An open letter.

As part of my ongoing decision to be more transparent about, and perhaps proud of, the campaigning I’m doing, I’ve just written to my local MP about Brexit. Kate Hoey is a Labour rebel who was photographed with Nigel Farrage in the referendum campaign, and whilst I respect her personal opinion, as a representative for the most Remain borough in the UK (save for Gibraltar) she must respect the views of her constituents.

Dear Kate Hoey,

I am writing to you to ask you to consider the voice of your constituents in Lambeth. As a borough which was (behind only Gibraltar) the most 'remain' area of the UK, it would only be fair that as a representative of this community, you allow us the electorate to have a say on Brexit.

This issue is beyond party politics, which you are clearly a testament for by rebelling against your party on numerous occasions. And whilst I disagree with your opinion on Brexit generally and was upset to see you stood side-by-side Nigel Farrage, I think that your work to hold the government's Brexit Deal to account is good.

At the time of the Brexit referendum, the public were given a binary choice to advise Parliament, Remain or Leave. However, I'm sure you'll agree as with most issues in politics, it isn't a binary debate. Where were the list of options, the choices, the balanced nuance between all the paths we could eventually be led down? Where was the call for reformation, the debate about collaborating, a post-EU organisation which addresses many of the concerns that I also have about the European Union.

However, now that we have a clear understanding of how Brexit might look, with various and numerous acronyms floating around, I think it's only fair that this non-partisan issue is taken back to the public to sign-off on.

I do insist that regardless of what happens, we do not end up with a General Election. This country needs less political posturing, and more collaboration in our politics. We must, and I hope you'd agree with me, find a way to unite everyone on these isles, in a common goal in order to save the Union.

Therefore, I'm asking you for a couple of things. Firstly, your support – regardless of your personal opinion on the best Brexit option – for a People's Vote on Theresa May's deal should it pass through Parliament so that the 'Remain' Lambeth can pass its judgement on it. Secondly, should there be a Conservative leadership challenge, I hope that you wouldn't back calls for a General Election as seems to be your party's position, as this would likely leave the country more divided, when in truth we need unity more than ever before.

Yours sincerely,

James Kieran Doran
Political activist, LGBT+ campaigner and proud European