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UK/LiberalsBack
[Published: Sunday September 15 2019]

UK Liberals pledge to cancel Brexit 

BOURNEMOUTH, England 15 Sep (ANA) - The Liberal Democrats have pledged to cancel Brexit if they come to power at the next general election.
Members voted for the new policy at their party conference in Bournemouth after it was moved by their former leader, Sir Vince Cable. 
Previously, the party has backed another referendum or "People's Vote", saying they would campaign to Remain. 
The current leader, Jo Swinson, said the manifesto pledge made the Libs Dems the "stop Brexit party".
In his first speech at conference as a Lib Dem MP, Chuka Umunna - who left Labour over its Brexit stance - said it would give the party a "clear unequivocal position".
He said: "For three years Liberal Democrats have led the fight to stop Brexit. Our position is not only right, but has helped secure us incredible election results.
"This [policy] will stop this national embarrassment and enable us to focus on the things that really matter."
But former Lib Dem MP Simon Hughes had called on members to reject the policy, saying it would "take the focus away" from getting another referendum.
He said that as the first referendum was a decision made by the people, "it can only be the people who can reverse [it]".
The government says it is trying to get a deal with the EU so it can leave on 31 October - the current deadline agreed with the EU. 
Home Secretary Priti Patel said the "entire machinery of government" was focused on securing that deal. 
MPs passed a new law earlier this month that forces Boris Johnson to ask the EU for an extension to the deadline if a deal isn't agreed by 19 October - two days after a key EU summit. 
But the prime minister has said he would rather be "dead in a ditch" that ask for a delay, and the UK will leave the EU at the end of next month "whatever happens".
The PM is due to meet European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker in Luxembourg this week as negotiations aimed at securing a deal continue.
The motion, which was passed by an overwhelming majority, said that if the party became the government at the next general election, it would revoke Article 50 - the law that ensures the UK leaves the EU. 
Earlier, Ms Swinson told the BBC's Andrew Marr show: "If people put [the Lib Dems] into government... the stop Brexit party, then stopping Brexit is exactly what people will get.(ANA)
FA/ANA/15 September 2019-------
 

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