Howlin: UK should have a second Brexit vote
Labour chief hopeful of different result May facing showdown with Cabinet
LABOUR leader Brendan Howlin is hopeful of a second referendum being held on the UK’S relationship with the European Union.
He said Ireland would “warmly welcome an outcome where the British people voted to remain in the EU”.
Mr Howlin added he was confident other European countries would feel the same.
He was speaking ahead of a three-day visit to the British Labour Party conference in Liverpool.
Mr Howlin said: “I warmly welcome statements by Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn and deputy Tom Watson that they would acquiesce if a majority of Labour members voted in favour of a second referendum.
“In any democracy people should always have the right to deliberate and Brendan Howlin THERESA May faces a crunch showdown with her Cabinet today after her Salzburg Brexit disaster.
The British Prime Minister will hold crisis talks with top ministers following the EU’S rejection of her Chequers plan. vote again when they have gained access to new information or had a chance to understand more clearly the implications of a decision.”
Mr Howlin added many people who voted Leave were unaware of the consequences.
He said: “British workers certainly never voted to be poorer. Opinion polls suggest there has been a major shift in people’s views with the vast majority of Labour members in favour of a second vote and indeed in favour of remaining inside the European Union.
“From an Irish perspective there is no such thing as a good Brexit, only damage limitation, as Ireland’s economy is so closely bound up with the UK’S.
“Also, a hardened border in Northern Ireland would profoundly disrupt social and economic wellbeing there.” Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab said: “This is a bump in the road. We will hold our nerve, we will keep our cool and we will keep negotiating in good faith.”
He denied claims No 10 is plotting a snap General Election for November.