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The government should reopen negotiations with the EU on the Brexit agreement if it wanted to extend the departure process in order to allow a second referendum on the plan, Theresa May told a committee composed senior deputies.
When asked if it was possible to extend Article 50, the schedule that provides for the departure of the United Kingdom on March 29 from next year, in order to give the 39 May at a referendum, Mr. May argued that this would cancel the agreement reached in Brussels on Sunday.
During his appearance before the Liaison Committee, which brings together the presidents of various specialized committees on communes and municipalities, the Prime Minister also insisted that a departure without agreement was still possible if MEPs voted against his plan, despite forecasts that could affect the economy hard and affect the supply of drugs.
Answering questions from Sarah Wollaston, Conservative MP who chairs the health committee, May rejected the idea of a second referendum, saying it would undermine "the integrity of politicians and the confidence of citizens in politicians "and would lead to practical complications.
"There is a paradox here," said May. "In fact, to extend Article 50, you are then renegotiating the agreement. That's the point. The contract is the contract right now. "
Continuing on whether this was the case, May reiterated the argument: "What is clear is that any extension of section 50, anything of the sort, reopen the negotiations, reopen the agreement. And at this point, the deal can really go in any direction. "
But Wollaston asked him if the EU had told him that directly. May dodged the question saying, "What was clearly explained is the agreement we negotiated with the European Union".
She added, "I think the most important reason why we should not be embarking on the road to a second referendum is that we asked the British people to give us their point of view and that we should to take this point of view into account. "
Wollaston concluded by saying that granting a Brexit without a new vote amounted to "sending someone into the operating room on the basis of a consent form signed two years ago". without really knowing what the operation was. "
May rejected this proposal, saying that a new referendum would create "a period of more uncertainty and division."
The questions asked during the 90-minute session focused on the impact of leaving without agreement given the alarming economic forecasts of what it would bring, as well as concerns about the supply of drugs and other medical supplies. .
May has repeatedly refused to exclude him, saying that if this happens, it would be the responsibility of the MPs to vote against his agreement.
Wollaston asked May, "There are so many patients who will have to deal with very serious disruptions in essential supplies and medications – does it stop you from sleeping at night?
The Prime Minister replied: "They are considering what is needed otherwise. But of course, the way to ensure that we get a good deal and that we are able to see that exit smoothly and orderly is to ratify the agreement that the government has ratified. "
Wollaston urged May, asking if a responsible government could "allow the magnitude of chaos that would ensue if we had neither agreement nor transition period".
May replied, "I think the role of responsible government in these circumstances is to make sure that the government is prepared for all the scenarios that develop and to ensure there are potential difficulties, these are mitigated as much as possible. "
After asking questions about Rachel Reeves' non-agreement with Labor, who chairs the business committee, May has also badigned responsibility to MPs.
The Prime Minister said: "If the Assembly was to vote on the agreement that was reached, since the European Union was clear, it is the agreement that has been concluded, and that is the agreement that is on the table, so obviously decisions will have to be made. "
Insisting on this point, May said: "The timing is such that some people should take concrete steps to avoid any deal."
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