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I and other doctors are deeply disturbed by a motion passed in a RCGP Council meeting, namely that ‘the public should have a final say on the Brexit deal, including the options of accepting the deal, rejecting the deal, and remaining within the European Union’.
This is a clear departure from the College’s politically neutral stance. I believe this has set a dangerous precedent for the RCGP and that this motion is contrary to the College’s charity status enshrined in law.
The RCGP, as a charity, is obliged by law to be sufficiently balanced and neutral in its approach. It is essential that patients and doctors can have faith in charities such as the RCGP, and a level of conduct and integrity on the part of RCGP is required to maintain this faith.
RCGP members and indeed the public do not require the RCGP Council to represent their political views, nor are they elected to do so, yet the College is making a perverse argument of making an ‘exception’ to the neutral standards that are expected of it.
The College acknowledges that it has a diverse membership of over 52 000 members yet it does not incorporate the views of those paying subscriptions to it who may have voted for Brexit and has entirely sidelined them. Equally there are those in the remain camp who may also feel that the referendum result must be respected as it has been voted for through the democratic process and the College should remain neutral and respect that process. I can see no evidence of the RCGP Council adequately reflecting on either of these viewpoints, which run contrary to its motion.
I do hope the College will reconsider its stance and maintain neutrality, as the concern is that the RCGP is being used as a vehicle for advocating views of a particular elite political faction that opposes Brexit at all costs. Members of the public are increasingly feeling alienated and the RCGP cannot allow itself to be seen as part of an elite that wishes to overturn/subvert the Brexit referendum result.
- © British Journal of General Practice 2019