UK Foreign Secretary says second Brexit referendum would be ‘devastating’ for Britain
In a bid garner support for Theresa May’s EU withdrawal agreement Jeremy Hunt warned that a second referendum would create social division in the UK.
UK Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt warned against using a second referendum as a means of stopping Brexit while speaking at the International Institute for Strategic Studies in Singapore, arguing that it would lead to ‘devastating’ social division in the Britain.
‘The social consequences in one of the oldest democracies in the world of not going ahead and leaving the EU on [29 March] as we’ve been instructed to do would be devastating,’ Hunt said at the event.
Brexit vote revisited
Hunt is hoping his comments will help Theresa May get her deal approved by parliament, with MPs due to vote on the prime minister’s EU withdrawal agreement in mid-January.
Parliament was initially set to vote on May’s Brexit deal in December 2018 only for the prime minister to postpone after cabinet ministers and aides warned that she would be unable to get her EU withdrawal agreement through the House of Commons in its current form.
Since postponing the Brexit vote, the prime minister has met with officials in Brussels to discuss the controversial Irish backstop and try to gain assurances from the EU that the UK will not find itself ‘permanently trapped’ in the bloc’s customs union, Hunt said.
The path for post-Brexit Britain
At the event in Singapore, Hunt also said that post-Brexit Britain could learn many lessons from the island city-state, which was formed after its separated from the Malaysian peninsula back in 1965.
He argued that Singapore’s independence ‘plugged [it] into the international economic grid’, with the country quickly becoming a major leader in global trade.
‘The UK probably has better connections across the globe than nearly any other country,” he continued.
‘But we cannot depend on sentiment or affection to be relevant to others. Nor should we assume that because of past achievements others will have an interest in our future success.’
This information has been prepared by IG, a trading name of IG Markets Ltd and IG Markets South Africa Limited. In addition to the disclaimer below, the material on this page does not contain a record of our trading prices, or an offer of, or solicitation for, a transaction in any financial instrument. IG accepts no responsibility for any use that may be made of these comments and for any consequences that result. No representation or warranty is given as to the accuracy or completeness of this information. Consequently any person acting on it does so entirely at their own risk. Any research provided does not have regard to the specific investment objectives, financial situation and needs of any specific person who may receive it. It has not been prepared in accordance with legal requirements designed to promote the independence of investment research and as such is considered to be a marketing communication. Although we are not specifically constrained from dealing ahead of our recommendations we do not seek to take advantage of them before they are provided to our clients. See full non-independent research disclaimer and quarterly summary.
See an opportunity to trade?
Go long or short on more than 17,000 markets with IG.
Trade CFDs on our award-winning platform, with low spreads on indices, shares, commodities and more.
Live prices on most popular markets
- Forex
- Shares
- Indices
Prices above are subject to our website terms and agreements. Prices are indicative only
