John Major Chatham House Speech 27 Feb 2017

''Eight months ago a majority of voters opted to leave the European Union. I believed then – as I do now – that was an historic mistake, but it was one – once asked – that the British nation had every right to make.''

[Key Points 1234:

1. As soon as the ‘Trading members club’ was signed into a governing authority over British Sovereign control, Britain, The British {English} Constitution was breached, value ignored & Broken by politicians, governments, parliament & the professional people of the British loyal sovereign governing electorate.

2. The Crown has a question to answer regarding the granting of such Royal Assents.

3. The E.U [Commission] is known to be an unelected un-appointed ‘group’ of individuals, unanswerable to any elected heads of states, of any of the member states. This situation is allowed & the E.U parliament cooperate & play along with their mandates to vote, banking their salaries and claiming their expenses, blindly moving forward with the grand plans provided with the fundamental ‘old style’ errors compounding, unchanged into ‘the expansionist’ solution of a future failure ‘yet unseen or admitted’ as “it will not be for us to decide but the next generation” of the next line of ignorant blinded illiterate social democrats to face, after ‘we have fulfilled our career paths and enjoyed those pensions.’

4. The ‘E.U’ are on the verge of becoming a military power with mass planning, under the difficulties of too many illegal member states, rogue breakaway states, under criminal fascist & populist controls, Breaching the legality of constitutional peaceful legal government & threatening peaceful civil order of The European people that look to us for order.]

''The Government cannot ignore the nation’s decision and must now shape a new future for our country. Some changes may be beneficial: others may not. A hard Brexit– which is where we seem to be headed – is high risk. Some will gain. Others – will lose. Many outcomes will be very different from present expectations. [of your criminal making] We will find, for example, that – for all the social pressure for immigration control – economically, we will need their skills. [Post soviet Europe has achieved better skills from its social education ‘system’ than Great Britain?]

The Referendum was one of the most divisive votes in British history. It not only divided the four nations of our United Kingdom, but opened up divisions within those nations, within political parties, within neighbourhoods, within families, between age and income groups, and among friends. It will not be easy to heal those divisions and unite our nations. Yet that is what we must do. [& who is to blame for not reading, recognizing the value of and following our Constitution?]

In Scotland, I believe a hard Brexit will encourage a second referendum on independence. This may seem improbable [Obvious! To any thinking mind over 7 yrs of age.] at the moment, but it would be reckless to ignore the risk. As we saw last June, emotion and national pride can overcome economic self-interest. [economic self interest, like selling your grand children to isis, Otherwise we Will Fall off a Cliff Edge?!] If Scotland were to become independent, both she and the UK would be diminished. That cannot be ignored as Brexit evolves. [Devolution is a good idea. Regional administration is better, favored locally, carries more responsibility & could set higher examples of standards that could be copied. Is one to conclude that you are/were against devolution in real terms of effect.]  

The same is true of Northern Ireland. Many years of painstaking effort went into the Irish Peace Process which, even apart from Brexit is at a fragile moment. [British bias against fairness & equal rights for Catholics is partly to blame for the current & continuing state of Stormont.] Uncertainties over border restrictions between Ulster and the Republic are a serious threat [Not true. As usual you are ignoring the water border] – to the UK, to the peace process, and for Ireland, North and South. A special deal will be necessary. [Long Over-Due] I will return to these issues on another occasion.

As I voted on the losing side, I have kept silent since last June. This evening I don’t wish to argue the EU is perfect. Plainly it isn’t. Nor do I deny the economy has been more tranquil than expected since the decision to leave was taken.

But I do observe we haven’t yet left the EU, and I have watched with growing concern as the British people have been led to expect a future that seems to be unreal and over-optimistic. [When I compare it to 'my level of Pessimism', mental & physical weakness of incomplete thinking and defeatist smallness of attitude] Obstacles are brushed aside as of no consequence, whilst opportunities are inflated beyond any reasonable expectation of delivery. [Carpe Diem]

I am no longer in politics. I have absolutely no wish to re-enter it in any capacity. I don’t seek publicity – more often than not, I shy away from it.

But I can’t ignore what I learned in Government. ['I too am not a leader?'] Nor can I forget the people who voted to leave Europe in the belief it might improve their lives. [Inaccurate – More Constipated thinking.] If events go badly, their expectations will not be met, and whole communities will be worse off. [“Iceberg!” – Should we Turn The Ship Captain?”] The particular fear I have is that those most likely to be hurt will be those least able to protect themselves. [It will be a  tough time but we will persevere and emerge better & stronger and never again rudderless in the water, entering winter. This we promise with this Combined Constitutional Up- Grade preface.]  

So, I have two objectives this evening: to offer a reality check on our national prospects; and to warn against an over-optimism that – if unachieved – will sow further distrust between politics and the public [And could lead to a modernization of British democracy and government] – at a time when trust needs to be re-built. It would be better to underplay than overplay expectations. [Putting the cattle ‘Grate into Britain’.]

The post-referendum debate has been deeply dispiriting. [Have a Curry]

After decades of campaigning, the anti-Europeans won their battle to take Britain out of Europe. But, in the afterglow of victory, their cheerleaders have shown a disregard that amounts to contempt for the 48 per cent who believed our future was more secure within the European Union. [They will not accept that they lost. Did you allow any Labour of lib dems into your cabinet or include their policies into your planning?]

Remain voters are of all political persuasions, and of none. Over recent months, many have written to me in dismay – even despair. [‘We Lost.’?]

