Call yourself democrats? Lib Dems pledge to cancel Brexit
THE Liberal Democrats yesterday approved a policy of cancelling Brexit.
A motion calling for Article 50 to be revoked was passed overwhelmingly by delegates at the party’s conference in Bournemouth
Leader Jo Swinson said: ‘The Liberal Democrats are crystal clear: if we win the next election, we will stop Brexit by revoking Article 50 and remaining in the European Union.
‘Before an election is called, the Lib Dems will continue to work crossparty to prevent a dangerous No Deal Brexit, and support a people’s vote, with the option to remain.’
Speaking on the BBC’s Andrew Marr Show yesterday, she added: ‘We have argued that a specific Brexit deal should be put to a people’s vote to give clarity. We still argue for that.
‘But if we end up at a general election then I think we need to be straightforward with people and give them an option for all this Brexit chaos to stop. I recognise not everyone agrees with the Lib Dems on this. But it is genuinely what we think is right for the country.’
James Cleverly, who is chairman of the Conservative Party, accused the Lib Dems of encouraging delay and division. He added: ‘Despite calling herself a “Democrat”, Jo Swinson’s mask has slipped and we now know that she wants to overrule one of the largest democratic votes in British history, cancelling Brexit.
‘The Liberal Democrats will lead to more delay, division and uncertainty; mean Jeremy Corbyn as prime minister; and see important issues at home like the NHS, schools and crime not getting the attention they deserve.
‘Only Boris Johnson and the Conservatives can get the best Brexit deal that will keep our economy strong, bring the change people voted for and let the country move beyond Brexit.’
Miss Swinson admitted that her party would need a ‘leap’ to achieve a parliamentary majority but insisted she planned to ‘build the movement to do that’.
Opening the Article 50 debate yesterday, MP Tom Brake said the move would ‘end the Brexit nightmare’.
He said most voters now know ‘in no uncertain terms’ that a vote for the Lib Dems is to ‘unequivocally’ stop Brexit. The party has undergone a resurgence in recent months, coming second in the European elections, and winning more than 700 seats in local council polling.
The party’s roster of MPs has risen from 12 to 18, bolstered by defections from the Tories and Labour, including former Conservative minister Sam Gyimah.
He became the sixth MP to switch allegiance to the party this year, which is on track to hit 20 per cent in the polls, up from just 7 per cent in 2017.
Mr Gyimah used his introduction on Saturday night to criticise both Boris Johnson and Jeremy Corbyn, accusing them of presiding over ‘intolerant’ parties. He said joining the Lib Dems would allow him to continue to fight for ‘liberal values’.
However, there were also angry questions from members over the decision to admit former Tory Dr Philip Lee, who abstained on the issue of supporting gay marriage.
The party’s chief whip, Alistair Carmichael, said: ‘Could we have handled it better? Hands up, we absolutely could.’