Northerners do not fear Brexit and the rest of the UK should be inspired by their optimism about Britain’s prospects, a minister has today said.
Jake Berry, the Northern Powerhouse minister, went on 739-mile road trip across the region to talk to hundreds of workers in dockyards and building sites to find out their thoughts on the UK’s looming departure.
He said that they are not spooked by scare stories that quitting the EU could mean shortages of donated sperm and bacon, and economic hardship.
He said that many Northerners voted for Brexit because they feel disconnected from London-centric politicians and are ‘impatient for it to come’.
Writing in The Daily Telegraph today, he said: ‘Northerners are brave about Brexit. We can all learn from their optimism and spirit of resilience.’
Jake Berry, the Northern Powerhouse minister, said Northerners are not spooked by scare stories that quitting the EU could mean shortages of donated sperm and bacon, and economic hardship
Mr Berry chronicled his 739-mile road trip across the North on Twitter – posting pictures of himself at stop offs where he spoke to hundreds of workers in dockyards and building sites to find out their thoughts on Brexit
The minister, who voted remain in the 2016 EU referendum but now backs Brexit, made the three-day trip in his family Volvo.
Andy Burnham hits out at ‘arrogant’ second referendum campaigners
The Labour Manchester mayor (pictured at Labour party conference in Liverpool in 2016) said the call ‘further inflames’ resentment among voters who already think London -based MPs fail to listen to them
Andy Burnham today hit out at ‘arrogant’ campaigners who are demanding a second Brexit referendum – warning they risk fuelling anger and division.
The Labour Manchester mayor said the call ‘further inflames’ resentment among voters who already think London-based MPs fail to listen to them.
And Barry Gardiner, Labour’s shadow international trade secretary, also said that demanding a second referendum would be ‘dangerous’.
Their warnings comes as efforts are being stepped up to try force Labour to change its policy and back a second referendum at its conference next month.
The People’s Vote campaign is working with MPs and activists to submit a motion to change policy so Labour backs a vote on the final Brexit deal.
But Mr Burnham, a former Labour leadership candidate who was an MP until 2017, poured scorn on the bid.
In an interview with the Politico website, he said: ‘My frustration with those leaping to a second referendum is it further inflames this idea of an arrogant political class, which isn’t listening and isn’t dealing with the issues that gave rise to the referendum in the first place.
‘I’ve still been of the view that what we need is the most pragmatic, practical, bridge-building Brexit.’
He said that while civil servants and newspaper columnists in the south have sent themselves into a frenzied panic about the possibilities of shortages, Northerners are far more optimistic.
Mr Berry said: ‘Port workers in the North East feel closer to Denmark than Westminster.
‘They don’t fear their Danish friends will stop selling them bacon or sharing their donated sperm.
‘They perceive a deck loaded against them – geared towards London and the South East. They want change. They voted for it and are impatient for it to come.’
He said that workers in dockyards, steel mills and construction sites are more worried about Donald Trump’s tariffs than leaving the EU.
‘Port of Immingham dockworkers looked bemused as they told me that over 50 per cent of their trade already comes from countries outside the EU’, he wrote.
‘They reminded me that they already switch daily and seamlessly between EU regulations and the rest of the world, so they see no reason they cannot adapt calmly to the challenges Brexit may bring.
‘In Saltburn, the team at British Steel are more engaged with President Trump’s steel and aluminium tariffs than worrying whether rail tracks they have made to improve the French highspeed rail network will still be needed.
‘As they see it: “We make them – they can’t. We need them and they need us. And don’t forget the World Trade Organisation steel tariff is zero.”‘
He said the Northern Powerhouse – a political project set up by George Osborne to hand money and new powers to the North to drive development – is reaping rewards.
And he said this devolution ‘could be the golden thread of Brexit’.
He said: ‘The people of the North want to see power returned from Brussels to the UK and through devolution to them.
‘Handing back control of funds and powers directly to the North has already been shown to improve transport, increase skills, create better-paid jobs and more secure employment. Empowering the North means the whole UK succeeds.’
His comments come as dire warnings about the possible food and drug shortages and long border queues have been issued in recent weeks amid fears the UK could crash out of the Brussels bloc without a deal.
While anti-Brexit campaigners are stepping up their efforts to force a second referendum.
The Northern Powerhouse minister, who posted details of his trip on Twitter, said that many Northerners voted for Brexit because they feel disconnected from London-centric politicians and are ‘impatient for it to come’
The group People’s Vote is working with MPs and activists to table a motion at Labour party conference in Liverpool next month to get the party to change its policy and back a second vote.
But leading Labour politicians Andy Burnham and Barry Gardiner have warned that another vote would backfire and fuel bitter anger and resentment towards politicians.
Mr Burnham, who is Manchester mayor, told the Politico website, he said: ‘My frustration with those leaping to a second referendum is it further inflames this idea of an arrogant political class, which isn’t listening and isn’t dealing with the issues that gave rise to the referendum in the first place.
‘I’ve still been of the view that what we need is the most pragmatic, practical, bridge-building Brexit.’