They are people from every walk of life who have every right to their view, every right to express it, and every right to have their opinion represented and tested in Parliament. [And they can and do but There should be a question of democratic respect & Obligation by the losers of the referendum to prevent a remainer parliament over turning the referendum and therefore the determined will of the people, to exit the E.U.]

This 48% care no less for our country than the 52 per cent who voted to leave. [Won the vote – gets the action for the resultant exit.] They are every bit as patriotic. But they take a different view of Britain’s future role in the world, and are deeply worried for themselves, for their families, and for our country. [Accept the result – suck it up – Carpe Diem!]

They do not deserve to be told that, since the decision has been taken, they must keep quiet and toe the line. A popular triumph at the polls – even in a referendum – does not take away the right to disagree – nor the right to express that dissent. [But Not Change The Out-Come!]

Freedom of speech is absolute in our country. It’s not “arrogant” or “brazen” or “elitist”, or remotely “delusional” to express concern about our future after Brexit. Nor, by doing so, is this group undermining the will of the people: they are the people. 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. [Blah, Blah, You Are Talking Clinker!]

Our Parliament exists to scrutinise the Executive. That is its job. So, it is depressing to see “Leave” enthusiasts in Parliament acting against their own principles. To win the Referendum, they asserted the sovereignty of our own Parliament: now, they speak and vote to deny that same Parliament any meaningful role in shaping, in overseeing, or in approving the outcome of our negotiations in Europe. [if we had a government that had the brains & guts to write down what we want & the varied methods intended to get it – You may be happy, satisfied & even abit Optimistic] Our Parliament is not a rubber stamp – and should not be treated as if it were.

As a former Parliamentarian, I believe the negotiations to come are so crucial to our nation’s future that the Government would be wise to take frequent account of public opinion through Parliamentary debate. [A good idea using a new live meadia]

Of course, neither Parliament nor public can micro-manage the negotiations. [Small Mirco Thinking] We must trust Ministers to do so. And they must have flexibility.

But Parliament must be free to debate and comment and advise. For it not to do so would be wrong in principle: it would also be unwise politically if – as it might – the will of the people evolves, and the reality of Brexit becomes unpopular. [Evidence is showing the public is getting British Blitz spirited about Bernier and gang and Brexit is growing & hardening.]

The hopes of those who favoured leaving the European Union are sky-high. We are told that countries “are queueing up to do trade deals with us”. That “our best days lie ahead”.

It all sounds very enticing. And – for the sake of our country – I hope the optimists are proved right. But I’m not sure they will be. My own experience of international negotiations – and the national self-interest that accompanies them – makes me doubt the rosy confidence being offered to the British people.

Negotiations are all about “give” and “take”. We know what the Brexiteers wish to take: yet we hear nothing about what our country may have to give in return. If anyone genuinely believes that Europe will concede all we wish for – and exact no price for doing so – then they are extraordinarily naïve. [You gave away the nation. – I do not speak from a position of deciding where to play a game of Cricket.]

As I consider the complexities that lie ahead, the words of Kipling come to mind:

“I keep six honest serving men

(They taught me all I knew);

Their names are What and Why and When,

And How and Where and Who.” [All depends on whether your three were Larry, Moe & Curly.]

It is the detail – the what and the why, the when and the how, and the where and the who – that is key. To avoid later recriminations, [Unavoidable – Unwanted – As with the history of the British Constitution.] the British public needs to be made aware now of the hurdles ahead – and what different outcomes will mean for their future. [Not Exiting The E.U {in full from control} is Non-Negotiable!]  

Let me turn to the politics of exit.

Leaving the European Union is not just about trade. It will have political consequences. For over forty years, British foreign policy has been based upon the twin pillars of our relations with the United States and the European Union. To be straddled between these two economic and political giants has served us well. [Man, the American’s Missed a Trick!] [“I said, I {many} See Iceberg?”]

Outside the European Union, we become far more dependent upon the United States and – for four and possibly eight years – upon a President less predictable, less reliable and less attuned to our free market and socially liberal instincts than any of his predecessors. [Trump is ahead {The Head} of a Growing Trend of Cooperating {back to modern} Nationalists.]

As a boy, I was taught that America was our greatest ally and – throughout my life – I have seen her as so.

But America’s size and power means we are, by far, the junior partner: mostly we follow – only rarely can we lead. Despite the romantic view of committed Atlanticists, the “special relationship” is not a union of equals. I wish it were: but it isn’t; America dwarfs the UK in economic and military power. That, sadly – is fact. [What does that mean for negotiations are ‘give’ & ‘take’?] [Where do we stand in Europe?] John Major, really, you are free to your opinions but eating humble pie when you have untouched Tuna, Horse & Wolf in your larder is humiliating me.]

Once we are out of the EU, our relationship with the United States will change. She needs a close ally inside the EU: once outside, that can no longer be us. [They have Germanys tongue deep down their Japseye.] [We could be DM’S All over the E.U & Europe would be cheering after they had choked in disbelief.]

That may not be the only change. If we disagree with American policy, we may weaken our ties. But if we support it slavishly, we become seen as an American echo – an invidious role for a nation that has broken free from Europe to become more independent. [an independent echo would be an improvement.]

And – inevitably – there will be disagreements: the US wish to contain China and engage Russia; we wish to contain Russia and engage China.'' [& War is what you will Therefore get thanks to siding with a this dumb dog union.] [As Obvious as the Sudetenland damn burst.] [Russia & China might decide that now is the E.U time to eliminate 800 million matches & then negotiate with who’s got what?] [Welcome to yesterday’s nightmare, in tomorrow’s wars, if you keep thinking E.Old, plan.]