--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: My position was that if the country could…" description: "\"My position was that if the country could unite around a soft Brexit that would be the least worst way through. But it is now very clear that the count..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1ee/david-gauke-12347_brexit_my-position-was-that-if-the-country-coul_2400776.jpg" --- # My position was that if the country could unite around a… ![“My position was that if the country could unite around a soft Brexit that would be the least worst way through. But it is now very clear that the country is not going to unite around a soft Brexit. There is nobody really advocating a soft Brexit.” quote by David Gauke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1ee/david-gauke-12347_brexit_my-position-was-that-if-the-country-coul_2400776.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1ee/david-gauke-12347_brexit_my-position-was-that-if-the-country-coul_2400776.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1ee/david-gauke-12347_brexit_my-position-was-that-if-the-country-coul_2400776.jpg) > “My position was that if the country could unite around a soft Brexit that would be the least worst way through. But it is now very clear that the country is not going to unite around a soft Brexit. There is nobody really advocating a soft Brexit.” [David Gauke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-gauke/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A soft Brexit was once seen as a compromise to keep the country united, but political reality shows no clear support, making it an unviable path. **In simple terms:** Soft Brexit lacked popular support Key Takeaway Recognize when a compromise lacks backing. Themes politics policy unity compromise strategy Mood cautious reflective serious Type analytical critical thought‑provoking When to use this quote - government negotiations - public policy formation - party strategy - public communication - legislative drafting Key Concepts soft Brexit national unity political feasibility Questions to Reflect On - What alternative paths could achieve unity? - How can leaders gauge genuine public support? A Different Perspective Soft Brexit may still appeal to some factions despite overall opposition. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Brexit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brexit/) [Brexit Really](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brexit-really-1043472/) [Brexit Worst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brexit-worst-6012067/) [Country](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/country/) [Country Unite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/country-unite-2151669/) [Europe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/europe/) [Going Unite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/going-unite-1237653/) [Now](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/now/) [Soft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/soft/) [Soft Brexit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/soft-brexit-511623/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) ## Related quotes > [Whether it is a hard or soft Brexit, there are opportunities here for us to be had.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gladys-berejiklian/whether-it-is-a-hard-or-soft-brexit-there-are-opportunities-here-for/) [Gladys Berejiklian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gladys-berejiklian/) > [If 'Brexit' really is a political crisis, it should be treated as a political crisis - and not, despite all the market upheaval, a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-evans/if-brexit-really-is-a-political-crisis-it-should-be-treated-as-a/) [Kelly Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-evans/) > [Left to their own devices, the Tories will squash the life out of what Brexit really represents in terms of the chance to shake…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-fox/left-to-their-own-devices-the-tories-will-squash-the-life-out-of-what/) [Claire Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-fox/) > [I don't think one moment that we should sink to the levels of the Brexiters - the dodgy money, the electoral lawbreaking and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gina-miller/i-don-t-think-one-moment-that-we-should-sink-to-the-levels-of-the/) [Gina Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gina-miller/) > [Brexit has really broken a taboo. The Brits have shown us that you can leave the European Union, and you can come out better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marine-le-pen/brexit-has-really-broken-a-taboo-the-brits-have-shown-us-that-you-can/) [Marine Le Pen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marine-le-pen/) > [It is a call for black people in this country to unite, to recognize their heritage, to build a sense of community. It is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stokely-carmichael/it-is-a-call-for-black-people-in-this-country-to-unite-to-recognize/) [Stokely Carmichael](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stokely-carmichael/) > [We are going to unite this people. We will unite whites and blacks, homosexuals and heterosexuals... We will unite bosses and employees, and we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jair-bolsonaro/we-are-going-to-unite-this-people-we-will-unite-whites-and-blacks/) [Jair Bolsonaro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jair-bolsonaro/) > [I want a president who is going to unite this country, who is going to fight for everyone, not just some people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-cortez-masto/i-want-a-president-who-is-going-to-unite-this-country-who-is-going-to/) [Catherine Cortez-Masto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-cortez-masto/) > [We are going to unite the people, rescue the family, respect religions and our Judeo-Christian tradition, combat gender ideology, conserving our values.