May rebuffs growing calls for second Brexit referendum

LONDON: Prime Minister Theresa May on Monday warned MPs against supporting a second Brexit referendum, as calls mounted for a public vote to break the political impasse over the deal she has struck with the EU.

“Let us not break faith with the British people by trying to stage another referendum,” she told parliament. “Another vote... would do irreparable damage to the integrity of our politics,” May said, adding that a second vote “would likely leave us no further forward”.

Britain voted to leave the European Union in a shock referendum in 2016 and is set to do so on March 29 next year, although the prime minister is struggling to persuade parliament to accept a divorce deal she struck last month.

The government postponed a scheduled parliamentary vote on the agreement last week and on Monday May said it would finally be held in the week starting on January 14. “We must honour our duty to finish this job,” she said.

Draft deal

May has said she is engaged in talks with the EU to seek “assurances” about the Brexit deal, but European Commission spokesman Margaritis Schinas on Monday said “no further meetings with the United Kingdom are foreseen”.

The draft deal was agreed only after tortuous talks in Brussels that began in March last year and EU leaders have ruled out any renegotiation, while the British economy has been languishing due to uncertainty over Brexit.

Full story @ timesofoman.com/world