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Guildford’s MP Abstains in Commons Debate and Repeats Call for ‘Confirmatory’ Referendum
Published on: 19 Oct, 2019
Updated on: 22 Oct, 2019
Guildford’s MP Anne Milton has reiterated her view that a second referendum is needed to resolve the Brexit issue.
Commenting after Saturday’s (October 19) debate in the House of Commons at which the adoption of the Oliver Letwin amendment delayed any decision on the new EU deal Ms Milton commented: “Whatever people’s views the House of Commons needs to face up to its response abilities and make progress to resolve the current impasse. We cannot leave people in this uncertainty and especially those running businesses.
“Although I was 100% behind the spirit of the Letwin amendment, as I do not want the country to leave the EU without a deal, I was not convinced that this amendment would get us any further forward and, if anything, it could frustrate further efforts to achieve what I believe is the only way ahead.
“Although I continue to have grave concerns about a confirmatory referendum I now believe that if we can get a deal approved by the House of Commons, negotiated by a Prime Minister who led the Brexit campaign, with a confirmatory referendum attached, this would be the way finally to resolve the situation.
“A public vote started this process, and to draw it to a close we need to end it in a similar manner.”
When it came to the vote on the amendment Anne Milton abstained.
Leave campaigner Christian Holliday
Speaking before today’s events in Parliament, Christian Holliday, leader of the local Leave campaign and former Conservative borough councillor gave his view on the newly negoyiated deal. He said: “Those who said the EU would not re-open the deal have been proven wrong. Keeping no-deal on the table was the right strategy to get the EU to budge. However, they have not budged enough.
“The deal as presented today is still very problematic for Northern Ireland’s relationship with Great Britain. Part of the UK would be under a different VAT regime, tariffs would be a reality, albeit with a mechanism for a refund on goods staying in Northern Ireland, and customs checks would happen between Northern Ireland and Great Britain, even though it would be British officials doing the checking. It’s essentially a watered-down Backstop, in sheep’s clothing.
“On balance, if no further amendments are forthcoming and our Unionist friends in Northern Ireland remain opposed to the deal, I would be happier with a clean break Brexit in two weeks time. We should leave and then negotiate. That would better reflect the views of my fellow Brexiteers in Guildford and is what we voted for originally three long years ago.
“The other interesting event is that Mr Juncker indicated there would be no extension to Brexit beyond 31st October. If the 27 member states agree with him then on Saturday Parliament will finally have to make an actual decision, which must result in us leaving the EU in two weeks today.”
Zoe Franklin
Zoe Franklin the prospective parliamentary candidate for the Liberal Democrats was, from a different perspective, was even more critical: “Some may view Johnson’s deal as a triumph however there is no deal that comes close to the one we have now as a member of the EU. The proposals contained within the Conservative deal are bad for our economy, bad for public services and bad for environmental standards.
“Local people continue to ask me why a responsible government would willing put our country at risk and tell me that they just want politicians to get on and tackle the big issues that we’re facing – saving the NHS, ensuring schools are properly funded and urgently tackling the climate crisis.
“That is why I continue to be committed to stopping Brexit. It is also why the Liberal Democrats are arguing that any deal should go back to the public in a People’s Vote.”
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Responses to Guildford’s MP Abstains in Commons Debate and Repeats Call for ‘Confirmatory’ Referendum
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Jim Allen
October 20, 2019 at 9:19 am
Why should I respect a second vote when Parliament has not respected my winning first vote?
Harry Elson
October 20, 2019 at 11:26 am
What we need is a general election to sort out the hypocrisy of the representatives of all parties that have put the country into this mess. We need to forget about a “People’s Vote” or second referendum. We voted in a democratic process to leave the EU – end of story. Instead, we have had politicians grandstanding and play-acting to grab media attention and a Speaker who has been embarrassing in his absence of neutrality. As Cromwell said about Parliament, “Ye are grown odious to the whole nation… It is high time to end your sitting in this place..”
