Theresa May rules out new Brexit vote

by Michael Burke - 01/21/19 7:10 PM ET

Theresa May on Monday rejected the idea of holding a second Brexit referendum, saying it would threaten “social cohesion” in Britain.

“There has not yet been enough recognition of the way that a second referendum could damage social cohesion by undermining faith in our democracy,” May said, according to The Guardian.

May’s dismissal of a second referendum comes as Britain’s opposition Labour Party has called for a vote in Parliament that could lead to a second public Brexit vote, according to Bloomberg.

{mosads}Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn said in a statement to Bloomberg that it is “time for Labour’s alternative plan to take center stage.”

“Our amendment will allow MPs to vote on options to end this Brexit deadlock and prevent the chaos of a No Deal,” Corbyn said in an emailed statement. “It is time for Labour’s alternative plan to take center stage, while keeping all options on the table, including the option of a public vote.”

In 2016, about 52 percent of voters in Britain supported Brexit in a referendum.

The lower house in United Kingdom’s Parliament, the House of Commons, early this month voted 432-202 to reject May’s Brexit deal to leave the European Union. That vote came after months of negotiations between the E.U. and Britain.

A day after that vote, May survived a no-confidence vote that was supported by the Labour Party.