The UK is facing its greatest constitutional crisis for over a century. There is an urgent need for civil servants to begin planning a negotiating position for leaving the EU, but they cannot do so without political instruction, and the new Conservative leader will not be announced until September. As historians on opposite sides of the political divide and also of the referendum debate, we urge that a cross-party national government be formed as a matter of necessity. The sole task of this government would be to devise speedily and negotiate the terms for Brexit, this to be done before article 50 is invoked. The sole criterion for membership of the new cabinet would be proven administrative capacity and a willingness to suspend the asperities of party conflict in the greater national interest. Once its work is finished, party politics as usual may and should resume.
The only person who can bring such a coalition into being is David Cameron, who should advise the Queen to appoint a successor who commands the confidence of the House of Commons, with no prejudice as to the future leadership of the Tory party. Let Mr Cameron complete his premiership with a bold act of statesmanship.
Prof Jeremy Black and Prof Richard Toye
University of Exeter
• You reported Tony Blair’s call for the UK to keep its options open regarding whether or not to leave the EU (‘Our nation is in peril’: Blair urges calm in Brexit talks, 1 July). He argues that, as the economic situation deteriorates over the next year and a half, the British people may change their mind about leaving.
This is good advice. Unfortunately, the Conservative government under its new leader (whoever that is) is determined to take the UK out of the EU. It will not keep its options open.
A national government should therefore be formed as soon as possible to do precisely what Mr Blair recommends: negotiate withdrawal but keep its mind open about staying in if acceptable terms are offered. The remain MPs in the Conservative, Liberal Democrat, Labour, Scottish National, Plaid Cymru, Green, Democratic Unionist, Ulster Unionist and Social Democratic and Labour parties should vote the government out immediately and put a national government in its place. The new government should also work to promote national unity after the divisive referendum campaign.
Dr Paul Maddrell
Lecturer for modern history and international relations, Loughborough University
