Justine Greening calls for second referendum on Brexit

Justine Greening has called for a second referendum on the UK leaving the EU, with the former Education Secretary dismissing Theresa May’s latest plan as “a fudge”.

Writing for the Times, Greening said the agreement struck by the Cabinet at Chequers earlier this month represented "the worst of both worlds" as it would leave Britain subject to EU rules with no say over their creation.

The Remain-supporting backbencher concluded that the "only solution is to take the final Brexit decision out of the hands of deadlocked politicians” by holding another vote.

Her comments come as Brexiteers attempt to vote down the Prime Minister's plans in the Commons.

She wrote: “I wanted the Prime Minister’s Chequers agreement to be a workable compromise. It is clear it is not.

"Leavers are right. Having read the detail, this deal is a fudge I can’t support. It’s the worst of both worlds…

“The only solution is to take the final Brexit decision out of the hands of deadlocked politicians, away from the backroom deals, and give it back to the people.”

The Putney MP said voters should be given three choices – back the final deal, reject the agreement and crash out of the bloc or remain in the EU. 

The intervention was welcomed by the Liberal Democrats, who have consistently called for a second Brexit vote.  

Liberal Democrat Brexit spokesperson Tom Brake said: “Justine Greening’s comments are highly welcome and show that the sensible MPs in the Conservative Party recognise the chaos wrought by a divided government.

“The Conservative civil war will only deepen over the next two days as the opposing factions fight over the two Brexit bills put to the Commons before recess. Their confrontations will be vicious and damaging to the country.

“The only way out of this mess is to give the British people the final say on any deal - or, heaven forbid, a disastrous no deal that Theresa May is still threatening - with the option of an exit from Brexit.”

Greening sensationally quit May’s Cabinet at the beginning of the year after refusing to take on the Work and Pensions brief during a reshuffle.

She was replaced as Education Secretary by Damian Hinds