Campaigner starts drive to oppose hard Brexit

London, April 26: A businesswoman who took the British government to court to force a parliamentary vote on the UK’s split from the EU launched a campaign Tuesday to oppose an “extreme Brexit”.

Gina Miller said her Best For Britain initiative would target marginal seats in the June 8 general election in a bid to return members of parliament who are committed to keeping the UK’s Brexit options open.

The crowd-funded drive has already been backed by nearly 10,000 people and raised almost £300,000 ($385,000, 350,000 euros).

“Do what’s best for Britain! Support the country’s biggest tactical voting drive ever and stop extreme Brexit,” Miller’s fundraising page says.

“We will support candidates who campaign for a real final vote on Brexit, including rejecting any deal that leaves Britain worse off.”

London and Brussels will spend the next two years negotiating the terms of Britain’s departure from the European Union.

“We need MPs to be strong and open-minded about what is best for Britain,” Miller said Tuesday.

In the June 2016 referendum, Britain voted by 52 percent in favour of leaving the EU.

Prime Minister Theresa May wanted to trigger the process to exit from the EU without a Parliamentary vote but Miller successfully took a case through the courts which forced the government to give Parliament a say. — AFP