WITH not long to go before the UK is scheduled to withdraw from the EU, people from all over the North Cornwall constituency met at St Kitts Herbery, near Camelford, on the evening of Friday, November 2, for an event organised by Liberal Democrat volunteer Anna Casey Williams to discuss how Cornwall will fare, writes Christine Williams.

The discussion was led by three speakers: Mel Colton Dyer, chief operating officer, Cornwall Chamber of Commerce; Lib Dem peer Lord Robin Teverson, formerly a member of the European Parliament; and Baroness Judith Jolly, Lib Dem spokesperson for health.

Mel began with the results of a recent survey on the impact of Brexit on Cornwall businesses. It revealed that 83% of businesses believe Brexit will have a negative impact on Cornwall overall, with 42% of businesses delaying or decreasing future investments.

Having benefitted greatly from EU funding there was now the prospect of it being reduced for the South West.

On the positive side Cornwall with its food and drink manufacture and overseas exports had the strongest brand identity in the South West after Bristol. 2018 had been a bumper year for tourism.

Mel ended with the advice: “Showcase Cornwall by using social media and the press, protect the environment and be kind to tourists!”

Lord Teverson first set Brexit within the Parliamentary context. He regretted that both David Davis and Dominic Raab had been reluctant to keep Parliament informed of progress in the negotiations. He was sure Michel Barnier wanted to get to the finishing post. There were two stages to get a withdrawal agreement.

The Irish issue was critical but the Government was hampered by its reliance on the DUP. Then there was the question of whether Parliament would pass any agreement. He thought it would be impossible for all the necessary legislation to pass before March 29 after which there would be the transition period ending with another cliff edge.

Turning to Cornwall he said that, freed from the ‘Common Fisheries Policy’, Cornish fishermen might benefit from increased quotas but they were reliant on being able to export 80% of their catch to Europe. Similarly the ‘Common Agricultural Policy’ could be improved and he felt that Michel Gove was saying the right things.

However, there would be a ‘mega change’ in farmers’ incomes and there had been no mention of food in the Agriculture Bill. In the event of a ‘bad’ Brexit, Welsh lamb production could suffer greatly. Finally, because of recruiting difficulties, a high proportion of workers in agriculture, care homes and the tourist industry were from the EU.

It was heard the Home Office had created a hostile environment towards them and many, feeling unwelcome, were returning home.

Baroness Jolly pointed out that as yet there was no reciprocal health care agreement between the UK and the EU so use of the ‘European Health Insurance Card’ by British visitors to the continent was not guaranteed.

Nor was there any guarantee that pharmaceuticals, including over-the-counter drugs, might get through and the framework for medical research would be damaged. Hospitals in Cornwall had for a long time relied on some 400 nurses from the EU, but many had returned home.

Many junior doctors and nurses felt anxious about their profession and children’s services were badly understaffed. The Home Office wanted the brightest and best workers from the EU but many would not come near to the definition of a skilled worker and would be denied entry.

During a question and answer session there was concern at the possible ending of the UK-EU arrest warrant which would be ‘good news for villains’. Because no one knew where Brexit was taking us businesses were already stockpiling goods, leading to cash flow problems and higher prices.

Ironically voters in areas which had voted to leave in the referendum would suffer the most. Asked what the chances were of a people’s vote, Lord Teverson said at present anything could happen from no deal to another referendum.

It appeared that because of divisions within parties there was political stalemate in the Commons. On an optimistic note, Anna said the political class would take more notice if young people were more engaged and she had detected a groundswell of enthusiasm among the young.