UK ex-envoys to May: Brexit a national crisis

LONDON: On a day the Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte called the UK a “waning country”, 43 former British envoyss called on Prime Minister Theresa May to change course on Brexit, which they say is now a ‘national crisis’.

Rutte, a major figure in Brexitrelated talks between Brussels and London, and leads a country where many British companies have relocated due to uncertainty over Brexit, said that Brexit has weakened the UK. “It is already weakening, it is a waning country compared to two or three years ago. It is going to become an economy of middling size in the Atlantic Ocean. It is neither the US nor the EU. It is too small to appear on the world stage on its own.”

Recalling long experience of flying the British flag abroad, the envoys said: “If the Prime Minister’s deal is passed in Parliament, it will not be the end of Brexit but will in fact mark the start of year upon on year of negotiation and renegotiation – truly a ‘Brexternity’ of endless uncertainty about our future for both citizens and businesses alike.”

“We should not leave the EU when we have no clarity about our final destination.”