Brexit is becoming an issue that people increasingly want to scream about.
So in a refreshing change of pace at Aberdeen’s townhouse yesterday, a councillor decided to read a festive poem on leaving the EU.
During a debate on whether the council should support a second vote on leaving the body, SNP member Michael Hutchison made his contribution in rhyme.
His poem “T’was the Brexit before Christmas” drew laughs from all sides in the chamber.
As in Westminster, the debate divided all parties, with the three main political groups putting forward their own amendments to the Liberal Democrat motion.
The Liberals wanted the council to write to Number 10 supporting a “people’s vote”; the SNP added concerns about the city’s EU-born residents; Aberdeen Labour wanted to call for a general election and the Conservatives to take no action.
SNP group leader Stephen Flynn said a large proportion of the city’s population were from EU countries and needed clarity ahead of the March leaving date.
Aberdeen Labour’s Jenny Laing, whose group split from their Tory allies on the vote, said the SNP were “running scared of a general election” because they were threated possible by Labour gains.
Conservative leader Douglas Lumsden said he did not think the council had any influence over Brexit and should better spend their time “on issues in Mastrick not Maastricht”.
The Liberal Democrat motion ended up facing the Labour amendment after the SNP withdrew and voted with the Lib Dems.
The motion was passed by 22 votes to nine with 12 abstentions.
Mr Yuill said: “A people’s vote would put the UK’s citizens back in control.”
READ THE FULL POEM HERE:
