Speaking on the opening day of London Tech Week, Europe’s biggest technology festival, Khan said Brexit had drained government resources and attention away from important debates, such as over the use of artificial intelligence (AI).

“There’s no doubt that as a country we should be much further ahead than we are now – not only in terms of making sure we can make the most of what (AI) has to offer, but in terms of educating the public, encouraging public debate and preparing for the potential impact on our society”, he said.

Britain voted to leave the European Union nearly three years ago but there is little clarity on how or when it will happen.

Khan said there was a “huge amount of uncertainty” over Brexit, hitting investment in London and the rest of Britain.

“The best way to break the gridlock, is for the British public to have a say for the first time: ‘Do we accept the deal negotiated by the government’, with the option of remaining in the European Union? I think it should happen sooner than later.”

Despite Brexit uncertainty, Khan said London’s tech sector was flourishing.

“There’s a real energy and fizz here”, he said, adding London was home to more AI companies than Berlin and Paris combined.

Tech companies based in the city attracted a record 2.56 billion pounds ($3.26 billion) in venture capital in the first six months of 2019, more than twice as much as those in Berlin, the Mayor of London’s investment agency said.

The city also attracted more foreign direct investment projects from overseas tech companies than any other city in the past 12 months, London & Partners said, with 91 international technology companies investing a total of 864 million pounds.