Major’s mistake

For the second time in less than a fortnight, a former prime minister has entered the Brexit fray at a critical moment in the passage of the Article 50 Bill through Parliament. First, Tony Blair called for a mass movement to overturn the result of the June 23 referendum. Now, Sir John Major has joined in, warning of all sorts of pitfalls ahead as Britain negotiates its exit from the EU.

At least the former Conservative leader does not follow his successor in Downing Street by proposing a campaign to reverse the democratic decision. Unlike Mr Blair, Sir John says that while he considers Brexit to be a “historic mistake” it was one the British people were entitled to make. His concern is principally with what he regards as the over-optimistic and simplistic expectations of those who want a clean break with Europe. He fears for the future of the Union if Scotland holds another independence referendum and for peace in Northern Ireland. He says trade deals will be hard to achieve, the cost of leaving the EU will be substantial and there will be long-term political consequences.

Yet Sir John and others made all these points during the referendum campaign and the vote went against them. He said that Remainers are howled down when they continue to express their opposition to Brexit, contrary to the traditions of free speech in Britain. But Sir John protests too much, we think. One reason why some Brexiters – and it is only some – over-react to criticism of the referendum result is that they believe efforts are under way to reverse it. Indeed, Mr Blair is leading those efforts. If Sir John accepts the democratic decision, his counsel would be better deployed helping Mrs May achieve the best deal possible.