Shropshire MPs reject idea of second EU referendum

During the campaign the region's MPs were divided over whether to stay or leave, but now they are virtually united in their response to calls for the vote to be re-run.

Wrekin MP Mark Pritchard said: "The people have spoken and that decision needs to be respected.

"The question now is does the Brexit vote also mean people want to withdraw from the single market or to still stay in the single market."

Telford MP Lucy Allan said: "The EU referendum has been an excellent example of how strong our democracy is and although a large minority voted to remain we have to respect the majority's decision to leave.

"We now need to move on from the vote and David Cameron is absolutely correct to say that the Government has a fundamental responsibility to bring our country together.

"Holding a second referendum will not accomplish this.

"The Government now needs to secure the best deal possible from the remaining EU members and I am pleased that a civil service unit has been tasked with doing this."

Montgomeryshire MP Glyn Davies said: "Several people have contacted me asking me to support calls for another EU referendum.

"This I cannot agree with.

"I agree totally with our current Prime Minister, David Cameron that 'Remain' meant 'remain' and 'Leave' meant 'leave'.

"It may be that other nations would carry on voting until the 'right result' was achieved.

"The British public would not put up with such undermining of democracy.

"The result must stand – unless there is some dramatic change in the attitude of the European Union.

"The challenge for my party, as the current party of Government is to do all possible to heal the deep divisions in society that have been created by the referendum.

"Many people are distressed by what has been decided.

"They find the decision to leave the European Union after 43 years to be a massive step into the unknown.

"Not surprisingly, after the warnings of disaster a Leave vote would bring, many people are worried about their futures and that of their families.

"Personally, I did not believe any of these warnings of disaster.

"I do think there will be turbulence in the financial markets in the short term, but in the longer term I believe Britain will benefit financially, as well as recovering the power to take decisions for the UK in the UK.

"I would not have voted 'Leave' otherwise. I was hoping Mr Cameron would have been able to stay on, even if the people rejected his advice to remain in the EU.

"But I understand why he felt he couldn't," he said.

"I do think he has been an outstanding Prime Minister. It's been my privilege to have known him and worked with him. I have no doubt that after a break and well deserved rest, he will be back on the world stage somewhere."

Shrewsbury and Atcham MP Daniel Kawczynski, who sits on the House of Commons Foreign Affairs Select Committee, said: "This has been a very complex and contentious referendum and the last thing we need is another complicated and contentious referendum. It is the Government's responsibility to get the best possible agreement with our partners and I do not think it's appropriate to have another referendum."

He added that a number of non EU countries, including Australia had already made approaches to Britain regarding new bi-lateral trade agreements.