Nigel Farage says the UK is heading for a ‘half-Brexit’ as he fears MPs will betray the will of the people after Article 50 legal ruling
Ukip leader says the shock decision could see Parliament vote to stay in the European Single Market
NIGEL Farage says the UK is heading for a ‘half-Brexit’ as he fears MPs will betray the will of the people after yesterday’s shock Article 50 legal ruling.
The Ukip leader says the decision by three judges to take the decision of when to kick-start the process of leaving the EU out of Theresa May’s hands could see Parliament vote to stay in the European Single Market.
He was speaking after a motley handful of EU-based campaigners led by a foreign-born multi-millionaire sparked fury by throwing the PM’s plans into disarray.
Mr Farage told Good Morning Britain: “I think we’re going to get a ‘half-Brexit’, that’s the problem.”
He said while it was clear we would leave the European treaty, MPs and Lords would use the legal judgement to create an Act of Parliament that keeps the UK in the Single Market.
The interim party leader said: “My fear is what will happen is that when Parliament passes this act that enables Theresa May to go off and trigger Article 50 is that part of that will be that we’ll be negotiating to stay a member of the European Union’s Single Market.
“And I want to say it again is that every single leading player in that referendum made it clear that when we were voting to leave we were voting to leave the single market.
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“And I now see not just Labour MPs but even Tory MPs saying ‘oh well actually there are strong business reasons why we should stay in it’.
“That I think is where the betrayal will come.”
And writing in the Telegraph, Mr Farage said: "The best thing Theresa May could do now would be to call a general election, but it is unlikely that Labour MPs, led by a man they don't believe in, would be keen on facing the likely electoral oblivion that would follow.
“It also seems likely that some on the Prime Minister's own backbenches, who are seeking to overrule the will of the British people, would be unlikely to support an early general election either.
"The establishment, in denial after the referendum result, still just don't get it. The British people are not simply going to let this incredible establishment arrogance lie.
“I suspect even more radical political change is on the way."
It comes after three judges ruled in favour of the group of 11 “Wrexiteers” — headed by Guyana-born fund manager Gina Miller.
It threatened to trigger a must-win vote for Mrs May of MPs in the Commons on whether Article 50 should be invoked.
But Downing Street played down suggestions that the PM could call a snap general election next year to ensure she has enough supportive MPs to get her plan through the House.
And despite claims it could delay Brexit by up to a year, Number 10 say the timetable the PM outlined - to trigger Article 50 by end of March 2017 - was still on track