Corbyn backs second Brexit vote
Labour come out for new referendum to block May’s botched plan or a no-deal
JEREMY Corbyn last night bowed to pressure from the party’s Remain MPs and agreed to back a second referendum.
But some MPs warned he would destroy support in Labour’s Leave-backing heartlands.
Mr Corbyn accused Mrs May of running down the clock to force a choice between “her botched deal and a disastrous no-deal”.
He said: “We’ll do everything to prevent no-deal and oppose a damaging Tory Brexit.”
JEREMY Corbyn last night vowed Labour would do everything it could to stop Britain crashing out of the EU with a no-deal he warned would be disastrous for the country.
And the Labour leader finally backed a plan for a second referendum, despite fears it could cost him vital votes.
Mr Corbyn has come under growing pressure from Remain MPs to support a fresh vote on Europe in a bid to block Theresa May’s feared no-deal. After being accused of dithering over the decision, he nailed his colours to the mast at a party meeting.
Mr Corbyn told them: “The Prime Minister is recklessly running down the clock, in an attempt to force MPs to choose between her botched deal and a disastrous no-deal. We cannot and will not accept.
“One way or another, we will do everything in our power to prevent no-deal and oppose a damaging Tory Brexit based on Theresa May’s rejected deal. That’s why we are committed to also putting forward or supporting an
amendment in favour of a public vote to prevent a damaging Tory Brexit being forced on the country.”
A senior Labour source confirmed: “We would rather vote for a second referendum than for her botched deal.”
Shadow Foreign Secretary Emily Thornberry claimed any fresh vote would be Remain versus the PM’s Brexit deal. And she said a second referendum will “break the logjam”. She said: “What she [Theresa May] wants to do is just get herself into a position whereby she says, ‘It’s my deal or no-deal.’
“We think both of those are disastrous and should go before the people.”
Tottenham MP David Lammy added: “Jeremy Corbyn is today taking the first step to reunite our party by showing he is listening to our voters and members on this, the biggest issue of our time.” But critics accused Mr Corbyn of ignoring the referendum result.
Bassetlaw MP John Mann warned him that people in the North “would never vote Labour again”.
Don Valley MP Caroline Flint said: “We cannot ignore the millions of Labour voters who voted Leave.” But last week, eight Labour MPs quit the party claiming Mr Corbyn’s Brexit policy was a key factor. There were fears of more defections and he has come under pressure from figures such as Keir Starmer, Tom Watson and John McDonnell . Mr Corbyn’s frontbench has been split on Brexit, with around a dozen Shadow ministers thought likely to resign to vote against, while the vast majority of Labour members back a People’s Vote.
The party will table an amendment on its Brexit plan today which includes the UK staying in a customs union. Mr Corbyn is not expected to push for a vote on a second referendum until Mrs May’s EU exit deal returns on March 12.