the decision to leave the European Union has given Britain a “superb opportunity” to improve links with other countries.

Mr Fysh said he would like to thank everyone who took part in the Referendum last Thursday (June 23, 2016) which saw the Leave campaign win by gaining 52 per cent of the vote.

“Whichever way you voted, this was the biggest democratic exercise in living memory,” said Mr Fysh. “In South Somerset 79% of eligible voters cast their ballot - a very high turnout - and 57% voted to leave the EU. I attended the count and in Yeovil, Crewkerne and Chard the vote appeared to be even higher for Leave.”

PHOTO - TOP: The South Somerset count in last week's EU Referendum held at the district council offices in Yeovil.

PHOTO - RIGHT: Yeovil MP Marcus Fysh.

He added: “I want to reassure everyone that as well as effectively instructing Parliament to increase accountability in politics, this vote gives our country a superb opportunity to reset our relationships with EU member states.

“It does not mean less engagement with European friends, allies and partners. On the contrary we can look to deepen our links, and I will be pressing for the upcoming negotiations to take a positive and empathetic approach, as well as robustly standing up for what we need.

“This way we can get the best possible arrangements that work for Europe and those from Europe who live here too.”

Mr Fysh continued: “Work has already started on the negotiations, and I would encourage anyone with ideas about what positive changes they would like to see achieved through them, whether in business or otherwise, to get in touch so I can feed them in.”

The MP said one of his first calls on the day after the vote was to the management of the Yeovil-based Leonardo helicopter factory – better known to everyone locally as Westland – which is run by Italy.

“Our relationship with Italy will be one of my main focus areas,” said Mr Fysh. “I raised the prospect of redoubling defence co-operation with European partners, and supporting UK defence industries more, in the House of Commons on Monday and Tuesday.

“I would like to see trade remain free between the EU and the UK, for necessary workforce still to be able to travel freely and cheaply, and for co-operation on security for Europe and on equipment to increase.

“As of writing this on Tuesday (June 28, 2016), I know that in just the last 24 hours we have been contacted by India, Malaysia, Australia and New Zealand, wanting to start talks for their own free trade with us. This is just a taste of the global opportunity which is here now.

“It is going to be an incredibly busy time but I truly believe with the right attitude if we seize it we can make a really positive difference to our economy and outlook.”

Mr Fysh said he was “sorry” that David Cameron will be stepping down as Prime Minister later this year.

“It will not of course always be easy, and I am sorry David Cameron will be stepping down,” he said. “He gave us this opportunity and deserves our deep gratitude for setting our economy on the right track so we come at it from a position of strength.

“I wish the process were such that the Prime Minister's successor could be in place sooner, but it should be complete as soon as it can be, by the beginning of September, and much preparatory work on the negotiations is happening in the meantime.

“I wish to end by saying we now need to come together as a community. Whichever way the vote went, many would have had to come to terms with the democratic result and make it work.

“Intolerance and bitterness have no place, and on the contrary we must now show ourselves to be the friendly, open, outward-looking and welcoming people I know we are.”

PHOTO - ABOVE: The Leave campaign won last week's EU Referendum with 52 per cent of the national vote.

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