Thursday 17 January 2019 4:21 pm | Updated: Monday 03 June 2019 3:34 am

London Assembly renews support for second referendum following Theresa May’s defeat

The London Assembly has thrown its weight behind a second referendum following the Prime Minister's historic drubbing in the House of Commons over her Brexit deal.

The motion, proposed by Labour assembly leader Len Duvall, restated the assembly's previous support for a second referendum and Sadiq Khan's call to withdraw Article 50, the mechanism that allows the UK to leave the EU. It was agreed by 13 votes to six.

On Tuesday Theresa May suffered the worst defeat in the House of Commons when she put her deal to MPs, who rejected it by 432 to 202 votes.

The mayor has long been vocal in his support for a second referendum. Over the New Year he was criticised for putting on a £2.3m "politicised" fireworks display in which the London Eye was lit up in the blue and yellow colours of the EU flag.

Last year, the London Assembly agreed a motion that supported a second referendum in the event the deal was rejected by parliament, or a deal could not be agreed.

Duvall said in the wake of May's defeat it was right that the assembly take a position on Brexit.

“Neither side of the Brexit coin is happy with Theresa May’s deal and parliament is deadlocked," he said. "There are a number of votes next week – but if they fail to produce a solution, we need to go back to the British people for a final answer and a clear indication of what they want.

“The options left are to withdraw Article 50, a people’s vote or a general election – the welfare of London’s economy, workers and future are at stake”.

Tory candidate for mayor Shaun Bailey walked out during the debate. His campaign spokesperson told City A.M: "Only when Sadiq Khan is done tackling the horrific violent crime plaguing London's streets, fixing the gaping billion-pound hole in Transport for London's finances, and building the hundreds of thousands of homes the city needs will Shaun consider wasting precious London Assembly time voting on an entirely symbolic motion that has absolutely no bearing on the Assembly's mandate. Shaun's focus is on developing a plan to make the best of London's future opportunities. What London's businesses need is certainty, and a plan to deliver it."

Keith Prince, the Conservatives' transport spokesperson, who also did not take part in the debate, said the motion amounted to "grandstanding" by the assembly.

"The mayor has got lots of issues right now around knife crime and transport. We don't have a vote or a say in Brexit or whether there should be a second referendum, so why don't we just do the day job and get on with it?" he said.

"If knife crime was at an all time low and the transport system was working, then sure. But those issues haven't been addressed."