The latest lifeline thrown by the European Union extending the Brexit deadline to the 31st of October was greeted with joy in some corners – especially by those hoping that the longer the UK remains a member of the EU the closer we will come to revoking Article 50 – and dismay by those who believe the UK should be gone already.
However, I am not here to make the same arguments for remaining in the EU that many – and better qualified analysts – have made before. The National Health Action Party - the party I represent - has already made its views clear on this: we believe the UK’s interests are best served by remaining a member of the European Union. We believe now that the country really knows more about what Brexit entails, that it is only right that the people make the final decision of as to whether we leave or remain.
The Leave campaign’s fraudulent promise of an extra £350 million a week became a potent rallying point for support to leave: the NHS is one of the last institutions in our country that still puts people before profit, is founded on the principles of social solidarity and the mutual sharing of risks. And that is why in the remainder of this article my message - and the message of the National Health Action Party - is addressed to those who voted to Leave in the belief that doing so would benefit the NHS and our public services.
