Councillors’ Open Letter to MP John Howell

FOLLOWING the Prime Minister’s announcement to suspend parliament, a group of councillors from South Oxfordshire District Council, all of them from either the Green Party or the Liberal Democrats, have sent an open letter to MP John Howell.

The letter reads:

“Dear Mr Howell,

“This week, the Prime Minister Boris Johnson confirmed that he will be suspending Parliament. The motive for this seems obvious; to run down the clock and make a No Deal Brexit inevitable. The length of the prorogation supports this.

“We understand that you didn’t back Boris Johnson as leader and that you, like many of your constituents voted to remain in the 2016 referendum.
We also understand that you do not support severing all ties with our closest neighbours. This is clear from you having supported Remain, voted for Theresa May’s deal in parliament on each occasion it was brought to the House of Commons and voted against No Deal in March.

“A No Deal Brexit would be incredibly damaging for businesses across the country. There are many businesses in your constituency that are part of Europe-wide supply chains.

“There is also a huge amount of uncertainty and a sense of “limbo” for the thousands of EU citizens living and working in this constituency.
Time is now running out and we are asking you to join with other Oxfordshire MPs like Ed Vaizey, Anneliese Dodds and Layla Moran in opposing a No Deal Brexit and doing whatever it takes to stop it from happening.”

The councillors who have signed the letter are;
Councillor Pieter-Paul Barker (Liberal Democrats) – Thame
Councillor Robin Bennett (Green)
Councillor Sam Casey-Rerhaye (Green)
Councillor Peter Dragonetti (Green)
Councillor Maggie Filipova-Rivers (Liberal Democrats)
Councillor Sarah Gray (Liberal Democrats)
Councillor Kate Gregory (Liberal Democrats) – Thame
Councillor Victoria Haval (Liberal Democrats)
Councillor Alexandrine Kantor (Liberal Democrats)
Councillor George Levy (Liberal Democrats)
Councillor Andrea Powell (Green)
Councillor Leigh Rawlings (Liberal Democrats)
Councillor Jo Robb (Green)
Councillor Sue Roberts (Green)
Councillor Anne-Marie Simpson (Liberal Democrats)
Councillor David Turner (Liberal Democrats)