The Spectator

Transcript: George Osborne vs Andrew Neil on Brexit

 

Coffee House Shots

James Forsyth and Isabel Hardman discuss George Osborne’s performance
Abridged transcript of George Osborne’s interview with Andrew Neil. AN: Now you claim the European Union could cause armed conflict if we leave, could put a bomb under our economy if we leave – the Prime Minister’s words: hurt pensioners, collapse house prices. Why are you risking all that with a referendum? GO: Well, I don’t think it is ever a risk in a democracy to ask the people. And all my lifetime this issue of Britain’s membership of the European Union has hung over our economy and our security and I think it’s right that the people decide.  I think Britain can be one of the great success stories of the 21st century, we’ve got the talent, the drive, the connections around the world but if we vote to leave then we lose control.  We lose control of our economy and if you lose control of your economy then you lose control of everything and that’s not a price worth paying. Before you called this referendum did you ever think that the consequences of losing then would be by your own standards so bad? Well I knew it was a big decision, as of course did the Prime Minister, but it was also a decision of the British people.  We put this in the manifesto upon which we were elected and I think people should be under no illusions. I doubt there is going to be a bigger decision that we are going to be asked to take as citizens of this country and all of us, you and me, people watching at home, we all have one vote so let’s use it. Now despite everything you’re saying would happen if we leave, only a few months ago the Prime Minister assured us we’d be okay outside the European Union. This

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