Debate: Amid criticism of the Chequers plan, should we get a second referendum to vote on the deal? | City A.M.
Amid criticism of the Chequers plan, should we get a second referendum to vote on the deal?
Yes – Justine Greening is the Conservative MP for Putney.
The Prime Minister’s Brexit deal is a fudge that offers the worst of both worlds. It drags Remainers out of the EU, while not delivering the proper break that Leavers want. We will comply with many EU rules, but have no say in shaping them.
Parliament has had over two years to respond to the referendum result – yet still no way forward has emerged. Brexit continues to cross all party lines, divisions are as deep as ever on the issues, and an impasse has now been reached. That simply is the reality.
The only solution is to take the final decision away from stalemated politicians and backroom deals. It must be given back to the people.
This new referendum shouldn’t be a divisive, binary choice. The public should choose between the Prime Minister’s final negotiated Brexit deal, staying in the EU, or a clean Brexit break and leaving with no deal. Crucially, the public should also have a first and second preference vote, allowing a consensus to finally be found. This is the only realistic way to move forwards.
No – Peter Bone MP is a board member of Leave Means Leave.
We have already had a referendum, and the British public voted to leave the EU.
Calls for a second referendum come from anti-democratic politicians and campaigners who refuse to accept the Leave result. This is a classic EU tactic – keep holding referendums until the Brussels officials get the result they want. Evidence suggests that if there were a second referendum, Leave would win by an even greater margin than June 2016. If that is the case, do we hold a third referendum to appease the establishment?
Politicians should be focused instead on delivering the result of the referendum in its entirety and ensuring that a proper Brexit is delivered – leaving the Single Market and the customs union, regaining control of our borders, no longer being subject to the European Court of Justice, and no longer contributing to the EU budget.
Demands for another referendum by anti-democrats is a cynical attempt to obstruct, delay, and fundamentally overturn the will of the British people.