Michael Gove, U.K. Justice Secretary, makes a speech in favor of Britain leaving the EU
U.K. Justice Secretary Michael Gove attacked Prime Minister David Cameron’s case for Britain staying in the European Union, demonstrating the depth of divisions in the governing Conservative Party.
Gove, one of Cameron’s closest political allies before the two decided to back different sides in the June 23 referendum, used his speech in London yesterday to belittle two of the main gains the prime minister cited from his negotiations with other European leaders before he called the vote.
With fewer than 10 weeks to go until the plebiscite, both sides of the argument are ramping up their rhetoric over the merits of EU membership. On Monday, Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne warned a vote to leave, or Brexit, would cause “permanent” damage to the U.K. economy. Gove responded that a vote to leave is the “safer choice” for Britain.
“If we vote to stay, we’re not settling for a secure status quo,” Gove said on BBC Radio 4’s “Today” program ahead of his speech. “We’re voting to be hostages locked in the back of the car driven headlong towards deeper EU integration.”
Polling is inconclusive, with some indicating the vote will be tight, and others showing a lead for the “remain” side. An Orb poll for the Telegraph yesterday showed 52 percent of voters plan to opt to remain, with 43 percent choosing to leave. YouGov’s most recent polls show a much narrower margin.
Cameron, who first pledged the referendum as a way of placating Euro-skeptics in his party, known as the Tories, is facing a deepening split. Gove and Mayor of London Boris Johnson have the support of many rank and file lawmakers and party activists for their campaign for a so-called Brexit, while Cameron and Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne are leading the attempt to keep Britain in the bloc.
“If we vote to stay in the EU then immigration will continue to increase by hundreds of thousands year on year,” Gove said. “Over 250,000 people came to Britain from Europe last year. As long as we are in the EU we cannot control our borders and cannot develop an immigration policy which is both truly humane and in our long term economic interests.”
In political terms, Gove argued that a British exit from the European Union could spark “the democratic liberation of a whole continent,” as other member states follow Britain’s example.
“Michael Gove wants to wish away reality, but the truth is every credible independent forecaster says Brexit will hurt our economy,” Alan Johnson, chair of the opposition Labour Party’s “In for Britain” campaign said. “The fact is Britain is better off remaining in the EU and no amount of false promises and bluster from the leave camp can change that.”
Gove, who has argued that Britain would have more money to spend on public services, including the National Health Service, if it pulls out and stops paying into the EU, accused Osborne of trying to scare voters into casting their support for the status quo.
“The Remain campaign want us to believe that Britain is beaten and broken,” Gove will say. “It treats people like mere children, capable of being frightened into obedience by conjuring up new bogeymen every night.” Thomas Penny, Alex Morales, MDT/Bloomberg
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