Britons must work hard to ‘repair deep divisions’, MP Rushanara says after Brexit

After Britain’s exit from the European Union through a referendum, Bangladeshi-origin British MP Rushanara Ali has said the vote has expressed ‘deep divisions’ in the UK.

“The debates leading up to the referendum have been passionate but also exposed deep divisions in our country by region, class, age and race,” she said in a statement after the results were published on Friday.

She said the Britons “must all work hard to repair those divisions and help unite the many different communities in our country, and especially those who will feel particularly anxious about their future”.

Rushanara also said the UK government “must focus on doing all that's needed to protect our economy, people's livelihoods and our public services in the face great uncertainty and anxiety”.

She also thanked all those who worked ‘tirelessly’ on the campaign to remain in the EU.

“Here in Tower Hamlets, nearly 70 percent of the electorate voted to remain and across London some 60 percent of voters chose to remain in the EU,” she said.

Labour Party MPs of Bangladeshi origin Rushanara, Tulip Siddiq and Rupa Huq had campaigned in favour of Britain remaining in the EU.

Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Tulip’s aunt, had also wished the UK would remain in the EU.