George Osborne: There Was No Plan For A Leave Result

[Kromovaracun]

http://www.lbc.co.uk/radio/presenters/iain-dale/george-osborne-confirms-government-no-plan-brexit/

Unbelievable.

Surely if the government held the referendum in the first place they should have made some contingency planning if it came back with a Leave result?

What a disastrous government he was part of. Remember his the immortal words of his odious boss:

"Britain faces a simple and inescapable choice - stability and strong Government with me, or chaos with Ed Miliband"

[ToraToraTora]

Clearly, with all the main parties and most of the press in favour of remain, they did not expect that the public would give the "wrong" answer. How little our politicians understand the British public.

[ToraToraTora]

Normally a government does not concede a referendum unless they are certain of the outcome. Dave got this one badly wrong but he was forced by Lord Farage. Cheers Nige.

[Kromovaracun]

It was plainly irresponsible to call a referendum when they had no intention for planning for the result they didn't want. The whole referendum was purely called to win UKIP votes in the 2015 election and theoretically stop the Conservatives from infighting. Look how well that turned out.

This might have been somewhat alleviated, of course, if the Leave leadership had anything even resembling a plan, but alas....

[bednobs]

you seriously find this unbelievable???
despite the overwhelming evidence?

[jno]

I find it entirely believable. What is rather less believable is that there still isn't one.

[ToraToraTora]

"It was plainly irresponsible to call a referendum when they had no intention for planning for the result they didn't want." - I agree see my answer at 09:40, to Gideon and Dave, Brexit was an impossible outcome, so certain where they that they did not need a plan. TBH the EU thought the same, they didn't have a plan either.

[Gromit]

^ Finny but true jno.

// most of the press in favour of remain, //

Except the Daily Mail, Daily Telegraph, Daily Express, Daily Star and Evening Standard.

[Gromit]

The Times, The Sun....

[ichkeria]

Osborne was dead against a referendum as he thought it might be lost.
Cameron it seems indeed never seriously entertained the possibility.
I always remember his boast during the election campaign in 2015 about liking to take a punt and how it pepped him up. Unfortunately, he took one gamble too many, with the consequences we are now living.

[youngmafbog]

I'd argue the Daily Mail & The Times are pretty pro remain. The others I dont read but I would be surprised if Gideons Evening Standard were anything but remain too.

On the subject of contingency plans I'm not sure what anyone could do. As it is down to negotiations with 27 other Nations there really is no way of knowing apart from go straight for "hard" Brexit (my personal choice anyway)

//What is rather less believable is that there still isn't one. //

So what are you expecting? As with anything negotiated your wants have to be fluid. Clearly the plan was to leave but have anything which, not surprisingly, was not acceptable to the EU.

[ichkeria]

The Times is pro remain but not stridently so. The Mail backs Brexit and the Mail on Sunday Remain

[youngmafbog]

Yes, thats probably closer to it although I think the Daily Mail often hedges it's bets on the subject Trying to not alienate readership no doubt.

[emmie]

why is it unbelievable, that they didn't have a contingency plan, doesn't surprise me in the least.
They didn't expect the leave vote, so it was a mighty big bang when the vote came in.

[Hazi-Hammenuhoth]

There are few sore losers sorer than Osborne. Since Theresa sent him to the back of the class he has done nothing but snipe at her government. And Hammond seems all too ready to put his spanner in the Brexit spokes at every opportunity. What is it with Tory Chancellors?

[youngmafbog]

As with many Chancellors (lets not forget Bottler) - they want the top job!

[New Judge]

"There Was No Plan For A Leave Result"

Incredible! The next thing you'll be telling me is that the Pope is not a Muslim and that bears do not use public conveniences.

[Old_Geezer]

It may have showed how incompetent governments are at covering all eventualities, but there was 2 years to sort it out so nil desperandum.

[jno]

The Daily Mail is pro-remain? Now there's an email I must have missed.

Osborne had nothing to do with the Standard at the time: it was the Daily Boris back then. Even now it's pretty much even-handed, though London voted firmly to remain.

[jno]

https://www.theguardian.com/media/gallery/2016/jun/25/brexit-front-pages-in-pictures