Eurosceptic fury as ex-Cabinet Secretary suggests Britain could REMAIN in the European Union despite referendum result
Gus O'Donnell claims we could remain in a 'broader, more closely' aligned EU
EUROSCEPTIC politicians have blasted a former Cabinet minister who has sparked fury by saying Brexit is not inevitable – despite the referendum result.
Leave won the referendum on June 23 with 52% of the vote but former Cabinet Secretary Gus O’Donnell claims instead of getting out of the EU the country could instead remain in a “broader, more loosely aligned” European Union.
Tory backbenchers said the comments, by the ex-head of the civil service, illustrate the mindset infecting the overwhelmingly pro-Europe Whitehall.
His response was echoed by fellow Tory MP Andrew Bridgen who said mandarins would be “stepping beyond their remit”.
Downing Street said Theresa May is very clear it is the job of the civil service to implement the decisions of their ministers.
It has emerged when the discussion about Brexit takes place it will be part of “political cabinet” – meaning there will be no civil servants in the room.
A Downing Street source said: “She is very clear that Brexit means Brexit, and the Government needs to get on and deliver it.
“It’s top of the in-tray for all secretaries of state and it is for them to set policy.
“It is for the civil service to deliver on that – she is very clear.”
Mail Online reports that during Sir Gus O’Donnell’s time as head of the civil service, between 2005 and 2011, his power was so great he was rumoured to be known as GOD – after his initials.
Talking to The Times the 63-year-old peer said: “Lots of people will say: ‘We’ve had the referendum, we’ve decided to go out, so that’s it, it’s all over’.
“But it very much depends what happens to public opinion and whether the EU changes before then.
“It might be that the broader, more loosely aligned group, is something that the UK is happy being a member of.
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“He added that leaving would mean a huge administrative and legislative change because so much European law had been implemented in the past 40 years.
“My instinct is we will almost certainly stick with them [the EU rules and laws] and say, ‘OK, we’ll keep them for now”, so you can leave with everything in place.’”
But he did acknowledge “that’s not what people voted for”.
Eurosceptic Steve Baker, who headed up the Conservatives for Britain group before the referendum, said: “Any official working to oppose our exit from the EU should be summarily fired. If necessary, emergency legislation should be passed to make it possible.”
And North West Leicestershire MP Andrew Bridgen added: “‘Lord O’Donnell’s comments give an indication of the civil service mindset, and I urge the Prime Minister and members of the Cabinet to reject these views and listen to the people.
“There is an element of civil service groupthink.
“Lord O’Donnell seems to think that despite more people voting for Brexit than anything else in the electoral history of our country, politicians should have the right to ignore it.
“This is the attitude that has created divisions between the electorate and the people who they represent.”
Peter Bone, a Tory backbencher who was part of the Grassroots Out Brexit campaign group, said: “What Gus O’Donnell’s comments show is that there is undoubtedly an establishment view that they want to ignore the British people’s voice and plough on with their own agenda.
“That’s something that those of us who campaigned to vote to leave the EU have to remember.
“To counter that we’ve got a Prime Minister committed to Brexit, and we have David Davis, Liam Fox and Boris [Johnson].
“While undoubtedly there are significant forces that will want to halt Brexit, I’m sure the Prime Minister is determined to drive it through.”