Prexit campaign launches for greater independence for the city

Preston's Town Hall - could it govern its own independent state? Pic: Tony Worrall — Preston’s Town Hall – could it govern its own independent state? Pic: Tony Worrall

A call has begun for Preston to take its political and economic destiny into its own hands.

Campaigners have launched Prexit to explore the city leaving the United Kingdom amid the Brexit negotiations.

The anonymous group have set up a website and social media feeds on Twitter and Facebook.

In a statement released to Blog Preston they said: “Join us in Preston’s campaign to become independent, right at the centre of the UK.

“We already have the Preston Model, gathering international press and political interest and it’s re-booting our local economy.

“Let’s explore independence from the rest of the UK. We can maybe show them how it’s done.

“There is city devolution., which works elsewhere. After all, what else can go wrong?

“We’re already in the middle of the ill-informed, misleading, embarrassment of Brexit.”

The group points to the current operating model of Preston City Council, branded ‘The Preston Model’ by national political commentators and media, which advocates sourcing and spending locally by large ‘anchor-institutions’ such as the University of Central Lancashire.

In the statement the group goes on to explain the city and surrounding area’s strengths.

They say: “With our north-east corner nestling at the geographical heart of the UK, the PR postcodes hold everything we need, from farmland to coast to rivers to hills.

“We have fuel, we have defence, we have football. Art and science, heritage and industry. We have our own ways of being.

“The People’s Prexit asks the questions that matter, of the people who matter. Us, the communities of Preston.

“We want to understand what independence means, and what it might look like to rebuild a state from its foundations.

“We’re a group of enquiring individuals who care about the future. People just like you. Come on our journey. We could be wrong, we could be right, this is the People’s Prexit.”

The group say they will be holding events and debates to explore the idea of an independent Preston.

In the European Union referendum of summer 2016, Preston voted to leave the EU and was higher than the national average in voting to Leave.

What do you think about Prexit? What are your feelings about Brexit? Let us know in the comments below