EU’ll have to wait six months for a people’s vote
Electoral Commission’s referendum warning
Theresa May has been warned a second referendum to unlock the political gridlock on Brexit could take more than six months.
Several senior Government ministers are understood to be reluctantly backing another poll as the only way through the Parliamentary impasse.
The European Union have insisted the deal agreed with May cannot be reopened but there is no chance of MPs backing it in a vote.
It leaves extending Article 50 and going back to the people looking increasingly like the only way to avoid a potentially catastrophic “no deal” exit in March.
The Electoral Commission have told the Sunday Mail they recommend six months planning for another vote after legislation to hold one is passed. A Conservative Party insider said: “What you have is complete political gridlock, it is difficult to see any way through it at the moment.
“Over the past few days there has been a definite shift towards cabinet members coming around to the reality that another vote could be the only way to get the country through this mess.
“It seems more likely than not that Article 50 will need to be extended and that we will then see some sort of plan to introduce legislation to hold another referendum.
“For the first time, people who were previously determined to get a deal through are accepting the need for a plan B.
“It is something that will be fraught with problems, not least what question to ask and how many options put on the ballot.
“It also seems highly likely that the country will still be utterly divided on this, and that millions of people will be left with a feeling of utter democratic betrayal should Brexit be reversed.
“It would be crazy for the Government not to be looking at the mechanics of how that would be done now given the potential impact of a no-deal exit on living standards and jobs.”
Work and Pensions Secretary Amber Rudd and Chancellor Philip Hammond, are understood to be trying to convince May of the merits of a second referendum. A spokesman for the Electoral Commission said :“The minimum time that we recommend to prepare for a referendum, to agree a question and put everything in place, is six months. That is from the point that legislation is in place which will also take some time.”
Env ironment Secretar y Michael Gove and Home Secretary Sajid Javid are thought to be more in favour of a soft Norway-style Brexit, while hardliners like Jeremy Hunt believe exiting without an agreement can be done.
Labour MP for Edinburgh South Ian Murray has demanded Jeremy Corbyn “come off the fence” and back another vote.
He believes the plan could command a majority in the House of Commons if supported by the Labour frontbench.
Murray said: “The Labour Party will have to come off the fence on that at some point pretty soon because I think what they’re trying to do might be in compatible with what’ s available.
“There’s a majority of MPs who would stop a no- deal scenario from happening so that could be taken off the table.
“I think we can get a majority around a People’s Vote because we need to try to break the impasse between now and the March 29.”
He added that cross- party talks in Parliament are ongoing to try and push for another EU vote.
It seems more likely than not that Article 50 will need to be extended