Thursday, 28 Mar 2024

Boris Johnson urged to seize Brexit opportunity of Commonwealth after Britain’s EU SPLIT

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The former Conservative Party leader told Brexit Watch that the Commonwealth is one of the great “under-used resources in the world”. Lord Howard added that the Commonwealth could have a much more “significant role” to play in the world.

Lord Howard told Brexit Watch“I have always thought that the Commonwealth was one of the great under-used resources in the world and that it could have a much more significant role.

“Long ago when I was Environment Secretary, together with my Indian opposite number we convened the first-ever meeting of Commonwealth Environment Ministers.

“It was a useful exercise, we were just at the beginning, unfortunately, my successor as Environment Secretary was much more interested in the European Union than in the Commonwealth so those meetings did not continue.

“I have always thought that the Commonwealth could have a significant part to play in the world.

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“I would be strongly in favour of any efforts to bring that about.

“However we shouldn’t be starry-eyed about it, Commonwealth countries have their own interests and those are not always identical to ours.”

It comes as last week the Chief Investment Officer of Aviva Investors told Bloomberg that the likelihood of a no deal Brexit is higher than ever.

Peter Fitzgerald stated the coronavirus pandemic could potentially lead to one of the worse recessions in modern history, with GDP falling in double digits and that hardcore Brexiteers may see the recession as a perfect distraction to get a no deal Brexit through.    

Mr Fitzgerald said: “The ability of Europe to come up with various rescue packages without the involvement of the UK is something a lot of people under appreciated.

“The ability of the EU to come together in times of crisis.

“Ultimately, it is a political agenda rather than purely an economic one which determines its success and how it moves forward.

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“In terms of Brexit, I think people should be very concerned.

“The reason I say that is in the midst of what most people recognise as one of the worse recessions in modern history, where you are seeing GDP fall in double-digit figures.

“If you are a hardcore Brexiteer you have got a perfect distraction to get your hard-Brexit through.

“I think the risk of a no deal Brexit is probably higher now than it has been at any point in the process.”

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