DORSET for Europe is a cross-party pressure group started by ordinary people from Bournemouth and Dorset in the wake of the 2016 referendum to put forward the case for the UK staying in the European Union.

At the street stalls we regularly hold in the town centre, we often come up against challenges such as “The people have voted – what don’t you understand about democracy?”

In fact, voters look on with increasing bemusement while the government’s handling of Brexit is getting more shambolic by the day. What is becoming clear is that the government are unable to deliver anything like the Brexit the Leave campaign promised.

The people of Bournemouth have plenty to worry about as a result of Brexit: recruitment problems for the hospitality industry, financial services under threat, large numbers of economically active EU citizens left in limbo... All this while the Office of Budget Responsibility confirms that Brexit will cause lower growth and productivity.

Dorset for Europe are asking for a second referendum, including the option to remain within the EU, which would give voters the chance to decide now that the facts are becoming clearer. Now that’s democracy for us.

GENEVIÈVE TALON, Chine Crescent Road, Bournemouth