Statement on the EU Referendum result from Cllr Iain Roberts, Leader of the Liberal Democrats on Stockport Council
The people have spoken and the UK will now start the process of leaving the European Union. There must be no talk of delay, nor of a u-turn: the decision has been made.
I am immensely proud of the role the Liberal Democrats have played in the referendum campaign. As is so often the case, the media ignored us but where we made our voices heard on the ground, in our communities, we made a difference. Against the national trend, the people of Stockport voted to remain in the EU.
Whether a Remain campaign with more of Lib Dem leader Tim Farron and less of David Cameron would have had a different outcome we can only speculate, but I am absolutely certain it would have been a more inspiring campaign that would have better connected with the people of Britain.
So what next? The Prime Minister has failed and is resigning. The money markets are terrified. The Leave campaign has made promises to the British people they will struggle to keep. And the Liberal Democrats have never been needed more.
Never have we needed more a party that looks outward, not inward. A party that sees the best in people, not the worst. A party that believes our future lies in playing a full and active part in the world, not in retreating behind the barricades of a mythical Little England that never was.
The Liberal Democrats have an important job to do over the coming years and the fate of our country and its people relies on our success. The Referendum was not of our choice but when it came we did not shirk and we did not shrink. We fought with every fibre of our being for our positive vision for Britain and we will continue to do so.
I invite everyone who shares our vision to join us today and to get active in the fight for our country – Britain needs the Liberal Democrats like never before and the Liberal Democrats need you.
Cllr Iain Roberts
Leader of the Liberal Democrats on Stockport Council