News

Brexit: MP for Berwick-upon-Tweed claims that her constituents will be rioting in the streets' if there is a second referendum

Brexit: MP for Berwick-upon-Tweed claims that her constituents will be rioting in the streets' if there is a second referendum

With Brexit less than a month away, tensions surrounding the prospect of a no-deal or a second referendum are running high.

Depending on what side of the divide you stand on, there's going to some dismay if either situation should come to pass, but surely it wouldn't result in any violence or rioting?

Unfortunately, that's exactly what Anne-Marie Trevelyan, the Tory MP for Berwick-upon-Tweed, fears will happen in her constituency should a second referendum be announced.

Speaking on the BBC's Politics Live show, about the prospect of a second referendum, Trevelyan said:

We still haven't had chance to put through the withdrawal agreement implementation bill, for instance, I think that would be a perfectly good reason to provide an extension.

But I don't think that's where anyone wants to naturally go, unless it's for another two years and my constituents would literally be rioting on the streets if we said 'don't worry we're going to be doing absolutely nothing for another two years'.

That would not go down well and we do not want a second referendum in Berwick-upon-Tweed.

Labour MP, Clive Lewis, who was sitting alongside her on the show, interrupted her and said that in his constituency, of Norwich South, they are fully in favour of another referendum. However, that isn't the story here.

The problem with Trevelyan's claim that there will be rioting on the streets is that Berwick-upon-Tweed, a quiet market town in Northumberland, right on the Scottish border, with a population of a little more than 12,000, is possibly the most unlikely place to ever have a riot.

This is literally a quote about the town from the Visit Northumberland website:

Berwick-upon-Tweed sits at the most northerly tip of Northumberland, just three miles from the Scottish Border.

A coastal town with four sandy beaches and beautiful riverside walks, Berwick is perfectly situated for a relaxing break and a haven for walkers and cyclists.

We're sure that she knows Berwick-upon-Tweed better than most but folks, but Twitter were more than happy to point this out to her.

More: This 87-year-old grandma talking about how Brexit is affecting her puts the whole shambles into perspective

The Conversation (0)