Former British prime minister David Cameron does not regret holding the Brexit referendum because Britain never loved the European Union but just wanted the economic benefits of the bloc.
“I don’t regret holding the referendum because I think the issue of Britain and the European Union was poisoning British politics not just in my own party but more broadly,” Mr Cameron told the Arab Strategy Forum in Dubai yesterday.
“Britain never loved the European Union. I have never loved the European Union. The institutions of the European Union gave us trouble. We were in Europe for utility, for trade, for cooperation, for working together.”
The UK’s historic vote to leave the 28-member European Union on June 24 has unsettled the country after more than 40 years of membership.
Sterling plummeted, investor confidence was shaken, and the slow and unknown process of untangling the UK from the EU is taking a toll on the UK’s economy.
“Britain didn’t vote to leave the European Union because it was unhappy about free trade or because it was unhappy about trade deals – that has nothing to do with the argument.
“In the end Britain left, voted to leave because I think people thought we are not going to be able to have the control over our own affairs that we wanted if we stayed in this organisation,” said Mr Cameron.
Mr Cameron said that Brexit was unlikely to lead to other members leaving the bloc, despite the rise of populism and upcoming elections in countries such as France.
The French elections in particular will be important, where far-right National Front leader Marine Le Pen is making waves in the euro zone’s second largest economy. She has hailed Brexit and promised if elected president to hold a “Frexit” referendum.
“We didn’t like the nature of the political union that’s why we left in the end,” said Mr Cameron. “Other countries, I don’t think do feel quite the same about Europe. They are more enthusiastic, about the European Union, so as a result I wouldn’t predict its breakup.”
As a result of Brexit, the European Union may change, but not necessarily for the better. “I think without Britain it (the EU) may become a little bit more protectionist, it may become a little bit more inward-looking and I’m afraid it will be less keen on the Atlantic relationship with the United States.”
dalsaadi@thenational.ae
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