Without a "People's Vote" local communities will continue to suffer - Cllr Jerry Roodhouse

Councillor Jerry Roodhouse has written to the local papers about the state of British politics and without a "People's Vote" on the Brexit deal he is seriously concerned that we will see greater divisions erupting with local communities forgotten about and continuing to suffer.

Dear Editor,

Recent events in national politics are what I and many others have never seen before The country is in a mess. We are divided. National politicians in the two main political parties remind me of a school playground with bullying and shouting going on with no one listening.

Over the last few years as a Councillor I have seen communities and local services suffer with the continued onslaught of cuts from central government. I have seen increased problems with Social Care and Children's Services. School budgets are being reduced and the list is increasing and getting longer. All of this is happening whilst our national politicians shout at each other with very few constructive conversations taking place. The whole Brexit issue that was set off by David Cameron reminds me of the Roman Empire. It is said that the last Emperor, Nero, watched Rome burn whilst merrily playing his fiddle. I look at Westminster and the same is happening, but instead of Rome it is this Country. The temperature of the debate is increasing and tensions are rising. We are already seeing this with the actions of Brexiteers.

As we head towards next March we the people who vote in our Members of Parliament seem to be pushed to one side and forgotten about, frozen out whilst the Westminster bubble of politicians row and argue. We must seriously ask if this is how a modern progressive democracy should work? Like it or not a document is on the table, whether for or against the time must be right to have a "People's Vote". If this does not happen I am seriously concerned that we will see greater divisions erupting and we will be plunged into months and years spent on deals that no one can agree, whilst local communities are forgotten about and continue to suffer.

Yours sincerely,

Councillor Jerry Roodhouse
Liberal Democrats