A Nottinghamshire MP says he will vote to leave the EU if the final decision goes to Parliament – even though he backed the remain campaign.
Gedling’s Labour MP Vernon Coaker said he will back triggering article 50 – the part of the Lisbon Treaty which begins the formal process of leaving the union.
It comes after the High Court ruled Parliament must vote on the decision, despite June’s referendum result.
The Government is appealing the court’s ruling, with a decision expected early in 2017.
But Mr Coaker has joined a number of pro-remain MPs who have already said they would vote leave if the move ended up in Parliament.
“The referendum vote was lost [by the remain campaign] and I think I will vote for triggering article 50,” Mr Coaker said on the Notts TV Debate.
“I think it’s right that Parliament has a vote and has discussions about what leaving the European Union means, but I don’t think anywhere near a majority of MPs will vote to try and undo the result of the referendum – it’s possible, but I don’t think it’s the right thing to do.
“The debate really is ‘yes we should trigger article 50’ but the argument is more about what is it exactly that the Government plans to do, in terms of reconfiguring our relationship with the European Union.”
People in Gedling backed leave by 55.6 per cent to 44.4 per cent for remain in the June 23 referendum.
Last week’s High Court result means MPs could choose to go against the public vote if the decision ends up in Parliament – but many who supported remain have already said they would respect the result if asked to decide.
For more watch the Notts TV Debate on Thursday, November 10 at 8.30pm and online via our catch-up service.
