Theresa May tells Lords to ‘get behind Brexit’ after threat to derail Article 50 plans

Downing Street has demanded the House of Lords respect the decision of voters in the EU referendum and “get behind Brexit” - following reports some peers were plotting to derail or delay the process of triggering Article 50.

Baroness Wheatcroft, a Conservative peer, said she hoped a pause in introducing Article 50, the formal legal process of exiting the EU, could lead to a second referendum and potentially the public changing its mind.

She said it was “imperative we don’t press the button on Article 50”.

But asked whether Theresa May had any concerns over the Lords’ plan, the Prime Minister’s official spokeswoman said: “The Prime Minister has been very clear that Brexit means Brexit, we’re going to make a success of it and that work to prepare for those negotiations is now underway and that will continue to be a priority for this government.

“Parliament supported the referendum on the European Union. The British people have made their decision and now everyone should be focused on getting behind that and making a success of Brexit.”

Speaking to The Times, Baroness Wheatcroft, the former editor in chief of the Wall Street Journal Europe, was asked whether she would support peers delaying the legislation.

She said: “Yes I would. And I would hope, while we delayed things, that there would be sufficient movement in the EU to justify putting it to the electorate, either through a general election or a second referendum.”

But, she added: "At the moment I don't think it's sensible for the Lords, an unelected second chamber, to obviously stand in the wayof a democratic vote. I'd like the Commons to do that.

“However, if it comes to a Bill, I think the Lords might actually delay things. I think there's a majority in the Lords for remaining.”

Meanwhile, leading Leave campaigner and Labour MP Gisela Stuart admitted on Sunday evening that campaigners were surprised they had actually won the referendum on Britain’s membership of the EU.

“I think there was some surprise among some of the figures that we actually won, and won more decisively than we had hoped for,” she told BBC's Westminster Hour.

“I kind of stopped thinking about it because you just keep going and at the end of the day, hope your pile of votes is bigger than the other side's."

The prominent Leave campaigner also denied those involved in the campaign to exit the EU had failed to prepare for the future.

"In terms of accusations of 'What was the plan?', the plan was quite clear," she said.

"We voted to leave. And we showed examples of how voting to leave could be effected and I certainly will make sure now that the Government does what the people asked it to do."