A new cross - party campaign for a referendum on Britain ’s EU departure deal launched on Sunday , insisting the British public — and not just politicians — should be given a say .
The People ’s Vote campaign wants a referendum so the public can ratify or reject the final Brexit agreement , due to be concluded between London and Brussels in October , before Britain leaves the European Union on those terms at the end of March 2019.
More than a thousand people packed into the Electric Ballroom venue in north London for the raucous launch , complete with t- shirts, flags , posters and pints .
Lawmakers from the governing Conservative Party , as well as the opposition Labour , Liberal Democrat and Green parties , and “ Star Trek ” actor Patrick Stewart , addressed the crowd.
“ It ’s a vote to ratify the final deal , which is different to the initial thoughts of people when they bought this product ,” Lib Dem MP Layla Moran, one of the speakers said.
“ This isn ’t just for Remainers . This is for Leavers too .”
– Race against time –
After Britain leaves the EU , a transition period will run until the end of 2020.
The transition deal will not be finalised unless Britain and the other 27 EU countries agree on divorce terms by October — Brussels ’ deadline to wrap up talks.
The British government wants to quit the single market and customs union , while aiming to retain the closest possible ties with the bloc.
Moran said any new referendum would have to happen after the deal is completed in October , and before Brexit day at the end of March — meaning campaigners are short on time .
The first step would be to convince enough lawmakers — crucially Labour and Conservative backbenchers , emboldened by demand from the public — to get a new referendum in legislation, likely through an amendment to a Brexit bill .
MPs would then set the referendum question , which could potentially include several options: accepting the deal , rejecting it and leaving on World Trade Organization terms , or staying in the EU .
To the launch ’s loudest cheers , Labour MP Chuka Umunna urged his party to be “ true to its values ” and support a new referendum , as people angrily asked why Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn was absent .
The push is run by Open Britain , which grew out of the official Remain campaign of the 2016 referendum . The campaign brings together eight other anti - Brexit groups.
“ Brexit is not inevitable . What the government comes back with, not what was promised in the referendum , will be the real deal . It should not be a done deal ,” said Open Britain executive director James McGrory.
“ Brexit will affect everybody in the country , which is why it should not be left to 650 politicians to decide our future but 65 million people .”
Brexit remains a fractious topic in Britain , with less than a year to go until the country quits the EU .
In the seismic June 2016 referendum on Britain ’s EU membership , 52 percent of the UK ’s British, Irish and Commonwealth residents , plus Britons abroad who had lived in Britain in the last 15 years, voted to leave .
The People ’s Vote campaign wants a referendum so the public can ratify or reject the final Brexit agreement , due to be concluded between London and Brussels in October , before Britain leaves the European Union on those terms at the end of March 2019.
More than a thousand people packed into the Electric Ballroom venue in north London for the raucous launch , complete with t- shirts, flags , posters and pints .
Lawmakers from the governing Conservative Party , as well as the opposition Labour , Liberal Democrat and Green parties , and “ Star Trek ” actor Patrick Stewart , addressed the crowd.
“ It ’s a vote to ratify the final deal , which is different to the initial thoughts of people when they bought this product ,” Lib Dem MP Layla Moran, one of the speakers said.
“ This isn ’t just for Remainers . This is for Leavers too .”
– Race against time –
After Britain leaves the EU , a transition period will run until the end of 2020.
The transition deal will not be finalised unless Britain and the other 27 EU countries agree on divorce terms by October — Brussels ’ deadline to wrap up talks.
The British government wants to quit the single market and customs union , while aiming to retain the closest possible ties with the bloc.
Moran said any new referendum would have to happen after the deal is completed in October , and before Brexit day at the end of March — meaning campaigners are short on time .
The first step would be to convince enough lawmakers — crucially Labour and Conservative backbenchers , emboldened by demand from the public — to get a new referendum in legislation, likely through an amendment to a Brexit bill .
MPs would then set the referendum question , which could potentially include several options: accepting the deal , rejecting it and leaving on World Trade Organization terms , or staying in the EU .
To the launch ’s loudest cheers , Labour MP Chuka Umunna urged his party to be “ true to its values ” and support a new referendum , as people angrily asked why Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn was absent .
The push is run by Open Britain , which grew out of the official Remain campaign of the 2016 referendum . The campaign brings together eight other anti - Brexit groups.
“ Brexit is not inevitable . What the government comes back with, not what was promised in the referendum , will be the real deal . It should not be a done deal ,” said Open Britain executive director James McGrory.
“ Brexit will affect everybody in the country , which is why it should not be left to 650 politicians to decide our future but 65 million people .”
Brexit remains a fractious topic in Britain , with less than a year to go until the country quits the EU .
In the seismic June 2016 referendum on Britain ’s EU membership , 52 percent of the UK ’s British, Irish and Commonwealth residents , plus Britons abroad who had lived in Britain in the last 15 years, voted to leave .
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