Theresa May refuses to give MPs a vote on leaving the EU
The PM has the power to initiate Britain’s departure by triggering Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty without MPs’ say so
THERESA May has refused pleas to give MPs a vote on triggering Brexit.
Government lawyers have reassured the PM that she has the power to initiate Britain’s departure by triggering Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty without MPs’ say so.
The former Foreign Secretary William Hague yesterday claimed a vote would smoke out Labour MPs if they dared to go against the will of the voters.
Lord Hague wrote in the Daily Telegraph: “It would make sense to ask the Commons soon to endorse the start of negotiations early in 2017, and to flush out those who wish to flout the result of the referendum”.
But Downing Street would only commit to “giving Parliament a say on the situation going forward”.
The PM’s official spokesman added: “Parliament overwhelmingly voted in favour of the referendum in the first place”.
The PM’s defiance comes as the Cabinet meets today for the first time since the summer break to start threading together a Brexit plan.
Every Cabinet minister will report back to Mrs May on what leaving the EU will mean for their departments.
Mrs May also slapped down a demand from Labour leadership contender Owen Smith, who wants the PM to put her EU exit deal to voters again in a fresh referendum or general election.
But No10 aides repeated Mrs May’s pledge not to hold another referendum or general election after the Brexit deal is done.
She first made the promise during the Tory leadership contest in June.
The PM’s official spokesman said: “”The Prime Minister is very clear there will be no second referendum.
“There is no need for a general election either.”
Senior Labour MP Mr Smith hit back last night to insist three senior members of the Cabinet - David Davis, Jeremy Hunt, Boris Johnson - have previously called for the public to have a second say on the Brexit decision.
A bungling Japanese diplomat yesterday revealed one of Tokyo’s pleas to Mrs May in her Brexit renegotiation.
Leaving No10, the diplomat flashed a document pushing for British-based banks to retain their ability to carry out business freely across the EU in a system dubbed “passporting”.