Vince Cable: The public must have a say on the final Brexit deal Next week, the House of Commons will debate the Liberal Democrats’ call for a vote on the terms of any […]

Next week, the House of Commons will debate the Liberal Democrats’ call for a vote on the terms of any final Brexit deal.

There is mounting concern over the way the Conservative government has mismanaged the negotiations, even amongst those who voted Leave in the referendum.

There was the initial, unnecessary and – in my view – foolish decision to leave the Single Market and the Customs Union.

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Neither was mandated by the referendum and there are profound consequences, not least for the Irish border issue, which have not been thought through.

Then there was the catalogue of blunders around the impact assessments, which were initially treated as a state secret and then, seemingly, didn’t exist.

The PM is milking it

Theresa May is milking some limited applause for completing the first phase of negotiation despite having conceded almost all of the major negotiating points originally demanded by the EU.

Their concession of a financial settlement of around £40bn (net) exclusive of expensive, future guarantees of un-quantified liabilities does not augur well for the really tricky negotiations on a trade deal where the end point is, as yet, very unclear.

No wonder a recent poll by Survation showed that one in two people now back a vote on the final Brexit deal a 16 point lead over those who do not.

A BMG Research poll also showed that two thirds of 18-24 year olds simply want Brexit halted.

A vote to Leave in principle is not the same as a vote on the destination

On Wednesday Parliament insisted on having a say, and the Government suffered an embarrassing defeat. That was progress. But it still isn’t clear what a ‘meaningful vote’ would be about. Unless it includes the option of revoking Article 50 and remaining in the EU, it isn’t meaningful.

Meanwhile, parliamentary sovereignty in this instance is not enough. I am not a fan of binary referendums to solve complex, multidimensional problems.

However the process of Brexit was started by a referendum and it is difficult to see how large sections of the public would be reconciled to a decision in Parliament overturning their collective view (however narrow result and however questionable the Brexit campaign).

Feelings on both sides are running high. We need to settle the issue with a fresh vote, with the option of an Exit from Brexit.

The public must have a say

Some are trying to describe this as merely a ‘second vote’.

The 2016 referendum has happened, and has been respected. What we are arguing for is a first vote on the final deal, whatever it eventually is. A vote to Leave in principle is not the same as a vote on the destination.

There is already strong and growing support for such a vote yet it is being resisted by the government and Brexiteers in general. But we demonstrated this week that they can be defeated, when Jeremy Corbyn and John McDonnell show uncharacteristic bravery on Brexit.

This week, I am urging them – and all those with serious reservations – to secure a say for the public on the final deal, by backing our amendment.

Vince Cable is Leader of the Liberal Democrats