Pro-European Lords push for fresh EU referendum

PRO-EUROPEAN peers will push for a new referendum on Brexit, Sir Menzies Campbell has claimed.

The former Liberal Democrats leader said Theresa May’s plan to quit the EU was “based on hope and hype” and argued the people deserved a fresh vote on the deal negotiated.

His intervention came after the Prime Minister confirmed that the UK would leave the single market and seek only partial membership of the customs union. She also confirmed Westminster would get a vote on the terms of the deal.

Lord Campbell said a second public poll could win peers’ backing.

“There is no doubt that the vast majority of members of the House of Lords are pro-European in a way that the House of Commons no longer is,” he said.

“I would be optimistic that we would be able to persuade the House of Lords that the way in which we resolve this is with a second referendum.

“The Government is rather short-sighted. If the negotiation goes wrong, then the public needs a second referendum.”

According to Brexit Secretary David Davis, Britain will leave the EU regardless of how Parliament votes on the deal.

But Lord Campbell argued a pro-remain coalition could upend the whole process by pressing for another poll.

“I suspect that there would be one or two people in the House of Commons who would want to argue for a second referendum,” he said.

His words are likely to enrage Brexit supporters who have accused anti-leave politicians of attempts to frustrate the will of the people.

UKIP leader Paul Nuttall has even suggested the House of Lords would be “signing its own death warrant” were peers to stand in the way of Brexit.

Acknowledging Mrs May would not be forced into a snap General Election over the issue, Lord Campbell added: “Theresa May’s speech was all based on hope and hype.

“The final deal is a decision for the people of the UK. They should decide the terms of Brexit and there should be a second referendum.

“The Lords has a duty to hold the Government to account and scrutinise in the public interest. My guess – although we have not tested this with a vote – is that there would be a majority willing to push for a second referendum.”

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said another independence referendum was “all but inevitable” should the PM push ahead with hard Brexit.

But Mr Davis hit back, saying Scots wanted to “just get on with it” and Ministers were considering the “Scotland’s Place In Europe” proposals Holyrood Ministers had penned.

Lord Campbell said: “Ms Sturgeon has painted herself into a corner on Brexit and it is up to her to get herself out of that.

“She is like the Grand Old Duke of York when it comes to her position on Brexit and the single market.

“She has marched herself and her party up the hill and sometimes has to come back down again the same week or the next day.”