Oral Answers to Questions

Martyn Day Excerpts

Thursday 24th January 2019 Commons Chamber

[Kwasi Kwarteng]

As I have said many times, the Government’s position is that we will land a deal and ensure that we leave with that deal on 29 March.

[Martyn Day (Linlithgow and East Falkirk) (SNP)]

12. Whether the Government plan to bring forward legislative proposals to hold a second referendum on the UK's membership of the EU.

[The Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union (Stephen Barclay)]

The Government will not hold a second referendum, and will not introduce any legislation to enable one to be held.

[Martyn Day]

I kind of expected that answer from the Secretary of State. However, the Prime Minister will return to Parliament in a week’s time and expect MPs to vote again on her deal. If it is acceptable for them to have a second vote, why is it not acceptable for the public to have one?

[Stephen Barclay]

It seems to me that some MPs do not want a second vote. They had already voted to give the British public a say in the referendum; then they voted to trigger article 50, and then they voted to include the date in the Bill that became the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018. It is not really a great look for the public for people to say, “We got it wrong three times, but give us a fourth go.”