Minister for Cabinet Office David Lidington has refused to back Prime Minister Theresa May’s claim that Britain will be better off outside the EU, saying any deal will involve an element of compromise.
Lidington said there are still “hurdles” in withdrawal negotiations with Brussels, stressing that the UK government’s primary concern is to secure a deal which safeguards jobs and the economy.
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Earlier, PM May said her party will “make a success of Brexit”, insisting that the UK’s “best days lie ahead.”
Despite campaigning for Britain to remain in the bloc in the run up to the 2016 referendum, the minister said he respects the vote’s result, downplaying the need for a fresh referendum.
“The people took a democratic decision and I accepted before and subsequent to the referendum that, while the vote was close, it was decisive on a massive turnout.”
However, the government has repeatedly shrugged off these calls, insisting it already has a mandate to pull Britain out of the union via the 2016 vote, which saw the electorate narrowly vote in favour of withdrawing from the EU.
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