Everything that can go wrong with EU has gone wrong ... but I STILL want Brexit overturned
Billionaire Soros announces campaign for 2nd referendum (even though he admits Europe faces ‘existential’ crisis)
BILLIONAIRE George Soros yesterday revealed plans to kickstart his campaign for a second Brexit referendum ‘in the next few days’.
The financier pledged to step up his efforts to stop the UK leaving the EU – despite admitting that it faces ‘an existential crisis’.
In a speech in Paris, the Hungarian-born American said ‘everything that could go wrong’ with the EU ‘has gone wrong’.
He highlighted a litany of problems that threaten to tear the EU apart, including the refugee crisis, Brexit, austerity and political turmoil in Italy.
But stepping up his battle to keep Britain shackled to the crisis-torn Brussels club, the 87-year-old said the anti-Brexit campaign Best for Britain, which he is bankrolling, will publish its plan for a second referendum ‘in the next few days’.
He suggested British voters could change their minds – but conceded that the ‘EU needs to transform itself into an association that countries like Britain would want to join’.
Mr Soros, who famously bet against sterling on Black Wednesday in 1992 – earning him £1billion and the nickname ‘the man who broke the Bank of England’ – said: ‘ The European Union is in an existential crisis. Everything that could go wrong has gone wrong.
‘The European Union seems to have lost its way. Many young people today regard the European Union as an enemy that has deprived them of jobs and a secure and promising future.
‘It is no longer a figure of speech to say that Europe is in existential danger, it is the harsh reality.’
Despite Europe’s failings, Mr Soros has donated more than £800,000 to Best for Britain, which was launched before last year’s general election and is campaigning to overturn the result of the EU referendum.
It was initially fronted by Gina Miller, who took the Government to court over Brexit but has since left the group.
Speaking at a summit organised by the European Council on Foreign Relations think-tank yesterday in Paris, Mr Soros said the campaign for a second referendum would begin within days.
He admitted that while he believed Brexit was ‘ harmful to both sides’, he warned that it would leave ‘a hard-to-fill hole in the European budget’.
Many Brexiteers argue Brussels will be forced to do a Brexit deal with Britain because the EU is so desperate for the money the UK has offered as a divorce bill.
Mr Soros said: ‘ Brexit is an immensely damaging process, harmful to both sides. Most of the damage is felt right now when the European Union is in an existential crisis, but its attention is diverted to negotiating a separation agreement with Britain. That’s a lose-lose proposition, but it could be converted into a winwin situation.
‘Divorce will be a long process,
probably taking more than five
years. Five years is an eternity in
politics, especially in revolutionary times like the present. ‘Ultimately, it’s up to the British people to decide what they want to do. It would be better, however, if they came to a decision sooner rather than later. That’s the goal of an initiative called the Best for Britain, which I support.’
Mr Soros went on: ‘Best for Britain fought for, and helped to win, a meaningful parliamentary vote which includes the option of not leaving at all.
‘This would be good for Britain but would also render Europe a great service by rescinding Brexit and not creating a hard-to-fill hole in the European budget.
‘But the British public must express its support by a convincing margin in order to be taken seriously by Europe.
‘That’s what the Best for Britain is aiming for by engaging the electorate. It will publish its manifesto in the next few days.’
He added: ‘The economic case for remaining a member of the EU is strong but it will take time for it to sink in.
‘During that time, the EU needs to transform itself into an association that countries like Britain would want to join, in order to strengthen the political case.’
Tory MP Andrea Jenkyns, who is part of pro-Brexit group Change Britain, last night said: ‘George Soros wants to overturn the largest democratic mandate in British electoral history, but in the same breath admits the EU is in an ‘existential crisis’ and needs to change to convince the UK to rejoin.
‘A second referendum would not only damage our negotiating position but would also send a dangerous signal that Parliament is seeking to ignore the votes of 17.4 million people.’
She added: ‘The British people have already made clear their wish to take back control from Brussels, and now want to see their decision implemented.’
Jacob Rees-Mogg, who is chairman of the European Research Group of Eurosceptic Conservative backbenchers, yesterday suggested that another referendum on EU membership should not be held for at least 30 years.
Asked on an LBC radio phone-in whether he would accept a second referendum if there was a public demand for one, Mr Rees-Mogg said: ‘ We had the biggest democratic exercise in our nation’s history – 17.4 million people voted to leave and of course that should be implemented.
‘If, in 30 years’ time, the UK wants to rejoin, that would be a matter for the electorate then. But this result
‘The EU is in an existential crisis’
must be respected and it must be implemented, otherwise we would find our democracy held in as much contempt as that in Greece and Italy by the EU.’
Last week, the Daily Mail published leaked papers that exposed Best for Britain’s £5.6million sixmonth plan to stop Britain leaving the EU.
The documents revealed that the group will rubbish whatever final agreement Theresa May strikes with Brussels – arguing it is ‘not what we voted for’.
Best for Britain wants to persuade MPs to vote down the Prime Minister’s deal in October. This would throw Brexit into chaos.
The sabotage operation involve plans to use trade unions to change Labour’s stance on Brexit.