Second Brexit referendum rejected by British lawmakers

Members of Parliament voted 85 to 334 against a proposal to hold a new vote to break the deadlock in the Brexit process.

The cross-party proposal was the first time the House of Commons has held a formal vote on whether to endorse another referendum. But it was largely expected to fail.

Speaker John Bercow infuriated MPs by allowing the vote, drawing outcry from Brexiteers in the House of Commons.

The fate of the proposal was sealed when the Labour party refused to support it, as part of a wider debate on whether to delay the deadlocked Brexit process. "Today is about extension and about the process ... the Labour Party is supporting the public vote on any deal that gets through by the Prime Minister, but today is about a different issue," Shadow Brexit Secretary Keir Starmer said.

Even the official campaign group for a People's Vote did not support the move. "We do not think today is the right time to test the will of the House on the case for a new public vote," the People's Vote campaign said in a statement.

Lawmakers are currently voting on a series of amendments to a government motion on delaying Brexit until June.

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