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Theresa May condemns Tony Blair's new Brexit vote call | Theresa May condemns Tony Blair's new Brexit vote call |
(about 2 hours later) | |
Theresa May has attacked one of her predecessors - accusing Tony Blair of "undermining" the Brexit talks by calling for another referendum. | Theresa May has attacked one of her predecessors - accusing Tony Blair of "undermining" the Brexit talks by calling for another referendum. |
She called his comments an "insult to the office he once held" and said MPs could not "abdicate responsibility" to deliver Brexit by holding a new poll. | She called his comments an "insult to the office he once held" and said MPs could not "abdicate responsibility" to deliver Brexit by holding a new poll. |
Mr Blair said MPs might back a new vote if "none of the other options work". | Mr Blair said MPs might back a new vote if "none of the other options work". |
It comes after Labour MPs who support the idea met Cabinet Office Minister David Lidington to make their case. | It comes after Labour MPs who support the idea met Cabinet Office Minister David Lidington to make their case. |
About 10 MPs met Mr Lidington on Thursday to argue for another public vote and make it clear there was no other government plan they could support. | About 10 MPs met Mr Lidington on Thursday to argue for another public vote and make it clear there was no other government plan they could support. |
But many senior Labour figures are deeply uneasy about endorsing another referendum. | But many senior Labour figures are deeply uneasy about endorsing another referendum. |
And the government is opposed to any further referendum, saying the public made a clear choice when they voted in 2016 to leave by a margin of 51.9% to 48.1%. | And the government is opposed to any further referendum, saying the public made a clear choice when they voted in 2016 to leave by a margin of 51.9% to 48.1%. |
BBC political correspondent Chris Mason said Mrs May's criticism of Mr Blair was striking for its anger. | BBC political correspondent Chris Mason said Mrs May's criticism of Mr Blair was striking for its anger. |
Mrs May said: "For Tony Blair to go to Brussels and seek to undermine our negotiations by advocating for a second referendum is an insult to the office he once held and the people he once served. | Mrs May said: "For Tony Blair to go to Brussels and seek to undermine our negotiations by advocating for a second referendum is an insult to the office he once held and the people he once served. |
"We cannot, as he would, abdicate responsibility for this decision. | "We cannot, as he would, abdicate responsibility for this decision. |
"Parliament has a democratic duty to deliver what the British people voted for." | "Parliament has a democratic duty to deliver what the British people voted for." |
She added that there were "too many people who want to subvert the process for their own political interests - rather than acting in the national interest". | She added that there were "too many people who want to subvert the process for their own political interests - rather than acting in the national interest". |
MPs were due to vote on Mrs May's Brexit deal on Tuesday, but it was postponed when the prime minister admitted it would have been "rejected by a significant margin". | MPs were due to vote on Mrs May's Brexit deal on Tuesday, but it was postponed when the prime minister admitted it would have been "rejected by a significant margin". |
After postponing the vote in Parliament, Mrs May travelled to Brussels to make a special plea to EU leaders, in a bid to make her deal more acceptable to MPs. | After postponing the vote in Parliament, Mrs May travelled to Brussels to make a special plea to EU leaders, in a bid to make her deal more acceptable to MPs. |
However, the EU said there could be clarification but not renegotiation. | However, the EU said there could be clarification but not renegotiation. |
Many of Mrs May's MPs are concerned that the "backstop" - which is aimed at preventing a hard border in Northern Ireland - would keep the UK tied to EU rules and limit its ability to strike trade deals. | Many of Mrs May's MPs are concerned that the "backstop" - which is aimed at preventing a hard border in Northern Ireland - would keep the UK tied to EU rules and limit its ability to strike trade deals. |
Education Secretary Damian Hinds has told the BBC a second referendum would not end the deadlock over Brexit but might simply extend the impasse. | |
Speaking on BBC Breakfast, he urged politicians to back the PM's plan, describing it as "balanced" and the "best of both worlds". | |
Mr Hinds accused some in Parliament of "wishful thinking" in believing they will get something closer to their own view by rejecting Mrs May's deal, adding: "There is really no reason to believe that's true." | |
Meanwhile, in an interview with the Sunday Telegraph, Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt has said the UK will "flourish and prosper" even if it leaves the EU with no deal. | Meanwhile, in an interview with the Sunday Telegraph, Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt has said the UK will "flourish and prosper" even if it leaves the EU with no deal. |
"We've faced much bigger challenges in our history," he said. | "We've faced much bigger challenges in our history," he said. |
"But we shouldn't pretend that there wouldn't be disruption, there wouldn't be risk, and there wouldn't be impact and that's why as a responsible government we have to make all the preparations necessary." | "But we shouldn't pretend that there wouldn't be disruption, there wouldn't be risk, and there wouldn't be impact and that's why as a responsible government we have to make all the preparations necessary." |
He also said he wanted a "crack" at succeeding Mrs May after the PM takes the country through "this challenging next few months". | He also said he wanted a "crack" at succeeding Mrs May after the PM takes the country through "this challenging next few months". |
His comments come after Mrs May made it clear she would step down before the next general election - due in 2022. | His comments come after Mrs May made it clear she would step down before the next general election - due in 2022. |