Lib Dem candidate challenges opponent to reject no-deal

The Liberal Democrat candidate for North East Bedfordshire, Daniel Norton, has today challenged the local Conservative candidate to rule out a no-deal Brexit in December 2020 and respect the sacrifice that his predecessor, Alistair Burt, made to avoid this outcome.

The challenge, just a few days before polling day, follows Boris Johnson refusing to rule out a no-deal exit from the EU.

Under the Conservative Party's plan, the UK will have until December 2020 to deliver the second phase of negotiating a Free Trade Agreement with the EU. However, the plans also say Boris Johnson will not seek any extension despite overwhelming evidence showing that time-frame is near impossible.

This means that the Conservatives are signing up to crash the UK out of the EU without a deal, the Liberal Democrats claim. This is especially relevant in North East Bedfordshire as Mr Fuller's predecessor as Conservative party candidate, Alistair Burt, was expelled from the Party for his attempts to prevent a no-deal Brexit.

This is why Daniel Norton has today written to Richard Fuller, the Conservative candidate for North East Bedfordshire, to ask them to rule out a no-deal Brexit in December 2020 which would cause severe economic damage and put jobs at risk in Bedfordshire.

Commenting on the announcement, Daniel Norton said:

"It is clear that the Conservatives are now effectively the party of Nigel Farage and Donald Trump. They are content to see the UK crash out of the EU without a deal.

"Boris Johnson's Brexit plan is already a disaster for people in North East Bedfordshire, but he has now made things even worse by putting the UK on a collision course with a no-deal Brexit in December 2020. That means more harm to our NHS, more uncertainty for businesses, more jobs lost.

"People have a right to know whether Richard Fuller supports the reckless and dangerous plan Boris Johnson is proposing before they vote. His predecessor, Alistair Burt, was kicked out of his party for opposing a no-deal Brexit and we need to know now whether Richard Fuller will show the same courage."

"That is why I have written to him to urge him to rule out supporting any legislation that risks a no-deal cliff edge in December 2020."

"The Liberal Democrats will continue to fight to stop Brexit. We are the strongest party for Remainers and we know that there is no deal as good as the one we have in the EU."