Theresa May urged to axe Brexit talks with Labour after they demand second referendum
THERESA May was today urged to pull out of Brexit talks with Labour after the party demanded a second referendum.
Shadow Brexit Secretary Keir Starmer insisted a so-called “people’s vote” would be the price of any deal between the two main parties.
Top Tories from both sides of the Brexit divide warned the PM the negotiations are now doomed to failure.
Brexiteer Nigel Evans blasted: “Time for Theresa to walk away from talks – confirmatory referendum on a rejected deal which leads to remaining in EU is a total betrayal of the people’s vote.
“These talks have been a complete waste of time – negotiating Brexit with a party which wants to stop Brexit!”
Tom Pursglove added: “These ‘talks’ should be called off and we should just get on and leave. No fudge. No more delay. Just leave.”
Within the Cabinet, pro-Remain ministers are said to have asked the PM to scrap talks with Labour.
Instead the likes of Philip Hammond and Damian Hinds want Mrs May to hand the decision to Parliament, giving MPs a binding vote on the whole range of different Brexit outcomes.
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Last night Sir Keir, who is leading the Labour team in the Brexit talks, called for a second EU referendum.
It’s the first time Jeremy Corbyn’s negotiators have openly demanded a public vote on any compromise agreed with the Tories.
The shadow minister told the Guardian: “I’ve made it clear that at this stage, at this 11th hour, any deal that comes through from this Government ought to be subject to the lock of a confirmatory vote.”
He claimed Labour MPs would refuse to support the cross-party deal without a referendum tagged on.
Today deputy leader Tom Watson backed Sir Keir, saying Labour is “the Remain and reform party”.
But Housing Secretary James Brokenshire told the BBC: “Keir is obviously setting out a slightly different message to the core message the Labour party’s been giving about a second referendum.
“These talks are about how we give effect to leaving the EU, not somehow reopening the debate all over again.”
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Talks between Labour and the Tories began last month after Brexit was delayed until October 31.
But they are seen as unlikely to make headway because of Labour’s demand to keep Britain in the customs union.
Tory minister Tobias Ellwood blasted today: “Labour haven’t been very clear what they want, they just want to sow confusion.”
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