The British MP spearheading parliamentary attempts to frustrate Brexit said that he would not be intimidated by threats of violence as he called for a second referendum to end a deadlock over Prime Minister Theresa May’s EU deal.
Conservative MP Dominic Grieve’s moves to increase the influence of parliament over the Brexit process has made him a hero among EU supporters of all stripes and a target of vicious attacks by infuriated Leave backers.
Grieve revealed last month that he had received death threats, while his fellow Remain-supporting MP Anna Soubry was called a Nazi by street protesters outside parliament.
Security has been ramped up around parliament with fears that tensions could spill over as the clock ticks down to March 29, when Britain is set to leave the European Union.
“We should not be intimidated, and parliament will not be intimidated...by people who threaten violence,” said Grieve.
“I accept that there are large numbers of people who want Brexit...and will feel angry,” he added about his push for a second vote that could end up thwarting Brexit.
Addressing Leave voters, he said it was “precisely because I think that we have to respect their views and the 2016 referendum result, that I think we need another referendum,” rather than outright stopping of Brexit.
The former attorney general has used his legal expertise to craft parliamentary devices to frustrate the May government’s plans, making him the ringleader of MPs trying to take charge of the Brexit process.
Grieve delivered a stinging defeat for the government on Wednesday after MPs voted for his amendment demanding that the prime minister reveal her “Plan B” within three days in the likely event her current deal is voted down by parliament on Tuesday.
“I’m pleased with what has been achieved,” he said of his efforts, adding he had helped “provide better opportunities to express an opinion” on the government’s plans.
Grieve however downplayed the importance of Wednesday’s win, which caused outrage among Brexit-supporting MPs, who accused House of Commons Speaker John Bercow of ignoring convention and the advice of his officials by allowing the amendment.
Grieve has said he will vote against May’s agreement as “anybody, objectively...can see that this deal is unsatisfactory.”
Defeat risks Britain leaving the EU without a deal, which Grieve called “completely unacceptable”. He would then have the high-stakes task of corralling fellow MPs into a course of action that would prevent a no-deal scenario before the Brexit deadline of March 29 -- no small task given the anger that even Wednesday’s actions provoked.
“Parliamentarians undoubtedly have the power to prevent a no-deal Brexit but they have got to exercise that power,” he said.
“It is possible if parliamentarians want to do this collectively, or by majority.” 
Grieve believes the only way to avoid Britain crashing out of the EU with no agreement is to extend the deadline for Britain’s departure, assuming Brussels agrees.
He then hopes MPs will push for another referendum.
“I believe it is the only way of resolving this,” he said. “What I’m not prepared to see us do is to crash out of the EU either with no deal or...to see the prime minister take us out of the EU on a deal that probably around only 20% of the population of this country think is a good idea.”
The public could be asked whether to accept May’s deal or remain in the EU, or have three questions on the ballot in two rounds of voting.
“I am open to suggestions but we do have a difficulty because of the negotiations and the way they have proceeded,” he said.
“We now have a very short period of time in which to resolve this, so it is a deepening national crisis.”