This blog, as readers know, is no fan of Tony Blair, or of his political child New Labour. Both are subject to unrelenting criticism in my Dissertation Turn Left For Power. Indeed whenever he intervenes in UK politics, usually with some anti- Corbyn rant, this blog rushes to slap his argument down. But today he has been, in an article and a radio interview, one of the few rational and informed contributors to the post Brexit debate and this blog applauds his stand.
It is indeed the case that the people voted for Brexit on a prospectus which clearly cannot be met in reality. There will either be Soft Brexit, which will place limits on Parliament’s sovereignty, require some financial contributions with virtually unrestricted free movement of people, to gain tariff free access to the single market, or Hard Brexit which will have potentially major financial and economic implications which could cost jobs and prosperity for a generation. Nobody knows for sure until some indication of the terms on offer are clear.
At that point Blair says the people, either through a parliamentary vote, a general election or another referendum, must have an opportunity to confirm their commitment to Brexit, or to change their minds. There was in June a small margin for Brexit, yes. But not at any price.