Hope Dawns for East Riding and the Humber: Honouring the Vote by Fixing Trade, Not Leaving Britain Behind.

To the proud Leave voters of the East Riding and the Humber: You voted for sovereignty, you voted to take back control, and you voted for a better future where Britain's economic destiny was in British hands. We understand that vision, and we share your desire for a thriving, independent United Kingdom.

​But let's be honest about what's happened since. The Conservative Government's deal hasn't delivered on those promises. Instead of a golden era of free-flowing trade, we’ve been handed a mountain of bureaucracy, crippling costs, and a constant drag on our local economy. The red tape you were promised would be cut has instead been tied around the necks of our businesses and farmers.

​The Cost of the Conservative's Bad Deal

​The East Riding—with its strong heritage in fishing, manufacturing, and farming—was meant to be one of the great post-Brexit winners. Instead, we are paying a heavy price for a bad deal.

​Manufacturing Stalled: Our local factories and manufacturers rely on sending and receiving parts quickly from Europe. The current 'deal' means paperwork, checks, and delays that are slowing production and hiking costs. This is not 'taking back control'; it's handing control over to border queues and endless forms.

​Betrayal of Our Fishers: Our seafood exporters were promised a boom. What they got was a bureaucratic nightmare. As a local fish exporter has previously stated: "Before Brexit, our shipments to France took 24 hours. Now, with all the paperwork, it can take up to three days, and that delay hurts our business." That delay is the difference between fresh fish and spoiled goods; between a thriving local business and one fighting to survive. That is not the freedom you voted for.

​Squeezed Communities: The rise in the cost of living and the labour shortages in our fields and NHS are consequences of this flawed arrangement. Your local community is paying the price for the self-inflicted wounds of a poorly negotiated agreement.

​The Liberal Democrat Solution: Keeping the Promise, Cutting the Red Tape

​The Liberal Democrats believe in a pragmatic, common-sense approach that honours the decision to leave the EU while finally delivering the economic benefits you were promised.

​We want a bespoke UK-EU Customs Union for one simple, powerful reason: it cuts the red tape that is strangling our local economy without forcing us back under Brussels’ control.

​What a Sensible Customs Union Means for East Riding and the Humber:

​Stop the Bureaucracy Nightmare: A Customs Union would cover most goods, meaning the vast majority of routine border checks and forms that cause chaos at Hull’s port would be scrapped. We'd save our local businesses and the British taxpayers billions in lost time and money.

​Protecting Our Farmers: Crucially, our plan excludes agriculture. This ensures our farmers maintain the flexibility and freedom to strike new trade deals and adapt regulations, honouring a core goal of the Leave vote while fixing the broken trade system for manufacturers and logistics firms.

​A Boost to British Prosperity: Fixing this mess is the clearest path to economic growth. Sir Ed Davey, the Liberal Democrat Leader, has been clear:

​“A customs union with the EU is the single biggest step the government could take to grow our economy, put money back into people’s pockets and generate billions for our public services.”

​This closer trading relationship is estimated to generate at least £25 billion a year for the UK economy. That is British money, created by British business, that can be invested directly back into our struggling NHS, our local schools, and the vital services you rely on right here in the East Riding.

​As Dr. Al Pinkerton MP, our Europe Spokesperson, recently stressed:

​“A new customs union will cut red tape, unlock investment and restore certainty to British business.”

​You voted for a stronger Britain. We believe this practical step is the only way to deliver it. It is time to choose growth and prosperity for the Humber over stubborn, self-defeating political ideology. Support the plan that delivers on the promise of a better, freer, and more prosperous Britain.