Duncan Smith’s concerns over second referendum

Supporters of a second Brexit referendum “need their heads examining”, Iain Duncan Smith has said as he warned such a move would cause further division.

The Conservative former leader said some would feel “utterly betrayed and very angry” if another referendum emerged, adding the UK should “look across the Channel” and recognise it is “not that far away from that kind of process happening here”.

Anti-government protests in France have seen clashes between yellow-vested protesters and riot police in recent days. Mr Duncan Smith said he did not know if such scenes would emerge in the UK before later insisting he was not predicting anything and was instead highlighting the anger people would feel.

He said he believed the majority of British voters do not want a second referendum. He added: “If anybody really genuinely thinks that they want to a hold second referendum they need their heads examining.

“You think the country is divided right now, you wait until you try to hold that second referendum.

“There’s a very large chunk of people who will feel utterly betrayed and very angry, and I just caution you look across the Channel, we’re not that far away from that kind of process happening here.”

Asked if he believed there could be violence and firebombs on the streets of the UK, Mr Duncan Smith replied: “People voted and they were told that one vote would be acted on.”

He said there is a “problem in Parliament, it’s not a problem in the country”.

Told petrol bombs and rioting in streets would not occur in Britain, he said: “I don’t know.”