The Prime Minister looks set to infuriate Brexiteers after openly discussing with her Cabinet ministers the possibility of holding a Commons vote on whether to commit to a second referendum. This would be Mrs May’s latest – and boldest – attempt to break the deadlock in the ongoing Brexit talks with the Labour Party. However the risk could end up costing her Brexit itself if the majority of MPs commit to holding a second vote and the country decides to revoke Article 50.
Mrs May said to have been “pragmatic” during her talks with Jeremy Corbyn and told her Cabinet securing a deal with the opposition won’t be “easy” and will require compromise – which may come in the form of a vote on a second referendum, the Daily Telegraph has revealed.
But the Tory’s chief whip, Julian Smith, is said to be “confident’ the Government has enough support to defeat a call for a second referendum.
MPs have already overwhelmingly defeated an amendment tabled by former Tory MP and current member of The Independent Group Sarah Wollaston asking a second Brexit vote on March 14.
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The Labour Party’s front bench is far from united on the issue of the confirmatory vote, which may be included in a revamped withdrawal agreement agreed by the Government and Mr Corbyn.
Among those pushing for a second referendum there are shadow Brexit Secretary Keir Starmer, the party’s deputy Tom Watson and shadow Foreign Minister Emily Thornberry.
But Mr Corbyn himself has often said he believes the House of Commons should resort to a second referendum only as a last resource to avoid a “disastrous Tory Brexit”.
His shadow Business Secretary, Rebecca Long-Bailey, had warned against holding a confirmatory vote more than once.
Mrs May has been harshly criticised by her party for entering talks with Mr Corbyn.
Andrea Leadsom, the Leader of the Commons, is believed to have been “furious” with Mrs May during a meeting in Downing Street about the ongoing negotiations with Labour.
The first meeting between Mrs May and Mr Corbyn took place last Wednesday.
While both parts spoke positively about them, Mr Corbyn voiced the frustration of Mr Starmer over Mrs May’s lack of commitment on changing her red lines.
He said: “Today I held a meeting of our shadow cabinet to discuss the Brexit talks with the Government.
“The exchanges with the Government have been serious, but our shadow cabinet expressed frustration that the Prime Minister has not yet moved off her red lines so we can reach a compromise.
“The key issues that we must see real movement on to secure an agreement are a customs union with the EU, alignment with the single market and full dynamic alignment of workers’ rights, environmental protections and consumer standards.”
Mrs May is believed to be reluctant to commit to a customs union membership as it would jeopardise Britain’s ability to strike free trade deals with countries outside the EU’s single market.
Mrs May and Mr Corbyn will meet again tomorrow, just one day ahead of the crunch EU summit where Mrs May will plea for another extension to Article 50.
