Tony Blair says UK needs a referendum to stop Brexit

Politics 15:08 11.10.2018

The United Kingdom should call a referendum to allow voters to choose between a no-deal Brexit and staying in a reformed European Union as British politics is deadlocked over the issue, former Prime Minister Tony Blair said on Thursday.

Less than six months before the United Kingdom’s exit from the European Union, there is little clarity about how the world’s fifth largest economy and its preeminent international financial centre will trade with the EU after Brexit.

If Prime Minister Theresa May can strike a deal with the EU, she has to get it approved by the British parliament, which is deeply divided over Brexit.

Some members of her ruling Conservative Party are unhappy about the Brexit proposals she has made, and the main opposition Labour Party has indicated it is likely to vote down any deal May brings back.

Blair, a former Labour prime minister, said he did not expect May to be able to get a deal through parliament so the country should be offered a new vote.

“It really is difficult… The alternatives are all worse because if you do get to a blockage in parliament that is what opens up the possibility of going back to the people,” Blair, who was premier from 1997 to 2007, told a Reuters newsmaker in London.

“My view is this only happens if there is blockage in parliament. But if there is blockage in parliament it is a very simple argument. You say, look we have been two and a bit years trying to reach an agreement that works, parliament is blocked.”

Both opponents and supporters of Brexit agree that the divorce is Britain’s most significant geopolitical move since World War Two, though they cast vastly different futures for the $2.9 trillion UK economy and the world’s biggest trading bloc.

Blair has repeatedly called for reversing Brexit, echoing other critics such as French President Emmanuel Macron and billionaire investor George Soros, who have suggested that Britain could still change its mind.

Blair said that if Brexit did happen, the economic dislocation would be such that the United Kingdom would have to pitch to investors that it would be the best place in the world to do business.

Former UK Ambassador: ‘Negotiations between Azerbaijan, Armenia without mediators are big step’

News line

Sadyr Zhaparov: Azerbaijan is building its bright future with confidence
15:15 24.04.2024
Media: About 30 Israeli generals and Shin Bet officers held hostage by Hamas
Media: About 30 Israeli generals and Shin Bet officers held hostage by Hamas
15:00 24.04.2024
Monkeypox epidemic declared in Congo
14:50 24.04.2024
Ilham Aliyev: Visit of President of Kyrgyzstan to Azerbaijan will contribute to strengthening friendly, fraternal relations between two countries
14:40 24.04.2024
President Ilham Aliyev: ‘Azerbaijan is determined to continue active interaction with Kyrgyzstan in all areas’
14:38 24.04.2024
President of Azerbaijan invites his Kyrgyz counterpart to COP29
President of Azerbaijan invites his Kyrgyz counterpart to COP29
14:30 24.04.2024
Azerbaijan’s central bank, US Department of Treasury discuss financial stability
Azerbaijan’s central bank, US Department of Treasury discuss financial stability
14:30 24.04.2024
President of Azerbaijan invites his Kyrgyz counterpart to COP29
14:17 24.04.2024
Presidents of Azerbaijan and Kyrgyzstan hold meeting in limited format
14:08 24.04.2024
Azerbaijan, Kyrgyzstan sign documents
Azerbaijan, Kyrgyzstan sign documents
13:30 24.04.2024
Russian deputy defense minister arrested for two months
Russian deputy defense minister arrested for two months
12:45 24.04.2024
China urges US to stop arming Taiwan
China urges US to stop arming Taiwan
12:30 24.04.2024
The Gulf Observer Highlights Return of Four Gazakh Villages
12:25 24.04.2024
Zelensky thanks the US Senate for aid package
Zelensky thanks the US Senate for aid package
12:15 24.04.2024
Magnitude 5.4 quake hits coast of Tonga
Magnitude 5.4 quake hits coast of Tonga
11:55 24.04.2024
Russian attack injures six people in Ukraine's Kharkiv, governor says
11:44 24.04.2024
Kyrgyz President leaves for Azerbaijan - UPDATED
Kyrgyz President leaves for Azerbaijan - UPDATED
11:34 24.04.2024
CSTO Secretary-General: ‘Armenia should assess security threats’
11:10 24.04.2024
Ammunition found in Azerbaijan’s Khankandi
Ammunition found in Azerbaijan’s Khankandi
10:54 24.04.2024
Umud Mirzayev Condemns Flag Burning Incident in Yerevan, Highlights Role of Armenian Separatists
10:33 24.04.2024
President Ilham Aliyev: Armenia blocks possibility of building land connection with Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic
President Ilham Aliyev: Armenia blocks possibility of building land connection with Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic
10:14 24.04.2024
"Significance of Russian 'Peacekeeper' Withdrawal in South Caucasus - Insights from Political Expert Neil Watson
10:00 24.04.2024
Ilham Aliyev: Education of the young generation is one of our main priorities
09:46 24.04.2024
President: France, India, and Greece weaponizing Armenia against us—we can't just sit and wait
09:30 24.04.2024
Joe Biden to sign Ukraine aid bill on April 24
09:17 24.04.2024
President: Attainable to reach Azerbaijan-Armenia agreement before COP29, even on basic principles
09:02 24.04.2024
President Ilham Aliyev: We never forgot about issue of four villages
08:53 24.04.2024
President of Azerbaijan: 'World to need fossil fuels for many more years'
President of Azerbaijan: 'World to need fossil fuels for many more years'
23:00 23.04.2024
AI giants adopt safety measures to prevent child exploitation
AI giants adopt safety measures to prevent child exploitation
22:00 23.04.2024
Former UK Ambassador: ‘Negotiations between Azerbaijan, Armenia without mediators are big step’
21:00 23.04.2024
Raisi: There could be nothing left of Israel's govt if it attacks again
20:25 23.04.2024
President Aliyev: We aim for COP29's success in addressing climate change issue
20:00 23.04.2024
Lithuania welcomes agreement between Azerbaijan and Armenia
Lithuania welcomes agreement between Azerbaijan and Armenia
19:19 23.04.2024
Ukraine receives armored personnel carriers from Lithuania
Ukraine receives armored personnel carriers from Lithuania
19:00 23.04.2024
Sergey Stankevich: 'Soon, the new era in the history of the South Caucasus will be talked' - INTERVIEW
18:45 23.04.2024
Armenian Parliament rejected draft of opposition regarding border delimitation with Azerbaijan
18:18 23.04.2024
Pundit: Iran sees Azerbaijan as a potential threat to itself
18:00 23.04.2024
Czechia to hold extraordinary meeting of NATO foreign ministers in May
17:48 23.04.2024
Australian PM calls Elon Musk an 'arrogant billionaire' in row over attack footage
Australian PM calls Elon Musk an 'arrogant billionaire' in row over attack footage
17:29 23.04.2024
Umud Mirzayev: 'Revanchist politics led Armenia to disaster'
17:15 23.04.2024
Hamısı