More on KentOnline
More on KentOnline
Theresa May has offered MPs a vote on whether there should be a second EU referendum if they back her Brexit bill - but some Kent MPs already appear to oppose it.
The pledge came in a speech today setting out what she said was a bold offer to get her deal through the Commons.
Her speech comes as a poll tips the Brexit Party led by Nigel Farage for a landslide victory in the county in the EU Elections on Thursday.
Many of her own MPs are failing to back the Prime Minister's latest proposals, with Dover and Deal MP Charlie Elphicke calling it "worse than before".
Mrs May said: "I have made my views known on this many times.
"I do not believe this is a route we should take because I think we should be implementing the results of the first referendum, not asking people to vote on a second referendum.
"But I recognise the sincere and genuine feeling the House on this important issue.
"The government will therefore include on the withdrawal bill a requirement to vote on whether to hold a second referendum.
"This must take place before the withdrawal agreement is ratified.
"If the House of Commons was to vote for a referendum, it would require the government to make provisions for that referendum."
The Prime Minister's Brexit deal has been effectively defeated three times already in Parliament, by historic margins.
After today's speech, Dover MP Mr Elphicke tweeted: "I supported the Prime Minister in March as I thought it was our last chance to leave the EU.
"That’s no longer the case and I’m afraid that this proposal is worse than before. This is not Brexit and I won’t be supporting it."
South Thanet MP Craig Mackinlay also voiced his opposition to Mrs May's latest proposals.
He said it will merely "be a re-hash into UK statutory form of the foul #Withdrawal Agreement".
He added: "I will not support it."
The Prime Minister has received support on the Withdrawal Agreement Bill from her longtime allay Damian Green.
The Ashford MP went to Oxford with the Prime Minister.
He tweeted: "I thought I would read the WAB before coming to a view-clearly a very unfashionable position. It’s still true that this is the quickest way to deliver Brexit."
The Prime Minister's speech comes as a Stop Brexit Bus prepares to go on tour around Kent tomorrow on the campaign trail before the European elections this week.
