Reacting to news that Boris Johnson is resigning as Prime Minister, CEO of the European Movement, Anna Bird, said:

“For seven years, the Brexit bullring has been used to spread lies, undermine democracy and strip away integrity from public office.  

“What followed was a tanking economy, collapsing businesses, families set to be worse off by nearly £1,000 a year and colossal damage to our reputation around the world.   

“And for the last two years, our country has been caught up in the daily stresses of Boris Johnson’s premiership; cheap sloganeering, bullyboy negotiation strategies and unforgivable law-breaking.  

“Now, it is time to look beyond all that. To contemplate where we’d like to be, what we want the world to think of us and what will become our story.  

“We have known for a long time that Brexit is an economic disaster. We have long argued that Brexit is also a moral disaster. And as Brexit takes out its third Prime Minister, it’s clear it is also a political disaster.  

“Candidates to be the next Conservative leader – the next Prime Minister – can stand for change. MPs and members can vote to stop the financial misery, prevent the hurt and undo the economic dislocation Boris Johnson’s Brexit is causing.  

“The European Movement will continue to ask all parties to leave Johnson’s hard Brexit behind, put British business back on a level playing field with their competitors, stop shouting at the EU and work with our neighbours again.  

“We can end futile divisions. We can heal from hate. We can reclaim truth from fiction. We must now take action to recover our country’s soul – all of us – regardless of party allegiance or how we voted in the referendum.  

“The European Movement is the only organisation with the desire, courage, confidence and commitment to our mission: Expose the calamity of Brexit, build a brighter future for our country alongside our neighbours in Europe and win this critical Battle for the Soul of our Country.”

ENDS.