Theresa May rules out general election or second Brexit referendum

Theresa May - Neil Hall/PA

Theresa May has ruled out holding a second referendum on the terms of the Brexit deal she strikes with the European Union. 

The Prime Minister has also stamped down on speculation that she could hold a general election before 2020.

Labour leadership hopeful Owen Smith has called for another referendum or an election to be held to give voters the chance to pass their verdict on the precise terms of Britain's exit from the EU.

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But at a briefing for journalists this morning, May's spokesman made clear neither option was on the table.

"The Prime Minister is very clear there will be no second referendum," he said. "There is no need for a general election either."

His comments came after former Tory leader William Hague today urged No 10 to rule out another referendum.

Writing in his Daily Telegraph column, he said: "Seductive as it seems, such a referendum is a thoroughly bad and dangerous idea, and it needs to be dismissed by the Government from the outset. 

"It is bad in principle, because a defeat for the terms of exit, after lengthy negotiations, would presumably come after the time permitted for such negotiations by Treaty, and when the time to seek any other terms would have expired. 

"It could leave the UK in a state of pure limbo, having decided to leave in principle but not in detail. And since the terms of exit might be settled long before the detail of any new trading arrangement with the EU, it could involve voting on half a deal without knowing the content of the other half."

The Prime Minister's spokesman also effectively ruled out MPs being given a vote on the Brexit deal or the timing of Article 50, the formal trigger for the two-year exit negotiations to begin.

He would only say parliament "will have a say on the situation going forward" - killing any suggestion that pro-EU MPs may be able to defeat Brexit in the Commons.

The spokesman added: "Parliament overwhelmingly voted in favour of the referendum in the first place."