Brighton and Hove Liberal Democrats are campaigning for a second referendum on the outcome of talks to leave the European Union – or Brexit.
The local party started campaigning on the issue at the weekend by collecting signatures on a petition.
The petition calls for Brighton and Hove’s three MPs to vote against the start of formal Brexit talks – known as triggering article 50 – unless the government agrees to a referendum on the “destination”.
The Lib Dems argue that a narrow Leave vote does not give the Prime Minister Theresa May a blank cheque to take away Britain’s membership of the single market and our rights to live, work and travel freely in Europe.
The party’s parliamentary candidate for Hove, Carrie Hynds, 29, said: “68.5 per cent of voters in Brighton and Hove voted Remain.
“We accept that the UK voted narrowly to leave the European Union but leaving the single market was not on the ballot paper and there was no detail proposed in the referendum.
“A hard Brexit would represent a real threat to the economy of Brighton and Hove and to the hard-won peace process in my home country of Northern Ireland.
“There is no mandate for this Tory government, led by an unelected Prime Minister, to implement hard Brexit.
“The most democratic option is to give people a say with a clear question reflecting the actual type of Brexit on the table.”
Former BHASVIC student Emily Tester, 21, the party’s parliamentary candidate for Brighton Kemptown, said: “Those of us who are just starting out are very worried about our prospects.
“We are watching as the interconnected world we believe in is being picked apart and the opportunities to work and live in Europe that millions of Brits already benefit from are being taken away from our generation.
“The government simply isn’t listening to us. I am proud that the Liberal Democrats are standing up for the 48 per cent.”
The Lib Dems, who held their autumn conference this year in Brighton, have had a substantial revival in the city, with their membership nearly four times what it was two years ago.
Michael Wilbur, 38, who chairs the Brighton and Hove Liberal Democrats, said: “New members are joining us daily in Brighton and Hove.
“They tell us they worry about Brexit and the rise of right-wing populism here, in Europe and in America.
“They want to stand up for liberal values. Labour is increasingly pandering to the populist UKIP agenda. With the ‘Trump’ wing of the Tory party in control of the government, we need to work together with our European neighbours.
“The Lib Dems are the only party fighting to keep Britain open, tolerant and united.”
Yap Yap Yap
Freda you may think it is all Yap but the LibDem message is gaining traction. Not only in the stunning win at the recent Richmond Parliamentary by-election but in local council by-elections across the country including in places where people voted to Leave the EU. An example from last week was the LibDems winning a council seat in Sunderland from Labour with a 41% swing in their favour.
There is so much happening in Europe right now that might give people the reasons to pause for thought.I think the upcoming Élections in France and Germany will give an indication as to whether Brexit Will become just à sideshow.
Why don’t these morons just get a life, they lost a democratic vote ACCEPT IT
I see Jconcerned prefers insult to argument. If you are so keen on democractic votes, why oppose another one?
The LibDem Party is identifying itself so closely with the ‘Remain’ school of thinking, that when the dust has finally settled it will cease to have a cause and may well disappear off the political map. A very dangerous game to play.
Paul chandler if the result is the same will you want another democratic vote until you get the undemocratic result you want
The libdems are a massive joke, even if they doubled their amount of MP s ,they would remain a joke.
sad losers