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Protesters speak out against no-deal Brexit outside Stafford council meeting

More than 20 protesters gathered ahead of a Stafford Council meeting to voice their concerns over the five-week suspension of Parliament and a possible no-deal Brexit.

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Protesters outside County Buildings ahead of the Stafford Borough Council meeting

A motion against the Government’s actions was also set to be put forward at Monday’s full council meeting.

But the deadline for submission was not met. This did not deter members of Stafford People’s Assembly Against Austerity from demonstrating outside County Buildings, where the meeting was held, however.

Borough Councillor Tony Pearce, who joined the demonstration, said: “We believe there was an austerity link to a lot of people supporting the Brexit vote. Also the poorest people are going to be affected most if we crash out of the EU.

“We think it is very important that we don’t have a no-deal Brexit and we are also very concerned about the way Parliament is being undermined by those who want to have the final say on our matters – it’s ironic.”

Ignored

Millie Gould, a Member of Youth Parliament representing Staffordshire, said: “Opportunities generations before us have had will be taken away from us. It’s my future and it’s the future of a lot of my friends and people around me – we can’t walk around with our eyes closed.

“We’ve been so focused on Brexit a lot of other causes have been ignored.

“Young people’s voices should be heard. Often we are seen as apathetic and not knowing anything about politics but it’s nice to show people it’s not true.”

Full meetings of Stafford Borough Council are usually held on Tuesdays. The moving of this month’s meeting a day earlier was questioned by Councillor Aidan Godfrey on Monday.

He said: “In all the years I have been on Stafford Borough Council there were extremely few occasions when the main council meeting has been moved. Full council is always on a Tuesday, except for two or three occasions when it is scheduled to be on a Thursday or Monday.

“Being uncharitable, I would like to ask the leader of the council was this decision to move this meeting because of the number of councillors who would be sat on the administration bench? If that’s the case it’s absolutely outrageous, it’s also gerrymandering if that’s the case.

“It’s in line nationally with what’s happening with the Conservative Party in Parliament.”

Council leader Patrick Farrington said: “I thank the leader of the opposition for his question.

“To ensure as far as possible the business of this council is dealt with smoothly and efficiently it was considered appropriate to move the meeting, given the absence of a number of senior councillors.”

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