The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Farage ‘clarifies’ call for second EU referendum
Former Ukip leader backtracks from earlier bravado about second vote
Nigel Farage has backtracked on his suggestion that he could back a second referendum on European Union membership.
Hours after suggesting another vote would put an end to “whinging and whining” by opponents of Brexit and “kill it off” for a generation, the former Ukip leader stressed: “I do not want a second referendum.”
Remainers had earlier welcomed Mr Farage’s challenge that Britons would back Brexit with an even bigger majority in another poll, and Ukip refused to back him.
The leading Brexiteer has now clarified his remarks, arguing that a second referendum may be inevitable as the EU will offer Britain such a bad deal that it will be rejected by Parliament, and the Government will not leave the union with no deal.
Writing for the Telegraph, Mr Farage said: “To be clear, I do not want a second referendum, but I fear one may be forced upon the country by Parliament. That is how deep my distrust is for career politicians.
“This poses a big question for Leavers. Do we stick with the view that the result will stand or acknowledge the fact that we face this potential threat?”
Downing Street ruled out a fresh vote on EU membership but bookies cut the odds of a poll in 2019 to 5-1.
Mr Farage, who campaigned to secure the vote to leave the EU, suggested a second vote would draw a line under criticism by Remainers such as Tony Blair, Lib Dem former deputy prime minister Sir Nick Clegg and Labour ex-cabinet minister Lord Adonis.
Appearing on Channel 5’s The Wright Stuff, he said: “What is for certain is that the Cleggs, the Blairs, the Adonises will never ever ever give up. They will go on whinging and whining and moaning all the way through this process.
“So maybe, just maybe, I’m reaching the point of thinking we should have a second referendum on EU membership...
“I think that if we had a second referendum on EU membership we would kill it off for a generation.”
But Ukip leader Henry Bolton said: “Ukip policy on a second referendum remains unchanged. The party opposes a second referendum.”
Remain campaigners had welcomed Mr Farage’s earlier comments.
Lord Adonis said: “So Nigel Farage wants a referendum on Mrs May’s Brexit deal. I agree. Bring it on.”
Labour MP Chuka Umunna, a leading supporter of the Open Britain campaign for close ties with the EU, said: “For perhaps the first time in his life, Nigel Farage is making a valid point.”
Prime Minister Theresa May has previously insisted a second referendum would be a betrayal of voters and Downing Street said there would be no re-run.