LABOUR leaders and Dursley representatives in the Stroud district expressed their fears over Britain’s decision to leave the European Union.

Leader of Stroud District Council Steve Lydon said he is “shocked” and “extremely worried” about the country’s future following news of the leave result.

Though the Stroud constituency voted remain, Britain as a whole voted to leave the EU, with the leave vote just edging out those in favour of remaining by 52 per cent to 48 per cent.

“Shock is the first thing that comes to mind,” said Cllr Lydon this morning of his response to the result.

“I am extremely worried now about our future. There are clearly many communities that feel left behind and cut off from establishment.

“Millions of people have shown that the economy is not working for them.”

Cllr Lydon suggested that many Leave voters weren’t aware of the repercussions of their decision.

“I think a lot of people saw it as an opportunity to register their peeved offness with the establishment and that’s what’s happened. Nobody voted with full knowledge of what the consequences would be,” he continued.

However, despite the doom and gloom of his assessment, Cllr Lydon finished by saying Labour were best situated to reunite the country.

“This party stands up for working people and we’ll continue to do that. We will carry on regardless,” he said.

Doina Cornell represents Dursley on Stroud District Council as well as being deputy Labour leader under Cllr Lydon.

She told the Gazette this morning: “I was in charge of the EU campaign for the Stroud Labour group.

“I think we did well in Stroud and led a positive campaign that worked across the parties, and I think that positivity was reflected in the atmosphere at the count.

“But I’m in a state of overall shock in regard to the whole country, thinking about how to come to terms with the result and where we go from here.

“My real concern is that the vote has split the country almost in half. I don’t feel in a good place to be positive but we have to work together or the country will fall apart.”