Cllr Dan Price
TWO motions, both calling for publication of assessments of the likely impact of Brexit on Warrington, are to be put to the borough council on Monday.
Liberal Democrat leader Bob Barr will ask the council to reveal any risk assessment that has been carried out by the authority – or produce one if one has not already been done.
Labour’s Cllr Dan Price, in a second motion, will call on the council to ask the government to share its own assessment of the impact of Brexit on Warrington, the Cheshire sub-region and the North West.
Cllr Barr says Warrington was identified during the EU referendum, and has been since, as one of the town’s most vulnerable to any Brexit short of one that provides the self -same trading conditions as membership of the EU did.
He said: “Warrington is the centre of the UK’s nuclear industry but there is no clarity as to what will replace membership of Euratom.
“Warrington businesses, and the science and engineering sector, based both in the town and employing Warrington residents, have been substantial beneficiaries of European funding.
“Given the cost of Brexit there is no guarantee, or even
probability, that similar funds will be available in the future.”
Cllr Barr said Unilever, a major Warrington employer and business tax payer was moving its HQ to the Netherlands.
He will make a plea for any assessment the council carries out to be updated fortnightly and a summary of the results published.
Cllr Price said as the Government was making no significant progress in Brexit negotiations and with the prospect of the UK crashing out of the EU in six months time, there was still no clarity on the terms of the deal or the implications of any form of Brexit.
He said: “Public opinion appears to be shifting towards a ‘People’s Vote’ which – unlike the referendum – must be based on clear facts and the reality of leaving the EU.
“The Government has completed detailed economic impact assessments for Brexit and yet refuses to share these with local councils, regional leaders and Metro Mayors.”
