UK Cabinet Starts Talks On Second Brexit Referendum With Lawmakers - Lib Dems Leader

LONDON (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 18th January, 2019) The UK government has engaged in discussions on the second Brexit referendum with various groups across the parliament, however, the time line for the possible plebiscite, presented by the cabinet, is "completely wrong," Vince Cable, the leader of the UK opposition Liberal Democrats party, said.

Prime Minister Theresa May began talks with parliamentarians on the next step to resolve the Brexit impasse after lawmakers rejected her withdrawal deal with the European Union, opening the way for the no-deal Brexit, something fear by politicians, businesses and the general public from both sides. On Wednesday, May survived a vote of no confidence in her government and called on lawmakers to find a way forward for Brexit. The Labour Party, led by opposition leader Jeremy Corbyn, however, refused to participate in discussions, drawing May's criticism.

"One of the useful outcomes from the first round of the discussions with the government was around the practicalities of a People's Vote. These discussions brought to the surface the complete misunderstanding in government circles about the time line to bring it about," Cable said, as quoted by The Guardian newspaper.

Media reported on Thursday, citing a UK Cabinet Office paper, that the government believed it would take over a year to organize the second Brexit referendum.

"It would be perfectly possible to organize a People's Vote to take place as early as May without trampling on constitutional and practical requirements," Cable suggested.

Ex-Attorney General Dominic Grieve, who is a member of the Conservative Party, was also among the politicians who expressed their disagreement with the cabinet's second referendum time line.

"If parliament wishes to have a referendum and the government is prepared to facilitate it, it could be carried out swiftly and within a limited time extension of Article 50 ... It is extraordinary for the Government to make these claims when their Brexit deal - which has been comprehensively rejected by Parliament - offers no certainty over our future relationship with Europe and would simply result in years of back-and-forth, arguments and negotiations ... It is neither helpful nor right to have misleading information of this kind put out," Grieve pointed out, as quoted by Express.

As the Brexit date under Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty, which will be March 29, is looming, May has pledged to present her proposals for the next steps to deal with the Brexit deadlock to parliamentarians on Monday. The proposals then need to be discussed and amended by lawmakers.