May vows to ensure the ...but more want to drop
referendum by 48 per cent to 42 per cent. The figures were seized on by senior Tory Brexiteer MPs Iain Duncan Smith and Jacob Rees-Mogg as evidence that Britons are happy with no-deal despite the “Project Fear” scare stories put out by Remainers.
Writing for the Sunday Express, Mrs May makes her case for her deal being the only way forward.
With speculation that the EU will provide some reassurances over the controversial Northern Ireland backstop ahead of the crucial vote, the Prime Minister has insisted that her deal delivers on 2016’s referendum.
But in a stark warning to both Remainer and Brexiteer MPs who plan to vote down her deal on Tuesday, Mrs May said that it will be a disaster for the country if it doesn’t go through.
Addressing voters, she said: “You, the British people, voted to leave. You have delivered your instructions. Now it is our turn to deliver for you.
“When you turned out to vote in the referendum, you did so because you wanted your voice to be heard. Some of you put your trust in the political process for the first time in decades. We cannot – and must not – let you down. Doing so would be a catastrophic and unforgivable breach of trust in our democracy. So my message to Parliament this weekend is simple: it is time to forget the games and do what is right for our country.”
And with MPs expecting her deal to be defeated by a majority of between 150 and 200, she warned this week’s events are “not a debating contest”.
Spelling out the alternatives, she added: “If Parliament does not come together and back this deal in our national interest we risk leaving with no deal, with all the uncertainty for jobs and security that will bring.
“Or, with MPs unwilling to face the uncertainty of no deal and with no other offer on the table, we will risk not leaving the European Union at all.”
The Norstat poll of 1,093 adults for the Sunday Express has revealed a strong appetite for no-deal and opposition to a second referendum. However, it also revealed deep divides in Britain, with London standing alone in British regions in supporting the deal. Only London and Scotland had majorities in favour of a second referendum.
Meanwhile, among different age groups, there was strong support by younger voters in favour of a second referendum. This was backed by 54 per cent of 18 to 24-year-olds and 58 per cent of 25 to 34-year-olds. But it was strongly opposed by those aged 45 and over, with 69 per cent of pensioners against another vote.
Jacob Rees-Mogg, chairman of the pro-Brexit European Research Group said: “After the worst efforts of Project Fear the voters are still determined to back Britain.”
Meanwhile, in a chapter for a new report by Economists for Free Trade, Tory MP Iain Duncan Smith and economist Neil MacKinnon claim that immigration problems can only be solved by Brexit.
The piece argues Britain pays £4billion a year subsidising cheap unskilled labour from the EU.
They also tackled Project Fear claims that Britain could not recruit nurses from abroad when many already come from outside the EU. They said: “Only by leaving the EU on World Trade Organisation terms can the UK fully take back control of its borders and deal with these issues. In taking back control of our migration policy we are also giving notice to industry that we will have to invest and train to a far greater degree than they have for some time.”
In a further push for no-deal, a paper for Briefings for Brexit says that there are £80billion worth of net gains for the British economy in leaving without a deal. It was written jointly by leading economists and business leaders.
They said: “A smart WTO Brexit with well-designed trade, immigration, agricultural, fishing and regulatory policies would, far from being a ‘disaster’, have an excellent chance of delivering substantial long-term net benefits.” support peaceful protest against Tory austerity.”
Yesterday’s event, hosted by the People’s Assembly Against Austerity, began on Regent Street, as hundreds marched towards Trafalgar Square, with many wearing French-style yellow vests with slogans such as Britain is Broken on the back.
Trade union banners were held up, with demonstrators playing drums, chanting Left-wing slogans and calling for a general election.
Meanwhile, campaigner, James Goddard, 29, was held yesterday for his alleged role in accosting Remainer MP Anna Soubry at Westminster on Monday.
Ms Soubry, who backs a second EU referendum, had urged police to act after she was allegedly branded a Nazi and told she was “fair game” by protesters.
Mr Goddard was held just before a group of around
200 pro-Brexit supporters met in chanting “Leave means Leave” marched on Downing Street.
At the gates of No 10, the group chanted for
Goddard’s release, with one protester calling him their “leader”.
Police later confirmed that Mr Goddard had been released on bail. They also said that a man in his 30s was arrested at St James’s Park Tube station on “suspicion of a public order offence”.
The protests in London came as around 200 Left-wing activists staged a “yellow vest” protest in Belfast city centre, with protesters gathering outside City Hall in a bid to
“end austerity”.