Cabinet ministers clash with Philip Hammond over second EU referendum
Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson tells Sky News there is "no need" for another public vote, despite comments by the chancellor.
Thursday 4 April 2019 20:24, UK
Cabinet ministers have clashed after Chancellor Philip Hammond repeated his claim a second EU referendum is a "perfectly credible proposition".
With the House of Commons still deadlocked over how to proceed with the UK's departure from the EU, or whether at all, Mr Hammond suggested a fresh public vote on Brexit "deserves" to be considered by MPs.
:: Brexit latest: Talks 'productive' as clash over new referendum unfolds
Government ministers and Labour shadow ministers entered a second day of talks on Thursday on a compromise Brexit deal.
On his way into the talks at the Cabinet Office, Labour shadow Brexit secretary Sir Keir Starmer revealed the idea of a "confirmatory" referendum on any agreement was among the issues his party wanted to discuss.
Mr Hammond's own stance on a referendum was dismissed by cabinet colleague Gavin Williamson, the defence secretary.
Asked about Mr Hammond's comments, Mr Williamson told Sky News: "Let's be totally clear. The British people have already voted in a referendum, they've said they want to leave the EU.
"There is no need for any other referendum."
Health Secretary Matt Hancock also said he was "very, very strongly against" a second referendum, while ministers from the Brexit department confirmed that another public vote is not government policy.
Robin Walker, a minister in the Department for Exiting the EU, warned another ballot would "create further uncertainty and further division".
Mr Hammond's comments infuriated Brexiteers, with DUP Brexit spokesman Sammy Wilson asking whether the chancellor was preparing the ground for a reversal of the government's position.
He said: "The chancellor's comments regarding a second referendum seem to indicate the beginning of another U-turn from a government which promised us that we would leave on the 29 March, no deal was better than a bad deal and that they would never agree to a border in the Irish Sea."
Tory Brexiteer Michael Fabricant asked whether the chancellor had "gone rogue" with his remarks.
But Independent Group MP Heidi Allen, who quit the Conservatives in February and supports a second EU referendum, praised Mr Hammond's "honest and country-first response".
She added: "A confirmatory referendum remains the most democratic solution to the Brexit impasse.
"Parliament can propose, but the country must decide."
Speaking to ITV's Peston programme on Wednesday night, Mr Hammond signalled his support for a "confirmatory" referendum on any Brexit deal passed by MPs.
He said: "I have said it's a perfectly credible proposition. Some ideas have been put forward which are not deliverable, they are not negotiable.
"The confirmatory referendum idea, many people will disagree with it, I'm not sure there's a majority in parliament for it, but it's a perfectly credible proposition and it deserves to be tested in parliament."
Mr Hammond made similar comments to Sky News last month.
The row came as the House of Lords began to consider rushed-through legislation, passed by MPs by one vote on Wednesday night, which compels the prime minister to seek a further extension of Article 50 to prevent a no-deal Brexit on 12 April.
It later emerged disgraced MP Fiona Onasanya, a convicted criminal, voted in favour of the bill.
According to Mr Fabricant, the Peterborough MP was wearing an electronic ankle tag in the Commons.
Unelected peers began their scrutiny of the bill, which has been spearheaded by Labour's Yvette Cooper and Tory ex-minister Sir Oliver Letwin, with Brexiteers in the Lords trying to torpedo the legislation in what could be an all-night sitting.
Downing Street warned, if the Lords approve the bill, it would present a "severe restraint" on the prime minister's ability to negotiate a further delay to Brexit with EU leaders at a Brussels summit next week.
Theresa May's spokesman claimed the prime minister, who has already promised to seek another Article 50 extension, could agree an extension with EU leaders but then see the terms rejected by the House of Commons in a subsequent vote required by the Cooper-Letwin legislation.
Brexit Secretary Stephen Barclay claimed the bill's restrictions on the "royal prerogative" power of Mrs May to negotiate on the UK's behalf "could increase the risk of an accidental no-deal exit" from the EU.
Ahead of Thursday's second round of talks between the government and Labour, Liberal Democrat leader Sir Vince Cable wrote to Mr Corbyn to urge him to only offer support for a Brexit deal if it is subsequently put to a referendum.
But a group of 25 Labour MPs also wrote a letter to Mr Corbyn calling for him not to demand a public vote.
Asked whether he could support a customs union as part of a compromise Brexit deal between Mrs May and Mr Corbyn, Mr Williamson told Sky News: "The House of Commons has a choice.
"It has a choice of accepting a deal that doesn't include the customs union, is able to deliver Britain's exit from the EU swiftly, and I very much hope it takes the opportunity to do that.
"But, of course, the prime minister quite is rightly talking across the political spectrum to ensure Britain exits the EU in the time as swiftly as everyone wishes to see it."
If she fails to reach a compromise deal with Labour, the prime minister has promised to hold further indicative votes on Brexit options.
However, these are unlikely to take place on Monday after a leaking roof caused House of Commons proceedings to end early, without the government having tabled a motion for such votes.
Downing Street could not say whether talks with Labour would continue over the weekend.
In a phone call with the prime minister, Sinn Fein president Mary Lou MacDonal warned a post-Brexit hard border on the island of Ireland would be "akin to putting the Berlin wall back up".