Liam Fox warns of 'chasm of distrust' in politics if MPs fail to deliver on Brexit
2 min read
The entire political system in Britain could slide into a “chasm of distrust” among voters if MPs fail to deliver Brexit, a Cabinet minister warned today.
Liam Fox said MPs had to remember that the public were their “masters” as the Commons braced itself for a third vote on Theresa May's Brexit deal with the European Union.
MPs will this afternoon vote on the Withdrawal Agreement, which includes the controversial Northern Irish backstop plan, with expectations running high that the Prime Minister will suffer another defeat.
The blueprint for the future relationship with the bloc will come back to the Commons another time.
Mr Fox urged MPs to fall in line and back the deal to prevent either a long delay to Brexit or the “cliff edge” no-deal departure in mid-April.
He noted that the failure in France to implement a referendum on the constitution in 2005 led to the rise of the far-right Front National and eventually the election of centrist president Emmanuel Macron.
“I think that our current political structures are at risk,” Dr Fox warned on BBC Radio 4's Today programme.
“I think there would be a chasm of distrust that would open up between voters and the current political system.”
He noted that the two main parties got the biggest share of the vote at the 2017 snap election, but said MPs should “not take comfort from that” and warned “big changes” could be around the corner.
And he said if Parliament failed to deliver, “why would a voter trust in that process again?”.
Last night Education Secretary Damian Hinds warned there would be a “substantial” Brexit delay if MPs reject the Brexit deal for a third time.
MPs were meant to be back in their constituencies today but have instead been called to Parliament for a special five-hour session on what would have been the day the UK left the EU.
Excluding the future relationship from the proceedings today means the motion is not another “Meaningful Vote,” but it will still ensure a short Brexit delay until 22 May if it is passed.
If it is defeated, the Government will have until 12 April to come up with a new Brexit plan or else it will seek a much lengthier extension - and take part in May's European Parliament elections.
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