THE STATE of Britain’s future has divided opinion between the respected Conservative MPs of Malvern and Ledbury following Thursday’s historic EU Referendum result.
The UK is set to leave the European Union after a national majority of 52 per cent – more than 17 million voters – voted to Leave the current 28-nation union which Britain has been in for 40 years.
It was a result which forced Prime Minister David Cameron – who led the campaign to Remain in the EU – to announce his resignation only thirteen months after the Conservative Party won the General Election to govern the UK.
Following weeks of campaigning, local turnout for the referendum was high in both the Malvern Hills and Herefordshire constituencies which both saw the Leave campaign on the winning side.
In Malvern it was incredibly close with just 2,000 votes separating the two choices. It ended with 25,294 voting to Leave and 23,203 voting to Remain. This was from a huge turnout of 80.6 per cent.
But in Herefordshire there was a clearer majority favouring the Leave campaign which received 64,122 votes out of 108,336 votes. The turnout for Herefordshire was 78.36 per cent.
And after the result both Malvern’s MP Harriett Baldwin and Ledbury’s MP Bill Wiggin, who campaigned for Remain and Leave respectively, were left completely split when giving their forecasts for the country’s future.
Mrs Baldwin said there would be political uncertainty ahead and a ‘shock’ to the economy while Mr Wiggin labelled the result a ‘momentous day’ in British politics.
Commenting just hours after the result, a disappointed Mrs Baldwin said: “Overall, the UK has chosen to leave the European Union and we must now all respect that decision.
“I will continue to work to achieve the very best outcome for people in West Worcestershire during the uncertain process of unravelling our 40 year economic union.”
And in a separate statement, the West Worcestershire MP added: “It is not the result which I thought best for the United Kingdom and I campaigned hard for months in both my capacity as local MP and as Economic Secretary to the Treasury to secure a ‘Remain’ vote.
“It is now up to us in Government to implement the will of the British people and, for my part, I will use my position and any influence I have to try to implement that decision in the way that minimises the shock to our economy and our place in the world.”
But North Herefordshire MP Mr Wiggin was over the moon with the result and said the country has entered ‘exciting’ times ahead.
“I am delighted that the people of the UK, in exercising their democratic right to vote, have voted to leave the European Union,” he said.
“We have decided to take back control of the UK. This is a momentous day and a very exciting time for British politics.
“I firmly believe that this decision will lead to a more prosperous future for the people of Britain, as we reaffirm our position as a great European power heading into a bright future.”
Turmoil has erupted in both the Conservative and Labour parties since the historic result which has made front page headlines across the world.
The Prime Minister said following the vote, the country needed ‘fresh leadership’ and a new leader is expected to be announced by October. Early favourites to become the next PM include Boris Johnson and Theresa May.
But it has also been chaos for the Labour Party with several members of the shadow cabinet announcing their resignation stating they have no confidence with leader Jeremy Corbyn moving forward after he campaigned to remain in the EU.
Daniel Walton, West Worcestershire chairman for the Labour Party, told the Observer it was vital for his party to unite following Leave’s victory.
“It has been a crazy few days but democracy has spoken,” he said.
“I’m gutted Remain has not won because I think it is detrimental for the country but we have to get on with it. It’s about how we react and all politicians need to get together to sort it.
“All politicians need to remember it is important to lead by example.”
