Remoaner and former PM John Major blasts ‘over-optimistic’ Theresa May over ‘unreal’ Brexit vision
In his first intervention since the landmark vote on June 23, the former Tory leader and PM called on her to be “realistic about the timescale and complexity of the huge undertaking”
SIR John Major has told Theresa May she must prepare Britain for the big compromises she will have to make during Brexit negotiations or risk bitter disappointment.
In a withering dig at the PM’s rhetoric so far, the former Tory boss insisted she has so far offered an “unreal and over-optimistic” post-EU vision.
The two year-long exit negotiations will be very hard and potentially fail, the ex-Premier also warned.
And the poorest who voted for change the most, whose hopes “are sky high”, will be hit hardest if “events go badly”, he said.
In a withering first intervention since the landmark vote on June 23, Sir John said: “Obstacles are brushed aside as of no consequence, whilst opportunities are inflated beyond any reasonable expectation of delivery.”
The 73-year-old insisted: “I set out these difficulties, not because I don’t think deals can be done – some certainly can – but to be realistic about the timescale and complexity of the huge undertaking that lies ahead."
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He added: “It is crucial to business and the public – that our expectations are consistent with what can be delivered.
“Negotiations are all about give and take.
“If anyone genuinely believes that Europe will concede all we wish for – and exact no price for doing so – then they are extraordinarily naïve.”
Failing to deliver on huge expectations will only “sow further distrust between politics and the public”, he insisted, adding: “It would be better to underplay than overplay expectations”.
The ex-PM’s intervention came in a speech to Chatham House think tank, dubbed “Britain and Europe – a reality check”.
The broadside from Sir John – who spent his seven years in No10 battling Eurosceptic “bastards” in his Cabinet – will infuriate some Leave campaigners.
The former Tory leader said he still thinks Brexit will be “an historic mistake”.
And Leave voters will also be angered by his claim the Brexit decision has “energised” the far right anti-immigrant parties across Europe.
But also conceded the government “cannot ignore the nation’s decision” and must now deliver on it – in a marked difference to his successor in No10 Tony Blair, who is urging a popular revolution against the referendum result.
Sir John also warns a hard Brexit without any trade deal that would see Britain fall back on WTO tariffs would be “high risk” and threaten social security system and the NHS.
He insisted: “There is a choice to be made, a price to be paid; we cannot move to a radical enterprise economy without moving away from a welfare state”.
A hard Brexit will also fuel the likelihood of a second referendum on Scottish independence, Sir John added.
And Britain post-Brexit will also be more dependent on “a less predictable, less reliable” US under Donald Trump.
Sir John also made a pointed dig at Boris Johnson’s quips about other EU countries for worsening the UK’s chance at getting a good deal.
He said: “A little more charm, and a lot less cheap rhetoric, would do much to protect the UK’s interests”.
The former Tory leader also lashed out at Brexiteers’ bids to silence Remain campaigners criticisms of Brexit planning.
He said: “Shouting down their legitimate comment is against all our traditions of tolerance.
“It does nothing to inform and everything to demean – and it is time it stopped.”
Downing Street refused to respond to Sir John’s criticisms over expectation management directly.
A No10 spokesman said: “The Government is determined to make a success of our departure from the European Union – and to move beyond the language of leave and remain to unite our country.
“The Prime Minister set out her twelve negotiating objectives for Brexit in January.
“We have a clear plan to get the best deal for the United Kingdom and are going to get on with the job of delivering it.”
Sir John’s intervention came as the Lords continued debating the Article 50 bill to authorise Mrs May to begin exit talks.
The composer peer said he would make sure he voted in the Lords with the government this week despite having fought to stay in the EU, and currently having four musicals on Broadway in New York for the first time.
