Tom Brake has called for Parliament to be recalled in the wake of Theresa May’s statement yesterday.
In an open letter to the Prime Minister, published on Politics Home, he argued that a People’s Vote was the only safe exit to the chaos over Brexit.
The purpose of recalling Parliament would be to enable the Liberal Democrats, other parties and Parliamentarians from across the House to work with you to ensure that legislation for a final say on the deal or People’s Vote is drawn up immediately. A People’s Vote could then be held before the European Elections in May.
With the EU and your own MPs lined up against Chequers, Chequers has no future. No Deal, which you persist, wrongly, in claiming is the only alternative that could be offered to Parliament will not command a majority in the Commons. In these circumstances, a final say on the deal, so that people can choose between any deal the Government do eventually secure or staying in the EU is the only safe exit from the chaos the Conservative and other Brexit supporters have inflicted on the UK. Such a final say on the deal will of course require an extension to Article 50 so the legislation can be drafted, the question considered and the election conducted, but our EU partners have indicated an extension would be granted for this purpose.
I hope that you will welcome such an initiative and immediately make representations to your Cabinet and to the Speaker in order to start the preparations for such Parliamentary negotiations. The Liberal Democrats are willing to help draw up People’s Vote legislation and would work constructively with the Government to secure its prompt passage through Parliament.
You can read the whole article here.
* Newshound: bringing you the best Lib Dem commentary in print, on air or online.
Follow @libdemvoice.org on Bluesky
Like us on Facebook
Subscribe to our feed
Sign-up for our daily email digest
Why stage plays need a character that screenplays don't
Random thoughts
A few thoughts on Ann Widdecombe
Binface: the back story
Bonus podcast content: politics, football and the movies
David Raw
Mick Taylor
Jana
Paul Walter
4 Comments
I keep hearing that the People’s Vote, or Losers’ Vote, as I prefer to call it is not a re-run of the referendum. That is now history, it is accepted that we are leaving. The People’s Vote is to validate the method of leaving.
That’s fine. The ballot paper does not need to have Remain as an option, since that is already decided.
This is the suggestion of the Unite Union, and as Labour’s largest donor, it may well lead Corbyn to the same conclusion.
It is a good letter from Tom but I don’t think anyone really expects Parliament to be recalled before the Conservative Party conference next week.
The motion for a People’s vote will be debated at the Labour conference on Tuesday. If labour endorses a 2nd vote then a referendum is firmly on the agenda.
The Chair of the Co-op party has already tabled a private members bill that is due for a second reading on 26 October 2018. This bill could be adopted by the government if there is a majority in Parliament for it.
The requires the holding of a referendum to endorse the United Kingdom and Gibraltar exit package proposed by HM Government for withdrawal from the EU, or to decide to remain a member, following the completion of formal exit negotiations; and for connected purposes https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/bills/cbill/2017-2019/0103/cbill_2017-20190103_en_2.htm#l1g1
“Joseph Bourke … I don’t think anyone really expects Parliament to be recalled before the Conservative Party conference”.
This such a good idea for reducing the well publicised divisions the Tories are currently suffering. Why give the Tories such a good idea? They might never think of it themselves.
If the eu has decided that it can halt Brexit, they will negotiate with that in mind. They don’t want the process to last too long either and nor should we. The only certain way of halting it is a people’s vote with remaining on the ballot paper so I don’t think they would put up too much resistance to overcoming the barriers to it.