Sadiq Khan refuses to rule out second Brexit vote
2 min read
Sadiq Khan has said there could be a second referendum on Brexit, amid fears that London’s top City firms are preparing to leave the UK without a transition deal.
The Mayor of London was asked twice if there should be another referendum if MPs reject Theresa May’s Brexit deal, but did not dismiss the idea.
He told the BBC’s Today programme: “If Parliament was to vote in favour of the deal our Government does that makes redundant, I suspect, the [second] referendum.
“But if Parliament was to reject any deal done by our Government then that opens up clearly what happens then."
Pressed on whether such circumstances would necessitate a second public vote, he said: “If Parliament rejects the deal by our Government that opens up a whole host of questions.”
This follows an urgent warning from the business community that failure to agree a transition deal with the EU, could see firms deserting the UK.
In a letter to the Brexit Secretary David Davis, Britain's leading business organisations, include the CBI and the British Chambers of Commerce, called for an immediate deal on transitions arrangements.
Mr Khan this morning backed the demands, saying: “The Prime Minister and our government need to, as soon as possible, announce what plans we’ve got for the transition period.
“That includes how long it’s going to be and what it will entail because my fear in that other businesses could be thinking about leaving London and will realise those plans by making these announcements.”
PoliticsHome Newsletters
PoliticsHome provides the most comprehensive coverage of UK politics anywhere on the web, offering high quality original reporting and analysis: Subscribe
