His statement in the House of Commons on Monday, in response to an urgent question from leading Leave campaigner Gisela Stuart, sparked fury from MPs from all parties in the wake of a rise in reported racist attacks following Britain’s vote to leave the European Union last month. But I would have liked to say to them: “‘how many of you would accept to pay more taxes?” he said.
Advertisement
“I’m simply saying there’s no rule about this – we’re a sovereign people we can do what we want to do”.
He went on: “When you go into a negotiation all the parts are moving, all the parts are on the table, and it would be absurd to make a unilateral commitment about EU nationals living in the United Kingdom without at the very least getting a similar commitment from the European Union about British nationals living in the EU”.
He said his main message to Cameron, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and other leaders involved in the Brexit would be: “Everybody should catch their breath, come up with a plan and a process that is orderly, that’s transparent, that people understand and then proceed, understanding that both sides have a stake in getting this right”.
Today, Hammond told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme “neither European Union nationals in Britain, nor British nationals in European Union countries will find any change in their circumstances over the next few years”.
Organizers of the March for Europe protest said they were demanding decisive political action as the country plunged into political chaos and uncertainty following the vote.
“The prime minister has been clear that is for the next prime minister to decide”.
He said: “Those are the consequences of a decision to leave the EU”.
But rival Dr Liam Fox said immigration was key to any Brexit deal with the EU.
The European Union as a whole has been taken as a hostage by an internal party fight of the Tories (the British Conservatives), said Martin Schultz, the president of the European Parliament.
A Tory minister has said the government can not guarantee that European Union citizens will be able to remain in Britain after the country leaves the bloc.
Simon Walker, director general at the Institute of Directors, said: “What the country – individuals, businesses and families – need most urgently is a guarantee of stability”.
The budget airline, which issued a profit warning last week following the referendum result, has held informal discussions with several countries about moving its legal headquarters. “We can still do something as long as Article 50 is not implemented”.
Advertisement
The opposition Labour party is also in crisis, with majority of the lawmakers calling on leader, Jeremy Corbyn to resign.
