Our European partners have reacted quickly to our impending departure from the European Union with a determined…'Goodbye.’

We have sacrificed partnerships for a solo future, is this SMART ( specific , measurable ,achievable, relevant and time bound) I think not. There is no plan!

Consider the risks to us in Cumbria that were not identified in great numbers by various high standing organisations during the referendum debate.

As a tourist destination competing with high quality European destinations will we still see European tourists flood our shores to access Stratford, York or the Lake District? I think it’s a lot less likely but we will become a cheap destination, not positioned in the high quality high value market we aspired to dominate.

Scotland have always been clear they will remain in the EU. Is it for us to become the buyers of barbed wire to deploy on our borders to keep the wide world at bay? It may not be so draconian but regrettably it’s another border to manage along with the Northern Ireland border. Withdrawing our borders so important to the leave campaign looks like becoming reality as France prepare to move the UK border control off French soil - lookout Dover and Folkstone.

There has been a certain smugness around the nuclear prospects for Cumbria, but these do not feel so secure now. The nuclear power station development at Moorside is totally dependent on French investment. NuGen have been very tardy with their commitment to the build, requiring the French government to underwrite the project before they sign up to it. Can we, a country that has had its credit rating reduced to negative, that is expected to move into recession with poor prospects for recovery, seriously expect that to happen? The lights really will go out without this development.

Our Naval requirements must also be adjusted; our world position will shrink in importance and we are more likely to need gun boats rather than a Trident successor. Will we really continue hold a NATO position when we have so clearly demonstrated that we are a poor and unreliable partner. Patrolling our fishing waters until fish stocks are completely exhausted will be our role.

So here we all are, a decision to leave Europe, without identifying where our new markets are and without any known strategy to protect our role in the world; only the pathetic belief that Europe cannot manage without us.

Graham Vincent

Economy Portfolio Holder

South Lakeland District Council