Khan backs second referendum on Brexit

Mayor of London Sadiq Khan has joined calls for the British public to get a final say on Brexit, urging for a national vote on any deal, alongside the option of staying in the EU.

Khan says that current negotiations are leading ‘us down a path that could be hugely damaging’ and is now concerned that there are only two possibilities remaining - a bad deal or a ‘no deal’ Brexit. Both options, he says, are far from what was promised during the referendum campaign, which only ‘further exposes the lies and mistruths sold to the public’.

Independent economic analysis, commissioned and published by the Mayor earlier this year, suggested that crashing out of the EU with no deal could result in 500,000 fewer jobs across Britain by 2030 than if we remained a member of the EU – 87,000 fewer in London alone – and up to £50 billion lost in investment across the UK.

Khan said: “Until now, I’ve held out hope that the government would finally get its act together and put the national interest ahead of narrow party politics, but it’s clear that this prospect is now dead in the water. With time rapidly running out, we are left with two possible scenarios – a bad deal, which could end up being so vague that we leave the EU blind to what our future relationship will be, or a ‘no deal’ Brexit.
 
“Both these scenarios are a million miles away from what was promised during the EU referendum campaign. They not only further expose the lies and mistruths sold to the public, but are a betrayal of the promises made throughout the negotiations. They are also both incredibly risky, and I don’t believe Theresa May has the mandate to gamble so flagrantly with the future of the British economy and people’s livelihoods.
 
“After a lot of careful thought and consideration, I have decided that the British people must get a final say on Brexit. As the Mayor of London, I wouldn’t be doing my job representing the interests of Londoners if I didn’t stand up now and say that it’s time to think again about how we take this crucial decision for the future of our country – and the futures of our children and grandchildren. The need for another public vote on Brexit was never inevitable, or something I ever thought I’d have to call for. But the reality is that the abject failure of the government means that giving people a fresh say on our future is now the right, and only, approach left for the good of our country.”