Mayor of London calls for public vote on Brexit

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Immediate release Saturday 15th September 2018



Mayor of London calls for public vote on Brexit



• Sadiq wants national vote on any Brexit deal, alongside the option of staying in the EU



• Given the Government’s abject failure to act in the national interest, Sadiq argues a public vote on Brexit is now the right and only approach left for the good of the country





The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has today called for the British people to get a final say on Brexit. This would mean a public vote on any Brexit deal obtained by the Government, or a vote on a ‘no deal’ Brexit if one is not secured, alongside the option of remaining within the European Union.



Over the last two years, Sadiq has become increasingly alarmed as the chaotic approach to the negotiations has become mired in confusion and deadlock, leading us down a path that could be hugely damaging – not only to London, but the whole country.



Of course the Mayor would like to see a general election, but with time now fast running out, the Mayor is concerned we are left with two possible scenarios – a bad deal or a ‘no deal’ Brexit.



He believes both these possibilities are far from what was promised during the EU referendum campaign, which only ‘further exposes the lies and mistruths sold to the public’.



There is now a grave risk that the UK will crash out of the EU with no deal on our future relationship at all – the worst possible outcome that would have potentially catastrophic consequences. 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.



Sadiq is also increasingly concerned about the impact on the lives of the three million EU nationals living in the UK, approximately one million of whom live in London.



He believes they contribute massively to our economy and society and deserve far better than the crippling uncertainty of the consequences a ‘no deal’ Brexit could have on them and their families.



The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said:



“I’ve become increasingly alarmed as the chaotic approach to the negotiations has become mired in confusion and deadlock, leading us down a path that could be hugely damaging – not only to London, but the whole country.



“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 Government has simply failed to negotiate with the EU in the national interest – so it’s time we take this crucially important issue out of the hands of the politicians and return it to the people so that they can take back control.



“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 – and the huge risk we now face of either a bad deal or a ‘no deal’ Brexit - means that giving people a fresh say on our future is now the right, and only, approach left for the good of our country.”



Over the last two years, Sadiq has worked tirelessly with the Government as it has tried to secure a good deal. He met regularly with the former Secretary of the State for Exiting the European Union David Davis, together with the Chancellor of the Exchequer and the Prime Minister – making the strongest possible case for what London needs from the negotiations.



He has also met and taken advice from experts on all the areas that will be impacted by Brexit – from trade, to financial services, manufacturing, public services, immigration, human and workers’ rights to the police and the security services.



He has even taken representatives from key sectors of London’s economy – from the creative industries to higher education – to meet with Ministers in the Department for Exiting the EU to make their case directly.