Former PM Gordon Brown faces furious backlash after suggesting Brexit voters in the North will riot when UK leaves the EU
In a doom-mongering speech he said the 'post-referendum optimism' felt by Leave supporters in North will be 'short-lived'
FORMER PM Gordon Brown risked a furious backlash last night after suggesting there could be riots on the streets of the North when Britain leaves the EU – and Out voters lose their jobs.
In a doom-mongering speech yesterday Mr Brown declared the “post-referendum optimism” felt by Leave supporters in the North will be “short-lived”.
He claimed Britain could see “discontent turn to anger” as Brexit voters see their standards of living fall and jobs vanish.
And he dismally described the United Kingdom as “united in name only” as he called for a UK-wide “people’s constitutional convention” to give more powers to regions.
He told an audience in London: “Sadly, the post-referendum optimism felt by Leave voters in the North whose rebellion gave Leave a majority will be short-lived.”
He said the North was far more dependent on trade than the South with 58 per cent of goods in the North East going to the EU compared to 39 per cent in London.
He went on: “Lying behind the popular revolt are huge structural inequalities that the current Government has failed to address.
“We could see discontent turn into anger as standards of living fall and jobs start to go.”
The ex PM told the Fabian Society the growing divide between the North and South could be bridged with extra powers for regions – including controls from Brussels over agriculture and fishing plus extra cash to cover the impact of Brexit.
He added: “Politically, the strains of Brexit are already showing, as different nations, regions, sectors and companies desperately seek their own opt-outs from a hard Brexit and call for their own a la carte version of Brexit.”