The Founder and Chief Executive Officer of one of the world’s largest independent financial advisory organisation, deVere Group, Mr. Nigel Green, has expressed great concerns over Brexit, saying it has failed and must be put back to the people, including the 700,000 British expats that were denied the vote in 2016.
Green spoke after the UK Prime Minister Theresa May’s Brexit deal was shut down again in parliament, resoundingly rejecting it for the second time.
“Politicians have spectacularly failed to reach a consensus to deliver Brexit. With just 16 days before the UK is due to leave the European Union, we now urgently need to find a way out of this impasse, “ Green was quoted as saying in a statement obtained by The Point in Lagos.
Green added, “There are three steps that now need to be taken to end the chaos and move forward. First, a no deal Brexit must be taken off the table which parliament is likely to do in this evening’s vote, as a messy and disorderly Brexit on 29 March would be political, diplomatic and economic negligence in the extreme.
“Second, the UK must then seek to extend Article 50 – the mechanism by which it leaves the EU. But the UK can’t extend Article 50 alone. It would need to go to Brussels to get the unanimous agreement of all 27 other EU countries. It is likely that the EU will only agree to this if political circumstances change not just to give more time to renegotiate the existing failed deal, which leads us to the third step, which is a second Brexit referendum.
“This bold move should not only convince the EU into allowing the UK an extension, it now seems the only sensible way forward as there is no parliamentary majority in Britain for any single option. Allowing the public to vote and giving them a final say is quite simply the only credible solution now available.” He said.
He however explained that, “this time, the 700,000 British expats who were outrageously denied the right to vote on an issue that directly affects them must also be allowed to exercise their democratic right.”
Green stated further, “ Unlike in most other major democracies, British citizens who choose to live, work or retire overseas for more than 15 years lose their voting rights in the UK despite being liable for UK inheritance tax.
“From inaccurate and often misleading campaigns to ineffective negotiations, the Brexit omnishambles has gone on long enough and Brexit will impact economic, security, diplomatic and foreign policy decisions for the UK for many decades. After MPs have tried but failed, this issue is too important not to now be put back to the people.”
