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Farage's call for second Brexit vote greeted with glee by remainers Farage's call for second Brexit vote greeted with glee by remainers
(about 2 hours later)
Nigel Farage’s surprise call for a second EU referendum has ignited hopes among anti-Brexit campaigners that both sides of the debate will back a poll on Theresa May’s final deal, in order to settle the issue for good. Nigel Farage’s surprise call for the country to prepare for a second EU referendum has ignited hopes among anti-Brexit campaigners that both sides of the debate will back a poll on Theresa May’s final deal.
The former Ukip leader shocked his colleagues on Thursday by suggesting another Brexit vote, arguing it would lead to a more decisive victory for the leave campaign and silence remain supporters for a generation.The former Ukip leader shocked his colleagues on Thursday by suggesting another Brexit vote, arguing it would lead to a more decisive victory for the leave campaign and silence remain supporters for a generation.
His proposal – backed by Arron Banks, who bankrolled one of the leave campaigns – quickly became a cause for celebration among those who believe another poll is the best way of overturning the result. His intervention was immediately seized on by those who believe another referendum is the best way of overturning the result, including former Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg and Labour peer Andrew Adonis, as it was seen as a sign that political pressure is building for a poll on the final deal.
Pro-EU campaigners such as the former Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg and the Labour peer Andrew Adonis were entirely supportive, saying they would relish the chance for another vote on the issue. Although the prime minister has insisted she will not allow another referendum, bookmakers Coral and Betfair slashed the odds on another poll before the end of 2019 to 5-1.
Speaking on Channel 5’s The Wright Stuff, Farage said: “My mind is actually changing on all this. What is for certain is that the Cleggs, the Blairs, the Adonises will never, ever, ever give up. They will go on whinging and whining and moaning all the way through this process. Some suggested it could make it easier for Labour to shift its position to supporting another referendum on May’s final Brexit deal, joining the Lib Dems, who have already called for a second poll.
“So maybe, just maybe, I’m reaching the point of thinking that we should have a second referendum on EU membership … unless you want to have a multiple choice referendum, which would confuse people. I think that if we had a second referendum on EU membership we would kill it off for a generation. But it could also fuel divisions within Labour. The party leadership currently maintains that there is no need for another popular vote – in contrast to some of its pro-EU backbenchers. Chuka Umunna, a former shadow cabinet minister, said Farage was for the “first time in his life” making a valid point and the British people have “every right to keep an open mind about Brexit”.
“The percentage that would vote to leave next time would be very much bigger than it was last time round. And we may just finish the whole thing off. And Blair can disappear off into total obscurity.” The most natural time for a second EU referendum would be a poll on whether to accept any deal that May negotiates with Brussels before the date of Brexit on March 2019, or whether the UK should leave without an agreement if she fails to secure one. If parliament were to vote against May’s deal with the EU, it could provoke another referendum on the issue or a general election in which Brexit was the central issue.
He was immediately backed by Banks, who said: “If we do not act radically now, we will sleepwalk into a faux Brexit, in name only. Recent data suggests the public is still fairly evenly split on the issue but a poll by YouGov showed 53% of people would like a final vote on the deal.
“True Brexiteers have been backed into a corner, and the only option now is to go back to the polls and let the people shout from the rooftops their support of a true Brexit. Leave would win by a landslide.” Farage first floated the idea on Channel 5’s The Wright Stuff: “My mind is actually changing on all this. What is for certain is that the Cleggs, the Blairs, the Adonises will never, ever, ever give up. They will go on whinging and whining and moaning all the way through this process.
However, Farage’s proposal infuriated his own party and Conservative ministers responsible for carrying out Brexit, as they have argued relentlessly since the referendum that the result must be respected. “So maybe, just maybe, I’m reaching the point of thinking that we should have a second referendum on EU membership … I think that if we had a second referendum on EU membership we would kill it off for a generation.”
Farage later backtracked from the notion that he actively wanted another referendum, but said leave supporters must “face this potential threat” and start organising for another campaign.
“We must ready ourselves for the possibility of one last dramatic battle,” he wrote in the Telegraph. “It may not be what we want, but it could be unavoidable. In the next few months, committed leavers must prepare for a second poll and get ready to start campaigning. They must pressurise MPs in their constituencies. The best defence of our dramatic referendum victory is to be alive to the possibility of having to do it all over again.”
The idea of another referendum was also backed by Farage’s ally Arron Banks, who helped bankroll one of the leave campaigns. “If we do not act radically now, we will sleepwalk into a faux Brexit, in name only,” he said. “True Brexiteers have been backed into a corner, and the only option now is to go back to the polls and let the people shout from the rooftops their support of a true Brexit. Leave would win by a landslide.”
Farage’s readiness to accept a second EU referendum quickly became a cause for celebration among pro-EU campaigners, who who hold out hope that public opinion is turning away from leaving the EU, as a result of its economic risks.
