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The pro-remain campaign group, which has raised £2.3m and is partly backed by George Soros, unveiled a timetable at the launch of its manifesto, designed to avoid the risk that “the entire establishment sleepwalks the country over the Brexit finish line in March 2019”.
It is understood that about 40 MPs have indicated they are willing to sign up to an appropriately worded amendment, which would be set against whatever legislation May introduces to give the go-ahead for the final deal the government brings back from its Brussels negotiations.
Best for Britain argues in its manifesto that both sides of the Brexit debate should welcome a second poll in less than three years to finally settle the question of the UK’s membership of the EU, and that the issue was diverting time and energy from other political concerns.
“We believe the Brexit process is distracting from the many reasons people voted to leave: a kick back against Westminster to wake up to the reality of life in modern Britain – an industrial wasteland in parts of our country and the loss of good jobs, a weakening health service, unaffordable housing and rising student debt,” the manifesto says.
A referendum could theoretically be held in early 2019, although it would require an act of parliament, and Best for Britain has said it believes the EU-27 may be willing to delay the 29 March 2019 exit date to ensure any final vote was held after the winter, when British elections are rarely held. [...]