Bromley Council voted in favour of the UK leaving the EU last night (February 22) in a motion moved by UKIP councillor David Livett.

The motion was passed by 23 votes to seven at a meeting of the full council.

There were 27 abstentions in the vote.

It stated: "This council agrees the negative impacts that the European Union has upon the efficiency and costs of Bromley Council activities mean Bromley Council would be better off if Britain was out of the European Union."

Council Leader Stephen Carr, who abstained from voting on the motion, told News Shopper he does not see it as his role to influence anyone on how to vote in the referendum.

He said: "I'm not convinced yet whether we should stay or leave.

"European directives influence local councils, such as air quality directives which affect councils' spending.

"Elected members are there to reflect their constituents and I'm inclined to think the way the vote turned out probably reflects the views of local people.

"But the issue of the EU isn't one for Bromley Council, it's for the electorate of Great Britain."

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Councillor Simon Fawthrop, who represents Petts Wood and Knoll, told News Shopper: “This is the first Conservative council to pass such a motion.

“It is a message to the people in this borough and the country as a whole that we should not take it for granted that the establishment is in favour of staying in the EU.

“It is also a message to other councils across the country – not just conservative councils.

“This isn’t a party-political issue.”

Havering Council became the first publicly elected body in Britain to vote in favour of leaving the EU in January.

Cllr Fawthrop insists this is not a message for Bromley MPs to campaign to leave.

“I would be pleased if they did but everyone is an individual and we respect that people have different views.

“Perhaps Jo Johnson will follow suit after the Mayor of London’s announcement to campaign to leave.”

 


MP for Orpington Jo Johnson, the brother of Mayor of London Boris Johnson, has yet to announce whether he will campaign to leave the EU.

In his role as universities and science minister, Mr Johnson has spoken publicly about how EU membership benefits UK research.

He tweeted on February 21: "UK unis and our superb science science base key to our future as a knowledge economy - much stronger inside EU".