Lawmakers debate petition on second Brexit referendum

British lawmakers on Monday debated a petition signed by more than 4.1 million people that demands a second referendum on European Union membership. Britain’s government has ruled out a second referendum and says that it is preparing to trigger the formal divorce proceedings that would eventually take Britain out of the club it joined in […]

British lawmakers on Monday debated a petition signed by more than 4.1 million people that demands a second referendum on European Union membership.
Britain’s government has ruled out a second referendum and says that it is preparing to trigger the formal divorce proceedings that would eventually take Britain out of the club it joined in 1973.
In the days following the referendum result, millions of people signed the petition calling for a second vote on membership.
“The Brexiteers wanted out of Europe but they had no plan for the day after or any other day in the future,” said Ian Blackford, a Scottish National Party lawmaker who supported the motion for the debate, in parliament’s second debating chamber, which does not have the power to change the law.
In the June 23 vote, 51.9 percent, or 17.4 million people, voted to leave the EU while 48.1 percent, or 16.1 million people, voted to stay in the EU.