Crabb puts healing of divisions at core of his mission

STEPHEN CRABB today pledges to “tear down the barriers that hold people back” in the wake of the EU referendum as he declares himself a candidate for the Conservative Party leadership.

Mr Crabb, who was brought up in a council house by a single mother, writes below that the EU referendum has cast a “harsh light” on the “deep economic and social divisions that still blight our country”.

The Work and Pensions Secretary will campaign for the leadership with the backing of Sajid Javid, the Business Secretary, in what has been described as a “blue collar ticket”. He says Mr Javid “knows that we have the potential to secure a deal which protects UK business and workers”.

Mr Crabb also says that a second referendum on Britain’s EU membership is “out of the question” and that Britain needs “clear direction, not further instability”.

He says: “This referendum has cast a harsh light on the deep economic and social divisions that still blight our country.

“There are communities who haven’t felt the benefits of globalisation and still suffer the aftershocks of the 2008 financial crash.

“People are stuck on low wages – even no wages – despairing at their hollowed-out town centres.”

“So my Government will confront it, spreading opportunities to every corner of Britain.

“The modern compassionate Conservative Party will tear down the barriers that hold people back.”

Mr Crabb says that freedom of movement is a “red line”. He says: “One of the overwhelming messages from that vote was the need to take back control of immigration policy in the UK.

“So for me, freedom of movement is a red line. We now have a vital oppor- tunity to craft an immigration policy that is outward looking, ensures we get the skills we need, and is ultimately decided in the UK. That will mean tough negotiations with Europe.”

Mr Crabb says that the Brexit deal must reflect “the needs of every part of the United Kingdom” and said he will create an advisory council bringing together all of the devolved administrations.

He says his party “simply must deliver what we promised in our mani- festo”. The central plank of that “is building a strong economy that delivers opportunities, regardless of the circumstances of someone’s birth”, he says.

He vows to build on the Conservative Party’s election manifesto and consign the labels from the referendum to the past:

“We must unite. We cannot allow this leadership election to be defined by divisive labels like ‘Remainer’ and ‘Brexiteer’.”