Brexit deal: Lib Dems could back Boris Johnson’s EU withdrawal agreement if it contains People’s Vote promise Jo Swinson said she wants a second referendum ‘because we think it should be the public that are in charge and are having that say’

The Liberal Democrats could support a Brexit deal achieved by Boris Johnson if it includes a People’s Vote, leader Jo Swinson has said.

Amid heightened expectation Mr Johnson could present a new deal to MPs by the end of the week, Ms Swinson said her MPs could be prepared to get behind the plan if it is put back to the people in a confirmatory vote.

Her comments echo that of other opposition MPs – who also said they would support a deal that includes another referendum – but are at odds with Mr Johnson’s consistent refusal to call another vote.

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The Prime Minister will need as much support from opposition MPs as he can muster if he is to have a chance of getting a Withdrawal Agreement through the House of Commons – something his predecessor Theresa May failed to do.

Win over support

Mr Johnson has the added complication of having lost his working majority in the Commons after he chucked more than twenty Tory MPs out of the party for rebelling over the Government’s Brexit strategy.

Ms Swinson, who supports remaining in the European Union, said on Wednesday that her MPs could be prepared to help the Prime Minister win a vote if he conceded to another referendum.

She has already tabled an amendment to the Queen’s Speech calling for a People’s Vote which, if selected by the Speaker John Bercow, could be debated on next week.

She told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “There’s no deal that is better than the deal we have as members of the European Union, so of course we are not going to be supportive of any deal.

“But what we will do, and what we want to happen, and what we have been arguing for for more than three years, is for whatever Brexit deal that is negotiated is put to the people.

People’s Vote

“We will back a referendum whether it’s on Boris Johnson’s deal, whether it’s on Theresa May’s deal, because we think it should be the public that are in charge and are having that say.”

The amendment tabled by the Lib Dems reads: “Instruct the Government to prepare for a people’s vote in which the public will have the choice between the latest Withdrawal Agreement and remaining in the European Union.”

The Conservative Party’s deputy chairman said MPs “can’t pick and choose which votes they respect”.

Paul Scully said: “Yesterday the Liberal Democrats wanted to ignore 17.4 million voters by revoking Brexit, today they want to do it by holding a second referendum.

“Whatever they wake up saying tomorrow, it’s clear that what you’ll get with them is more delay, gridlock and uncertainty.”

Mr Johnson is still embroiled in intensive negotiations with the EU in an attempt to get a deal finalised ahead of the summit of EU leaders starting in Brussels on Thursday.

If he is successful in agreeing a deal with the EU leaders it could be presented to MPs on Saturday during a proposed special sitting of Parliament.