Tom Brake MP urges the Labour Party to back the Lib Dem's call for a referendum on the deal.
Who would have bet a few months ago that hardcore Brexiteers would sign up to a whopping divorce bill and a commitment to accept freedom of movement, all EU rules and regulations and ECJ rulings until at least 2021?
Or that it is a cross-party coalition of remainers who would stand up in Parliament to wave the ‘take back control’ banner?
Despite timid warnings this week from Jacob Rees-Mogg against a Norway-type deal and Nigel Farage playing his new role as the British shock jock, it is clear that the majority of Brexiters have turned a blind-eye to most of their red lines.
As it becomes increasingly clear that Brexit will deliver none of the main promises of the ‘Leave’ campaign, I feel a growing sense of desperation developing inside the right wing of the Tory Party.
Gone are the days where Brexiters defended any supposed benefits of Brexit. The strategy is now simple. Attack anyone who questions Brexit as a traitor and deliver Brexit at all cost (and if this means causing irreparable damage to millions of people’s jobs, the NHS and the economy so be it).
As public opinion moves away from leaving the EU, the Brexiteers are panicking.
Last month a BMG Research poll for Left Foot Forward showed that a majority of the public now backs a referendum on staying in the EU, if the government fails to secure a trade deal.
The majority is even deeper amongst 18-24-year-olds: 74% back a vote and as many as two-thirds believe ‘Brexit should be stopped’.
And just last weekend another BMG Research poll put staying in the EU ahead of leaving by 10 points.
The Lib Dems celebrated last week’s win which means that Parliament will have a meaningful vote, but we believe that we should go further and let the British people decide if they accept or reject the final deal.
Whatever the result of that vote would be, that decision would carry a much heavier mandate then one held by a small clique of politicians in Westminster.
That is why we tabled Amendment 120 to the EU Withdrawal Bill, an amendment that would guarantee you the final say on Brexit, via a referendum on the deal, with an option to “Exit from Brexit” and remain in the EU.
There is a real chance that the Government’s deal does not deliver on the promises of the ‘Leave’ campaign, wrecks our economy and puts at risk the future of our NHS.
For these reasons alone, it is right that we give everyone a Vote on the Deal and keep all the options on the table.
There’s one person who can decide if the amendment passes or fails today: Jeremy Corbyn.
If he whips his MPs to back it, we will almost certainly pass it. If he whips his MPs to vote against, the amendment will fail. I urge him to do the right thing and support our amendment. Anything less will be a kick in the teeth for our democracy.
Tom Brake MP is the Liberal Democrats’ Spokesperson for Exiting the EU. He tweets here.
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4 Responses to “This vote in Parliament could give the public the final say on Brexit, but only if Labour back it”
Richard Brown
Please PLEASE ensure we the public are given a meaningful vote on whether Brexit goes ahead or not at all.
We were lied to the first time.
The People can speak again.
LordBlagger
If labour votes for it, them Labour MPs are voting for cuts.
We won’t let you forget it.
Any cuts will be blamed on remainers.
That is why we tabled Amendment 120 to the EU Withdrawal Bill, an amendment that would guarantee you the final say on Brexit, via a referendum on the deal, with an option to “Exit from Brexit” and remain in the EU.
That’s just a re run
How about a referedum do you accept the deal negotiated with the EU? Yes or no.
That doesn’t mean re-running the brexit vote. It’s clean or hard brexit.
In any case, the remain in the EU isn’t yours to offer. A50 says that you need the agreement of the EU.
What happens if the EU says yes, but you have to join the Euro, join a Europeans super state?
Another referedum, and another second bite?
Tom Brake, you are deluded and clearly haven’t read A50.
Karl Greenall
We have to face up to the fact that the whole Brexit project is built on a complete tissue of lies. It was pursued by one of the most incompetent prime ministers in British history, in order to resolve issues only causing problems in his own party. The referendum itself was based on an incomplete question, and we are now stuck with the consequences of all of this. Now, opinion polls are showing a growing mood in the country for the process to be halted and reversed, as the consequences of leaving are slowly revealed. The future will confirm that the only realistic course for the country is remain and lead reform. We should not forget that with all our opt-outs, we already have the bespoke deal that we could ever need with the EU. Leaving under the aegis of the Tory party’s Brexit extremists,who only want to protect their billionaire hedge fund chums from the EU’s desire, through effective regulation, to prevent a repeat of 2007/2008, spells disaster for ordinary citizens.
Teresa Wilson
LordBlagger states that to vote for a referendum would be a vote for cuts. How? It appears to be a complete non sequitur. Damage to the economy resulting from Brexit may, it’s difficult to see how remaining would.
LordBlagger also states that Article 50 says we can only stay in the EU with the agreement of EU27. It does not. Clearly LordBlagger has not read Article 50.