Two former Labour Prime Minsters have issued a stark message about
the dangers of not having a deal when the UK leaves the EU.
Tony Blair writes in the Times that Boris Johnson has ‘boxed
himself’ into a no-deal Brexit and will fail in securing a new agreement if he
does not back down from his negotiating position.
Meanwhile his predecessor, Gordon Brown highlighted that polling
suggesting support for a no deal was declining.
Neither Boris Johnson nor Jeremy Hunt have ruled out the
possibility of crashing out of Europe without an agreement if a deal is not
made with Brussels. Johnson – who is widely expected to win the Tory leadership
race – has promised to leave EU on October 31, no matter what.
Hunt has said he would be willing to push the date back further if
it meant gaining concessions from the EU.
Mr Blair said the 2016 referendum gave the Government a mandate
for Brexit, but not a no-deal scenario. He wrote that ‘crashing out without
public endorsement would be a gargantuan risk.’
‘No-one knows with certainty the impact of no-deal for the simple reason that no developed nation has ever left overnight its preferential trading arrangements in this manner,’ he said.
‘It could be merely very difficult or it could be catastrophic.’ If Parliament voted against a no-deal Brexit, Blair said he did not believe Johnson would push on regardless – meaning a referendum or a general election would be required.
Blair said that calling a general election would be a ‘completely
unjustifiable ploy’ because it would be about issues other than just Brexit.
‘Brexit is an issue that stands on its own. It should be decided
that way,’ Blair said.
Gordon Brown said: ‘Boris Johnson is becoming prime minister just
as support for his October 31 no-deal policy is falling away.
‘Already, away from
Westminster, three million Brexit voters will not support a no-deal Brexit.
‘Many more are ready to say ‘no’ to a no-deal and to seeing the
British economy pushed off a cliff.’
Source: Metro co uk
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