Outrage as Nick Clegg claims Government has NO MANDATE for hard Brexit

The europhile Lib Dem said he would continue to vote against Article 50 this week as Theresa May has no right to impose a ‘hard’ Brexit on the country.

Angry Sky News viewers rounded on the former deputy prime minister and branded him an “embarrassment”.

Mr Clegg was asked by Adam Boulton: “Are you someone who wants to stop Brexit.”

Responding the MP for Sheffield Hallam said: “I personally have not changed my view that the long-term interests of the United Kingdom are best served in the European Union and not out of it.”

Mr Clegg then said it would have been wrong of Parliament last week to not vote to trigger Article 50 – the formal mechanism to start the EU exit.

“You vote against it!” replied an incredulous Bolton.

SKY

Nick Clegg claimed the Government has no mandate for Brexit

“Let me explain,” Mr Clegg continued. “What we voted against is something the Government does not have a mandate for is to impose a ‘hard Brexit’, one which yanks us out of the single market as well as the political institutions of the European Union.

“The government has no mandate to do that.”

He then went on to repeat the Lid Dem demand of a second referendum on Britain’s future in the EU once Theresa May’s negotiations are complete.

When asked if he will continue to vote against Article 50 as it goes through the committee stage, Mr Clegg was adamant he would continue to oppose it.

“The government is now operating well beyond the mandate that it was given by the British people,” he said.

“The British people did not give a mandate to this Government to make them poorer.

PA

The Article 50 bill is currently making its way through the Commons

Are you someone who wants to stop Brexit

Nick Clegg

“The British people did not give a mandate for the British Government to go around threatening to turn us into some free-wheeling, low regulation, off-shore Dubai.”

Mr Clegg’s fiery remarks triggered a backlash from Sky News viewers, who attacked the Lib Dem.

One tweeted: “Nick Clegg is talking garbage because the voters didn’t do what he wanted!

“Why does he get so much airtime?”

Simon Walker said: “Has Nick Clegg bothered to ask anyone who voted leave or is he once again pushing his own irrelevant agenda.”

A third said: “Why is Clegg even asked his opinion? He doesn’t speak for the British people.”

PA

Theresa May has told MPs not to obstruct the will of the people

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NICK CLEGG

The Prime Minister said the House of Commons has already clearly voted in support of the EU (Notification of Withdrawal) Bill, which will allow her to trigger Article 50 to begin the formal exit process.

The Bill returned to the Commons on Monday for a further three days of debate during committee stage, giving MPs the chance to amend the legislation.

As MPs rejected a Labour bid for updates on the Brexit talks to be provided at least every two months, Tory former minister Anna Soubry said she may have "no alternative" but to vote against the Government unless MPs are guaranteed a vote on the Brexit deal before it is agreed with the EU.

Her intervention came after Mrs May warned pro-Remain Tories against backing amendments seeking to ensure Parliament gets a say on the "endgame" if Brexit negotiations collapse without a deal.

The PM has made clear she will walk away from talks if no deal can be reached, but potential rebels on her backbenches are worried about quitting the EU without an agreement, with potentially serious consequences for the economy.

In a Commons statement on last week's informal EU summit in Malta, Mrs May warned them: "Our European partners now want to get on with the negotiations, so do I, and so does this House, which last week voted by a majority of 384 in support of the Government triggering Article 50.

"There are of course further stages for the Bill in committee and in the Lords and it is right that this process should be completed properly.

"But the message is clear to all – this House has spoken and now is not the time to obstruct the democratically expressed wishes of the British people.

"It is time to get on with leaving the European Union and building an independent, self-governing, global Britain."

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