Fury over suggestion Keir Starmer could call new Brexit referendum – ‘bonkers’ | Politics | News
Sir Keir Starmer with President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen (Image: Getty)
The notion that Sir Keir Starmer could hold a new Brexit referendum amid rising global tensions has sparked debate online. Tom McTague, editor-in-chief of the New Statesman, said if the Prime Minister was to call a snap referendum on EU membership, there was a good chance the British public would vote to return to the bloc.
In a clip published on the New Statesmanโs Instagram page, McTague said the โvast majorityโ of the Labour party and its MPs โthink Brexit was a mistake and that we should be back in the European Unionโ.
He continued: โImagine a scenario in which Keir Starmer comes out tomorrow, makes a speech and says, โin seven weeks’ time, weโre now having a snap referendum on rejoining the EU to defend ourselves from reckless Trump and reckless Vladimir Putinโ.
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Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer (Image: Getty)
โWhat are the chances that the country would vote to go back in? Fairly high, right? Fairly high if you look at the polls.โ
The point was discussed on social media, with many debating whether this was really possible.
One user on X called it โbonkersโ, saying: โ1. The Brexit vote was nearly 10 years ago, let it go.
โ2. No democratic mandate to call a referendum.
โ3. 7 weeks is nowhere near enough time to organise a referendum, decide what terms itโs held on and get it through parliament, etc.
Another said โunlikelyโ, while a third said: โYes. Why not do something that would immediately unite a divided right and remind every Leave voter why they voted against Labour in 2019? Genius.โ
A fourth said โnonsenseโ, while a fifth said: โNot a chance.โ
However, one X user suggested a referendum wasnโt even required. They said: โI donโt think referendum is needed, he needs to rejoin as national emergency.โ
Commenting on the New Statesmanโs video, one person said โLabour are too weak to even do what they believeโ, while another simply wrote: โNo.โ
Others supported the concept, with one user writing: โThen, letโs do it!!โ
Another said: โGo for it, Britain!โ
The New Statesman is often seen by many as left-leaning and pro-European.
It describes itself on its website as โthe leading progressive political and cultural magazine in the United Kingdomโ.
The UK voted to leave the EU by 52% to 48% in a referendum in June 2016.
