The police and crime commissioner for Thames Valley has maintained that leaving the European Union was not an error and has called on political figures to cease their efforts to return to the bloc.
During an appearance on his own podcast, Matthew Barber marked the tenth anniversary of the Brexit referendum and reiterated his position that the decision to depart from the EU was correct.
The Conservative official stated that he cast his ballot in favour of departure and expressed the view that it would be unacceptable for any politician to suggest the electorate made the wrong choice.
Barber also dismissed suggestions that Britain should become a member of the EU again, indicating that there exists little public desire for such a move at present.
He cautioned that raising the matter again would revive divisions that many citizens believed they had moved beyond.
Although defending the decision to leave, Barber conceded that challenges had emerged in the period following the UK’s withdrawal from the European Union.
He expressed criticism of the political opposition encountered by Brexit and the manner in which subsequent administrations had capitalised on the opportunities created by independence.
Barber observed that obstacles encountered after the split were partly attributable to resistance from political opponents and the failure of British politicians to allow the nation to progress as they should have done.
He also pointed to shortcomings across the political spectrum in exploiting the new capabilities acquired through Brexit.
Barber suggested that departure from the EU had provided the United Kingdom with opportunities to pursue alternative approaches and contended that elected representatives ought to prioritise maximising those benefits rather than seeking to reopen debate on the original referendum.
His remarks follow a commitment made by Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey at his party’s annual conference, where he indicated that a Liberal Democrat administration would pursue membership of the EU single market.