'This is DEMOCRACY’ Hague hits back as world leaders ask how UK will 'get round' Brexit
LORD Hague has revealed how he told business leaders and politicians around the world “this really is a democracy” when they asked him how Britain would “get round” Britain’s Brexit result.
Hague is a staunch Remainer
Once a staunch Remainer, the former Tory leader has now admitted the “argument” to stay in the European Union is “over” after the number of people who voted to leave the Brussels club was “higher than the number of votes cast for any government in our history”.
Lord Hague appeared to throw his weight behind the Leave camp as he conceded the “message has now got through”.
Writing for the Daily Telegraph, he said: “Everywhere I went abroad, business leaders and politicians asked me how we woo;d get round the result and whether we would lose heart about leaving when it got difficult.
verywhere I went abroad, business leaders and politicians asked me how we woo;d get round the result and whether we would lose heart about leaving when it got difficult
“I explained to them that this really is a democracy. The electorate voted to leave the EU and therefore we leave.
“To me and many of my former colleagues in government who preferred to remain the argument was over.”
Lord Hague also backed Philip Hammond’s proposed “transitional” deal in the period following Brexit after a weekend of infighting in Theresa May’s cabinet over the chancellor’s apparent attempts to water down the EU departure.
He said there was clear potential for Brexit to become the "greatest economic, diplomatic and constitutional muddle in the modern history of the UK, with unknowable consequences for the country, the government and the Brexit project itself".
Britain voted to leave the EU on June 23 last year
William Hague urges House of Lords to 'listen to the voters'
The infighting took place when Theresa May was on holiday
And said Mr Hammond deserved “great credit” for suggesting that Britain's relationship with Brussels could remain "very similar" for at least three years after the UK formally withdraws from the bloc in 2019 because he was simply putting in place a “rescue” plan to avoid “disaster” after Brexit.
Lord Hague added: “He has evidently been trying to persuade his cabinet colleagues that we should be seeking to stay in the EU single market and customs union during a transition and 'implementation' phase lasting to 2022, followed by a free trade deal with our former partners after that.
"This is seen by longstanding advocates of leaving as a 'soft' position or a climbdown.
Lord Hague has praised Philip Hammond for his 'transitional' period
"But in reality it is a plan to rescue Brexit from an approaching disaster."
His comments come after Theresa May appeared to slap down Mr Hammond over his plans for a “transitional period” after Brexit by confirm free movement of EU citizens will end after March 2019.