How 89 MPs lined up to defy the will of the people
TORY veteran Ken Clarke contemptuously dismissed the Brexit referendum as an “opinion poll” last night as he voted against leaving the EU.
The ex-Cabinet minister joined 88 Remain MPs who turned their backs on last June’s result, the biggest-ever in British democratic history.
The opponents, dubbed “Remoaners”, included five Lib Dem MPs, 53 from the SNP, Green MP Caroline Lucas, three Irish SDLP MPs, three Welsh Nationalists and 23 from Labour.
Former Chancellor Mr Clarke was the only Tory to defy the Government as 461 MPs voted in favour of plans to begin the EU pullout next March.
He said: “We must have respect for each other’s opinions, rather than telling each other we have been ordered by an opinion poll to start abandoning them.”
Mr Clarke said he opposed the Government because ministers had “made no concessions”.
Labour’s rebels included their sole Scottish MP Ian Murray, Tottenham MP David Lammy and ex-culture secretary Ben Bradshaw, who tweeted: “We still have no idea what sort of Brexit the Government will pursue.”
Mr Bradshaw said a plan which promised only the “best possible Brexit” was just not good enough.
The Lib Dems made it clear that they will continue to try to reverse Brexit with a second referendum.
They refused to back a motion which gave the Government a free hand to get Britain out. Lib Dem foreign affairs spokesman Tom Brake said: “Why do people need a vote on the destination as well as the departure?
“Whatever deal the Government secure towards the end of negotiations a majority won’t be happy.”
The SNP tried in vain to put down a wrecking amendment to call on Scotland and Wales to be consulted before triggering Article 50.
Tory MP Anna Soubry, a prominent Remoaner, caved in and backed the Government but said she felt “sidelined”.