Gordon Brown, Britain’s former prime minister, said on Friday a Brexit crisis point would be reached next summer when it became clear that the government would fail to secure its four key goals in negotiations to leave the European Union.
Mr Brown said the moment would mark an opportunity for pro-Europeans to present an alternative to leaving the EU after accepting that the so-called ‘Remain’ camp had failed to make the case for the advantages of membership in last year’s referendum.
Mr Brown – who was prime minister for Labour from 2007 to 2010 – did not openly call for a second referendum, a stance taken by his predecessor Tony Blair, but did not rule one out at a later date.
“I’m not calling for a second referendum at this stage,” he told a meeting of the left-wing thinktank The Fabian Society in central London. “This isn’t the right moment, we haven’t done the groundwork to persuade Leave voters to change their mind. There’s a long way to go to persuade people.”
He said the critical point would come next summer if it became clear that Theresa May, the prime minister, was unable to secure acceptable deals with Europe over finances, trade, securing borders and returning power to UK courts.
If she reported back that those four measures have not been met, pro-European campaigners “should have ready an alternative … for positive membership of the EU.”
He added: “I’m not giving up on this and no-one who is pro-Europe should give up on this argument.”
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Read more:
UK can still walk away from Brexit, says EU president
Brexit could cost the UK top-flight UN status, former diplomat warns
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Theresa May on Thursday sought through legislation to commit Britain to formally leaving the EU on March 29, 2019 amid suggestions that Britain’s vote to leave the EU could be revisited. She wrote in an article for the Daily Telegraph on Friday that she would not “tolerate attempts” to delay or derail the process.
Mr Blair in September said that it was “common sense” for the British public to make a final, irrevocable decision, possibly in a referendum, once negotiations had concluded and it was clear what a future outside of the EU would look like.
Mr Brown was prime minister during the 2008/09 financial crisis. He lost power in 2010 after he failed to win the case with the public that emerging from economic crisis would require debt-based spending to trigger growth.
The Conservative party has been in power since 2010 after promoting a programme of financial austerity and balancing the books.
The policy has contributed to an improvement in fortunes for the Labour party, which is currently is currently leading opinion polls but with the next national elections not due to be held until 2022.
However, a disastrous decision to call early elections in 2017 and a series of crises that have led to two ministerial resignations in the last week has left Mrs May’s hold on power looking increasing precarious.
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
Started: 2021
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
Based: Tunisia
Sector: Water technology
Number of staff: 22
Investment raised: $4 million
How Islam's view of posthumous transplant surgery changed
Transplants from the deceased have been carried out in hospitals across the globe for decades, but in some countries in the Middle East, including the UAE, the practise was banned until relatively recently.
Opinion has been divided as to whether organ donations from a deceased person is permissible in Islam.
The body is viewed as sacred, during and after death, thus prohibiting cremation and tattoos.
One school of thought viewed the removal of organs after death as equally impermissible.
That view has largely changed, and among scholars and indeed many in society, to be seen as permissible to save another life.
The specs
Engine: Four electric motors, one at each wheel
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The Cairo Statement
1: Commit to countering all types of terrorism and extremism in all their manifestations
2: Denounce violence and the rhetoric of hatred
3: Adhere to the full compliance with the Riyadh accord of 2014 and the subsequent meeting and executive procedures approved in 2014 by the GCC
4: Comply with all recommendations of the Summit between the US and Muslim countries held in May 2017 in Saudi Arabia.
5: Refrain from interfering in the internal affairs of countries and of supporting rogue entities.
6: Carry out the responsibility of all the countries with the international community to counter all manifestations of extremism and terrorism that threaten international peace and security
2025 Fifa Club World Cup groups
Group A: Palmeiras, Porto, Al Ahly, Inter Miami.
Group B: Paris Saint-Germain, Atletico Madrid, Botafogo, Seattle.
Group C: Bayern Munich, Auckland City, Boca Juniors, Benfica.
Group D: Flamengo, ES Tunis, Chelsea, Leon.
Group E: River Plate, Urawa, Monterrey, Inter Milan.
Group F: Fluminense, Borussia Dortmund, Ulsan, Mamelodi Sundowns.
Group G: Manchester City, Wydad, Al Ain, Juventus.
Group H: Real Madrid, Al Hilal, Pachuca, Salzburg.
Three trading apps to try
Sharad Nair recommends three investment apps for UAE residents:
- For beginners or people who want to start investing with limited capital, Mr Nair suggests eToro. “The low fees and low minimum balance requirements make the platform more accessible,” he says. “The user interface is straightforward to understand and operate, while its social element may help ease beginners into the idea of investing money by looking to a virtual community.”
- If you’re an experienced investor, and have $10,000 or more to invest, consider Saxo Bank. “Saxo Bank offers a more comprehensive trading platform with advanced features and insight for more experienced users. It offers a more personalised approach to opening and operating an account on their platform,” he says.
- Finally, StashAway could work for those who want a hands-off approach to their investing. “It removes one of the biggest challenges for novice traders: picking the securities in their portfolio,” Mr Nair says. “A goal-based approach or view towards investing can help motivate residents who may usually shy away from investment platforms.”
Analysis
Members of Syria's Alawite minority community face threat in their heartland after one of the deadliest days in country’s recent history. Read more
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