British finance minister Philip Hammond said it is very likely that the idea of a second Brexit referendum can be put before Britain’s parliament again although the government remains opposed to such a vote.
Whilst expressing faith in talks with the opposition Labour Party and that there was a “good chance” of a breakthrough, Hammond said he hoped parliament would break the Brexit impasse by passing a deal by the end of June, potentially ending the calls for a new referendum. But Hammond warned a second referendum could not be ruled out.
Hammond was speaking to reporters in Washington where he is attending meetings at the International Monetary Fund.
Prime Minister Theresa May has so far failed to get her own Conservative Party behind the Brexit divorce deal she agreed with other European Union leaders last year, forcing her to ask the bloc for a delay and to start talks with Labour about how to break the impasse in parliament.
Many Labour lawmakers are pressing their leader Jeremy Corbyn to demand a new referendum in talks with the government.
Hammond said that while the government was opposed to a new public vote, other Labour demands, such as a customs union with the EU, were up for debate.
Hammond said about six months would be needed to hold a referendum, so if parliament voted in a couple of months’ time to make one a condition of approving a Brexit deal, there would be no time before Britain is due to leave the EU on Oct. 31.
Via Reuters
