26 June 2016 • 10:00pm
This EU referendum has been the
most extraordinary political event of our lifetime. Never in our history
have so many people been asked to decide a big question about the
nation’s future. Never have so many thought so deeply, or wrestled so
hard with their consciences, in an effort to come up with the right
answer.
It has been a gruelling campaign
in which we have seen divisions between family and friends and
colleagues – sometimes entirely amicable, sometimes, alas, less so. In
the end, there was a clear result. More than 17 million people voted to leave the EU
– more than have ever assented to any proposition in our democratic
history. Some now cast doubt on their motives, or even on their
understanding of what was at stake.
It is said that those who voted Leave were mainly driven by anxieties about immigration. I do not believe that is so. After meeting thousands of people in the course of the campaign, I can tell you that the number one issue was control – a sense that British democracy was being undermined by the EU system, and that we should restore to the people that vital power: to kick out their rulers at elections, and to choose new ones.
I believe that millions of people
who voted Leave were also inspired by the belief that Britain is a
great country, and that outside the job-destroying coils of EU
bureaucracy we can survive and thrive as never before. I think that they
are right in their analysis, and right in their choice. And yet we who
agreed with this majority verdict must accept that it was not entirely
overwhelming.
There were more than 16 million who wanted to remain. They are our neighbours, brothers and sisters who did what they passionately believe was right. In a democracy majorities may decide but everyone is of equal value. We who are part of this narrow majority must do everything we can to reassure the Remainers. We must reach out, we must heal, we must build bridges – because it is clear that some have feelings of dismay, and of loss, and confusion.
There were more than 16 million who wanted to remain. They are our neighbours, brothers and sisters who did what they passionately believe was right. In a democracy majorities may decide but everyone is of equal value. We who are part of this narrow majority must do everything we can to reassure the Remainers. We must reach out, we must heal, we must build bridges – because it is clear that some have feelings of dismay, and of loss, and confusion.
For Part 2 see:
Boris Johnson: I cannot stress too much that Britain is part of Europe–and always will be (Part 2)
For Regional Results, see:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/06/26/i-cannot-stress-too-much-that-britain-is-part-of-europe--and-alw/
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Key questions | Scotland and Brexit
Does Scotland want Britain to leave the EU?
No. Northern Ireland and Scotland are the UK’s most pro-EU regions with almost 62% of people in Scotland and 55% in Northern Ireland voting to remain.Will Brexit lead to Scotland leaving the UK?
It has certainly raised new questions about independence in Scotland and could force Scots to consider whether they want to be in the British union or the European union.What has pro-Remain Nicola Sturgeon said about it?
Nicola Sturgeon has thrown the future of the United Kingdom into doubt by saying a second independence referendum is “highly likely” in the next two-and-a-half years following UK’s vote to leave the EU.She claimed in a press conference at Bute House, her official residence in Edinburgh, where she was flanked by the Saltire and the EU flag, that it was "democratically unacceptable" for Scotland to be taken out of the EU against its will.
Every part of the country voted to remain, and she said her government would now begin preparing legislation to enable another independence vote if the Scottish Parliament decided it was appropriate.
The First Minister added: "I intend to take all possible steps and explore all possible options to give effect to how people in Scotland voted, in other words to secure our continuing place in the EU, and in the single market in particular."
She added that it was “a statement of the obvious that a second referendum must be on the table, and it is on the table”.
The last battle to keep Scotland in the union was fought less than two years ago. Supporters of independence were defeated, winning 45pc of the vote.
What does the Scottish arm of Vote Leave say?
They say Brexit will mean Scottish voters will have far more freedom to control fisheries, farming and health policy.
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