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Tony Blair calls for people to 'rise up' against Brexit | Tony Blair calls for people to 'rise up' against Brexit |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Tony Blair is to announce his "mission" to persuade Britons' to "rise up" and change their minds on Brexit. | Tony Blair is to announce his "mission" to persuade Britons' to "rise up" and change their minds on Brexit. |
The former prime minister will say in a speech later that people voted in the referendum "without knowledge of the true terms of Brexit". | The former prime minister will say in a speech later that people voted in the referendum "without knowledge of the true terms of Brexit". |
He will say he wants to "build support for finding a way out from the present rush over the cliff's edge". | He will say he wants to "build support for finding a way out from the present rush over the cliff's edge". |
But former Cabinet minister Iain Duncan Smith said Mr Blair's comments were arrogant and utterly undemocratic. | But former Cabinet minister Iain Duncan Smith said Mr Blair's comments were arrogant and utterly undemocratic. |
Downing Street has said it is "absolutely committed" to seeing Brexit through. | Downing Street has said it is "absolutely committed" to seeing Brexit through. |
Prime Minister Theresa May wants to trigger formal Brexit talks by the end of March - a move which was backed in the House of Commons by MPs last week. | Prime Minister Theresa May wants to trigger formal Brexit talks by the end of March - a move which was backed in the House of Commons by MPs last week. |
'Expose relentlessly' | |
Mr Blair, who was UK prime minister between 1997 and 2007, will say in his speech to the pro-European campaign group Open Britain that those driving a withdrawal from the European Union "always wanted a hard Brexit". | Mr Blair, who was UK prime minister between 1997 and 2007, will say in his speech to the pro-European campaign group Open Britain that those driving a withdrawal from the European Union "always wanted a hard Brexit". |
"Indeed even the term 'Hard Brexit' requires amendment. The policy is now 'Brexit at any cost'," he will say. | "Indeed even the term 'Hard Brexit' requires amendment. The policy is now 'Brexit at any cost'," he will say. |
"Our challenge is to expose, relentlessly, the actual cost. | |
"To show how this decision was based on imperfect knowledge, which will now become informed knowledge. | |
"To calculate in 'easy to understand' ways how proceeding will cause real damage to the country and its citizens and to build support for finding a way out from the present rush over the cliff's edge." | |
Mr Blair, who campaigned to Remain in the EU, will say he accepts the verdict of June's referendum, but would recommend looking again at Brexit when "we have a clear sense of where we're going". | Mr Blair, who campaigned to Remain in the EU, will say he accepts the verdict of June's referendum, but would recommend looking again at Brexit when "we have a clear sense of where we're going". |
All you need to know about Brexit | All you need to know about Brexit |
The Leave result in six key maps | The Leave result in six key maps |
UK warned over 'divide and rule' Brexit | UK warned over 'divide and rule' Brexit |
He will also say the debate is being driven by immigration "which I fully accept is a substantial issue". | He will also say the debate is being driven by immigration "which I fully accept is a substantial issue". |
"Nonetheless, we have moved in a few months from a debate about what sort of Brexit, involving a balanced consideration of all the different possibilities; to the primacy of one consideration - namely controlling immigration from the EU - without any real discussion as to why, and when Brexit doesn't affect the immigration people most care about." | |
A government spokesman said the British people had expressed their view very clearly on 23 June, adding: "There will be no second referendum." | A government spokesman said the British people had expressed their view very clearly on 23 June, adding: "There will be no second referendum." |
Iain Duncan Smith, who was a prominent Leave campaigner, said Mr Blair's comments were arrogant, utterly undemocratic and showed that the political elite was completely out of touch with the British people. | Iain Duncan Smith, who was a prominent Leave campaigner, said Mr Blair's comments were arrogant, utterly undemocratic and showed that the political elite was completely out of touch with the British people. |
'16 million people' | |
Supporters of leaving the EU argue it will free up the UK to trade better globally and give the government better control of immigration. | Supporters of leaving the EU argue it will free up the UK to trade better globally and give the government better control of immigration. |
Previously, Mr Blair has called for the views of the "16 million" people who had backed remaining in the EU not to be ignored. | Previously, Mr Blair has called for the views of the "16 million" people who had backed remaining in the EU not to be ignored. |
He has argued that there has to be a way, either "through Parliament, or an election, or possibly through another referendum, in which people express their view". | He has argued that there has to be a way, either "through Parliament, or an election, or possibly through another referendum, in which people express their view". |
Earlier this month, MPs overwhelmingly agreed to let the government begin the UK's departure from the EU by voting for the Brexit bill. | Earlier this month, MPs overwhelmingly agreed to let the government begin the UK's departure from the EU by voting for the Brexit bill. |
The draft legislation was approved by 494 votes to 122, and now moves to the House of Lords. | The draft legislation was approved by 494 votes to 122, and now moves to the House of Lords. |
The government has promised to invoke Article 50 - setting formal talks with the EU in motion - by the end of next month, but it requires Parliament's permission before doing so. | The government has promised to invoke Article 50 - setting formal talks with the EU in motion - by the end of next month, but it requires Parliament's permission before doing so. |