Cameron: Don’t rule out new referendum
FORMER prime minister David Cameron has said a second Brexit referendum cannot be ruled out. In an interview published today, he admitted he thinks about the consequences of the 2016 poll – which was triggered under his premiership – “every single day” and is “desperately” concerned about the future.
Mr Cameron said: “I think about this every day. Every single day I think about it, the referendum and the fact that we lost and the consequences and
the things that could have been done differently, and I worry desperately about what is going to happen next.
“I think we can get to a situation where we leave but we are friends, neighbours and partners. We can get there, but I would love to fast-forward to that moment because it’s painful for the country and it’s painful to watch.”
His comments, made in an interview with The Times, come after Prime Minister Boris Johnson said that he was “cautiously optimistic” of getting a Brexit deal.
And, in a separate development, a new poll has suggested a majority of people in Northern Ireland would vote for the re-unification of Ireland in a referendum, amid continuing concerns over Brexit’s effect on the border.
Meanwhile, on a second referendum, Mr Cameron said: “I don’t think you can rule it out because we’re stuck.”
Asked if he would campaign for another poll, Mr Cameron replied: “I’m not saying one will happen or
should happen. I’m just saying that you can’t rule things out right now because you’ve got to find some way of unblocking the blockage.
“I think there are certain things you shouldn’t do to unblock the blockage. I think proroguing parliament – pretending it doesn’t exist – I think that would be a bad thing.”
Mr Cameron said a no-deal Brexit would be a “bad outcome” for the country, adding: “I very much hope it doesn’t happen. I don’t think it should be pursued.”
On Boris Johnson, the former PM said he was “easy to work with” but admitted there had been “issues” between the pair.
“I want him to succeed. I worked with him well, as I say in the book. I also say that he was a capable mayor. He was easy to work with. I thought he was very talented. I wanted him in my government.
“We’ve had issues. Even before Brexit, there were sometimes tensions and disagreements but, on the whole, we’ve got on well. And I want him to succeed.”
He also said he was “hugely depressed” about leaving Number 10: “I was miserable about giving up the job I loved and working for the country I loved. I was miserable about it.”
Asked if he was depressed, Mr Cameron replied: “Yes, hugely depressed about it.”
Mr Cameron also accused Michael Gove and Boris Johnson of effectively “trashing” the government during the EU referendum campaign.
He told The Times: “I say in the book: Boris had never argued for leaving the EU, right? Michael was a very strong Eurosceptic, but someone whom I’d known as this liberal, compassionate, rational Conservative ended up making arguments about Turkey (joining) and being swamped and what have you.
“They were trashing the government of which they were a part, effectively.”
On Priti Patel, now the Home Secretary, he said: “I remember her attack that wealthy people didn’t understand the problems of immigration.
“It felt very like she was put on point to do some attacking of the government and its record. I suppose some people would say all is fair in love and war and political campaigns.
“I thought there were places Conservatives wouldn’t go against each other. And they did.”
Elsewhere, Mr Johnson said he was “cautiously optimistic” of getting a Brexit deal as he prepares for talks with European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker.
The Prime Minister will travel to Luxembourg on Monday for his first meeting with Mr Juncker and EU chief negotiator Michel Barnier since taking office in July, Downing Street said.
Speaking in Rotherham yesterday at the launch of his plan to revitalise the Northern Powerhouse initiative, Mr Johnson said there was the “rough shape” of a deal in place.
However, he was heckled by a member of the audience who told him to “get back to Parliament” to sort out “the mess that you have created”.
Mr Johnson brushed off the interruption, insisting MPs would have “ample time” to consider Brexit when Parliament returns next month after a five-week suspension.
He said recent meetings with Irish premier Leo Varadkar, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Emmanuel Macron had made “a good deal of progress” towards an agreement.
But he made clear that if he was unable to get a new deal, he would not be deterred by “shenanigans” at Westminster from taking Britain out of the EU by the October 31 deadline.
His comments came after Commons Speaker John Bercow warned on Thursday that MPs would act “forcefully” to prevent the Prime Minister pushing through a no-deal Brexit against the will of the House.
In response to reporters’ questions, Mr Johnson said his meetings with Mr Juncker and Mr Barnier would be an opportunity to discuss the ideas they had been working on.
“We are working incredibly hard to get a deal.
“There is the rough shape of the deal to be done.
“I would say I’m cautiously optimistic,” he said.
Despite Mr Johnson’s upbeat assessment, Downing Street sources played down the prospect of a breakthrough on Monday, cautioning there was still “a long way to go”.