New referendum 'could happen within six months', as Theresa May-Jeremy Corbyn TV debate plan descends into chaos
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A fresh Brexit referendum could be held within six months, a former Cabinet minister has said.
Justine Greening, the former education secretary, claimed it would be possible to extend Article 50 and hold a public vote next May.
She told a People's Vote event in Westminster: "I've worked out that you could plan and hold a referendum in 22 weeks.
"We could do that in 22 weeks. We could actually, after this vote on 11 December, hold a referendum, potentially, on 30 May next year."
It came as a row erupted over plans for a televised debate between Theresa May and Jeremy Corbyn on the proposed Brexit deal. The BBC announced it was going ahead with the event, only for Labour to say it had not agreed to the plan and that it preferred ITV's proposal.
Labour sources said the party wanted a straight head-to-head debate in front of a large audience, but said the BBC wanted a panel of experts and other political figures to be able to interject.
Earlier in the day, Ms May was interrogated by some of parliament's most prominent backbenchers on issues ranging from the NHS to security to her Brexit deal. Answering questions from the Liaison Committee, she insisted remaining in the EU was "not an option".
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