I did not want us to leave the EU and indeed, campaigned locally and nationally against doing so. But I also stood at two General Elections on a manifesto that promised to abide by the result. The Labour Party made similar pledges in their manifestos.
I do not believe we can or should simply set aside the views of the people who voted to leave. Nor am I not convinced another referendum would be helpful in moving us forward. The 2016 ballot paper presented voters with an unambiguous choice to remain in the EU or to leave. The consequences of either decision were communicated by campaign groups on both sides through a variety of print, audio-visual and digital media. The Government also sent a document to every household in the country on the benefits of staying in the EU. We explained that this was a once in a lifetime vote, not like a General Election, where the country can change its mind a few years later. But the voters did not agree with us, and we lost.
In addition, I believe there are a number of practical considerations, including the length of time such a poll would take, creating further uncertainty for the country, and even what the question would be. The Electoral Commission’s website gives guidelines from which it is easy to see that this is a highly complex issue.
Turnout for the 2016 people’s referendum was larger than at any election since 1992. No Prime Minister or party in British history has ever received as many votes as the vote to leave did. So the Government has a duty to deliver the referendum result and achieve the best possible result for the whole country. I believe that is to leave the EU in an orderly manner, with a deal. But the Government is right to prepare for that not to be possible.
Finally, I backed Jeremy Hunt to be the new Prime Minister, chairing his campaign. But insufficient members of the Conservative Party shared my view and chose Boris Johnson. As I have said from the beginning, either candidate would be a Conservative Prime Minister and so, as a Conservative MP, he will have my support because the alternative is a government led by Jeremy Corbyn, which I certainly do not feel would be in the interests of the country.