Shropshire Star

We must accept Brexit result, says pro-EU Ludlow MP Philip Dunne

No serious politician would seek try to stop Britain leaving the European Union following the result of last week's referendum, according to a Shropshire MP who had campaigned for Britain to remain in the EU.

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Ludlow MP Philip Dunne

Ludlow MP Philip Dunne said that whoever won the Conservative leadership election should remain Prime Minister for the next few years, suggesting that the public would be suffering election fatigue if they kept being asked to turn out to vote.

Mr Dunne, who had called for Britain to stay in the EU during the referendum, said the Conservatives still had a majority Government, and unlike when Gordon Brown succeeded Tony Blair there was now legislation giving "certainty" of a General Election every five years.

"I think, frankly, the country has had enough political voting through the referendum of late," he said.

He said he thought David Cameron had led the country and Remain campaign well, but: "Having lost, he did what he had to do which was stand down, as it would not have been credible in my view for him to have continued as Prime Minister to lead the negotiation for exiting the EU."

He said he was shocked by the referendum result, but politicians had to come to terms with it.

"We live in a democracy, we asked the public to make the decision, they made the decision and now as responsible politicians we've got to get on and implement it," he said.

Mr Dunne said that while the referendum decision was not binding, he didn't believe any Conservative leader candidate who would "advocate ignoring the express will of the people on a very high turn-out in referendum".

He added that he didn't think any "serious politician" would contemplate banding together with other Remain MPs in an attempt to block leaving the EU.

"I have no doubt that as a consequence of Brexit the EU will be looking hard at what it needs to do to make it relevant to the populations of the countries that continue to be members," he said.

Mr Dunne said each of the major nations in the union had "significant minorities" that were uncomfortable with the direction the EU was going, so there was likely to be more reform.

"Who knows, one day the EU may thank us," he added.

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