The Sword of Damocles awaits so many politicians who have thwarted the will of the people and reneged on their promises to honour the referendum, or just sat on the fence.
John Perkins
October 20, 2019 at 1:45 pm
A deal was on the table yet Anne Milton did nothing to prevent it from being frustrated. How does that reconcile with not wanting the country to leave the EU without a deal?
In the past, she has said that a general election will not change anything. At the very least it would remove Oliver Letwin from the House of Commons.
Jim Snow
October 20, 2019 at 5:04 pm
What is a “Peoples Vote”? We’ve already had one. It is time she left The Commons.
Andrew Eacott
October 21, 2019 at 8:45 am
For those who voted Leave, can they please clarify exactly what they voted for?
Was it to leave on WTO terms?
To stop freedom of movement?
To keep freedom of movement but leave the European Court of Justice?
To leave the EU political union but remain part of the EEA?
Norway Plus?
Canada Minus?
Blue Passports?
The problem is that individually they can’t tell me, and no-one else can. Parliament has been trying to respect the result of the 2016 referendum for the past three and a half years. We are where we are now because the referendum question was so vague, it was simply not possible to determine a clear way forward. All we know is that “the people” were not happy with the status quo and wanted to change our relationship with Europe.
That message was heard by everyone. So what relationship did they want instead?
There is no majority or mandate for any one option because “the people” were never asked which they wanted instead. It is the height of arrogance for the government (who represent well under half the country’s residents) to push through their own interpretation without consulting the rest of us.
Yes, we had a vote in 2016 and Leave won but now we have a deal on the table. Why do you think we shouldn’t be allowed to look at it and say whether it’s better for them than the deal they already have?
If, after having that opportunity, the result of a second referendum was a clear majority for the deal, I’d be the first to accept it. Can Leave voters say the same?
Harry Elson
October 21, 2019 at 11:39 am
What was vague about Yes or No, Leave or Remain in the EU referendum? The majority voted Leave and yes we did know what we were voting for.
How many referendums does it take? But I know the answer we have to keep voting until we vote to stay.
Those of us who voted Leave voted to:
• take back control of our country;
• end free movement into the UK, while encouraging fair immigration from those suitably skilled outside the EU;
• leave the jurisdiction of the European Court of Justice;
• leave a federalist state;
• take back control of our fishing grounds;
• stop the live export of live animals.
And who cares about the colour of our passport?
Michael Thomas
October 21, 2019 at 12:56 pm
In advocating, albeit reluctantly, a “confirmatory” referendum, Anne Milton is representing the best interests of her constituents, 56% of whom voted in favour of remaining in the EU, and of the nation at large.
All of the government’s own analyses to date confirm that leaving the EU will have a negative effect on the economy and it is significant that the government has not released an impact assessment of the latest deal. At the time of the last referendum, information concerning all the consequences of leaving the EU was minimal, the impact on the island of Ireland, and the Good Friday agreement in particular, and the threat to the integrity of the United Kingdom were not even discussed.
Anne Milton should, therefore, be applauded for advocating a “confirmatory” referendum, the result of which would represent the concerted will of the people, exercised in possession of all the relevant information concerning the consequences of relinquishing our membership of the EU.
Whatever the outcome of this third referendum on EU membership we would then all, Leavers and Remainers, have to accept the result and live with the consequences. That’s democracy for you.
John Perkins
October 22, 2019 at 10:43 am
The first referendum [1975] was on whether to stay in or leave the EEC (Common Market), a trade body. Only later did that body morph, via the EC, into the EU, a very different beast.
2016 was the first time people were asked if they wanted to stay in the EU. Another vote on it would only be the second, so in order to for it to be “democratic” there ought to be a third.
Stuart Barnes
October 22, 2019 at 9:48 am
I hope that the Conservative party has selected a new candidate for the coming general election. If not, then they can kiss goodbye to the Guildford seat. Anne Milton will be deservedly sacked if she stands again.