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John Kerry appeals for calm transitional period in Brexit aftermath John Kerry appeals for calm transitional period in Brexit aftermath
(35 minutes later)
US secretary of state John Kerry has urged European Union leaders not to “lose their heads” and take revenge on the United Kingdom, after its decision to quit the EU, adding that there was a need for “wise choices” or the pressures on EU disintegration would intensify. The US secretary of state, John Kerry, has urged EU leaders not to “lose their heads” and take revenge on the UK after its decision to leave, saying there is a need for “wise choices” or else the pressure for EU disintegration will intensify.
Kerry was in London to see David Cameron and the foreign secretary Philip Hammond to reassert “the bonds of the special relationship” between the US and UK despite the UK voting to leave the European Union. Kerry was in London to meet David Cameron and the foreign secretary, Philip Hammond, to reassert “the bonds of the special relationship” between the US and UK following the referendum result.
He said: “The referendum decision reflected the will of the British people and we respect that. It is the essence of democracy.”He said: “The referendum decision reflected the will of the British people and we respect that. It is the essence of democracy.”
But he urged caution on all sides in the talks about Britain’s future relationship with the EU, adding that wise choices may require time and an absence of anger.But he urged caution on all sides in the talks about Britain’s future relationship with the EU, adding that wise choices may require time and an absence of anger.
The secretary of state refused to row back from Barack Obama’s warning that the UK might be at the back of queue in any future trade talks if leave vote won, but a final judgment would depend on the nature of the UK-EU trade relationship. Kerry refused to row back from Barack Obama’s warning that the UK might be at the back of queue in any future trade talks if the leave vote won, but said a final judgment would depend on the nature of the UK-EU trade relationship.
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“I think it is absolutely essential that we stay focused on how in this transitional period no one loses their head, nobody goes off half-cocked, people don’t start ginning up scatterbrained or revengeful premises,” Kerry said. “I think it is absolutely essential that we stay focused on how in this transitional period no one loses their head, nobody goes off half-cocked, people don’t start ginning up scatterbrained or revengeful premises,” he said.
He repeatedly said that lengthy and complex talks lay ahead to ensure a trading relationship between the EU and UK that worked. He said there was no point in anger leading either side to “cutting off their nose to spite their face”. Kerry repeatedly said that lengthy and complex talks lay ahead to ensure a trading relationship between the EU and UK that worked. He said there was no point in anger leading either side to “cutting off their nose to spite their face”.
In his remarks, Hammond admitted that the wounds from the referendum vote were raw and there was a fear in the EU of contagion from the Brexit vote. He acknowledged that there was a new rightwing populist mood spreading across Europe and the US and added that everyone had to think deeply about combatting it. The populism went beyond revulsion with the EU, Hammond said. Hammond admitted that the wounds from the referendum vote were raw and there was a fear in the EU of contagion from the Brexit vote. He acknowledged there was a new rightwing populist mood spreading across Europe and the US, and added that everyone had to think deeply about how to combat it.
The foreign secretary said the world was seeing a phenomenon that was about more than the EU or globalisation or a view about the political establishment. “Something is stirring,” he said, adding that the central question for the future of Britain’s relationship with the EU lay in balancing freedom of movement against access to the single market. He said the world was seeing a phenomenon that was about more than the EU or globalisation or a view about the political establishment. “Something is stirring,” he said, adding that the central question for the future of Britain’s relationship with the EU lay in balancing freedom of movement against access to the single market.
Earlier, Kerry met with European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker and Federica Mogherini, the EU’s foreign affairs chief, during a crunch visit to Brussels underscoring the scale of the political crisis that has engulfed Europe over the last three days. Earlier, Kerry met the European commission president, Jean-Claude Juncker, and Federica Mogherini, the EU’s foreign affairs chief, in Brussels.
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David Cameron has said the UK will not officially notify Brussels that it will leave the EU until a new prime minister takes office in autumn. But several EU leaders, including European Parliament President Martin Schulz, want the UK to start negotiations to leave the EU this week. Cameron has said the UK will not officially notify Brussels that it will leave the EU until a new prime minister takes office in the autumn. But several EU leaders, including the European parliament president, Martin Schulz, want the UK to start negotiations to leave the EU this week.
Kerry said leaders should “implement the will of the people and do so in a way that is responsible, sensitive, thoughtful and, I hope, strategic”.Kerry said leaders should “implement the will of the people and do so in a way that is responsible, sensitive, thoughtful and, I hope, strategic”.