Brexit and moving London forward

Mayor Khan could keep a very close eye on the property investment situation. While Brexit may cause house prices to drop, it could also cause Housing Associations to put their rents up very high indeed when their property portfolio value drops. Already key workers have been driven out of Peabody ex-Crown homes by rent rises because the Mayoral Key Workers housing subsidy ended. London needs a new key workers housing subsidy scheme, plus a definite powerful programme of building homes for social rent, plus homes for ordinary London workers to buy. This should be the priority for public land. Yet look at what Westminster City Council did with the land it owned at Clevedon Street - the developers got out of providing any social rent or affordable homes AND wriggled out of providing funds for social rent homes to be built elsewhere. This was done in secret, but after legal challenge it was ruled to be in the public interest for the information to be released. This must NOT happen again.

We need to unite to capitalise on the tremendous, new opportunities whereby London & the UK can negotiate its own trade deals. It is essential that we capitalise on the Commonwealth links to develop a new, Commonwealth free trade zone able to rival the EU.

Acting with speed (not haste) this opportunity can strengthen our position when negotiating with the self centred EU dictacrats that have little regard for national interests (or indeed London's). Remember, even now, within the EU, we do not have full and free trade in certain financial products. Yet, despite this, London thrives,

Yes, at the time of the vote I was slightly in favour of a Brexit; however the actions and feedback from the EU since has clarified my view - we can, will and must be outside this misguided organisation.

The UK has made a nationwide democratic choice, or are some suggesting that next time my electoral ward votes contrary to the rest of the Borough we should apply for independence!

I have worked for global corporates who operate internal employee recruitment, rotation schemes, placements or other programmes for employees to move around within the company and live in another country, either permanently or temporarily. This is very attractive and supports employees in their career development, personal and family life, but also works for businesses as they benefit from diverse viewpoints and experiences. I have many friends from other EU countries who live and work in London, plus British friends who live and work in other EU countries - which has also been one of my own career ambitions.
My friends are now very concerned about what Brexit may mean for them personally and whether they will be able to stay in the country where they currently live, work and have started a family. Brexit has in effect pulled the rug from under their feet and they feel incredibly destabilised. One friend has already started to look for work outside of the UK and others are applying for passports from other EU countries. I am concerned that there will be a new 'brain drain' and that talented people will leave the UK, leaving holes in businesses, schools and the NHS. Neighbourhood communities would loose friends, skills, culture and diversity.
Since the start of the recession in 2008, I have twice been made redundant as a direct result of the recession and have only been able to acquire a series of short term contract roles. I am currently unemployed looking for my next role, which ideally would be long term permanent. I am highly skilled, experienced and educated, yet my career has not recovered from 2008. I am concerned that there will be a new wave of recession cut backs and that competition for even fewer jobs will be even fiercer. I am anxious that I will never be in full-time permanent employment again and that I may have to move into shared rental accommodation. I am 44 years old and petrified about my future.
The key issues for me are:
free movement of people
recruitment legislation
job prospects
growing economy/recession

I think faith, charity and community groups have the potential to contribute to building a strong hopeful future for London and the UK, starting in the local community. I think all MPs need to urgently hold open forums to engage local people in the issues that matter to them and to explore the reasons why people voted the way they did. Maybe there are lessons that can be learned in London that can be taken to other parts of the country. I think London needs to urgently celebrate being European - our geographical closeness to the continent has not changed. I also think that London, meaning those in positions of authority in the local government, central government, the media, business and residents, need to realise that they live in a bubble - their experience and views are not the experience and views of the rest of the nation, as such, they should not be portrayed in any news media channel as the de facto experience and views of state of the nation - they aren't. Neither should other towns and cities be forced to duplicate London, each town has its own personality. London is not like a perfect McDonalds to be duplicated and planted everywhere with no customisation. However, there are lessons that could be shared with other towns as starting points for discussion.

While a believer in remaining, we are where we are. Brexit has the potential to be a disaster for both the UK and the remainder of the EU. It is to be hoped that a toned down version will come out of the discussions. I feel that the vote actually showed how detached the rest of the country is from London. It is essential that London now has independance from the rest of the UK. If 5.5 Million Scots can have a vote for independence then so can the 8-9 million Londoners. This will allow London to become a major City state, with attractive tax rates. Naturally London will need people from the surrounding areas to work in its businesses and to supply it with food and goods. This income will support the surrounding areas as now but it will be clearer where that money comes from. London will then be in a position to affiliate with the EU as a city state.

It is essential that a detailed plan for London Independance be drawn up with haste as there are many considerations and things to plan for.

First we have to have a good Prime Minister, nothing should be rushed, think about what we are doing, what we want and get the best deal fo UK. And remember brexit means brexit, I don't mind free movement for work but do not come here if you do not have a job and a place to live.

In 1963 I wrote a thesis explaining that Britain should developed a trading block with the Commonwealth and then trade with the EU. Since Brexit have won the referendum, then the Brexiters should be made to pay the billions of losses to the pound, industry and commerce. All the leading Brexiters are on the run. They have done the damage and they are devoid of the backbone to take responsibility for their mess.

Clearly, the Brexit vote from London suggests a desire to remain in the EU, and there is an impression from the response of the electorate to the overall decision to leave that many people who voted leave now regret their decision.

With the Leave campaign pushing falsehoods throughout the process, stepping back from promises almost immediately after the vote and having no plan following the outcome, it seems clear that while the vote went towards Leave, there is no democratic mandate for any specific actions towards the final outcome.

Many people have suggested a need for a General Election to be held to give Parliament a mandate to execute the Leave (or not), a second referendum once the specific details on the leave negotiations become clear, or, more drastically, some way for London to secede from the wider UK.

While I'm not entirely keen on the idea of London leaving the UK, but I suspect we would see better governance with London as a separate entity, and if the government refuses to recognise the desire within the electorate for a re-assessment of the validity of the vote to leave, once people are more informed about the specific outcomes of Brexit, I would absolutely prefer to see London exit the UK than for the UK to exit the EU.

London has shown itself to be quite different from most of the rest of the UK not least in its internationalism, liberalism, level of education and economic success.
Germany used to host free & imperial cities that ran their own affairs quite separate from the surrounding territories but were under the nominal supervision of the far distant Emperor and some prospered mightily (Basel, Strasburg, Koln).
Could this not be a model for a modern free city-state, a member of the EU in its own right but on good terms with the surrounding rump-UK?