LONDON: Former British prime minister Tony Blair today said "we should keep our options open" on the UK leaving the European Union as 48 per cent of the voters at last month's referendum felt "disenfranchised". Blair said as the details of what Brexit meant for the country began to emerge: "If the will of the people shifts, why shouldn't we recognise that? "He said some countries wanted a quick divorce, while others favoured a delay in commencing the article 50 process, which starts a two-year countdown to Brexit. Those we used to call 'our European partners' are, unsurprisingly, divided and uncertain themselves. "Blair, who was premier from 1997 to 2007, told the BBC the 48 per cent who had voted to Remain in the EU felt "disenfranchised" and it was not clear "what we are moving to".Both Prime Minister David Cameron and Labour Leader Jeremy Corbyn have both ruled out a second EU referendum.When asked whether "keeping our options open" meant a second EU referendum, Blair replied: "It means whatever we decide it should mean as we see how this debate develops.

Source: Economic Times July 03, 2016 13:41 UTC