John Shaw: Why I believe a hard Brexit could be disastrous for our town

With polling day still more than a fortnight away, it's already clear that Brexit is going to be one of the defining themes of the 2017 General Election.

As Liberal Democrat candidate for MP for Basingstoke, I have my own personal views on the subject. I believe that a hard Brexit will be disastrous for us, damaging our economy, starving essential services of funding and making us all worse off.

Since the EU referendum last June, the pound has fallen, prices have risen, economic growth has been erratic, and wages are no longer growing as much as they were. When prices go up and wages do not, millions of people are going to be poorer.

The average household is likely to be £500 worse off in 2017 compared to 2016 - and that's before the Brexit negotiations have even started in earnest.

And it gets worse. Over a five-year period, Brexit will have dented the public finances by £59 billion. That's money that could have been used to cut waiting times in A&E, provide care for the elderly and invest in educating the next generation.

Businesses are suffering too, through higher import prices, a shortage of EU workers, and reduced investment. Make no mistake: our economic future is hanging in the balance.

The Liberal Democrats are the only party that has consistently championed Britain's membership of the European Union. Labour's failure to hold the government to account has given the Conservatives a clear run at their extreme version of Brexit.

In last year's referendum, the British people voted for departure but not for a destination - which is why I believe they deserve a say on the final deal that's negotiated with Europe.

That's why the Lib Dems will fight to secure terms with the EU that retain as many of the benefits of EU membership as possible. That's why we'll call a referendum on the final Brexit agreement, so that the people can decide the future for the country. That referendum will offer two choices: accept the deal, or remain in the EU.

Our town and our country needs an effective opposition to hard Brexit, and I urge you to change Britain's future by voting for a real opposition - the Liberal Democrats.