Lib Dems’ Vince Cable says MPs will ‘kill off’ the ‘wickedly irresponsible’ no-deal Brexit Sir Vince Cable has reached out to members of the breakaway MPs in a fresh attempt to get a majority in Parliament behind another referendum

Liberal Democrat leader Sir Vince Cable has predicted MPs will “kill off” any prospect of a no-deal Brexit in crucial House of Commons votes next week.

He said leaving the European Union on 29 March without a formal deal in place would be “wickedly irresponsible”, and he criticised Prime Minister Theresa May for attempting to “blackmail” MPs into supporting her.

Sir Vince has also been reaching out to members of the new Independent Group to support his fresh attempt for MPs to back a second Brexit referendum.

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The Lib Dem leader addressed his party’s Scottish Conference in Hamilton on Saturday, with the threat of a no-deal hanging over the UK.

Mrs May is still trying to find a deal that commands the support of the House, and has so far refused to extend the Brexit timetable.

‘It can be stopped’

Sir Vince told the Scottish Liberal Democrat conference in Hamilton: “I personally don’t believe that no-deal Brexit is remotely likely, but it is absolutely scaring the wits out of people who have to trade across frontiers.”

He added: “The positive thing is it can be stopped, and I think there is now a route map as to how we deal with Brexit in the next few weeks and months.

“Next week the priority will be stopping this no-deal nonsense, taking it off the table, removing it, taking away the fear, letting people get on with their lives.

“And I think there is now a sufficient number, reinforced by the cabinet threat this morning, to make sure that we kill this. That is our first priority.”

Dismay

Several Tory and Labour MPs quit their party to form the Independent Group, partly in dismay at how Britain is inching closer to crashing out of the EU.

Sir Vince said he has been speaking to “many of these now independent MPs” and that they have “much in common” with his party.

Ahead of his speech, he said: “For the good of our country, we will cooperate on areas of shared values, not least stopping Theresa May and Jeremy Corbyn’s chaotic and damaging Brexit.

“That is why I can announce Liberal Democrats will once again this week seek to secure cross-party support for an amendment in the House of Commons calling for a People’s Vote, with the option to stay in the EU.

“We cannot let Theresa May or Jeremy Corbyn conspire to run down the clock. Liberal Democrats have led the campaign for a People’s Vote. We have campaigned for it, we have marched for it and we will vote for it.”