Oral Answers to Questions

Emma Dent Coad Excerpts

Thursday 27th June 2019 Commons Chamber

[Dr Rupa Huq (Ealing Central and Acton) (Lab)]

12. If he will hold discussions with Cabinet colleagues on the potential merits of a public vote on the terms of the UK’s future relationship with the EU.

[Emma Dent Coad (Kensington) (Lab)]

14. If he will hold discussions with Cabinet colleagues on the potential merits of a public vote on the terms of the UK’s future relationship with the EU.

[The Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union (Stephen Barclay)]

The Government’s position on a second referendum has not changed.

--- Later in debate ---

[Stephen Barclay]

The hon. Lady talks about a people’s vote. What she really means is a politicians’ vote. What she should do is listen to the voice of people such as John Curtice, a very respected voice, who wrote on 23 June:

“Our poll of polls of how people would vote in another referendum continues to report that the country is more or less evenly divided between remain and leave, much as it was three years ago.”

[Emma Dent Coad]

There are 19,000 EU nationals in my Kensington constituency who have no say over their future post Brexit. They pay their tax, but they have no voice apart from mine. How can I reassure my constituents that I and those who do have a vote will be able to make their representations on the deal?

[Stephen Barclay]

It is a slightly odd position to take to be talking about how people can be heard in their vote by overturning a vote in which people are seeking to be heard. We have had three questions, all from London MPs, ignoring the fact that, across the nine regions of England, eight voted to leave and only one voted to remain. It is time that we heard more than the voice of London from the Labour Benches.