Mark Casci: A respectful approach to Brexit can make us stronger

A point was made about Brexit that contained no hysteria.

And predictably it came from the business world.

The origin was a call from the bosses at Heathrow Airport to the Government to allow them to increase the number of domestic flights it offers.

Currently, European Union competition laws prohibit discrimination against other member states, meaning he UK could not say that a certain per centage of slots at Heathrow have to be reserved for UK services.

However, once Britain has left the EU, these restrictions will no longer apply, meaning Heathrow can fly more frequently to Leeds Bradford Airport, Doncaster Sheffield Airport or Humberside Airport, among others.

Needless to say, greater connectivity is always a good thing for business, particularly when it comes to one of the world’s top hub airports.

A clear and demonstrable benefit of us no longer being an EU member state was presented.

What was remarkable however is that there was no incendiary commentary around it.

Our region’s airports all supported it, also without passing political commentary.

No issue in my lifetime has stirred up such visceral emotions as the result of this referendum.

Hundreds of thousands of people cannot accept the result and want the process to fail. How anyone could wish to see their nation and its citizens enter a more impoverished and weakened state just so they could feel right about something beggars belief.

Worse still are the most ardent of Brexiteers. Those who call our top judges “Enemies of the People” for applying the law of our country to the Article 50 process. Described by novelist Ian McEwan as “angry even in victory” they will seek to stifle any opinion that is not lock step in line with their own un-nuanced view that Britain will be a totally flawless nation once out of Europe.

The childishness from both camps is distorting the process away from facts. In an increasingly post-truth world we cannot begin such far-reaching and important political talks if we do not look at the issue dispassionately. To do otherwise will rile our European counterparts and tie our politicians’ hands behind their backs as they approach the negotiating table.

The Heathrow story struck me as a wonderful platform on which to build the narrative. One that does not seek to keep reliving a debate which was settled nearly 12 months.

Once the general election is concluded we must come together as one nation, listen to each others concerns and aspirations and do what is best for the whole country, not fringe interests.

And it is issues such as increased airline routes around the country, which offer far faster travel than even HS2 can offer, that can help build a more prosperous future.

The regions, with Yorkshire at the centre, must be massively represented and considered as we negotiate our way out of the EU.

It would be crazy for a campaign predicated on devolving sovereignty to UK citizens to build a Britain post-Brexit which is more centrist than ever.

I know we are just talking about airline routes but if we can come up with a model which allows creates a more federalist Britain, where regions are empowered economically and politically, we can unlock the strengths of the whole country and move away from focusing on the financial powerhouse that is London to a far more varied and adaptable economy.

It was a glimpse into the future that felt positive and one that I know most business leaders share.

If you want Britain to succeed you must want the whole country to benefit from it.

And the first step is treating each other like grown-ups, and operating in a business-like fashion.