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jair-bolsonaro/we-are-going-to-unite-the-people-rescue-the-family-respect-religions/) [Jair Bolsonaro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jair-bolsonaro/) > [Brexit for me was really interesting because I was in the heart of Yorkshire, which is a "leave" area. It was quite odd actually,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-wilson/brexit-for-me-was-really-interesting-because-i-was-in-the-heart-of/) [Ruth Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-wilson/) > [Loose talk about no deal has given credibility to the simplistic slogans of the Brexit party and resulted in millions voting for them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-gauke/loose-talk-about-no-deal-has-given-credibility-to-the-simplistic/) [David Gauke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-gauke/) > [If Parliament is voting overwhelmingly against leaving the European Union without a deal but is voting in favour of a softer Brexit, then I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-gauke/if-parliament-is-voting-overwhelmingly-against-leaving-the-european/) [David Gauke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-gauke/) > [But only a candidate who rejects wishful thinking, has the courage to tell the truth about the options in front of us and who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-gauke/but-only-a-candidate-who-rejects-wishful-thinking-has-the-courage-to/) [David Gauke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-gauke/) > [The country is polarised between those who would pursue a hard Brexit, which is where the prime minister is, and Remain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-gauke/the-country-is-polarised-between-those-who-would-pursue-a-hard-brexit/) [David Gauke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-gauke/) > [No-deal Brexit could be Boris Johnson's biggest deception yet - worse than the Boris bus or the lies that had him sacked as a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-davey/no-deal-brexit-could-be-boris-johnson-s-biggest-deception-yet-worse/) [Ed Davey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-davey/) ## More by David Gauke > [There is one stark fact facing us: three quarters of all crime that results in a caution or sentence happens because of reoffending. We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-gauke/there-is-one-stark-fact-facing-us-three-quarters-of-all-crime-that/) [David Gauke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-gauke/) > [I'm impressed by Jo Swinson. I think if I was living in a lot of constituencies I would lend my vote to the Liberal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-gauke/i-m-impressed-by-jo-swinson-i-think-if-i-was-living-in-a-lot-of/) [David Gauke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-gauke/) > [Many offenders have had immensely difficult upbringings and do not have the support of loving families and friends.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-gauke/many-offenders-have-had-immensely-difficult-upbringings-and-do-not/) [David Gauke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-gauke/) > [The public, investors and stakeholders now expect higher standards of tax compliance and more transparency from large businesses about the way they approach taxation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-gauke/the-public-investors-and-stakeholders-now-expect-higher-standards-of/) [David Gauke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-gauke/) > [Leaving the European Union is likely to have an impact on the workforce in sectors such as catering, construction and agriculture. I see an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-gauke/leaving-the-european-union-is-likely-to-have-an-impact-on-the/) [David Gauke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-gauke/) > [I believe that the Conservative party is at its best when it's a pro-business, pragmatic party, so to appeal to the country, and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-gauke/i-believe-that-the-conservative-party-is-at-its-best-when-it-s-a-pro/) [David Gauke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-gauke/) > [Our judiciary has a reputation for intellectual rigour, careful consideration of the arguments, and a serious-minded determination to each decision based on what is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-gauke/our-judiciary-has-a-reputation-for-intellectual-rigour-careful/) [David Gauke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-gauke/) > [I want to open up investment even further so over the summer we'll launch a consultation on indirect investments in social enterprises - including…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-gauke/i-want-to-open-up-investment-even-further-so-over-the-summer-we-ll/) [David Gauke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-gauke/) > [Whilst long prison sentences will always be right for those who commit the most serious crimes, particularly of a violent or sexual nature, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-gauke/whilst-long-prison-sentences-will-always-be-right-for-those-who/) [David Gauke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-gauke/) > [The country is polarised between those who would pursue a hard Brexit, which is where the prime minister is, and Remain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-gauke/the-country-is-polarised-between-those-who-would-pursue-a-hard-brexit/) [David Gauke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-gauke/) > [We've got an outstanding justice system. Our judiciary are respected around the world. It is a key part of what we are as a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-gauke/we-ve-got-an-outstanding-justice-system-our-judiciary-are-respected/) [David Gauke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-gauke/) > [We should be extremely cautious about continuing to increase sentences as a routine response to concerns over crime.