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Theresa May: MPs will get a vote on whether to hold a second Brexit referendum

Theresa May has promised MPs a vote on whether to hold another referendum if they back her Withdrawal Agreement Bill in two weeks' time.

The Prime Minister has said MPs who are looking for a second referendum on a Brexit deal first need a deal to put to the public and the necessary legislation – the Withdrawal Bill – to implement it. 

In a warning to MPs, May also said that failing to pass the bill in a vote on  the week beginning 3rd June would leave no option but a second referendum or general election.

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Speaking about a second referendum, May said: "I have made my own view clear on this many times. I do not believe this is a route that we should take, because I think we should be implementing the result of the first referendum, not asking the British people to vote in a second one.

"But I recognise the genuine and sincere strength of feeling across the house on this important issue.

"The government will therefore include in the withdrawal agreement bill at introduction a requirement to vote on whether to hold a second referendum. This must take place before the withdrawal agreement can be ratified."

The Prime Minister is desperate get MPs behind her Brexit deal for what could be the last time before the extension to Article 50 – the mechanism that allows the UK to leave the EU – expires in October.

MPs have already rejected May's Brexit deal three times, and by historic margins.

After cross-party talks with Labour fell through last week, May promised a "bold new offer" to MPs, in which she said there would be more guarantees on workers' rights and environmental protections.

Today she unveiled a "10-point plan" to convince MPs to back her deal:

  • The government will seek to conclude alternative arrangements to replace the backstop by December 2020, so that it never needs to be used
  • A commitment that, should the backstop come into force, the government will ensure that Great Britain will stay aligned with Northern Ireland
  • The negotiating objectives and final treaties for our future relationship with the EU will have to be approved by MPs
  • A new workers’ rights bill that guarantees workers’ rights will be no less favourable than in the EU
  • There will be no change in the level of environmental protection when we leave the EU
  • The UK will seek as close to frictionless trade in goods with the EU as possible while outside the single market and ending free movement
  • The UK will keep up to date with EU rules for goods and agri-food products that are relevant to checks at border protecting the thousands of jobs that depend on just-in-time supply chains
  • The government will bring forward a customs compromise for MPs to decide on to break the deadlock
  • There will be a vote for MPs on whether the deal should be subject to a referendum
  • There will be a legal duty to secure changes to the political declaration to reflect this new deal

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In her speech, May warned that rejected the bill would be a negotiated exit with the EU would be "dead in the water" and could mean Brexit is stopped altogether.

 She said the deadlock over Brexit was having a "corrosive impact" on politics and that her deal was "the only way to deliver Brexit".