Final Brexit deal needs MPs' backing, says senior Tory Dominic Grieve
A former attorney general says there is no Brexit "sabotage", but warns the EU vote did not "close down all debate forever".
Sunday 11 December 2016 13:47, UK
A Brexit deal hammered out between the UK and Brussels would have to be approved by Parliament, a former government legal chief has told Sky News.
Dominic Grieve, who served as attorney general in the Conservative-led coalition government, said there was an argument the final package should be put to the people in a second referendum.
The senior Tory MP also told the Murnaghan programme even if the Government lost its current Supreme Court appeal over starting the formal two-year Brexit process, it would be able to secure the majority at Westminster to trigger Article 50.
And he cast doubt on the prospect of success of a fresh legal challenge by campaigners aimed at keeping the UK in the single market.
But he warned the UK "disentangling" itself from the EU would be complicated.
Mr Grieve, who campaigned for Remain, also insisted "no one is trying to sabotage Brexit" but argued the referendum result did not "close down all debate forever" on the UK's future relationship with Europe.
He said: "It's quite clear to me that we have to get on with the process of leaving he EU and having some fresh relationship with our EU partners but from outside the EU.
"That's the issue which is now going to dominate the politics in which we are involved and it's on that you are going to see the debates."
But he added: "You can't just close down all debate forever.
"What I am not prepared to accept is that because there was referendum on the 23 June that somehow closes down debate for evermore about our relationship we are going to have with the EU and our EU partners."
"But at the same time no one is trying to sabotage Brexit."
On any final deal reached with Brussels, Mr Grieve said: "If at the end of the negotiating process there is a package to put before the country, it will certainly have to be put before Parliament.
"And there's at least an argument that it should be put before the public as well in a referendum, but that's something we are not going go come on to for some considerable time."