Wednesday’s meeting at the prime minister’s country residence is being seen as an opportunity for Mrs May and senior colleagues to talk through many issues involved ahead of this weekend’s summit of G20 leaders in China.
Advertisement
“There is no legal obligation to consult parliament on triggering Article 50 – that position has been well set out”, the spokesman told reporters.
But several senior Conservatives have warned against undue delay and said nothing should stand in the way of the United Kingdom triggering Article 50 as soon as possible next year.
The PM’s official spokesman said: “The Prime Minister is very clear there will be no second referendum”.
Earlier this week, Downing Street ruled out a parliamentary vote on the terms of the UK’s departure from the European Union, and the government has today ruled out seeking a new public mandate.
The comments leave open the possibility that negotiations could be launched without the approval of MPs being sought and Parliament could debate the issue without a formal vote taking place.
Speaking at the start of the all-day meeting, Ms May said: “We’ll be looking at the next steps that we need to take, and we’ll also be looking at the opportunities that are now open to us as we forge a new role for the United Kingdom in the world”.
But Downing Street would only commit to “giving Parliament a say on the situation going forward”.
The prime minister is expected to invoke Article 50 in early 2017.
Labour leadership hopeful Owen Smith has called for another referendum or an election to be held to give voters the chance to pass their verdict on the precise terms of Britain’s exit from the EU. Brexit does mean Brexit.
The PM’s defiance comes as the Cabinet meets today for the first time since the summer break to start threading together a Brexit plan.
The Prime Minister has charged her top team with setting out the opportunities that leaving the European Union will create in each of their portfolios.
Advertisement
Senior Labour MP Mr Smith hit back last night to insist three senior members of the Cabinet – David Davis, Jeremy Hunt, Boris Johnson – have previously called for the public to have a second say on the Brexit decision.
