Brexit: Cabinet minister David Gauke accepts second referendum amendment ‘inevitable’

Justice secretary David Gauke also says ‘too early’ to tell whether Jeremy Corbyn-Theresa May talks will produce an agreement

A second referendum amendment being tabled on to any Brexit deal Theresa May brings back to the Commons appears to be inevitable, the cabinet minister David Gauke has said.

As the prime minister travels to Paris and Berlin in a last-minute dash to secure support for an extension to the Article 50 negotiating period, the justice secretary also appeared downbeat about critical talks at Westminster producing a resolution.

With just 24 hours to go until Ms May heads to the emergency EU summit, Mr Gauke said it was “too early” to tell whether discussions between the government and Jeremy Corbyn‘s Labour would result in any agreement.

Asked about the prospect of a “confirmatory referendum” on the prime minister’s Brexit deal, he insisted a fresh public vote would be “divisive rather than decisive” and claimed in his own discussions with Ms May she had made her opposition towards a second referendum “very clear”.

But he told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “There is a point here to distinguish between the talks with the Labour Party that are ongoing and what will inevitably happen when we bring a withdrawal agreement through the Commons, which is that somebody will bring forward an amendment on whether there should be a confirmatory referendum.”

If such an amendment is brought forward, however, it is unclear whether it would command the support of the Commons – given that rounds of indicative votes in recent weeks have failed to produce a majority among MPs for such a route.

Speaking after the Labour leader criticised Ms May in the Brexit talks for failing to compromise on her red lines, Mr Gauke insisted they had been “constructive”, but that further discussions at the Cabinet Office today would need to “be held at a pace”.

The cabinet minister said he hoped a way forward would be found as parliament was not prepared to leave the EU without a deal. “There is no consensus on what that deal needs to be and that’s why it is necessary for the prime minister to work across the floor of the house and see if we can find a consensus,” he added.

Asked whether there needed to be movement on the prime minister’s red lines, he replied: “To reach a resolution the likelihood is that there will need to be flexibility from both sides.”

His remarks also came as a government aide said he was ready to defy the whips by addressing a rally in support of a fresh referendum on Tuesday in central London.

Huw Merriman, a Conservative MP and parliamentary private secretary to the chancellor Philip Hammond, admitted it was likely his appearance at the People’s Vote rally would cost him his government role.