THE recent referendum on EU membership has had one unexpected and unwelcome outcome.

Following the country’s decision to move towards Brexit we have seen a rise of racist abuse and hate incidents across the country.

As a young person and Halton’s Member of Youth Parliament, I am deeply concerned by this happening.

We must recognise the positive contribution that immigrants have made to this country. 

We must respect the democratic outcome of the referendum, but the result cannot be allowed to become an excuse for people to be so filled with hatred.

There is no excuse for hate crime and we must stand together in unity as a community to confront hate together.

We are a great country full of amazing people from all sorts of different backgrounds, races and faiths, and in this uncertain time it has never been more important that we come together as friends and help each other out.

I am proud to support the UK Youth Parliament’s Don’t Hate, Educate campaign and I am working closely with Halton Youth Cabinet to organise Halton Against Hate later in the year to celebrate diversity and difference in all forms.

For more information about this event and the other things I am up to take a look at my TomNorrisMYP Facebook page.

Tom Norris

Halton Member of Youth Parliament