Labour Councillor Calls for EU Exit in Swindon’s Interest

Labour Councillor, Steve Allsopp, is presenting a motion asking for businesses to be consulted on what would be the best terms of Brexit for Swindon businesses and jobs. Once businesses have given a view over what they think would be the best terms of Brexit for Swindon, then the Council asks Swindon’s MPs to lobby the government for these terms.

With companies like Honda and BMW based in Swindon and dependant on trade inside the European Union, this motion is designed to ensure the impact of Brexit has as little impact on Swindon jobs and investment, as possible.

The motion reads:

“This Council notes the result of the recent national European Union referendum.

This Council:

  • Requests the Economy and Regeneration Overview and Scrutiny Committee to instigate a review of local business opinion on what would be in Swindon’s best interests in relation to trade and jobs from Britain's terms of exit from the European Union and submit a report on the findings of the review to the Cabinet.
  • Requests the Cabinet Member for Economic Development to ask Swindon’s two MPs to lobby the government for the terms of Britain’s exit from the European Union that is in the best interest of businesses and jobs in Swindon.”

The Labour Councillor Park North & Walcott Ward, Councillor Steve Allsopp, said:

“Now the majority of the British people have decided that we wish to leave the EU, it is crucial that the terms of Brexit are not going to be detrimental to Swindon jobs and investment in Swindon. In a Council report last year, it was found that 10,000 jobs in Swindon rely on trade in the EU and concluded that leaving the European Union (EU) would likely reduce sales and increase costs of trading with Europe, so that shows the stakes depending on a successful terms of Brexit.

That is why I think it would be a valuable exercise for the Council to speak to Swindon businesses about what they think would be the best terms of Brexit.

Once we have the viewpoint of local businesses, then I think it is crucial that the government is aware of business opinion in a town like Swindon, that spurs economic growth across Britain. Swindon’s MPs are here to be that conduit between local people and policy-makers and that is why I have called on our Council’s Lead Member for Economic Development to lobby the MPs on what is best terms of Brexit for Swindon jobs and trade.”