A special motion concerning the 10-year anniversary of the EU referendum sparked a passionate debate at Hammersmith and Fulham's Full Council meeting on Wednesday, July 15, 2026.
The motion, moved by Councillor Bora Kwon and seconded by Councillor Natalie Lindsay, recognised the damage that Brexit has done to the economy, businesses and living standards in Hammersmith & Fulham and across the country.
It also highlighted the negative impact on young people's opportunities and the distress caused to EU citizens residing in the borough.
Councillor Kwon stated that Brexit has damaged our relationship with our largest trading bloc. It damaged our economy and the security of the country, and it also divided our communities.
She further elaborated that the NHS and social care has struggled to fill the gaps that were created when longstanding members of the workforce left our borough and our shores in the uncertainty and the tumult that Brexit left.
Councillor Natalie Lindsay added that Compared to other countries, Brexit has reduced our GDP per head between six to eight percent. Six to eight percent. And investment in the UK has fallen by over 18 percent relative to our peers.
Councillor Kwon described the referendum as destructive, damaging and divisive,
impacting the UK's relationship with its largest trading bloc and dividing communities. She added that the freedoms and the benefits that we were promised haven't been realised. Where was the control that was promised?
She also noted that we've exchanged freedom of movement of EU citizens for an increasing number of illegal boat crossings and the data sharing, the joint agency working has collapsed and never recovered.
The motion states that the council resolves to continue making the case for us to rejoin [the European Union] while making the borough a welcoming place for our European neighbours.
Councillor Lindsay, in her maiden speech, described Brexit as the single biggest act of self harm this nation has ever undertaken.
She spoke of the hurt this decision caused to millions of residents of this country, EU nationals, dual nationals, and indeed anyone not English in the narrowest, meanest definition of the word, who were being told they were not wanted.
According to Home Office data, Hammersmith and Fulham is home to around 65,000 EU nationals, approximately one in every three people in the borough. Councillor Kwon mentioned that Brexit caused deep pain to the thousands of EU citizens who we are proud to have as our neighbours.
However, the motion faced opposition. Councillor Adrian Pascu-Tulbure, Deputy Leader of the Opposition, criticised the motion for reopening old wounds
and referenced Project Fear
tactics. He stated that Project Fear
projected an 18% fall in house prices, the instant loss of three million jobs, four and a half thousand pounds wiped off every household's income.
He believes these predictions were if not misinformation, then very, very close to it.
Councillor Pascu-Tulbure argued that democracy involves respecting results
and that the motion was divisive.
Councillor Rob Harris also spoke against the motion, stating that democracy involves respecting results and that the motion was divisive.
Despite the opposition, the amended motion was ultimately carried by the council.
