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  1. Politics
28 October 2016

Tony Blair suggests second EU referendum: “Remain voters are not an elite“

The former Labour PM said the facts of Brexit may change minds. 

By Julia Rampen

Tony Blair has floated the idea of a second EU referendum after the terms of the Brexit deal has become clear.

The former Labour Prime Minister told the BBC “you can’t just dimiss the 16m people” who voted Remain.

He said: “If it becomes clear that this is either a deal that doesn’t make it worth our while leaving, or alternatively a deal that’s going to be so serious in its implications people may decide they don’t want to go, there’s got to be some way, either through Parliament, or an election, or possibly through another referendum, in which people express their view.”

Asked whether he was telling the 17m voters who wanted to leave the EU that they were wrong, he said: “You can’t just dismiss the 16m people either and say their views are of no account. 

“And by the way, that 16m don’t represent an elite, they represent people who genuinely believe that in the 21st century for Britain to leave the biggest political union and the biggest commercial market right on our doorstep is a serious mistake.”

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There is no way the Brexit decision can be reversed “unless it becomes clear that once people see the facts they change their mind,” he said.

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  1. Politics
28 October 2016

Tony Blair suggests second EU referendum: “Remain voters are not an elite”

The former Labour PM said the facts of Brexit may change minds. 

By Julia Rampen

Tony Blair has floated the idea of a second EU referendum after the terms of the Brexit deal has become clear.

The former Labour Prime Minister told the BBC “you can’t just dimiss the 16m people” who voted Remain.

He said: “If it becomes clear that this is either a deal that doesn’t make it worth our while leaving, or alternatively a deal that’s going to be so serious in its implications people may decide they don’t want to go, there’s got to be some way, either through Parliament, or an election, or possibly through another referendum, in which people express their view.”

Asked whether he was telling the 17m voters who wanted to leave the EU that they were wrong, he said: “You can’t just dismiss the 16m people either and say their views are of no account. 

“And by the way, that 16m don’t represent an elite, they represent people who genuinely believe that in the 21st century for Britain to leave the biggest political union and the biggest commercial market right on our doorstep is a serious mistake.”

There is no way the Brexit decision can be reversed “unless it becomes clear that once people see the facts they change their mind,” he said.

Content from our partners
Can green energy solutions deliver for nature and people?
"Why wouldn't you?" Joining the charge towards net zero
The road to clean power 2030