Now is the time for honesty

By Sajjad Karim

01 Jul 2019

Last week I left the European Parliament for the last time as an MEP for the North West. It has been an amazing 15 years.

The race to become Prime Minister dominates the British political scene, but not a word of the powerful top EU jobs being fought over and dominating political discourse throughout Europe. Such is the disconnect.

What exactly will happen next is unknown, but one thing is certain - the next few months leading up to the end of October are sure to be turbulent ones when it comes to Brexit.

Both Prime Ministerial candidates are committed to leaving the European Union with a deal, but have also promised a no-deal exit, if no agreement can be reached between the UK and the EU.

How they will do any of this is still not clear, particularly given that our European partners have indicated on more than one occasion that the only deal available is the one currently on offer and that the parliamentary arithmetic, as things stand, will not allow for a no-deal Brexit.

Whoever ends up winning the contest needs to be honest with the country and tell the people that the things they are promising - the so-called unicorn chasing - may not actually be possible.

Apart from the continued uncertainty destabilising our economy and decreasing business confidence, a no-deal Brexit would seriously damage our nation for years to come.

Earlier this year the OECD warned that a no-deal Brexit would plunge the UK economy into recession and that even if a deal is reached, annual growth could edge below one per cent for the first time since the financial crisis.

These predictions simply cannot be ignored and it is high time that we restored some honesty into our politics. As politicians, we all have a responsibility to tell the truth and not to overlook the facts that are sometimes staring us right in the face.

Former leadership contender, Rory Stewart, captured this mood, with his emphasis on principles based politics, which is so lacking nowadays. Although he did not make the cut this time round, hopefully his approach can set an example of how politics should be practiced, in an honest and principled way.

For now though, we will continue to see the Brexit saga play out and I suspect that during this period of polarisation, honest and principles based politics will not be at the forefront of our discourse.

For my part, my knowledge of how the EU actually works remains at the service of the UK, a much needed commodity these days.

Enjoyed this? Read more from Sajjad Karim

Latest news

1

University of Lancashire climbs 14 places in student positivity survey Happy students at ULAN

University of Lancashire climbs 14 places in student positivity survey

10 Jul 2025

2

Forbes Solicitors achieves strong growth and promotes 15 Forbes Solicitors promotions

Forbes Solicitors achieves strong growth and promotes 15

10 Jul 2025

3

Communications company raises investment will fuel global expansion Laurence Tan (Investment Associate, Praetura Ventures); Charlie Morris (Director, Corporate Finance (Mergers & Acquisitions); Ian Rose (Chairman, Audiebant); Josh Dean (CEO, Audiebant); Peter Carway (Investment Director, Praetura Ventures)

Communications company raises investment will fuel global expansion

10 Jul 2025

4

Lancaster Spirits Company announces partnership with leading whisky maker Joan Casals, Max McFarlane and Chris Pateman

Lancaster Spirits Company announces partnership with leading whisky maker

09 Jul 2025

5

Viridium appointed to support Indurent with major warehouse decarbonisation project Rebecca Latham, Gemma Cornwall and Ross Cornwall

Viridium appointed to support Indurent with major warehouse decarbonisation project

09 Jul 2025

Background image for hub sign up block

LBV Hub

Leverage Lancashire Business View platforms

Post your news
Post your events
Post your offers
Build your network
Improve your SEO
Gain coverage in the magazine
Sign-up
Events
LBV123 July/August Launch Event
Lancashire Business View magazine launch
Networking
16 Jul 2025

LBV123 July/August Launch Event

Burnley College University Courses Building, Burnley, BB12 0AN

08:30 - 10:30

Lancashire Built Environment Conference 2025
BEC 315 X 315 Px
Networking
25 Sep 2025

Lancashire Built Environment Conference 2025

Blackpool Football Club, Blackpool, FY1 6HX

08:30 - 13:00

CMI Level 5 Management and Leadership Course
UCLanAerialCampus.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
21 Feb 2025 - 21 Feb 2026

CMI Level 5 Management and Leadership Course

Preston Campus, Preston , PR1 2HE

09:00 - 17:00

CMI Level 5 Project Management Course
UCLanAerialCampus.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
21 Feb 2025 - 21 Feb 2026

CMI Level 5 Project Management Course

Preston Campus, Preston, PR1 2HE

08:00 - 17:00

Shaping Preston's future by remembering its past
1750160034867.png.png
LBV Hub Networking
16 Jul 2025 - 16 Jul 2025

Shaping Preston's future by remembering its past

Society1, Coworking Space, Preston, PR1 3LT

18:00 - 20:30

Chamber Summer BBQ
LBV Hub Social
17 Jul 2025 - 17 Jul 2025

Chamber Summer BBQ

The Borough, Dalton Square, Lancaster, LA1 1PP

17:30 - 20:00

Preston Tech Connection: Web3 is Dead. Or is It?
July Longer Banner.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Networking
29 Jul 2025 - 29 Jul 2025

Preston Tech Connection: Web3 is Dead. Or is It?

Society1, Coworking Space, Preston, PR1 3LT

18:00 - 19:30

Preston Freelancer Meet-Up: July
Longer July Banner.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Networking
31 Jul 2025 - 31 Jul 2025

Preston Freelancer Meet-Up: July

Society1, Coworking Space, Preston, PR1 3LT

10:00 - 11:30

Cumbria Business Expo 2025
https---cdn.evbuc.com-images-880461633-4862066883-1-original.20241022-110415.jpeg.jpg
LBV Hub Exhibitions
19 Sep 2025 - 19 Sep 2025

Cumbria Business Expo 2025

Carlisle Racecourse, Carlisle, CA2 4TS

09:00 - 15:00

North West Business Expo 2025
https---cdn.evbuc.com-images-880456273-4862066883-1-original.20241022-105445.jpeg.jpg
LBV Hub Exhibitions
24 Oct 2025 - 24 Oct 2025

North West Business Expo 2025

Bolton Stadium Hotel, Bolton, BL6 6SF

09:00 - 15:00

Lancashire Business Day 2025
241122lbvlancashiredaylhp0647web
Networking
27 Nov 2025

Lancashire Business Day 2025

Burnley FC , Burnley, BB10 4BX

12:00 - 17:00

Advertise with us

Reaching 50,000 members, our print, digital and event platforms offer a fantastic way to raise your business profile and help you grow.

Find out more LBV122 Online Graphic
Subscribe now

Weekly news bulletin