Another Referendum?

The list continues to grow as more ministers resign over Theresa May’s Brexit agreement. The tenth to be added to the list is Science and universities minister, Sam Gyimah, his reason being May’s decision to pull the UK from Galileo, Europe’s version of GPS which is yet underway.

Although Brexit Date is set in stone for 29 March 2019 11pm UK time, the future of the UK is yet unknown as more supporters back away from May’s decision making. May is currently risking a no deal Brexit or no Brexit at all, as those who were once allies opt to Remain.

The latest minister to resign, Sam Gyimah urged May to consider holding another referendum if she loses the 11 December vote. Meanwhile, Gyimah has vowed to “vote against the Government’s EU Withdrawal Agreement".

It has become increasingly clear to me that the proposed deal is not in the British national interest, and that to vote for this deal is to set ourselves up for failure. We will be losing, not taking control of our national destiny.

Yet, May is against setting another referendum as opposed to the 52 MPs in favour. UK Prime Minister Theresa May can only hope that the deal will be backed by the MPs in her own parliament, after having it signed off by all leaders of the other 27 EU countries. The deal also requires approval from the European Parliament, consisting of 751 members, with voting on the deal scheduled for early next year.

A no deal Brexit or the British Parliament rejecting the deal leads to uncertainty as to whether the UK will actually leave the EU, and if so, when. The date could be extended if approved by all 28 EU members. A no deal Brexit would mean that the UK failed to agree on a withdrawal agreement, meaning that there would be no transition period and EU laws would simply stop applying to the UK as of the 29th March. MPs are not in unison on what a no deal would signify -  A ‘national disaster’ or otherwise a ‘clean break’.