UK chancellor for 2nd referendum

London: Philip Hammond became UK's first Cabinet minister to say that a fresh Brexit referendum "deserves to be considered". He agreed that its supporters "have a case".

The chancellor described a second public vote as a "perfectly coherent proposition" – agreeing MPs should vote on it this week.

The comment is expected to give a big boost to the push for a Final Say referendum, a day after an estimated one million people marched through London to call for it.

British Prime Minister Theresa May has repeatedly said she opposes another vote, because it would betray the British public's decision in the first referendum three years ago.

Speaking to Sky News Sophy Ridge on Sunday, Mr Hammond insisted his "number one priority is to ensure we leave the EU and that we leave with a deal".

But he took the extraordinary step of urging MPs of all parties to "get themselves together in a room" to find a solution to the crisis, admitting the PM's deal is all-but dead.

And, on a new referendum, the chancellor said: "I am not sure that there's a majority in parliament in support of second referendum, but it's a perfectly coherent proposition. "Many people will be strongly opposed to it, but it's a coherent proposition And it deserves to be considered along with the other proposals that you've got on the list."

That list included a softer Brexit, a crash-out no-deal Brexit and revoking Article 50 to scrap departure — only the last two of which Mr Hammond ruled out.

A new referendum is likely to be among the options if MPs successfully seize control of the Commons agenda to stage "indicative votes" on Wednesday.

However, it's best chance of success is if the PM's deal is allowed to pass — subject to it being confirmed in a referendum, with the alternative of remaining in the EU.

Ms May has hinted she will not allow the third "meaningful vote", after the Democratic Unionist party read the last rites on it last Friday.