A MOTION for the city council to support a second referendum on Brexit was set to be debated at the Guildhall last night.

The motion is due to be put forward by Green councillor Louis Stephen who urged the authority to get behind it saying the campaign for a People's Vote was "gathering momentum."

The motion reads: “The People’s Vote campaign has worked hard to develop cross-party support at the highest level, with signatories from parties from across the political spectrum supporting the campaign to allow the British people the final say on the final negotiated deal.

“Accordingly, Worcester City Council resolves to: 1. Support a People’s Vote on the final Brexit deal with an option to remain in the European Union. 2. Mandate the managing director to write to the Worcester’s MP, Robin Walker, to urge him, in the event of a no-deal Brexit to join the campaign for a People’s Vote to give the British people the final say on Brexit.”

Cllr Stephen said: “We have many businesses in Worcester and the wider region that depend on frictionless borders to ensure they are competitive with our nearest neighbours in the European Union.

"I fear that a bad or no-deal Brexit could hit the livelihoods of many people living in Worcester.

"But it’s not just fears for business - I also worry that outside the EU we will be subjected to a race to the bottom on environmental and worker protections.

“I’m calling for both Labour and Conservative councillors to support this motion and send a signal to Westminster that a bad or no-deal Brexit must be put to a people’s vote – to allow the British people to take back control and have the final say.”

Cllr Stephen was recently on the Worcester coaches that went out to the People’s March in London, which saw 700,000 anti-Brexit marchers.

The motion is being supported by Stuart Thomson, chairman of the Worcestershire for Europe group, who added: “Now the facts are so much clearer it is time for the people to decide on their futures.”

Mr Walker, a Brexit minister in the government, has previously said he would not be supporting calls for a second referendum.

He told the Worcester News his focus remains on “getting a good Brexit deal.”