John Major backs Blair over Brexit’s immigration impact
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Former Conservative Prime Minister Sir John Major has criticized Brexit harshly and called Rishi Sunak's administration “not true to Conservative values” and “un-British” for its approach to sending asylum seekers to Rwanda.
In an interview with Amol Rajan from the BBC, Sir John expressed his agreement with former Labour Prime Minister Sir Tony Blair. He noted that instead of decreasing immigration as Nigel Farage and Boris Johnson had promised, Britain's departure from the EU has actually led to a rise in immigration, bringing in more individuals from different regions of the globe instead of just Europeans.
He stated that he hadn’t spoken out publicly for a while since he didn’t have much positive to say about the most recent Conservative government led by Rishi Sunak. He went on to compare the Rwanda plans to the 18th-century practice of sending criminals to Australia, suggesting they were even more unacceptable.
Reflecting on the 2016 referendum where the decision was made to exit the EU, he stated, “I believe it has not benefited us at all. Our nation has become more vulnerable and less wealthy, which is certainly not advantageous for us. As a part of the EU, we had a stronger presence on the global stage; it enhanced our influence. Now, however, we find ourselves alone and disconnected."
"Brexit was promoted to the country based on ideas and promises that never came true – and were never likely to. There was a significant distortion of the actual situation."
He pointed fingers at top officials from both the Conservative and Labour parties, stating, “The reality is that we are worse off... This decline in our financial situation leads to increased taxes and reduced funding for public services. That’s the true impact, and it's the result of the misleading promises surrounding Brexit.”
Sir John noted that even though individuals from Europe have departed since Brexit, the government has actively welcomed other newcomers. Additionally, there are individuals arriving by boat who were not invited; they come out of uncertainty about where else to go.
Reflecting on how Brexit has affected the Conservative party, he remarked, “In my experience, Brexit has been the most harmful event for our party.”
Sir John was highly critical of the Rwanda plan, which cost taxpayers £700 million but did not result in a single asylum seeker being sent to the East African nation.
He expressed that he found it contrary to Conservative values, not representative of British principles, and if one can say so in a secular context, inconsistent with Christian beliefs, as well as unethical. He felt strongly that this was not an acceptable way to treat individuals.
The deportation plan, initially introduced two years ago by former Prime Minister Boris Johnson, was abolished by Sir Keir Starmer on his first complete day in office in July.
"Almost three hundred years ago, we used to carry people away from our country. These were criminals who had at least gone through some kind of trial and were deemed guilty of an offense, even if that trial was quick and lacking in thoroughness," he continued.
"I believe that transportation, as we know it, isn't a policy that fits the needs of the 21st century."
From 1788 to 1868, roughly 162,000 individuals serving sentences were sent from Britain and Ireland to prison settlements in Australia.
In response to criticisms that some believe the plan serves as a strong deterrent, while others see the small boats navigating the Channel as contrary to Conservative values, Sir John remarked: “Do they really think that people in remote parts of North Africa are aware of the laws passed by the British parliament? I don’t believe that’s the case at all.”
Regarding immigration as a whole, Sir John expressed his strong disapproval of how society has begun to view it negatively. He stated, "I really dislike the perception that immigration is a problem. I don't share that view; I've never felt that way."
He mentioned that he hasn't participated in many TV interviews lately because "there hasn't been much I could say ... in support of the actions taken by the previous administration."
"I believed it would be best to keep quiet for a while," he mentioned. "Now that the election has passed and the party is focusing on what lies ahead, I can start sharing my thoughts again, ideally in a positive way."
Sir John mentioned that he hasn't decided whom to support for the next leader of the Conservative Party. In an interview with the BBC, he expressed, “I want to back a candidate who will address long-term issues and provide guidance on our future direction, as well as attract those who truly align with centre-right values back into the party.”
Talking about his party's present situation and its outlook, he stated: "The Conservative Party is the only one that can truly connect with the center-right. We need to pinpoint where our core supporters are and focus our efforts on reaching out to them."
"Some individuals might have misunderstood the outcome of the recent election. We lost five votes to Reform UK, and now there's quite a reaction, with a few rather impulsive voices suggesting that we should consider merging with them."
He cautioned that collaborating with the Reform party could be disastrous, pointing out, "We lost 50 seats to the Liberals and a significant number to Labour. Our support on the left has diminished more than on the right. We need to concentrate on our position in the center-right. We’re not here to push a specific ideology; traditionally, we've been a party that values practicality. I remain hopeful. Despite our recent heavy loss, we have a foundation to work from that can lead us to a fresh and potentially effective approach."
Catch the interview with John Major on Amol Rajan's show, airing tonight (Wednesday) at 7pm on BBC Two. You can also watch it later on BBC iPlayer and listen on BBC Sounds.