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-gauke/we-should-be-extremely-cautious-about-continuing-to-increase/) [David Gauke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-gauke/) > [There are tradeoffs between independence and co-operation, between regulatory autonomy and market access. This means that compromises are necessary to deliver a pragmatic Brexit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-gauke/there-are-tradeoffs-between-independence-and-co-operation-between/) [David Gauke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-gauke/) > [A Canada-style deal for the whole of the UK results in a hard border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. For that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-gauke/a-canada-style-deal-for-the-whole-of-the-uk-results-in-a-hard-border/) [David Gauke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-gauke/) > [As employees, we are all given specific duties and carrying out these duties provides us with a great sense of responsibility.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-gauke/as-employees-we-are-all-given-specific-duties-and-carrying-out-these/) [David Gauke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-gauke/) [Explore all 55 David Gauke quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-gauke/) ## More Brexit quotes > [No-deal Brexit could be Boris Johnson's biggest deception yet - worse than the Boris bus or the lies that had him sacked as a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-davey/no-deal-brexit-could-be-boris-johnson-s-biggest-deception-yet-worse/) [Ed Davey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-davey/) > [And after Brexit, we will be free to determine our economic future, with control over our money, laws and borders.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liz-truss/and-after-brexit-we-will-be-free-to-determine-our-economic-future/) [Liz Truss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liz-truss/) > [No one voted for a Brexit that will tie us to the E.U.'s customs rules and prevent us striking meaningful trade deals of our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jo-johnson/no-one-voted-for-a-brexit-that-will-tie-us-to-the-e-u-s-customs-rules/) [Jo Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jo-johnson/) > [The argument that won the Brexit campaign is the one that said take back control... which is another way of saying we want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frans-timmermans/the-argument-that-won-the-brexit-campaign-is-the-one-that-said-take/) [Frans Timmermans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frans-timmermans/) > [The audience for facts, evidence and research about microtargeting, Facebook and Brexit is tiny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dominic-cummings/the-audience-for-facts-evidence-and-research-about-microtargeting/) [Dominic Cummings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dominic-cummings/) > [I am a passionate, pragmatic, and positive believer in Brexit, and with my three-step plan, we can decisively leave the E.U.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrea-leadsom/i-am-a-passionate-pragmatic-and-positive-believer-in-brexit-and-with/) [Andrea Leadsom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrea-leadsom/) > [The important thing with Facebook is to remember that it played a role in facilitating Brexit because it inadvertently allowed leave-supporting groups to use…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nish-kumar/the-important-thing-with-facebook-is-to-remember-that-it-played-a/) [Nish Kumar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nish-kumar/) > [Brexit has always been an impossible project, except at the price of massive self-harm.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-adonis-baron-adonis/brexit-has-always-been-an-impossible-project-except-at-the-price-of/) [Andrew Adonis, Baron Adonis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-adonis-baron-adonis/) > [Whatever happens with Brexit, what I am absolutely convinced will not happen is that free movement of individuals, free movement of people, will not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-varadkar/whatever-happens-with-brexit-what-i-am-absolutely-convinced-will-not/) [Leo Varadkar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-varadkar/) > [I think one of the laughable things about poor old Brexit is that they're so cross - they're furious with everyone. But this isn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-soames/i-think-one-of-the-laughable-things-about-poor-old-brexit-is-that/) [Nicholas Soames](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-soames/) > [Brexit has really broken a taboo. The Brits have shown us that you can leave the European Union, and you can come out better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marine-le-pen/brexit-has-really-broken-a-taboo-the-brits-have-shown-us-that-you-can/) [Marine Le Pen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marine-le-pen/) > [People are rightly concerned about what Brexit will mean for the country, for their jobs and for their families.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kemi-badenoch/people-are-rightly-concerned-about-what-brexit-will-mean-for-the/) [Kemi Badenoch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kemi-badenoch/) > [Brexit is not, thankfully, a question of war. But, like Iraq, Brexit is an act of unprovoked self-harm and a massive strategic mistake that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-adonis-baron-adonis/brexit-is-not-thankfully-a-question-of-war-but-like-iraq-brexit-is-an/) [Andrew Adonis, Baron Adonis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-adonis-baron-adonis/) > [I'll keep fighting for the best, most successful Brexit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dominic-raab/i-ll-keep-fighting-for-the-best-most-successful-brexit/) [Dominic Raab](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dominic-raab/) > [The skills necessary to change nappies or negotiate Brexit are obviously very different, but both involve a great deal of trust in the competence…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gavin-esler/the-skills-necessary-to-change-nappies-or-negotiate-brexit-are/) [Gavin Esler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gavin-esler/) [Browse all 412 Brexit quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brexit/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "My position was that if the country could unite around a soft Brexit that would be the least worst way through. 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