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George Osborne: Brexit is for the rich who can afford recessions George Osborne: Brexit is for the rich who can afford recessions
(2 months later)
George Osborne has said Brexit “is for the richest in our country” and warned of the potential impact on the economy if the UK votes to leave the European Union.George Osborne has said Brexit “is for the richest in our country” and warned of the potential impact on the economy if the UK votes to leave the European Union.
He said a leave vote would cause such damage that it would not be possible to fund all areas of public spending, potentially requiring cuts to health, education or welfare.He said a leave vote would cause such damage that it would not be possible to fund all areas of public spending, potentially requiring cuts to health, education or welfare.
“We have got to make sure people understand the big economic risks facing the country, leading to real economic consequences for families,” Osborne said. “It’s the people on the lower incomes, the people who have got less job security, that will be hit first if there’s a recession. Brexit is for the richest in our country, they can afford recessions.”“We have got to make sure people understand the big economic risks facing the country, leading to real economic consequences for families,” Osborne said. “It’s the people on the lower incomes, the people who have got less job security, that will be hit first if there’s a recession. Brexit is for the richest in our country, they can afford recessions.”
He said the British people were not “quitters” and the country should not retreat from its role on the world stage. He also said he wanted to continue in office in the event of a vote to leave, to help “pick up the pieces”.He said the British people were not “quitters” and the country should not retreat from its role on the world stage. He also said he wanted to continue in office in the event of a vote to leave, to help “pick up the pieces”.
Related: Cameron should let new voices make case for remain, says Labour
Addressing the impact of Brexit on the UK’s global standing, he said: “We are not quitters. Britain has always gone out there, we have probably been more influential than any other country in shaping our world and the way it has thought about itself, the way we interact as nations.”Addressing the impact of Brexit on the UK’s global standing, he said: “We are not quitters. Britain has always gone out there, we have probably been more influential than any other country in shaping our world and the way it has thought about itself, the way we interact as nations.”
Answering questions from a Sky News audience on Facebook Live, he said: “For us to retreat I think would be a real dereliction of duty. We need a strong, united alliance of western nations at the moment.”Answering questions from a Sky News audience on Facebook Live, he said: “For us to retreat I think would be a real dereliction of duty. We need a strong, united alliance of western nations at the moment.”
Asked what a leave vote would mean for the health service, Osborne said: “If we quit, the NHS will be worse off.”Asked what a leave vote would mean for the health service, Osborne said: “If we quit, the NHS will be worse off.”
The chancellor, who ditched planned cuts to personal independence payments following a backlash after his budget, said Brexit could put cuts to support for disabled people back on the agenda.The chancellor, who ditched planned cuts to personal independence payments following a backlash after his budget, said Brexit could put cuts to support for disabled people back on the agenda.
“How can a poorer country afford exactly the same on the health service, the education system, support for the vulnerable like disabled people, support for the rural communities like this one, support for housing?” he said.“How can a poorer country afford exactly the same on the health service, the education system, support for the vulnerable like disabled people, support for the rural communities like this one, support for housing?” he said.
“If the country’s poorer, it’s got less money. Everybody accepts that if we leave the EU we are trading less, there’s lots of uncertainty, businesses aren’t investing and there is less money coming into the exchequer.“If the country’s poorer, it’s got less money. Everybody accepts that if we leave the EU we are trading less, there’s lots of uncertainty, businesses aren’t investing and there is less money coming into the exchequer.
“So we need to think this through. It’s not possible to fund all these things if the country is poorer.”“So we need to think this through. It’s not possible to fund all these things if the country is poorer.”
Osborne indicated he would remain in post if the country votes leave on 23 June, following David Cameron’s lead.Osborne indicated he would remain in post if the country votes leave on 23 June, following David Cameron’s lead.
“I serve at the discretion of the prime minister,” he said. “He is clear he’s staying, and there will be a huge job to be done picking up the pieces of the country.“I serve at the discretion of the prime minister,” he said. “He is clear he’s staying, and there will be a huge job to be done picking up the pieces of the country.
“I would have to make sure we are dealing with the economic situation, which would of course be pretty difficult.”“I would have to make sure we are dealing with the economic situation, which would of course be pretty difficult.”
Osborne was speaking during a visit to north Wales, where he said one of the region’s most prominent historical figures, the former prime minister David Lloyd George, would have backed a vote to remain.Osborne was speaking during a visit to north Wales, where he said one of the region’s most prominent historical figures, the former prime minister David Lloyd George, would have backed a vote to remain.
“I think Lloyd George would definitely be for remaining in the EU,” he said.“I think Lloyd George would definitely be for remaining in the EU,” he said.