George Osborne: Tories heading for 'prolonged period of opposition' unless they modernise
2 min read
George Osborne has said the Conservatives are on course for "a prolongers period of opposition" unless they modernise.
The former Chancellor said the party needs to "engage more with modern Britain" if it is to stand any chance of winning the next election, which he said could come within months.
Mr Osborne, who has been a consistent critic of Theresa May's handling of Brexit, also said the prospect of another EU referendum was under discussion in Downing Street, despite denials by the Prime Minister's aides.
Speaking to Radio Four's Today programme, Mr Osborne - who now edits the London Evening Standard - said he wanted to steer the Tory Party "away from a prolonged period of opposition, which is where I think it's heading unless it engages with modern Britain and adopts the essentially socially-liberal, pro-business, internationalist approach which I think is the right one for the country".
He said another election "is at the moment an under-reported likelihood for 2019 because in the British system the simplest way to resolve political impasses is to return to the public at a general election" he said.
But he added: "There is a way of course for the Government to avoid that and they are terrified of an election - they can themselves embrace a referendum. And that is clearly under discussion in Downing Street even though it's denied."
MPs will finally vote next month on the withdrawal agreement Mrs May struck with Brussels, but Mr Osborne said the Prime Minister had scuppered her chances of securing a good Brexit deal shortly after entering Downing Street.
The former Tory MP, who was sacked by Mrs May after she became Prime Minister, said: "I think the mistake the Government made - led by Theresa May - from the start was to try and claim that a country that had voted 17 million to leave the EU, 16 million to stay, wanted a 100% Brexit.
"I think she should have started where she has tried to end up, which is a more conciliatory partnership with the European Union, or associate membership.
"I think that was essentially a massive mistake by the Conservative administration - which it was punished for at the general election - because the Conservative Party decided to embrace the Brexit result in such a way as to essentially dismiss the views of those who had voted remain, treat them as saboteurs or traitors and run against urban Britain."
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