Brits have more power to stop Brexit than MPs, Anna Soubry claims

Fiona Simpson11 February 2018
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The British public have more power to stop Brexit than MPs, Anna Soubry has said.

Pro-Europe Tory Ms Soubry told Andrew Marr on Sunday that it is down to “the people” to stop Britain leaving the EU.

Asked if she thinks Brexit will definitely happen, Ms Soubry said: "Will it definitely happen? I genuinely don't know what is going to happen."

Responding to whether it might be stopped, she said: "Well I'll tell you who might stop it, and that's the people of this country.

"We won't stop it. It is the people. We gave the people a referendum to start this process."

Ms Soubry, who appeared on the Andrew Marr show with Chuka Umunna, also admitted she had more in common with the Labour MP than with pro-Brexit Tory Jacob Rees-Mogg.

When asked if the pair where closer in terms of their politics she said: “I'm not denying that."

Asked by Andrew Marr what Theresa May could say to alleviate her concerns regarding Brexit Ms Soubry said she wants the UK to remain in the customs union.

She said if this is not agreed "not only is it bad for our economy but it also fundamentally undermines the peace process that was achieved and this is really important".

Asked on whether MPs could change to course of Brexit, Mr Umunna said: “There is no majority in the House of Commons for us simply to jump off a cliff."

The comments came as International Development Secretary Penny Mordaunt said a series of major speeches planned by Prime Minister Theresa May and Cabinet heavyweights would set out a Brexit "vision".

Also speaking on the BBC One show she added: "What the public want is they want the vision and they want some meat on the bones.

"And that's what they are going to get. And that will involve at the end of the process the Prime Minister setting out what that new partnership will look like, but it will also give some detail on our trading ambitions and relationship, what it means for devolution, and many other aspects."

Asked if it was a Government red line to not have to grant full rights to EU migrants who come to Britain during a transition period, Ms Mordaunt said: "It is what we are setting out in our position. Again, all of this is a negotiation.

"We are going to be setting out some more detail about our position on all of these issues over the coming months. But, that is something that we are looking for.

"Ultimately, it will be the negotiation, the phrase that is trotted out - nothing is decided until everything is decided.

"But, I think these things make sense and we are right to ask for them."

Thousands of anti-Brexit activists march to Parliament in protest

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Ms Soubry yesterday defended calls she made for Theresa May to “sling out” Brexiteers from the party.

The MP for Broxtowe criticised in-fighting within the party and branded Brexit negotiations the Government’s “most import decision since the second world war”.

During an interview with BBC Radio 4’s the Week in Westminster on Saturday she said: “Lets be very honest about this, mainly this is a group of people who will always put their own ideology first and foremost – bigger than any leader, bigger than any party – and they are determined they are going to get their own way.”

She added: “Perhaps for the first time ever in the Conservative party people are equally determined that they are not going to get their own way. I am prepared to compromise – they are not – and we are fed up.”

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