Jump directly to the content
VOTE VOW

Top Tories plot new Brexit referendum WITHOUT option to stay in EU – in bid to rescue PM’s deal

TOP Tories are planning a new Brexit referendum to try and save Theresa May's deal - but WITHOUT the option to Remain.

Cabinet ministers including David Lidington, Greg Clark & David Gauke are reportedly signed up to the idea of a second referendum - but with a choice between the PM's deal and No Deal.
 David Lidington has been in talks about whether MPs would support another referendum
2
David Lidington has been in talks about whether MPs would support another referendumCredit: PA:Press Association
Ministers had thought that's the way to get the deal through without risking Brexit being cancelled altogether.
Today the PM has had to pull her planned vote on the Brexit deal because so many MPs are opposed to it, and it's likely to fail.
The reported yesterday that the ministers are reported to have had talks with Labour MPs to work out whether there is a Commons majority for another option.

Allies told the paper that most MPs are likely to get behind a second Brexit referendum, further dividing Britain.

 Theresa May is trying to stop her Brexit deal from collapsing
2
Theresa May is trying to stop her Brexit deal from collapsingCredit: AFP

Mrs May has said that not voting her deal could risk no Brexit at all - because of MPs on both sides of the House who want the UK to stay in.

The PM has publicly ruled out another vote on Brexit time and time again, saying it would be chaos to not respect the result of the 2016 vote.

But if it were an option of Mrs May's deal or No Deal at all, she could argue she's respecting that result.

One cabinet minister told The Observer that the PM was so committed to the deal that "a second referendum could now be the only way of getting it".

One minister said that he would quit and back a second referendum if the vote went ahead as planned on Tuesday.

And defence minister Tobias Ellwood hinted he could back another vote too if Mrs May's deal gets crushed in the Commons.

He said: "If parliament does not agree a Brexit deal soon, then we must recognise that the original mandate to leave, taken over two years ago, will begin to date and will, eventually, no longer represent a reflection of current intent."

Will we get a second EU referendum and how would another Brexit vote work?

We pay for your stories! Do you have a story for The Sun Online politics team? Email us at tips@the-sun.co.uk or call 0207 782 4368. We pay for videos too. Click here to upload yours