1 July 2016
Below is Caroline Lucas's six point plan to start to mend post-referendum Britain
A week ago we woke up in a different Britain. For those of us who believe Britain's future lies in our EU membership, it was a devastating shock, and for everyone who believes in a multicultural society the last week has been deeply alarming.
I’m really worried about our country – and I know that people up and down Britain fear for the future.
Not only are we now on course for serious economic turmoil but our politics is broken too.
When we should be uniting and showing leadership, much of what I see around me in Westminster is squabbling and rivalry. It's not good enough when people are struggling to get by after years of austerity and when the country is divided.
I’m specifically concerned about what these political divisions mean for fallout from the referendum. That’s why, in the coming months it falls upon us, the Green Party, to put forward a positive vision of what a post-referendum Britain could look like.
Today I’m publishing my six point emergency response plan. It sets out the immediate and urgent steps we should take and how we can start to best protect our country against the potential damage caused by Brexit. My plan is below. It’s only a start, of course, and in the coming weeks and months we will be inviting our many thousands of members – including the 2000 who have joined since the referendum – in shaping our plans.
We need:
1) A General election this year so people can choose the Government they want to represent them in the negotiations to come. The current Government has no mandate for negotiations.
2) A Parliamentary vote on any ‘terms of exit’ BEFORE invoking Article 50. This stops a small cabal at the top of Government having total control over this country’s future place in the world.
3) The protection of free movement within the EU, strong environmental protections, workers rights and the Single Market. We're working with a range of environment NGOs and other experts to identify ways to best protect vital Green legislation
4) A second referendum on the terms of a final deal. Britain decided to leave the EU, but nobody knew what kind of Brexit was on the ballot paper. It’s only right that we’re all given a say.
5) An emergency law which guarantees the rights of non-British nationals already living here in Britain. No one who has come here to make a life for themselves should feel threatened by Brexit.
6) The protection of young people’s future. 75% of young people who voted chose to remain. It’s only right that the Government should now guarantee continued funding for Erasmus, student exchanges and EU funded schemes targeted at young people.
The Green Party will also be standing up to racism and xenophobia wherever it occurs. We have a proud history of fighting bigotry and our elected politicians across the country will be working alongside others in our communities in the coming weeks and days to make sure everyone feels safe, secure and welcome.
When others are divided we will unite to oppose Trident renewal, hold Ministers to account as the Chilcot Inquiry is published and bring legislation to Parliament which will distribute the benefits of migration to all communities in Britain.
And we'll be working hard to rebuild our economy and our democracy so that both wealth and power are fairly and equally shared.
In a time of crisis we stand up for people, and for our environment. It’s no wonder that new members are joining the party at a rate of almost one per minute.
But to really make an impact we need your help. I’m urging people to join the many who have already signed up for Green Party Membership in the last few days. We rely on our members to make the stand against the Government that’s so desperately needed. We’re committed to working across party lines to challenge the Establishment – but we can only build those bridges upon solid foundations.
Please join up here: https://my.greenparty.org.uk/civicrm/membership/joining
