More developments…
Theresa May had deep reservations about the prospect of a British exit from the European Union and voiced these concerns a private meeting with investment bankers a month prior to the Brexit referendum.
May said that companies would leave the UK if they exited the EU and she also revealed other concerns in the exclusive tapes leaked to the Guardian.
In her speech to Goldman Sachs, May pushed the economic benefits of remaining in the EU and stated her desire for the UK to become a leader in the EU. This is a much stronger position than she publicly took where she meekly toed the party line. During the campaign, she often frustrated her fellow party members by staying out of the day-to-day debates in backing the remain side.
At the Conservative Party conference recently, she spoke of her desire to reduce immigration, even if that meant leaving the single market and all the economic benefits that come along with it.
But during her hour long speech to the investment bankers, she warned of the economic dangers that Brexit, and leaving the single market, may have on Britain.
“I think the economic arguments are clear,” she said. “I think being part of a 500-million trading bloc is significant for us. I think, as I was saying to you a little earlier, that one of the issues is that a lot of people will invest here in the UK because it is the UK in Europe.
“If we were not in Europe, I think there would be firms and companies who would be looking to say, do they need to develop a mainland Europe presence rather than a UK presence? So I think there are definite benefits for us in economic terms.”
She spoke openly about the need for the UK to act at the forefront in Europe.
“What I do think is that the UK needs to lead in Europe,” she said. “I think over the years the UK has tended to take a view that Europe is something that is done to us, we have taken a rather backseat position to Europe, I think that when we go out there, when we can take the initiative and when we lead, we can achieve things. So I do think we need to make sure we are taking the lead.”
And she was quick to discredit theories that being a member of the EU makes like far more difficult for soldiers and the British military.
“Actually very often when people talk about it I suspect, and I haven’t spoken to them, I suspect that they are not talking about the European Union, but the European convention on human rights and the European court of human rights, which is separate from the European Union.”
We’ve just one lingering question, what does Gay Byrne think of it all? Oh wait, we already know…
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