In addressing the demonstration in York this week over the latest fascistic pronouncements by the US president, I ended saying “know your power, know your history, know what action you can take”. Poignant words as I was simultaneously determining my own actions ahead of Wednesday’s vote to trigger article 50.

I campaigned tooth and nail in York to remain in the EU. My constituents voted overwhelmingly to remain. I believe that the challenges confronting us are best resolved when we sit round a table and reach for the solutions together, for this is what politics is all about and how we can improve our world. However, far too many who have been left behind understandably don’t see it that way.

When good quality, unionised jobs are replaced by zero-hour contracts, when homes are not built, rents are too high and tenancies too insecure, when the NHS is in meltdown, and it’s a struggle to achieve a decent life, or even your next meal, I absolutely understand why people are angry at the political establishment.

That is why I became an MP in 2015: to change politics, to give those I represent a chance to help shape our future; to enable them to get round a table to share their challenges, aspirations and ideas. This is grounded in my 20 years of experience working in the NHS and work as a national official of the trade union Unite. It is why I am compelled to speak out now about the inequality and divisions that are so evident across the UK.

When I took the oath of allegiance upon swearing in to parliament in May 2015, I broke with convention and swore my oath to my constituents first; I will not forget this.

The unelected prime minister’s Brexit “plan”, which goes far beyond the question on the ballot paper last June in leaving the single market and customs union, is creating an unjustifiable level of risk at a time of national and international uncertainty and volatility. There is silence on national security measures, no mention of climate change mitigation or environmental protections, and no guarantee of good jobs or employment rights.

Now the prime minister and her government are totally distracted from addressing the real crisis in our country, the blame for which can be laid on their failed economic plan and industrial deficit, alongside their ideological obsession with cutting public services and selling off public assets.

But most worrying of all to me is the rapidly changing social context which is leading to a rise of racism and hate crime in the UK. It has to be called out and dealt with, as Pastor Martin Niemoller reminds us, in his chilling poem – we must speak out, as we now witness some of the early signs that led to the darkest period in our history.

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I believe every vote was cast legitimately, as each person tried to decide on the result that would determine the best opportunities for them and their families. There was a result – the country is completely divided, and it is wrong to argue anything other.

Now we know the extreme way this autocratic prime minister is handling this, forced by Labour to share her plan, and forced to come to parliament with a bill before the white paper had seen the light of day. In his resignation statement Britain’s former ambassador to the EU Sir Ivan Rogers highlighted the chaos behind the scenes; it is now time to press ahead with a risk assessment, hit the pause button before it is too late and start addressing the real challenges facing our nation.