MEMBERS of the public and MPs in Dorset have hit out at calls by a former education secretary for a second EU referendum to be held saying that the government must “respect” the original vote.

In 2016, Dorset, and the country as a whole, supported leaving the EU but the prime minister’s proposals for the way in which it should happen have been described as “the worst of both worlds” by Justine Greening.

The MP, who supported the Remain campaign, said that Theresa May’s proposals suited no-one and that a second referendum was required to get a final decision from the public.

Writing in the Times, she said: “The only solution is to take the final Brexit decision out of the hands of deadlocked politicians, away from the backroom deals, and give it back to the people”.

Voters across all parts of Dorset backed the Leave campaign in 2016 along with five of the county’s eight MPs.

Amongst them was Christchurch MP Sir Christopher Chope who criticised the government’s handling of the Brexit process but said that a second referendum was not needed to address the problem.

“We have decided to leave the EU and we are going to be leaving next year,” he said. “This was the promise made by the government following the referendum and a second one will achieve nothing.

“The government seems to be trying to renege on that promise and go against the positions of the positions of both parties [Conservative and Labour] set out in the General Election.

“The Chequers agreement does not give us back control of our own laws and we don’t know whether it will give us back control of our borders.”

His views have been supported by Dorset residents who said that the original decision needed to be respected.

Ferndown resident Paul Huebscher, who voted to leave the EU in the referendum, said that his views had not been changed.

“The EU is not an organisation we should be a part of,” he said. “I, along with most other people, voted to leave and I still think that is the right way to go.

“It was always going to be a complicated process but the government needs to go with the will of the people and pull us out, a second referendum won’t achieve anything.”

Steve Elliott, from Bournemouth, said that the outcome of a new vote would be the same and was not needed.

However, Bobby Parry, a Bournemouth business owner, said that a second referendum was required, criticising the prime minister.

“We are running scared and I am disgusted in Theresa May for the way she’s handled the situation.

“I voted to stay in the referendum and my views have not changed at all. I’m sure if there was a second referendum the country would vote to stay.”

Mrs May has ruled out the possibility of a second EU referendum being held.