Haringey held an extraordinary full council meeting to address the impacts expected and our preparations for Brexit.
Here is a statement from Leader of Haringey Council, Cllr Joseph Ejiofor:
The huge uncertainty surrounding Brexit is the biggest issue affecting this country, and it will undoubtedly have impacts on our borough. The Government has not yet established a Brexit agreement, but as time marches on, we in Haringey must prepare to make sure that whatever happens, it works for our residents. Our borough was, after-all, one of London’s highest remain-voting boroughs – 75.6% to 24.4%. Tonight we made a number of resolutions to support our residents and our valuable communities and businesses. If the Government is confident in negotiating a deal that working people, our economy and communities will benefit from, they should not be afraid to put that deal to the public.
Key points from the meeting:
The UK is due to leave the European Union on March 29, 2019
The Centre for European Reform estimates that as of June 2018, the UK’s public finances were £23billion a year worse off than they would have been without the possibility of Brexit
There is a likely negative impact of Brexit on public sector recruitment
An estimated 42,000 Haringey residents are nationals of another EU member state. This represents almost a sixth of the borough’s population
Haringey voted 75.6% to 24.4% to remain in the 2016 referendum, which was the fifth highest Remain vote in the country
Since the Brexit vote there has been a rise in hate crime of 41% reported by the police
The council believes:
That the post-Brexit arrangements currently being put forward would leave the UK worse off than if it remained an EU member
That the Government’s negotiations are set to harm the welfare of Haringey residents
That Government’s Brexit will adversely affect the council’s ability to provide services
European citizens are an integral part of our diverse community in Haringey and their existing rights should be guaranteed immediately
That a no-deal Brexit should be rejected as a viable option
That racism and prejudice has no place in Haringey and the council should mobilise all necessary resources to combat racism and prejudice in all forms from Haringey
The council resolved:
To support the call for a general election should Parliament vote down a Brexit deal or talks end with a no deal, and if this is not possible, to keep all options on the table, including campaigning for a public vote
That the leader should write to other London boroughs requesting that they debate their response to the ongoing negotiations soon, if they have not already done so
To ask the Leader to request from the Government all their information and analysis pertaining to the impacts withdrawal would have on Haringey’s communities and businesses
To ask the Cabinet to publish a report on contingencies in the event of Britain leaving the EU
To give a Cabinet Member the responsibility of ensuring the council is adequately prepared for any result in the ongoing Brexit negotiations
To create a Brexit working group and appoint an EU Citizens Ambassador to work with EU citizens in Haringey and address concerns that they may have
To highlight the positive impact migration from EU member states has had on Haringey and to affirm the council’s opposition to racism and prejudice in all forms
To campaign to preserve and improve all workers’ rights which currently have a protection or backstop in EU regulations