Big businesses and millionaires attempting to use their power and wealth to overturn democracy have been blasted by MPs.
With six months until we leave the EU we would expect all eyes on the prize of securing the best possible Brexit deal.
However, this weekend saw yet another attempt, this time by Superdry founder Julian Dunkerton, to overturn Brexit. The 53-year-old has pledged £1 million to thwart democracy – claiming the result is not in the best interests of the UK.
Tory MPs Simon Clarke and Ben Bradley, who have worked tirelessly both inside and outside parliament to ensure that the democratic will of the people is upheld, have penned a piece calling for the government to ignore big business and implement Brexit.
They said: “Every day since, the establishment – members of the House of Lords, mandarins, big business – have been fighting to stop Brexit.
“They seek to defy the democratically expressed will of the British people.
“The truth is, they want to benefit at the expense of everyone else.
In today’s @Daily_Express, @bbradleymp and I say we need to listen to our constituents in #Mansfield and #Middlesbrough – and chuck the Chequers plan in favour of one that allows us to be truly global: https://t.co/XPFDcvJVOB
— Simon Clarke MP (@SimonClarkeMP) 19 August 2018
Billionaire George Soros has supported anti-Brexit campaign group Best for Britain”The EU is great for big business and the establishment, yet the rest of the country sees only rising immigration, depressed wages and arrogant, unaccountable government from Brussels.
“With 90 per cent of future global growth coming from outside Europe, that will be a brighter future for Britain.
“These proposals would shackle us to the EU for ever. We would be out of Europe yet still run by Europe.
“It’s time for the Government to stand up to the EU & its bullying, time the Government realised the EU stands to lose most from a no deal. It’s time to chuck Chequers, respect the referendum result & believe in Britain.” @SimonClarkeMP @bbradleymp https://t.co/PJUoMqeuVl
— Priti Patel MP (@patel4witham) 19 August 2018
“The Government should chuck Chequers, believe in Britain and make the most of the opportunities that lie ahead.
“It should not be panicked by “Project Fear” mongers saying we must do a deal at all costs.
“The truth is the reverse.
“The EU needs to do a deal with us at all costs.
Let’s look at the facts.
“If a deal is not done, we would keep the £40billion from the so-called divorce bill.
“The EU is not entitled to any of this under international law.
“We’re told we would lose trade.
“Yet the truth is the EU sells us £95billion more goods than we sell to them.
“Any trade barriers would hit the EU far harder than us.”
Superdry’s Julian Dunkerton joins a long list of very rich remainers backing a second vote; with the likes of Lord Malloch Brown and Martin Sorrell pledging their support for Best for Britain back in December of last year. This involvement was dwarfed by George Soros, the Hungarian born billionaire, who has been a key supporter of Best for Britain, reportedly donating £1 million to keep the UK in the EU.
Read more: George Soros’ bid to block Brexit
‘Democracy has been corrupted’
Arch-remainer Yasmin Alibhai-Brown has also slammed remains reliance on millionaires to overturn democracy, calling it a ‘corrupting’ influence on the country.
Ms Alibhai-Brown told Sky News: “I’m not at all happy about these millionaires driving our democracy.
“Although I’m on his side, our democracy has been totally corrupted by the influence of various millionaires who choose which way the country should be going.
“So, yes, I’m sure some people would be very happy to receive the money because I am on the side where I think we should have a three question decision made by the population on what kind of deal they want, or no deal at all, or stay in the EU. You know that.
“But I really don’t think it’s a good idea for millionaires to start throwing their money around.”