Brexit debate: Chuka Umunna calls for fresh referendum as Jacob Rees Mogg warns against patronising UK voters - As it happened
Follow all the latest updates from The Independent's exclusive Brexit panel
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Welcome to the The Independent's politics liveblog, covering our exclusive panel discussion this evening on 100 days until the Brexit deal is done.
Political editor Joe Watts is speaking to leading voices from across the debate, including cabinet minister Andrea Leadsom, anti-Brexit campaigner Gina Miller, and prominent Brexiteer Jacob Rees-Mogg.
We are hearing from former attorney general Dominic Grieve, who became an unlikely leader of rebel Tories, Pro-EU Labour MP Chuka Umunna, and Labour Leave boss John Mills.
The event is being livestreamed here.
See below for live updates
One of the audience members brings up the topic of immigration - he says the referendum has contributed to xenophobia in the country. He asks the panelists to comment.
Miller says immigration was definitely on the agenda on things people were worrying about during the referendum - she adds it has allowed people who have always been there - who are quite extreme - to come to the centre stage. She says she still thinks we are one of the most tolerant countries in the world.
She says the EU are over the anger of us leaving but are still mourning at the loss of talent the UK will give to the bloc. "We are leaving the stage that we should be leading," she says.
On another note, Rees-Mogg jokes that the CBI have "never been wrong in all of their history".
Rees-Mogg says we don't want so many low-skilled immigrants, and says people are not anti-immigration but rather anti uncontrolled migration.
Leadsom says she agrees that the UK is not in anyway responsible for the rise of xenophobia in Europe - she adds her understanding from the doorstep is not necessarily numbers but *control* of immigration.
Umunna says the whole thing is "ludicrous" and says the government has a "ridiculous" net immigration target of tens of thousands.
He says the referendum was the first time he noticed the nasty under belly of racism.
Umunna says there is no evidence that EU migrants repress wages. He criticizes the "disgusting" posters of Leave.EU during the referendum in 2016 - and totally irresponsible.
Asked about the hypothetical situation of the Corbyn being removed as leader, would he fancy crack at it, he replies; "Not at the moment."
He says his party needs to have a clear position and cannot maintain a fudge.
Miller says we're going to have to get to the point where we have an "amnesty" on the whole debate - "we have to move forward - the world is moving forward - and here we are just naval gazing".
She says both of the parties are not being responsible.
Leadsom points to the government's achievements - referencing good and outstanding schools (to which she is heckled by a member of the audience), employment, counter-terrorism.
"'It is simply not the case we are naval gazing," she says.
Asked whether the government is behind a hard Brexit, Leadsom says she doesn't believe in the terms "hard" or "soft" Brexit.
Leadsom is asked whether she thought of resigning over Chequers - but she says she has set herself the task of asking whether we are breaching the red lines of the referendum, which she adds the government is not.
"I will be looking at whether our red lines are breached," she says.
She says she won't comment at what happened at cabinet.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments