A DEBATE on a motion for Worcester City Council to formally support calls for a second referendum lasted more than an hour before it was thrown out.

The motion, proposed by Green councillor Louis Stephen and that urged the authority to get behind the People’s Vote, led to a heated debate.

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.

In arguing the case for a second referendum Cllr Stephen said: “Britain’s relationship with the EU is crucial to many, many people in Worcester. From the international students and lecturers that enrich the city to the hundreds of millions of pounds invested in this city by international businesses like Mazak and Worcester Bosch.

“Please send a message to Westminster, please support this motion.”

Karen Lawrence, from the Worcestershire for Europe group, spoke passionately in favour of the motion during the public speaking section of the meeting, held at The Guildhall on Tuesday night.

“The talk of a poor or no deal Brexit alarms people," she said.

"The key theme is people have lost control of their future.”

But during the debate, Councillor Chris Mitchell called it a "ludicrous" motion saying: “The People’s Vote - I think we had one of those two years ago. It was called a referendum.

“The people of this city, voted to leave.”

Councillor Lucy Hodgson said: “I voted remain, I was devastated by the result.

“But we do have to respect the referendum vote. We are the Faithful City, this is where democracy started.

“We can’t look backwards, I can’t support this.”

Councillor Richard Udall said: “I voted remain. We lost. It is insulting in the extreme to suggest the British electorate got it wrong, and they have to keep on voting until they get it right.”

Council leader Marc Bayliss added: “I never thought we would vote to leave, but that’s the will of the people.

“I don’t think minds have changed. When I’m finished in political life I will probably campaign to rejoin the EU at some point. But this isn’t the right time to do it.”

When it was put to the vote, the motion was lost 18 votes to 16, with one abstention.