Today on our #PeoplesVote street stall I got complaints about rubbish on the streets, austerity, homelessness, high pay for executives, and money wasted on HS2. Every time I gently suggested that these things were not due to the EU, and that Brexit wouldn't make them any better.
It was pretty clear that all the anger and frustration over 40 years of neglect in our smaller northern towns, the lack of decent jobs, the general feeling of hopelessness, had all been weaponised by the leave campaign. The EU has been used as a scapegoat.
I sympathised with those who thought we did ok before the EU (although our living standards were nowhere near today's) but then asked them if they thought leaving the EU would take everything back to how it used to be, and people realise it will not.
We need to reassure people that once we have stopped Brexit, all the issues they have with jobs, housing, transport, education and health will be addressed. The problem is that a #Remain campaign is not a political party and can't promise the things a political party can do.
All we can say is that if we can #StopBrexit, we will create some sort of level playing field where a benevolent government can have a decent attempt at solving the real problems.
It's scary how many people say "Well things can hardly get worse, can they?" Because they can.
It's scary how many people say "Well things can hardly get worse, can they?" Because they can.
