MPs support Brexit delay but reject second referendum

By Bianca Britton and Eliza Mackintosh, CNN

Updated 7:41 a.m. ET, March 15, 2019
26 Posts
Sort byDropdown arrow
1:02 p.m. ET, March 14, 2019

Happening now: UK lawmakers vote on second referendum amendment

Amendment (h) Seeks an extension to Article 50 to give enough time to legislate for and hold a second referendum on whether to leave the EU, with remain and parliament's preferred Brexit option on the ballot paper.

Results expected in under 15 minutes

12:48 p.m. ET, March 14, 2019

Longer Brexit delay would be better, source close to Tusk says

From CNN's Erin McLaughlin in Brussels

A source close to Donald Tusk, the President of the European Council, has told CNN that European leaders have already begun the debate on whether to grant the UK an extension to Article 50.

The source said member states were still making up their minds about an extension and that there had not been a discussion with all members yet.

"What we are talking about is the UK leaving the EU. It's too important to take the risk [of a no deal by accident] for short-term political gains."

Donald Tusk, President of the European Council.
Donald Tusk, President of the European Council. Getty Images

The source added that Tusk does not believe a short extension will make a difference, if Theresa May's Brexit deal does not get approved by UK lawmakers.

"If they can't agree now, why would they agree in a few months? A short-term extension would increase the risk of a no deal by accident," the source said, adding it would be better to grant the UK an extension "of at least a year."

"They will have time to think it over, build a consensus and get back to the EU," the source said, adding that way it allows EU members to "get on with their business."

"In Brexit there are no winners," the source added. "Everything is about limiting the damage. A long extension might be the best way to do that."

11:55 a.m. ET, March 14, 2019

Trump dangles prospect of "very big trade deal" with UK

"We can do a very big trade deal with the UK," US President Donald Trump said during a press conference with Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar in the Oval Office.

Trump also added that the US was re-negotiating its trade deal with the EU.

"If they don’t talk to us we’re going to do something that’s going to be pretty severe economically," he warned. "We’re going to tariff a lot of their products coming -- because the EU treats us very unfairly."

Trump added: "It will probably work out, they’re negotiating. Otherwise we’re going to do something that’s pretty good for the United States."

11:38 a.m. ET, March 14, 2019

A second referendum "would be very unfair," Trump says

US President Donald Trump also weighed in on the prospect of holding a second referendum, which will be voted upon by lawmakers later today.

"I don’t think another vote would be possible because it would be very unfair to the people that won," Trump said, adding: "Both sides are very very.. they’re cemented in. It’s a tough situation."

11:38 a.m. ET, March 14, 2019

Brexit is "tearing countries apart," Trump says

Speaking in the Oval Office after meeting with Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar, US President Donald Trump has said Brexit is "tearing countries apart."

"It’s a very complex thing, it’s tearing a country apart. It’s actually tearing a lot of countries apart. And it’s a shame that it has to be that way, but I think we will stay right in our lane, we’re doing fantastically as a country," Trump said.

US President Donald Trump with Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar.
US President Donald Trump with Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar. AP

The President added that he was surprised "how badly" negotiations have gone.

"I gave the Prime Minister my ideas of how to negotiate it, she didn't listen to that and that's fine but it could have been negotiated in a different manner," he said.

Trump also added that the EU "has been very tough to deal with."

"Franky it's been very one-sided for many, many years."

10:24 a.m. ET, March 14, 2019

Opposition Labour Party won't support second referendum amendment, Shadow Brexit Secretary says

The opposition Labour Party will not support today's amendment calling for a second referendum, Shadow Brexit Secretary Keir Starmer said.

"Today is about extension and about the process ... the Labour Party is supporting the public vote on any deal that gets through by the Prime Minister, but today is about a different issue," Starmer said.

The Labour Party threw its support behind a second Brexit referendum last month "to prevent a damaging Tory Brexit being forced on the country" after its proposed amendments to Theresa May's deal were rejected.

9:49 a.m. ET, March 14, 2019

How does the Speaker choose which amendments will be voted on?

After Speaker of the House John Bercow's selection of an amendment calling for a second EU referendum caused an outcry from Brexiteers, the House of Commons released this video explaining the process. According to Bercow, this is what he considers in choosing an amendment for debate and, ultimately, vote: is it orderly, does it relate to the motion's purpose, does it have a range of support, will it help the House reach a conclusion that might be helpful in considering the motion?

10:11 a.m. ET, March 14, 2019

Now is not the right time to push for second referendum, says group campaigning for just that

The People's Vote campaign, a group pushing for a second referendum, has said that it is not asking its supporters to vote for an amendment calling for exactly that.

In a statement echoing a tweet from Alastair Campbell, a leading member of the People's Vote, the group argues that now is not the time for MPs to vote for a second referendum.

Here's the full statement:

The People's Vote campaign does not instruct its supporters in Parliament on how to vote. We recognise there is a range of opinions on when to press the case for the public being given the final say, which means some of these MPs will vote for the Wollaston amendment, some may vote against, and some will abstain.
But we do not think today is the right time to test the will of the House on the case for a new public vote. Instead, this is the time for Parliament to declare it wants an extension of Article 50 so that, after two-and-a-half years of vexed negotiations, our political leaders can finally decide on what Brexit means.
That is because a People's Vote is not just another option in this Brexit crisis - it is a solution to this crisis. When the real costs of Brexit are measured up against the broken promises made for it in 2016, we believe Parliament will have better opportunities to decide it is only fair and reasonable to give the public a real say on this crucial decision for our country.
9:23 a.m. ET, March 14, 2019

Second referendum "would reopen divisions," Theresa May's deputy says

Cabinet Office Minister David Lidington, May's de facto deputy, has reiterated the government's opposition to a second EU referendum, which would require a longer Brexit delay.

Lidington said that holding another referendum "would reopen the divisions" seen in the 2016 vote and "damage the already fragile trust between the public and members of this House."

He also warned that a delay beyond European elections, which take place at the end of May, would mean the UK would have to talk part.