Second referendum on Brexit would be betrayal, says Theresa May

A second referendum on Britain's membership of the European Union would be a "betrayal", Prime Minister Theresa May has told MPs.

Mrs May poured scorn on "conflicting statements" from Labour on the need for a second vote, saying the approach was "the best way to get the worst deal".

Senior Labour figures appeared at odds on Sunday after deputy leader Tom Watson said "you shouldn't rule anything out" while shadow home secretary Diane Abbott said "the Labour Party doesn't support a second referendum".

DUP Westminster leader Nigel Dodds said a second referendum was the "surest way" of getting a difficult deal.

Mr Dodds, speaking after Mrs May updated the House on the latest European Council summit, said: "The Prime Minister will have heard some confusion and conflicting statements from opposition members about the need for a second referendum and their desire to have one.

"Some say one thing, others say another thing. Would the Prime Minister agree that a second referendum is the surest way of making the European Commission and European Union make the hardest and most difficult deal possible for the UK?

"What people want is to get on and deliver the first referendum."

Mrs May said: "The best way to get the worst deal would be to suggest that we agree to a second referendum, but it's more than that, I think.

"It would actually be betraying the British people. This Parliament gave them the vote and it is up to us to deliver on the result of that vote."