Hardliners ignoring Brexit bill of billions, says Cable

HARDLINE Brexiteers are ignoring the massive costs of EU withdrawal for the “erotic spasm” of breaking with Brussels, Liberal Democrat leader Sir Vince Cable will say.

The Lib Dem leader is expected to use his keynote address to the party conference today to call on Prime Minister Theresa May to “shock us all” and admit Brexit’s time has passed and call a fresh referendum on EU membership.

Sir Vince will say: “For the ‘true believers’ – the fundamentalists – the costs of Brexit have always been irrelevant. Years of economic pain justified by the erotic spasm of leaving the European Union.

“Economic pain felt – of course, not by them – by those least able to afford it. And the latest piece of nastiness from Jacob Rees-Mogg – calling into question the right of Europeans to stay in Britain, and of Britons to stay in Europe – creating unnecessary worry and insecurity for millions.

“The public don’t mind what these people dream about behind closed doors – so long as their dreams don’t become nightmares for the rest of us.

“It really beggars belief that the army and the police are now being asked to prepare for riots in the chaotic aftermath of a botched Brexit. And billions – billions – of taxpayers’ money spent preparing for disaster.”

Sir Vince will say that EU leaders now feel pity for Mrs May.

“I would go so far as to say that some of us are starting to feel sorry for the Prime Minister. It seems that even the European leaders are moved to pity. It is obvious why.

“She is dutifully delivering a policy she doesn’t really believe in; failing in negotiations; losing public support; and all to appease a dwindling group of angry people in her party who will denounce her as a traitor, whatever she comes up with.

“Deep down, the Prime Minister knows Brexit is a bad idea. A bad idea whose time has gone. Even now, Theresa May could shock us all by displaying true leadership.

“She could admit that the Brexit project has gone badly wrong by conceding that the deal – any deal, or no deal – that she will bring back from Brussels is not going to be better for Britain than remaining in the European Union. Instead of kow-towing to her enemies in the Conservative Party, she could lead her party and the country by opening her mind to a ‘people’s vote’ on the final deal.”