*Rejoin EU Party press release*
*Rejoin EU Party challenges Labour’s inept Brexit strategy as party leader stands in Chester by-election*
The Rejoin EU Party today announces leader Richard Hewison will stand as a candidate in the City of Chester parliamentary by-election on December 1 to challenge Labour’s implausible “make Brexit work” policy.
While Chester is widely regarded as a Labour safe seat and is not expected to change hands, the Rejoin EU Party will use this by-election to make a stand against Labour leader Keir Starmer’s weak pro-Brexit Europe policy.
Though Brexit has clearly failed and needs to be reversed, Starmer has ruled out re-joining the single market, the customs union and the EU, has said Britain can “take advantage of Brexit opportunities” and insists Labour can make it work. Voters in Chester need to know a vote for Labour is a vote for Brexit and more economic and political chaos.
Hewison said: “The Rejoin EU Party wants to send a strong message to Labour in Chester. Every single person in the constituency who votes for us will help strengthen that message.
“Labour thinks it’s got the next election in the bag, but unless it starts speaking for the millions suffering from Brexit bureaucracy, it risks alienating a significant chunk of its voters. We hope concerned Chester voters who might usually support Labour will take this chance to show Labour where their priorities lie.”
Party chairman Andrew Smith said: “Labour supports almost all the government’s policies that have exacerbated the cost-of-living crises. It’s just too scared to stand up for the country and for a better future with Europe.”
Local Rejoin EU party supporter John Falch said: “Labour has consistently avoided the Europe question and dismissed the importance of strong bonds with Europe to please a minority of its voter base. While Chester’s voters face a cost-of-living crisis worsened by Brexit, Labour has stayed silent.”
“We are targeting neglected Tory, Labour and Lib Dem voters disgruntled at the parties’ tacit approval of, and collaboration with, the disastrous Vote Leave crony government. It’s time for change, time to show Conservatives and opposition parties what Chester really thinks. We demand a re-think on Europe, we need to re-join the EU.”
Local Chester resident & voter Peter Forster-Dean welcomed the Rejoin EU Party’s presence in the by-election.
“This election is a chance for Chester to change the direction of British politics,” he said. “With Rejoin EU standing, there’s a chance to let this great city show it demands more from the Labour Party. I hope they will spend the next month working with locals to make sure Labour is listening and puts a real Europe policy that benefits us on the agenda.”
*Attached pictures: *1) Richard Hewison at last month’s National Rejoin March in London; 2) Hewison and other prominent Remainers/Rejoiners at the front of the march; 3) Hewison submitting nomination papers in Chester.
*Notes for editors:*
*The Rejoin EU party is campaigning to re-join the EU because we believe the UK belongs at the heart of Europe and re-joining is the only way to solve the problems Brexit has created. Brexit is broken and it’s breaking our country too. All the promises on which Brexit was sold to the electorate in 2016 are now increasingly exposed as fantasy. Far from bringing the promised reduction in red tape and bureaucracy and providing £350m a week for the NHS, Brexit makes trading with the crucial European market more complex, difficult and expensive and threatens to reduce funding for public services. Sectors such as farming, fisheries & financial services, supposed to benefit from Brexit, now face an uncertain future. If you agree Brexit is making our country poorer, less tolerant and less united, join us and send a strong message to Westminster that you want your EU membership back, along with all its freedoms and benefits.**
*Contact Rejoin EU at **admin@therejoineuparty.com <admin@therejoineuparty.com>**, visit our website at **www.therejoineuparty.com <www.therejoineuparty.com/> **and donate at Rejoin EU Party Campaign Fund – a politics crowdfunding project in United Kingdom by Rejoin EU Party (crowdfunder.co.uk <crowdfunder.co.uk/>) **www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/rejoin-eu-party-campaign-fund <www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/rejoin-eu-party-campaign-fund>**. You can also follow the party on Twitter at @rejoinp*
