LONG-serving Newport West MP Paul Flynn has called for the result of June’s Brexit referendum to be given the same treatment as the infamous Boaty McBoatface poll.

Earlier this year the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) called for votes from the public on what it should name its new £200m polar research ship. But the plan backfired somewhat when Boaty McBoatface received four times as many votes as the next most popular choice.

The NERC ultimately ignored the poll and named the boat the RRS Sir David Attenborough and, speaking in Parliament on Monday, October 24, Mr Flynn called for the same approach to be taken to the result of June’s referendum into the UK’s membership of the European Union.

Addressing Prime Minister Theresa May the pro-Europe Labour MP said: “Does not the decision in the referendum deserve similar respect to the public majority in favour of the name Boaty McBoatface?

“Does the Prime Minister notice there has been a strong movement in public opinion in Wales against Brexit because people realise the promises of the Brexiteers will not be honoured and they now see the effects on the Welsh economy?

“There is going to be an awful result in Ireland to fixed, hard borders that will not be enforceable and will be hugely expensive and the Prime Minister is ignoring the views of the people of Scotland.

“Does she not think her little Englander myopia will lead to the break-up of the UK?”

Mrs May replied: “The UK voted to leave the EU and this government are putting that into practice.

“The honourable gentleman and others can try all they like to reverse that decision and to delay the implications and the application of that decision, to find ways to weasel around the decision that was taken.

“The British people spoke.

“This Parliament said to the British people ‘It is your choice’.

“They chose, we now will do it.”

A remotely-operated submersible connected the RSS Sir David Attenborough was named Boaty McBoatface in recognition of the popularity of the name.