• THE thousands of voters in the local elections who, like me, are part of the three-quarters of people in Camden who voted to remain in the EU will face a tough choice in the polling booth on May 3.

Brexit has risen to the top of the agenda in Camden as it has become clear how many workers who keep our local services such as waste collection and social care running are EU citizens and whose ability to stay on in the UK after Brexit is in doubt.

If they lose their jobs it is voters who will suffer as services deteriorate. It has even led to the formation of a new party, The Movement, to fight seats in Frognal & Fitzjohns and Swiss Cottage on a pro-Remain platform.

The Lib Dems and Greens have both come out with strong pro-EU positions. But in many wards the choice of between the Conservatives and Labour.

The Tories’ national policy is to push for the harshest possible Brexit; outside the customs union and the single market and being prepared to crash out of the EU without any deal if the negotiations collapse. Labour wants to stay in the customs union but has otherwise followed the same direction of travel as the Tories.

Most worrying, Labour HQ has rejected the call for a people’s vote on the Brexit deal, despite an overwhelming 82 per cent of Labour members – and 81 per cent of Labour voters – backing a referendum on the terms of Britain’s departure from the EU.

There are notable exceptions such as the commitment by Sorin Floti, Richard Olszewski, and Lorna Jane Russell, the Labour candidates for Fortune Green, (We are staunch Remainers, April 19).

This is the first major election after the EU referendum where all of our community, both British and European (who could not vote in the general election) can have their say against Brexit.

Open Britain is a non-partisan organisation. However, on May 3 we would urged voters who are angry and concerned about Brexit to look at the manifestos and choose a candidate who will continue to stand up for the vast majority in the borough who want to stay European.

PHIL THORNTON,
Volunteer, Open Britain Hampstead