Sick of the EU discussions yet? This could just be the beginning.
What are your top five priorities for the coming years you want our elected politicians to tackle? Is it the crisis in genuinely affordable housing? It could be improving living standards or increasing jobs and business growth. We've got an ageing population and a need for decent social care for those who need it – how should we address that? For many parents, ensuring a decent education and preparing our kids for the world is a big priority. Write your list of priorities. Be prepared to tear it up in 10 days.
If the UK votes to leave the European Union on 23rd June then that monumental decision will occupy all of our politicians for at least the next five years and probably a lot longer. Some people are already sick of all the arguments and discussion over the European Union when there are other pressing issues to address. If we leave the EU this month then be prepared for Europe to dominate the agenda for the House of Commons and House of Lords for many years to come.
We would have a huge amount of decisions to be taken about every law we have agreed in the past at a European Union level but will each have to be revisited for the UK. From our perspective at the TUC this puts employment rights at risk from a government that has form in undermining them. However this is merely one example among hundreds of other issues that will dominate considerable parliamentary time in the years ahead.
We certainly shouldn't expect other political parties to nod everything through as they come up for debate. Even then, what is passed by a small Conservative majority between 2016 and 2020 is likely to feature in others' subsequent election manifestos too and contested in the following parliament. We could easily have nine more years of this!
All of this legislative congestion would take place at a time of increased economic challenge. There's a high chance of a sudden recession, disinvestment and falling living standards as a result of leaving the European Union. The debate is how prolonged this will be and the other consequences. The TUC anticipates average wages to be £38 a week lower per person by 2030 than if we remain in the EU. These problems won't be easily addressed by governments with one arm tied behind their back from legislative congestion.
Some of the issues that will emerge in the next five to ten years will urgently require political co-operation across borders even during a messy divorce. Co-operation will be needed at a time when our country's existing relationships could be unravelling.
It doesn't have to be like this. If we vote to remain on Thursday 23rd June then we can concentrate on the issues that matter most in our region. We won't all have quite the same list of priorities or solutions, but at least we'll be able to have a chance at addressing them in the years ahead if we retain membership of the European Union.
Neil Foster, Policy and Campaigns Officer for the Northern TUC
Stay Updated
Want to hear about our latest news and blogs?
Sign up now to get it straight to your inbox