Hundreds of the UK’s top lawyers tell Theresa May there should be second Brexit vote

The UK’s top lawyers have urged Theresa May and MPs to back a second Brexit referendum.

1,400 lawyers have called for another vote on EU membership, including Labour peer Baroness Kennedy QC, former Court of Appeal judge Konrad Schiemann and David Edward, a former judge of the Court of Justice of the European Communities.

In a letter to the prime minister, they say parliament should not be bound by the 2016 vote any more than it should be by the 1975 referendum that took Britain into the EU, especially when there are question marks over its validity.

The letter reads: “There was a key difference between 1975 and 2016.

“The earlier referendum was held after negotiations were complete, so voters knew what they were voting for.

“In 2016, the nature of the negotiation process and its outcome were unknown. Voters faced a choice between a known reality and an unknown alternative.

MORE: UK business leaders sign letter calling for second Brexit referendum
MORE: Former racing driver, 102, dies after being trapped on his roof for three days

“In the campaign, untestable claims took the place of facts and reality.”

Human rights specialist Jonathan Cooper, a barrister at Doughty Street Chambers said: “The current state of the Brexit negotiations is worrying people throughout the UK and the legal profession is no exception to that.

“We represent people from across industry and society and we see every day the way the prospect of a catastrophic Brexit deal is already causing real harm.

“This letter to the prime minister has been signed by over a thousand of my colleagues who are convinced that not only is a People’s Vote the right thing to do, it is the most democratic thing to do as well.”

Mrs May has insisted numerous times that a second referendum is not on the cards.

A Department for Exiting the EU spokeswoman said: “The people of the United Kingdom have already had their say in one of the biggest democratic exercises this country has ever seen and the prime minister has made it clear that there is not going to be a second referendum.

“We remain confident we will agree a mutually advantageous deal with the EU.”

Brexit discussions are entering a crucial period this week as time runs out to secure a deal.

The UK and EU are still split over the issue of the Irish backstop, with Britain insisting they must be able to unilaterally pull out of the agreement.

The EU has said it will never agree to this condition.