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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| UK could remain in 'looser' EU - Lord O'Donnell | UK could remain in 'looser' EU - Lord O'Donnell |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| A former head of the civil service has predicted that the UK might remain in a "more loosely aligned" European Union, despite the referendum vote to leave. | A former head of the civil service has predicted that the UK might remain in a "more loosely aligned" European Union, despite the referendum vote to leave. |
| Lord O'Donnell told the Times it would take Parliament "years and years and years" to separate fully from Brussels. | Lord O'Donnell told the Times it would take Parliament "years and years and years" to separate fully from Brussels. |
| "It very much depends what happens to public opinion and whether the EU changes before then," he said. | "It very much depends what happens to public opinion and whether the EU changes before then," he said. |
| As Gus O'Donnell, he was cabinet secretary from 2005 to 2011 and is now a crossbencher in the House of Lords. | As Gus O'Donnell, he was cabinet secretary from 2005 to 2011 and is now a crossbencher in the House of Lords. |
| Lord O'Donnell said: "Lots of people will say 'we've had the referendum, we've decided to go out, so that's it, it's all over'. | Lord O'Donnell said: "Lots of people will say 'we've had the referendum, we've decided to go out, so that's it, it's all over'. |
| "It might be that the broader, more loosely aligned group is something that the UK is happy being a member of." | "It might be that the broader, more loosely aligned group is something that the UK is happy being a member of." |
| He added: "While we can leave relatively quickly, what leaving means is a huge administrative and legislative change because of all of those rules and laws and directives that have been implemented over this last 40 years. | He added: "While we can leave relatively quickly, what leaving means is a huge administrative and legislative change because of all of those rules and laws and directives that have been implemented over this last 40 years. |
| "My instinct is we will almost certainly stick with them and say 'OK, we'll keep them for now', so you can leave with everything in place." | "My instinct is we will almost certainly stick with them and say 'OK, we'll keep them for now', so you can leave with everything in place." |
| 'Ridiculous claims' | |
| He said Theresa May - who replaced David Cameron as prime minister after the UK public voted by 52% to 48% to leave the EU - now faced a "really difficult job". | |
| "She's got to corral all these different individuals, come up with precisely what version of Brexit we want, what works best for the British people, and then go about implementing it," he said. | |
| Lord O'Donnell said he was "not a big fan of referenda", adding that there were "ridiculous claims" on both sides in the UK's debate on EU membership. | |
| Mrs May has said formal talks on Britain's "sensible and orderly departure" from the EU will not begin until next year - but she has been clear that "Brexit means Brexit". | |
| The UK has not yet invoked article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty - the step required to officially begin its EU exit. | |
| Gus O'Donnell served as a press secretary under John Major, and then as cabinet secretary - the UK's most senior civil servant - in the cabinets of Tony Blair, Gordon Brown and David Cameron. | Gus O'Donnell served as a press secretary under John Major, and then as cabinet secretary - the UK's most senior civil servant - in the cabinets of Tony Blair, Gordon Brown and David Cameron. |