Brexit vote: Vince Cable says he’d back Theresa May’s deal in exchange for a second referendum to confirm it ‘We would support it providing its subject to a confirmatory referendum’

Liberal Democrat leader Sir Vince Cable has said his party would support Theresa May‘s Brexit deal as long as it was held to a “confirmatory referendum”.

The leader of the pro-EU party, bolstered by a strong result in local elections, suggested his 11 MPs would support the deal, as long as it was put to another vote.

Read more: Liberal Democrats make large gains in local elections The i politics newsletter cut through the noise Email address is invalid Email address is invalid Thank you for subscribing! Sorry, there was a problem with your subscription.

Mrs May will attempt to get MPs to ratify her Brexit plans in another vote in the week beginning on 3 June, after weeks of talks with the Labour Party.

‘I’m a hardliner’

Sir Vince told the BBC Radio 4 Today Programme: “You’re right that I’m a hardliner, and I’m clear about where we stand, which I think is important.”

“But actually, if the government were to put forward its deal to Parliament, however modified by the Labour Party, we’ve made it very clear, we would support it, providing it is subject to a confirmatory referendum.

“So we’re not in any sense, blocking progress, and I think, actually, now that the government are running out of other options, that’s where we’re going to finish up.”

Three-way referendum

Mr Cable said that his party would ideally like a three-way referendum, with the PM’s deal, Remain and leaving without a deal.

He said: “Well, I think there are various suggestions made about how you frame three options into questions and I think you would get a clear and unambiguous result.”

The Lib Dems have been polling the highest out of the pro-Remain parties ahead of the European elections next Tuesday. Nigel Farage’s Brexit Party is currently leading the polls in the elections that are being held after Mrs May was forced to delay Brexit until 31 October.

New Brexit vote

The Government are now pushing to get the deal passed by parliament expecting a dire result in the vote, brought around by its failure to deliver on its key policy.

A Downing Street spokesman said on Tuesday night: “This evening the Prime Minister met the Leader of the Opposition in the House of Commons to make clear our determination to bring the talks to a conclusion and deliver on the referendum result to leave the EU.

“We will therefore be bringing forward the Withdrawal Agreement Bill in the week beginning the 3rd June. It is imperative we do so then if the UK is to leave the EU before the summer parliamentary recess.

“Talks this evening between the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition were both useful and constructive.

“Tomorrow, talks will continue at an official level as we seek the stable majority in Parliament that will ensure the safe passage of the Withdrawal Agreement Bill and the UK’s swift exit from the EU.”

Additional reporting by Press Association.