Following the Prime Minister’s statement on the Brexit withdrawal agreement and the decision to delay the vote, Shailesh Vara says that any attempt to hold a second referendum would ensure that the UK would lose all credibility on the international stage when speaking up for democracy.
Mr Shailesh Vara (North West Cambridgeshire) (Con)
The United Kingdom is at the forefront of advocating democracy on the international stage. Indeed, colleagues on both sides of the House have regularly spoken in Parliament of the need for democracy in other countries, and Members on both sides regularly instruct MPs and legislators from other countries at seminars held by the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association and the Inter-Parliamentary Union on the importance of listening to the people they represent. Does my right hon. Friend agree that to have a second referendum now would ensure that the UK would lose all credibility on the international stage when speaking up for democracy?
The Prime Minister
My hon. Friend makes an important point. We do speak to others about the importance of democracy, and it is important that we show an example ourselves and respect the vote that the people took.