'The country made its views clear’ Liam Fox responds to emboldened Remainers
CONSERVATIVE MP Liam Fox has hit back at suggestions that Theresa May’s election performance represents a rejection of her Brexit strategy from the British voters.
Dr Fox believes controlling migration is more of a priority than EU trade
Dr Fox sees the fact more than 80 per cent of the country picked parties that want the UK out of the single market as a fresh endorsement.
The Secretary of State for International Trade also stated that the UK would still vote to leave the EU if another referendum was held today.
Dr Fox said: “It fills me with a great deal of irritation when I hear people saying ‘those who voted for Brexit didn’t know what they were voting for’ or ‘they only did it because they lacked understanding or were hoodwinked.
“I find that hugely condescending. You know, the British voters have had a long time to think about European Union membership and they gave us a clear instruction.
“They didn’t say ‘would you mind thinking about our European Union membership’. They said ‘we ought to leave the European Union’. It’s done, it’s over.
“And those who constantly want to revise the issue, I would give them a dictionary and ask them what they don’t understand about ‘referendum’ and ‘binary’.”
The Eurosceptic MP made it clear that he believes controlling migration is more of a priority than EU trade.
He added: “They wanted us to control our borders. We cannot control our borders when we have unlimited free movement. We gave that commitment, we have to deliver on it.”
Dr Fox praised Theresa May's resilience
Chancellor Philip Hammond, by contrast, has publicly called for a more business-focussed Brexit – as opposed to prioritising immigration.
Mr Hammond also confirmed this week that the UK would end its membership of the EU customs union.
The UK is set to start trade talks with the US within weeks, with Dr Fox personally preparing to lead the British side of the working group.
The 55-year-old has made clear that a free-trade deal with the US is one of the biggest targets on his post-Brexit checklist.
US President Donald Trump has publicly called for a US-UK trade deal
Tusk hails 'important' European Union during speech in Brussels
The former Conservative leadership candidate also praised Theresa May’s resilience amid growing concerns over her leadership.
He said that the Prime Minister was “clearly disappointed at the outcome of the election”.
But he added: “She’s done what you would expect her to do, which is to throw herself into making the best of the situation in which we find ourselves.”