David Cameron's Words After the Brexit Vote

On June 23, 2016, the people of Britain voted to decide whether Britain should remain in or leave the European Union- the so-called "Brexit" or "British Exit" vote. The British people voted to leave the European Union, and although the decision does not go into effect immediately, it is an historic decision whose effects will be felt by the entire world for years to come. After the vote, British Prime Minister David Cameron, who was in favor of remaining in the E.U., delivered a speech in which he addressed the future of Britain and announced his resignation, to take effect in a few months. Below are seventeen vocabulary words from Cameron's speech. The transcript of the entire speech is available here.
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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. referendum
    a legislative act referred for approval to a popular vote
    That’s why we delivered the first coalition government in 70 years to bring our economy back from the brink. It’s why we delivered a fair, legal and decisive referendum in Scotland.
  2. reassure
    cause to feel confident
    I would reassure those markets and investors that Britain’s economy is fundamentally strong.
  3. stability
    the quality or attribute of being firm and steadfast
    This is not a decision I have taken lightly, but I do believe it is in the national interest to have a period of stability and then the new leadership required.
  4. enabling
    providing legal power or sanction
    I believe we have made great steps, with more people in work than ever before in our history, with reforms to welfare and education, increasing people’s life chances, building a bigger and stronger society, keeping our promises to the poorest people in the world, and enabling those who love each other to get married whatever their sexuality.
  5. democracy
    the orientation of those who favor government by the people
    We not only have a parliamentary democracy, but on questions about the arrangements for how we are governed, there are times when it is right to ask the people themselves, and that is what we have done.
  6. brink
    the limit beyond which something happens or changes
    That’s why we delivered the first coalition government in 70 years to bring our economy back from the brink.
  7. trigger
    an act that sets in motion some course of events
    A negotiation with the European Union will need to begin under a new prime minister, and I think it is right that this new prime minister takes the decision about when to trigger Article 50 and start the formal and legal process of leaving the E.U.
  8. cabinet
    group chosen by a head of state to run executive departments
    Delivering stability will be important, and I will continue in post as prime minister with my cabinet for the next three months.
  9. coalition
    the union of diverse things into one body or form or group
    That’s why we delivered the first coalition government in 70 years to bring our economy back from the brink.
  10. decisive
    characterized by resoluteness and firmness
    It’s why we delivered a fair, legal and decisive referendum in Scotland.
  11. welfare
    something that aids or promotes well-being
    I believe we have made great steps, with more people in work than ever before in our history, with reforms to welfare and education, increasing people’s life chances, building a bigger and stronger society, keeping our promises to the poorest people in the world, and enabling those who love each other to get married whatever their sexuality.
  12. initial
    occurring at the beginning
    There will be no initial change in the way our people can travel, in the way our goods can move or the way our services can be sold.
  13. steer
    be a guiding or motivating force or drive
    I will do everything I can as prime minister to steady the ship over the coming weeks and months, but I do not think it would be right for me to try to be the captain that steers our country to its next destination.
  14. parliament
    a legislative assembly in certain countries
    We not only have a parliamentary democracy, but on questions about the arrangements for how we are governed, there are times when it is right to ask the people themselves, and that is what we have done.
  15. engagement
    the act of sharing in the activities of a group
    This will need to involve the full engagement of the Scottish, Welsh and Northern Ireland governments to ensure that the interests of all parts of our United Kingdom are protected and advanced.
  16. pledge
    a binding commitment to do or give or refrain from something
    And why I made the pledge to renegotiate Britain’s position in the European Union and hold a referendum on our membership, and have carried those things out.
  17. precise
    sharply exact or accurate or delimited
    There is no need for a precise timetable today, but in my view we should aim to have a new prime minister in place by the start of the Conservative Party conference in October.
Created on Fri Jun 24 08:55:25 EDT 2016 (updated Fri Jun 24 11:50:24 EDT 2016)

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