Conservative MP Sir Nicholas Soames declares Brexit ‘needs to be blown up and started again’ after campaign cheating Conservative MP Sir Nicholas Soames appeared to back calls for a second referendum on Brexit in a heartfelt speech to the […]

Conservative MP Sir Nicholas Soames appeared to back calls for a second referendum on Brexit in a heartfelt speech to the House of Commons on Tuesday.

The MP for Mid Sussex, who is also the grandson of Sir Winston Churchill, described the revelation that the Vote Leave campaign broke electoral law as “gross.”

“If we are to retain the integrity and the trust of the voting public, the whole damn thing needs to be blown up and started all over again,” he said, to cheers from his remain-backing colleagues.

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‘Diminished country’

The speech follows the Vote Leave campaign group being fined and referred to the police after breaking electoral law.

The Electoral Commission found “significant evidence” the group had coordinated with BeLeave – another campaign group – which had spent over £675,000 targeting voters on social media.

“One of the great glories of this sadly now diminished country was our electoral and democratic system,” said Sir Nicholas during an urgent debate on the report.

“And this example today is gross.”

It would appear with these words that the Conservative MP is in favour of a second referendum on Brexit.

If so, he would become the fourth Tory to publicly back such a call alongside prominent colleague Justine Greening, who on Monday called the Prime Minister’s Chequer’s deal a “fudge”.

Brexit vote ‘corrupt’

Ms Greening has highlighted Parliament’s division on the subject, with around 100 MPs now declaring support for a second referendum.

“The reality is Parliament is now stalemated,” she said Monday on Radio 4’s Today programme.

“Whatever the proposal on the table, there will be MPs who vote it down. But Britain needs to find a route forward.”

Meanwhile, Labour MP Liam Byrne told the Commons today the Brexit vote was “corrupt”.

“This house is the guardian of free and fair elections,” he said.

“It is now clear this referendum result was corrupt because it was bought, quite possibly with Russian money.”