IDS: France riots could start here if we hold 2nd referendum

HOLDING a second referendum could see Britain scarred by Paris-style riots, Iain Duncan Smith claimed yesterday.

The former Conservative Party leader said many voters would feel ‘utterly betrayed and very angry’, and called for politicians to ‘look across the Channel’ and recognise it is ‘not that far away from that kind of process happening here’. He told BBC Radio 5 Live that supporters demanding a so-called People’s Vote ‘need their heads examining’.

Anti-government protests in France have seen clashes between yellow-vested protesters and riot police for weeks. When told such scenes would not occur in Britain, Mr Duncan Smith replied: ‘I don’t know.’ He insisted he was ‘not predicting anything’, but warned: ‘You can’t just go around abusing the public’s trust.’

His comments came amid reports that Theresa May’s de facto deputy David Lidington and Justice Secretary David Gauke are privately canvassing Labour MPs to see if there could be enough support for a second vote.

Tory defence minister Tobias Ellwood told The Sunday Times that he was now ready to back another referendum, warning that the ‘sell-by’ date on the 2016 vote was about to expire.