Former chief of Secret Intelligence Service MI6 Sir John Sawers backs #FinalSayForAll
In a speech he expresses doubts about whether the Europe question will truly be settled through a tiny majority in parliament endorsing the 52-48 referendum result.
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In a speech he expresses doubts about whether the Europe question will truly be settled through a tiny majority in parliament endorsing the 52-48 referendum result.
prod-upp-image-read.ft.com/78b25546-d399-…
“I believe that all of us, the advocates of Britain leaving the EU as well as those arguing we should still remain a member, should support a second referendum,” he says.
“A national decision by referendum would at least be final and would allow us to start healing the divisions that have opened up over the Brexit question. Only a second referendum will put the issue to rest.”
Sir John’s take on Salisbury:
“I don’t believe Russia would have used a nerve agent on the streets of an American or German city. The consequences would have been too great, the operation would not have been authorised. But Russia was willing to treat Britain with contempt . . .
“I don’t believe Russia would have used a nerve agent on the streets of an American or German city. The consequences would have been too great, the operation would not have been authorised. But Russia was willing to treat Britain with contempt . . .
“Our very weakness as a result of Brexit, as a result of fraying transatlantic ties was an attraction for Russia. The weaker a country the more attractive a target it is for bullies.”
Sir John makes the argument that Britain will be strategically weaker as result of Brexit.
Sir John makes the argument that Britain will be strategically weaker as result of Brexit.
On Trump:
“Instead of working with allies to forge common solutions to these problems, the new American method is to kick over the table and leave others to pick up the pieces. Just at a time when America is stepping back from its enlightened leadership in the world ...
“Instead of working with allies to forge common solutions to these problems, the new American method is to kick over the table and leave others to pick up the pieces. Just at a time when America is stepping back from its enlightened leadership in the world ...
when great power politics is resuming its dominance at cost of the rules based intern’l order, as Europe faces its biggest political challenges for 70yrs, Britain is marching boldly out of our big protective regional grouping to face cold winds of the modern world on our own.”
Sir John believes a second referendum may be the only way to build a national consensus. Unless that consensus is achieved “the Europe Question will continue to dog British politics for years to come, and may well contribute to the break-up of U.K.”
