Former prime minister John Major has been one of the few people during the Brexit saga to actually offer the UK a way out of its predicament.
In January he encouraged Theresa May to offer MPs the chance to vote on her withdrawal bill without a whip and essentially cast a 'free vote'.
The prime minister didn't exactly listen to what Major had to say and three meaningful votes later we are still stuck in the same situation with a no-deal Brexit looming over the horizon.
Now Major has intervened again with some interesting views on how to solve the Brexit problem by suggesting that there should be a 'government of national unity' that serves the best interests of the UK.
This controversial idea would mean inviting members of the opposition to join the cabinet, something which hasn't happened since the 1940s.
Speaking on the BBC's Andrew Marr Show, the former Tory leader said that this should be considered if a general election failed to produce a government with a clear majority:
If we have a general election in the autumn, which I think is possible, not certain, and we don’t get a government with a clear majority then I think it would be in the national interest to have a cross-party government so that we can take decisions without the chaos that we’re seeing in parliament at the moment where every possible alternative is rejected.
I don’t like this idea, I don’t think it’s ideal. But I do think in the interest of the nation, in the interests of decisions being taken, in the interests of ending the chaos we have now and that could continue, we must have a government that has a working majority. And that is the only reason for a time-limited unity government.
Former Conservative Prime Minister Sir John Major: “We may be driven to a national government… in the interests of… https://t.co/19DiPDaL41— BBC Politics (@BBC Politics) 1554026590
Major conceded that the situation that Britain currently faces is completely different to what it faced during World War II but he added that with the country's living standards, reputation and the unity with Scotland and Northern Ireland at stake then it might be the only solution.
This bold move from Major has certainly ruffled a few feathers with people who agree with him and those that don't.
This is what people are saying about his interjection on Twitter.
Blimey, so John Major echoes calls from Theresa May's former advisor George Freeman and says it might be time for a… https://t.co/DM7pn3xLaT— Shehab Khan (@Shehab Khan) 1554025934
John Major repeatedly said the winner should take it all, fully expecting a Remain vote in 2016. But "when circum… https://t.co/QI3XYJAb8a— Leave.EU (@Leave.EU) 1554030443
John Major puts across the case for democracy over bullying and intimidation. There has to be a way to discuss the… https://t.co/xWGcleEz7I— Lib Dems in Business 🔶 #LibDemsmeanbusiness (@Lib Dems in Business 🔶 #LibDemsmeanbusiness) 1554030338
The political establishment can't agree on which method to use to stop Brexit. Now, arch-globalist John Major is… https://t.co/GOJVviT3rc— UKIP (@UKIP) 1554029623
Catching up on #marr slightly late, I'm struck by how level-headed John Major comes across as.— Edwin Hayward 🦄 🗡 (@Edwin Hayward 🦄 🗡) 1554030028
Oh Lordy. Now John Major calls for cross party government in autumn. Extraordinary.Funny how it’s only one side and… https://t.co/LDW4SZUzEv— Harry Cole (@Harry Cole) 1554025763
God, I never thought I'd be in the position that I'd agree with and admire John Major #Marr— Craig Parry (@Craig Parry) 1554026414
When I was growing up I thought John Major was a national joke. Watching him now he’s a political giant compared to… https://t.co/9NPdtlJhmv— Glen Mitchell 🐝 🇪🇺🌹🌈 (@Glen Mitchell 🐝 🇪🇺🌹🌈) 1554025735
John Major showing once again, on #Marr just now, why he & his generation of parliamentarians make most of today’s… https://t.co/slNQyoYVfA— Matt Bishop 🏳️🌈 (@Matt Bishop 🏳️🌈) 1554026416
I wasn't a great fan of John Major when he was in government. But by God, he's head-and-shoulders above what we have now. #marr— Stewart Lewis (@Stewart Lewis) 1554026365
HT The Mirror