PTI
LONDON
Unfazed by a petition calling for a second referendum, Prime Minister David Cameron has firmly ruled out another vote.
The Prime Minister’s spokesperson said that holding another vote was “not remotely on the cards”. The clarification comes amid the growing number of signatories to the petition calling for a re-run in the event of a close result and following speculation that the government may go to the country again once the terms of Britain’s new relationship have been agreed.
Cameron chaired the first Cabinet meeting since the Brexit vote at midday on Monday, announcing setting up of a new governmental unit to lead the intensive and complex civil services work to negotiate its exit from the European Union.
“The prime minister proposed and the Cabinet supported the establishment of a new unit to lead intensive civil service work on the issues that will need to be worked through in order to present options and advice to the new prime minister,” a Downing Street spokesperson said.
However, formal negotiations cannot start until Britain activates Article 50 “ initiating the formal two-year procedure for withdrawing from the EU. Cameron has said this will be a task for the next Prime Minister.
Meanwhile, Britain's Opposition Labour party leader Jeremy Corbyn started replacing ministers who have resigned over his “lacklustre” handling of the EU referendum campaign.
The number of his top team who have stepped down so far continued to rise, including Indian-origin shadow minister to the Treasury Seema Malhotra.
Corbyn had lost 12 of his shadow cabinet yesterday and at least eight more today, with most criticising his performance in the EU referendum, which resulted in Brexit.
Labour's deputy leader, Tom Watson, held a meeting with Corbyn to warn him that he has “no authority” among party MPs and faces a serious leadership challenge as the figure of total party resignations including junior ministers hit around 28 MPs.
But Corbyn had earlier said in a statement that while he regretted the resignations, he was determined to stand again if any new leadership election is forced.
“I regret there have been resignations today from my shadow cabinet. But I am not going to betray the trust of those who voted for me - or the millions of supporters across the country who need Labour to represent them,” he said.