Clegg, the former deputy prime minister and Lib Dem leader, tweeted: “I agree with Nigel.” Adonis added: “Farage wants a referendum on Mrs May’s Brexit deal. I agree. Bring it on!”
Mark Malloch Brown, a peer who chairs the Best for Britain campaign, said another referendum was “something that the country needs”.
“With these comments, Nigel Farage is disowning the chaos that trying to leave the EU has wrought on this country. Him and his Brexiteer allies have zero idea of what would come next,” he said.
Tom Brake, a Lib Dem MP and his party’s spokesman on Brexit, said support was now growing on both sides of the argument for a vote on the final deal, although the Lib Dems were the only major party that advocated another poll in their election manifesto.
“Farage shouldn’t be so confident of winning; people are now far more aware of the costs of Brexit and the fabrications of the Lleave campaign,” he said.
However, the idea infuriated Farage’s own party and Conservative ministers responsible for carrying out Brexit, as they have argued relentlessly since the referendum that the result must be respected.
Leave-supporting Conservative MPs suggested Farage was simply seeking attention at a time when Ukip has lost its purpose and slumped in the polls. Andrew Bridgen, a Conservative MP, said: “The moment the public voted to leave the EU, and a Conservative government are enacting that, then unfortunately for Ukip, they are superfluous. I think that’s what it’s about.Leave-supporting Conservative MPs suggested Farage was simply seeking attention at a time when Ukip has lost its purpose and slumped in the polls. Andrew Bridgen, a Conservative MP, said: “The moment the public voted to leave the EU, and a Conservative government are enacting that, then unfortunately for Ukip, they are superfluous. I think that’s what it’s about.
“I do agree with Mr Farage that if we had another referendum it would result in an overwhelming vote to leave. But there is no need to do it. I have some sympathy with his remarks that it would deal with the recalcitrant remainers, but the result has to be accepted.”“I do agree with Mr Farage that if we had another referendum it would result in an overwhelming vote to leave. But there is no need to do it. I have some sympathy with his remarks that it would deal with the recalcitrant remainers, but the result has to be accepted.”
Steve Baker, a Brexit minister, said the former Ukip leader’s comments were “further confirmation of my long-held view that Nigel Farage is one of the greatest impediments to a successful Brexit”.Steve Baker, a Brexit minister, said the former Ukip leader’s comments were “further confirmation of my long-held view that Nigel Farage is one of the greatest impediments to a successful Brexit”.
Henry Bolton, the new leader of Ukip, and a number of senior party officials also rejected Farage’s call for another poll. “I am convinced that the leave side would win a second referendum, should one be held, with an even larger majority than before,” Bolton said. Henry Bolton, the new leader of Ukip, and a number of senior party officials, also rejected Farage’s call for another poll. “I am convinced that the leave side would win a second referendum, should one be held, with an even larger majority than before,” Bolton said.
“Nonetheless, to hold such a referendum would be to call into question the decisive importance of the largest democratic exercise ever held by this country and the unambiguous mandate the people gave the government on that day – the mandate [to] take us out of the European Union.” “Nonetheless, to hold such a referendum would be to call into question the decisive importance of the largest democratic exercise ever held by this country and the unambiguous mandate the people gave the government on that day – the mandate [to] take us out of the European Union.”.
The prime minister’s official spokesman said: “We will not be having a second referendum.”The prime minister’s official spokesman said: “We will not be having a second referendum.”
However, Farage’s proposal was met with approval by anti-Brexit campaigners, who hold out hope that public opinion is turning away from leaving the EU, as a result of its economic risks. Some also suggested it could make it easier for Labour to shift its position to supporting another referendum on May’s final Brexit deal, joining the Lib Dems, who have already called for a second poll.
Clegg, the former deputy prime minister and Lib Dem leader, simply tweeted: “I agree with Nigel.” Adonis added: “Farage wants a referendum on Mrs May’s Brexit deal. I agree. Bring it on!”
Mark Malloch Brown, a peer who chairs the Best for Britain campaign, said another referendum was “something that the country needs”.
“Every day we see the disaster of Brexit as we see its impact on our economy, jobs, communities and our society,” he said. “With these comments, Nigel Farage is disowning the chaos that trying to leave the EU has wrought on this country. Him and his Brexiteer allies have zero idea of what would come next.”
Tom Brake, a Lib Dem MP and his party’s spokesman on Brexit, said support was now growing on both sides of the argument for a vote on the final deal, although the Lib Dems were the only major party that advocated another poll in their election manifesto.
“Farage shouldn’t be so confident of winning; people are now far more aware of the costs of Brexit and the fabrications of the leave campaign,” he said. “Instead of the promised £350m for the NHS, living standards are in freefall and the health service is in crisis. What will the leave campaign bus have written on it next time: let’s not fund our NHS, but pay a £39bn Brexit divorce bill instead?”