Politicians still clashing over move to leave EU two years after referendum vote

POLITICIANS FROM opposite sides of the Brexit divide have clashed two years on from the bombshell referendum which initiated Britain’s withdrawal from the European Union.

Leading Brexiteer Jacob ReesMogg said this week’s passage of the EU (Withdrawal) Bill has set the conditions for a future Conservative government to deliver a “clean Brexit”, even if Theresa May does not achieve that in negotiations with Brussels over the coming months.

But Labour’s Shadow Brexit Secretary Sir Keir Starmer said the Prime Minister’s “red lines” have hampered negotiations and put jobs and the economy at risk.

They spoke out ahead of the second anniversary of the 52-48 per cent vote to leave the EU.

Mr Rees-Mogg said the PM’s success in facing down rebels has strengthened her hand.

He said: “A Brexit in name only now has to get through Parliament, whereas before the Withdrawal Bill was passed it could have been included in the Withdrawal Bill.

“The legal position is now so much stronger for a clean Brexit.

“Crucially this makes the Prime Minister’s negotiating hand much stronger.”

But Sir Keir pointed out that 40 per cent of Brexit legislation has still to be introduced by Ministers, with the Cabinet stuck “negotiating with itself ”.

“Theresa May is letting the country down and failing to negotiate the Brexit deal Britain needs,” he said.

“The Government’s rash, reckless and ideological red lines have held back the negotiations at every turn and are putting jobs and the economy at risk.

“The next six months cannot be like the last two years,” he said.

“The Government must end the deadlock in the negotiations.”

Two coaches will carry antiBrexit protesters from Leeds and Sheffield to London today for a march calling for a second vote on EU membership.

Organisers claimed thousands would turn out for the march.