Former PM John Major Criticises Brexit

英国前首相梅杰抨击脱欧派

来源：刘立军

TRANSCRIPT

It's just two and a half weeks until Britain's EU referendum. If the country votes to remain by a reasonable margin, then by and large life will carry on pretty much as before for most people. However, if the UK votes to leave, the nation will be an unchartered territory with the Prime Minister David Cameron facing questions about his future. On Sunday, one of his predecessors John Major intervened on behalf of the remain campaign. And in a sign of how heated the debate has become, he didn't mince his words, as I heard from our political correspondent Chris Mason.

Well, as John Major had a reputation as British Prime Minister in the 1990s of being dull even of being boring, he acknowledged today that he is often understated in his public interventions. And yet what he said in a BBC interview was anything but understated as he repeatedly criticized the leave campaign in the UK referendum.

And what they have said about leaving is fundamentally dishonest and it's dishonest about the cost of Europe. And on the subject that they've veered towards having lost economic argument of immigration, I think their campaign is verging on the squalid. So these promises of the expenditure on the national health service or elsewhere are frankly fatuous. They are a deceit. I'm angry at the way that British people are being misled.

John Major of course faced immense troubles over Europe during his time as Prime Minister. What did the leave campaign say about it?

Yeah, I should say there was a chasm in the Conservative Party when it was governing Britain for much of the 1990s. Today it was as if he was trying to crowbar open, prize open that chasm even further. He clearly feels aggrieved how he was treated by some of the same people who were in his government 20 years ago, who are now leading advocates of the leave campaign. But there's an additional figure, a big figure within the governing Conservative Party in the UK. That's Boris Johnson, the former mayor of London. So what did he make of what Sir John Major had said and particularly the suggestion from the former British Prime Minister that Mr. Johnson was merely setting out his argument because he wants to be Britain's next Prime Minister.

Obviously there's going to be temptation by one side to try to turn into a personality driven conversation. My view by the EU has changed. We'll be safer, taking back control.

The question is the extent to which this powerful intervention from Sir John Major will make any difference to voters.

Adapted from 英国前首相梅杰抨击脱欧派

VOCABULARY

1. referendum n. an occasion when all the people of a country can vote on an important issue 全民投票；全民公决

2. unchartered adj. 未经官方授权的; 未得到允许的

3. not mince one's words: to say sth. in a direct way even though it might offend other people 毫不隐讳；直言不讳

4. intervention n. 干预，介入

5. veer v. to change direction suddenly 突然变向；猛然转向

6. verge v. 接近, 近乎

7. squalid adj. involving low moral standards or dishonest behavior 道德败坏的；丑恶的；卑鄙的

8. fatuous adj. stupid 愚蠢的；愚昧的

9. deceit n. dishonest behaviour that is intended to make sb. believe sth. that is not true 欺骗，欺诈（行为）

10. chasm n.（两个人或团体之间的）巨大分歧

11. crowbar n. 撬棍；铁橇；起货钩

12. aggrieved adj. 愤愤不平的

QUESTIONS

Listen to the news and fill in the following blanks.

1. It's just two and a half weeks until Britain's EU referendum. If the country _______________________ by a reasonable margin, then by and large life will carry on pretty much as before for most people.

2. However, if the UK ______________________________, the nation will be an unchartered territory with the Prime Minister David Cameron __________________________________.

3. And what they have said about leaving is _________________________________ and it's dishonest about ______________________________.

4. Well, as John Major had a reputation as British Prime Minister in the 1990s of _____________________ even of ___________________________, he acknowledged today that he is often understated in his _______________________________.

5. And yet what he said in a BBC interview was anything but understated as he repeatedly criticized _____________________________ in the UK referendum.

6. They are a deceit. I'm angry at the way that ______________________________________.

7. So what did he make of what Sir John Major had said and particularly the suggestion from the former British Prime Minister that Mr. Johnson was merely setting out his argument because he wants to be ___________________________________________.

8. Obviously there's going to be temptation by one side to try to turn into _____________________________________________________________________.

9. My view by the EU has changed. We'll be safer, ______________________________.

10. The question is the extent to which this powerful intervention from Sir John Major will __________________________________________________________.

SUGGESTED ANSWERS

1. It's just two and a half weeks until Britain's EU referendum. If the country votes to remain by a reasonable margin, then by and large life will carry on pretty much as before for most people.

2. However, if the UK votes to leave, the nation will be an unchartered territory with the Prime Minister David Cameron facing questions about his future.

3. And what they have said about leaving is fundamentally dishonest and it's dishonest about the cost of Europe.

4. Well, as John Major had a reputation as British Prime Minister in the 1990s of being dull even of being boring, he acknowledged today that he is often understated in his public interventions.

5. And yet what he said in a BBC interview was anything but understated as he repeatedly criticized the leave campaign in the UK referendum.

6. They are a deceit. I'm angry at the way that British people are being misled.

7. So what did he make of what Sir John Major had said and particularly the suggestion from the former British Prime Minister that Mr. Johnson was merely setting out his argument because he wants to be Britain's next Prime Minister.

8. Obviously there's going to be temptation by one side to try to turn into a personality driven conversation.

9. My view by the EU has changed. We'll be safer, taking back control.

10. The question is the extent to which this powerful intervention from Sir John Major will make any difference to voters.