We have all been let down by Brexit mess, say Shrewsbury shoppers and traders

Brexit was on everyone’s lips as trading got under way. And the overwhelming feeling was of being let down.

For a county where almost six out of 10 people voted to leave in the Brexit referendum, the market is perhaps an exception to the rule.

Most people either trading or browsing on a wet Wednesday morning said they were remainers.

See Salopians react to Brexit bill defeat:

Many said it was time they were given a second chance to have their say – whether that is by having a ‘People’s Vote’, a second referendum or a general election.

The consensus among shoppers and traders was complete shock at the scale of the defeat of the government’s withdrawal deal vote.

Wine merchant Robin Nugent, who runs Iron and Rose, is a keen remainer but is against another referendum or delaying Brexit.

Instead he said MPs should overrule the original referendum.

“They were elected to the House of Commons to represent us and as our representatives they should say ‘enough’, this is crazy, we can not leave Europe on a wing and prayer. They should take the decision to remain.

“There has been a lot of misinformation on both sides. Everyone is talking about tariffs but they are a tiny problem, dwarfed by UK duty. The effect on the pound is far more important.

“Socially leaving Europe is wrong. I have a lot of friends who are European and worried about the future.”

Economy

However John Brown said there needs to be a second referendum with three choices, no deal, stay in or accept the current proposals.

“I am a European and I fear for our kids future. Our economy in Shropshire is tied in with agriculture and the meat industry. Leaving the EU will have a devastating effect on that industry.

“The politicians have their own agendas and we will suffer because of them.”

Ed Booth, 29, from Shrewsbury, said he believed that when they voted to leave the EU, people had not idea how it would impact the country.

“It know it seems to undermine democracy and it is tricky but I think we need to have a second referendum. If the public still vote to leave then we carry on with the negotiations. If they vote to remain we remain.” He said he didn’t think it was the right time for the Prime Minister to go.

“We need stability and the deadline of March 29 is looming. We also need to start concentrating on other things, such as the NHS and public services.”

He said his vote to remain had been based on economic forecasts. Retired teacher, Peter McGain is a passionate supporter of the People’s Vote and took part in the march in London last year.

“As someone who believes in democracy it is difficult to say we should have a second referendum,” he said.

“But there should never have been a decision to act on such a small minority. It should have been clear that there had to be a larger majority. People also voted in ignorance.”

Stay

Mr McGain, 73, said: “What we have is a complete car crash. It’s time we admitted we completely messed up and stay in the EU.

“I really don’t know how David Cameron can look at himself in the mirror every day. He is responsible for all this mess.”

Now in his 70s, Phil Roe, who has a cycle shop in the market, remembers trading before 1975 before Britain joined the European Union.

“I remember the queues at customs and the problems we had whether it was importing clothes from Belgium or leather from Italy. Now we import some of our cycles from Holland and at the moment I order them and they are sent to me. I don’t want to go back to all the problems there used to be. It was a bad idea and we should put a stop to it and stay in Europe.”

Volunteer apprentice bike mechanic, Anna Morris, is passionate about having a second referendum.

“We have to make sure that the people still want to leave Europe. Just cancelling Brexit would leave an awful lot of bad feeling . We now need to chose a new Government to take us forward.”

John Goodwin campaigned for a remain vote two and a half years ago. He said: “We should stop, take a deep breath and start again with an election.”