Voluntary organisations pen letter to Prime Minister against no-deal Brexit

Following recent announcements on the prorogation of Parliament,
over 85 organisations from across the UK have called on the Prime
Minister to urgently engage with their ‘grave concerns’ about the
impact that leaving the European Union without a deal will have on
the voluntary sector,
in an open letter (29 August 2019). 

Signatories urge for better engagement and support from UK
Government as their concerns about the impacts of no-deal continue
to be ignored amid turbulent political movements in
Westminster.

They warn of the dangers that rushing through legislation, in
the now drastically reduced parliamentary calendar, will have on
the ability of MPs and civil society to fully engage and
scrutinise.

‘No deal will increase hardship on our society’s most
vulnerable citizens’

The signatories of the letter- which includes organisations
working nationally and those delivering front-line services- are
unified in their concerns.

This includes the uncertainty they are facing while no agreement
has been finalised, the threat to communities in Northern Ireland
and the Good Friday Agreement presented by no-deal, a regression of
rights and standards, and legal uncertainty.

[Watch the organisations reading out their open letter
to the Prime Minister]

Ruth Marks, Chief Executive of Wales Council for Voluntary
Action said:

‘The evidence suggests that a no-deal Brexit would negatively
impact the UK’s economy and increase hardship on our society’s most
vulnerable citizens.

‘The voluntary sector plays an integral role in working with,
supporting and empowering at risk people and families and a no-deal
Brexit should not be allowed to undermine this work.

‘Leaving the EU without an agreement will likely compound the
sector’s already hard-pressed funding and staffing while increasing
the need for its services, creating a perfect storm.

‘It also raises a myriad of concerns for the sector from the
wellbeing of farmers in rural Wales and regression of rights and
standards to the legal uncertainty for UK and EU citizens living
abroad.’

Related links: Is your organisation prepared for Brexit?
Links to information on how to get ready are available our Getting
Brexit Ready guide.

Speaking about the equality and human rights dimension of a
no-deal Brexit, Ele Hicks, Policy Manager of Diverse Cymru
said:

‘Diverse Cymru are concerned that, in a no-deal scenario, there
will not be enough time to replace the vital EU agencies that
monitor Equality and Human Rights and ensure compliance.

‘Diverse Cymru feel that a no-deal Brexit will have a
substantial negative impact on diverse communities in Wales.

‘The impact of a no-deal Brexit on access to food and medicines
is likely to be felt more keenly by diverse communities in
Wales.

‘Given the rise in discrimination faced in the wake of the
Brexit vote we are concerned a no-deal Brexit will heighten social
tensions, whilst putting vital safeguards at risk’

‘A clear threat to the peace process’

Civil society groups in Northern Ireland continue to express
alarm at the impact leaving without a deal would have on the Good
Friday Agreement.

Kevin Hanratty, director of the Human Rights Consortium in
Belfast, Northern Ireland said:

‘A No-Deal Brexit represents a clear threat to the peace process
in Northern Ireland.

‘No-deal means a hard border not just for trade and commerce but
for the vital levels of North/South cooperation and regulatory
alignment on both sides of the border that were intrinsic to the
Belfast/Good Friday Agreement.

‘For people on the ground, that means deep uncertainty and
anxiety.

‘Brexit already meant that we would be regressing in the levels
of rights and protections currently available to individuals in
Northern Ireland as members of the EU.

‘A no-deal Brexit goes even further and removes even the limited
measures planned to offset those disruptions and loss of
rights.

‘It’s the equivalent of slapping people in the face and then
forcing them to turn the other cheek