UK: Opposition lawmakers say they will reject Brexit

By Ahmet Gurhan Kartal

LONDON

As uncertainty over a possible parliamentary clash on Brexit continues, some U.K. lawmakers said Friday they would vote against a British withdrawal from the EU.

Tim Farron, the leader of Liberal Democrats -- the joint fourth-biggest party in the House of Commons --said Friday morning his eight lawmakers would vote against the triggering of Article 50 -- a section of the 2007 Lisbon Treaty which initiates the departure of an EU member state from the union.

“Millions of people are deeply worried by the government’s handling of Brexit,” Farron said in a statement. “So my position is very clear: the Liberal Democrats believe that the people are sovereign.”

Farron said his party would seek a second U.K. referendum on any future Brexit deal struck with the EU after Article 50 is triggered.

“We will vote against Article 50 unless it allows people a vote on the deal, because the will of the people must prevail -- both on departure and destination,” he added.

The U.K.’s Supreme Court will take up a government appeal against last week’s High Court ruling that the executive should seek parliament’s approval before triggering Article 50.

That appeal is due on Dec. 5.

Several Labour and Conservative members of the House of Commons also signaled they would vote against the government’s Brexit moves.

Catherine West and David Lammy, both Labour MPs from North London, home to a large Turkish- speaking community, made it clear they would vote against Brexit.

"As I have said before, I stand with the people of Hornsey & Wood Green, and I will vote against Brexit in Parliament," Shadow Foreign Office Minister West tweeted.

“Wake up. We do not have to do this. We can stop this madness through a vote in Parliament,” Lammy tweeted immediately after the June 23 Brexit referendum.

Scottish National Party (SNP) Westminster MPs are also expected to vote against Brexit. Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon earlier said SNP lawmakers in the Commons would not vote for anything which would undermine the Scottish people’s will.

Scotland voted to remain in the EU despite England and Wales voting to leave.