In his first major speech since resigning as MP and from the office of Prime Minister, David Cameron discussed Brexit, Trump’s election and recent events in Italy.
Former Prime Minister David Cameron spoke to students at DePauw University in Indiana, where he addressed the issues and spoke of his opinion on the populist anti-establishment movements across the globe. Mr Cameron referred to the phenomenon as a “movement of unhappiness and concern about the state of the world”.
No regrets over the EU referendum
“I believed and I still believe that the fact we hadn’t had a referendum on this issue for 40 years – in spite of the fact that the European Union was changing and changing – was beginning to poison British politics,” he said.
“It was certainly poisoning politics in my own party. And I think, more importantly, people were feeling they had been promised a referendum – but people were beginning to get very frustrated about this issue.”
In recent years, debate within the Conservatives and among the euro-sceptic wing within the party had intensified, placing pressure on Cameron to settle the matter. The UK Independence Party, which continues to run on a strongly anti-Europe platform, begun to emerge as a political force within UK politics under Mr Cameron’s tenure as conservative party leader.
Brexit and Trumpism
“Ultimately, how 2016 goes down in history will depend on what political leaders do next. That’s why I have tried to make a very clear argument, which is that if they put their heads in the sand and say, ‘Well this will pass and we’ll just carry on the way we are,’ then 2016 will be seen as a real watershed.
“But if, as I believe will happen, our democracies are flexible enough and our leaders are aware enough, they will correct – course correct as I put it – the problems that they face. So you will see a greater emphasis on trying to help those who are left behind.”