Face of Nation : Gordon Brown has warned that below Boris Johnson the union of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Eire is “sleepwalking into oblivion”. Writing within the Observer, Mr Brown blamed “damaging, nationalist ideology” and mentioned the best of Britishness as tolerant “couldn’t survive” a no-deal Brexit.
“We’re, at finest, solely a precariously uk,” Mr Brown wrote. It comes after Mr Johnson travelled to all 4 components of the UK in his first few weeks in workplace, with No 10 saying he was a “passionate believer within the energy of the Union”.
Mr Johnson has mentioned the UK will depart the EU on the present deadline of 31 October, whether or not a Brexit “divorce” deal – which units out how Britain leaves – is agreed in time or not. In the meantime plans for a no-deal Brexit have accelerated. On Saturday it emerged the Treasury was planning to mint hundreds of thousands of 50p “Brexit” cash as a “assertion of intent” that the federal government was critical about leaving the EU.
Mr Brown added that Britain wanted to rediscover virtues corresponding to empathy and co-operation – and that the concept of a Britishness, which is tolerant, inclusive and outward-looking, “couldn’t survive” a no-deal Brexit.
“To forestall the rise of dysfunctional nationalism, step one is to cease no deal in its tracks,” he added. It isn’t the primary time Mr Brown – who campaigned towards Scottish independence – has spoken out about the way forward for the union, after telling the Newpaper24 he felt the union was “extra in danger” than at any time in 300 years.
