Lib Dem plot to sabotage Brexit has been dashed by Labour who will NOT back second vote
Tim Farron's party has been accused of 'political showboating' and trying to find a purpose in calling for a second referendum
LABOUR peers last vowed to kill off a Lib Dem plot in the House of Lords to force Britain to have another Referendum by declaring they will never support a call for a second EU vote.
The move came just hours after Lib Dem boss Tim Farron sparked outrage as he officially declared his party would block a Brexit unless Theresa May let the public have a say on the terms of the divorce package.
Labour’s leader in the Lords, Baroness Smith accused the die-hard Remain backer of “political showboating” and told The Sun: “We will not be backing any move in the Lords calling for a second referendum.”
Although the Lib Dems only have eight MPs they have more than 100 peers in the Lords, who are intent on sabotaging Britain’s EU withdrawal.
Yet he also prompted mockery after claiming he “totally respects” the June vote and the “people are sovereign”.
He was immediately attacked for playing politics and targeting voters in Richmond, where the Lib Dems are desperate to unseat Zac Goldsmith in next month’s by-election.
But he was backed by a handful of Labour backbenchers such as Catherine West and Rupa Huq.
The Lib Dems were also hopeful that Labour peers in the House of Lords would join with them to block any bill formally triggering the two year Article 50 process.
But Labour’s leader in the Lords, Baroness Smith of Basildon, said: “We will not be backing any move in the Lords calling for a second referendum.”
“As I’ve made clear, we are not in the business of blocking Brexit or playing games but we will give any legislation put before the Lords its proper scrutiny.”
She added: “That’s just us doing our day job.”
Lady Smith went on: “As for other parties, I really don’t think the Lib Dems are in any position to start dictating terms to anyone. They are clearly still struggling to find a purpose and this is little more than political showboating.”
Mr Farron is demanding full single market membership and no restrictions to free movement when Britain quits the EU.
But Tory Brexit Minister David Jones hit back saying the calls for a second vote proved the complete “irrelevance” of the party.
He said: “Parliament voted by a margin of six to one to put the decision on whether to remain in or leave the EU in the hands of the British people.
“Now, because they didn’t like the first answer, Liberal Democrat and Labour MPs seek to put the question all over again in hope of a different answer.”
Brexit boss Michael Gove also weighed in, saying: “Tim Farron is supposed to lead a democratic party - it is extraordinary that he is now going to vote in parliament to frustrate the will of the people.”
“MPs like Ed Miliband, Nick Clegg and Tim Farron should be listening to the views of voters rather than arrogantly attempting to overturn the vote.”
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Mr Gove - who was this week elected Deputy Chairman of the powerful Commons Brexit Select Committee - added: “They should be working with us to help make Brexit a success and should respect the result.
“Do they really think that their views are more important than the 17 million people who voted to leave the EU?”
Last night it also emerged Nicola Sturgeon’s drive to protect Scotland’s relationship with the EU has suffered a major blow after Ireland confirmed it would not enter direct talks with Holyrood over her plans.
Joe McHugh, the Dublin Government’s minister for International Development, said formal talks over Brexit would take place only with London, undermining Ms Sturgeon’s aim of directly lobbying other member states.
The First Minister said in the days after the EU referendum that she would seek to open “immediate discussions with EU institutions and other member states to explore all the possible options to protect Scotland’s place in the EU.”
The row came as the S&P credit ratings agency said a “hard brexit” was the most likely outcome of Britain’s departure - meaning controls on freedom of movement and an end to membership of the Single Market.
They said: “Even if Westminster were to acknowledge the EU position, it is hard to fathom how a rather hard Brexit can be avoided unless both sides become much more flexible than they appear today.”