The British Ex-Premier Tony Blair is one of the critics of the Brexit-rate of head of government May. A new Referendum would be sensible, an EU-exit without a Deal, however, is a disaster, so Blair in the DW-Interview.
DW: Mr. Blair, what do you think of the Prime Minister, Theresa may’s “Plan B”?
Tony Blair: So, as I understand it, the idea is to change the exit contract. This would of course have to be between the British government and the EU negotiated. I, and others, in the United Kingdom are of the opinion that this method is no good. There is no Agreement about how our future trade relationship with Europe should look like. A group wants us to remain closely associated with Europe, another group that we eliminated entirely from the European trading system. These are very different scenarios, about which the public must decide. Because the house will block probably more. I doubt that Theresa gets the Deal through Parliament. But there is no other Form of the Brexit, a majority. Therefore, it would be reasonable to ask the population.
What would change in a second Referendum?
It would change something, as we would then have a final result. Sometimes people ask whether a second Referendum would not damage democracy. But let us turn again to the people. We ask for no other, we ask the citizens. Behind us are 30 months of negotiations. There is now a much greater understanding of what the Brexit and all the related issues mean. Under these circumstances, it is not unreasonable to ask the citizens whether they want to reconsider their decision once again.
Tony Blair in the DW-Interview in Davos
Regardless of whether there is a second Referendum or not: What will it give for a Brexit, in your opinion?
At the Moment, we just don’t know it. A No-Deal-Brexit would be a disaster for all. The Problem is that the two meaningful Brexit scenarios are very different. One, we stay in the single market or the customs Union. However, this would mean that we would have to keep to the rules of Europe, but our voting rights would lose. That would be a bizarre decision, because the Brexit advocates want to break out of this System. Another solution is to use a third-States-free-trade agreement would be, as it has about Canada. This would, however, continues tearing up the British economy, the power for four and a half decades as a member of the EU, business, trade relations, the invested.
We have, therefore, a Brexit, which is pointless, and that is painful. The are no good options. Therefore, the Parliament does not come on. The Problem with may’s Deal is that he is absolutely vague about the future. Neither for Europe nor for great Britain, it would be reasonable to separate without knowing what the future will bring.
How would you have acted in the place of Theresa May?
You would have to explain to the people the different possibilities, the Prime Minister looks as a kind of teacher of the Nation, says, “times, these are our options, and the they mean. The Parliament must now decide.” But if the Parliament can’t make a decision, because the members cannot agree on a Brexit, the work from their point of view, it is not wrong to say: In the case of a decision of this magnitude, it is important to ask the population.
What have you done in your term incorrectly, which could have led to the fear of the British, the conditions of the EU membership to be a bad thing?
During my tenure there was in Europe a lot of Controversy, but we have always argued that Britain should be a part of Europe – in spite of all our criticism of the European System. The Germans criticize Europe, but also, to do all the. The mistake was to take care of little problems, on which the EU is founded on skepticism: immigration and the people who feel left behind by globalisation. If I were in the office, I would say, we have to deal with these points. Even if you tried to stop the Brexit, should you know what has made the desire so great to leave the EU. You have to deal with the points of criticism, otherwise you get Huge problems. The tragedy is that the Brexit solves none of the underlying problems. This is the Dilemma in which the United Kingdom is, and we need to find a way out.
How will Britain look like in the next ten years? It will still be so strong?
Look, we experience in the UK a pretty in-depth and crisis-driven debate. But Britain is a great country and the British are great people. We will bounce back. I am a passionate Brexit opponent, but if we pull him through, we sort us and visit us again move forward. It is also not only to Britain but also to Europe. If you removed a strong economy, an important political Player in Europe, Europe will be weakened. Recently, a letter by leading German politicians was published, was very helpful and reasonable. The British and the Europeans must understand that Our future should be a common.
Tony Blair of the Labour party in 1997 until 2007, the British Prime Minister.
The Interview guide Ben Fajzullin.