Labour: Will reject May’s ‘ bad and worse’ Brexit deal

London, Sept. 25: Britain’s main Opposition Labour Party said on Tuesday it will reject Prime Minister Theresa May’s proposed Brexit deal with the European Union when it comes to a vote in Parliament, saying that the government was offering the country a choice between “really bad and even worse.”

If Britain and the EU agree on a deal, it must be approved by individual nations before Britain leaves. In the UK that means a vote by lawmakers, and the math looks ominous for Ms May’s government, which lacks an overall majority. Brexit spokesman Keir Starmer told Labour’s annual conference that the party would vote against a deal along the lines May is proposing because it does not meet “six tests” it has set, including protecting workers’ rights and retaining access to European markets.

“We do not accept that the choice is between whatever the Prime Minister manages to cobble together and no deal ... between really bad and even worse,” Mr Starmer said.

Mr Starmer said that if

Party would vote against a deal along the lines May is proposing because it does not meet ‘ six tests’ it has set, including protecting workers’ rights and retaining access to European markets. — Keir Starmer, Labour leader

Parliament rejected the deal there should be a new election. “If that is not possible we must have other options,” he said. “Our options must include campaigning for a public vote — and nobody is ruling out ‘ remain’ as an option.”

Mr Starmer’s suggestion that a new referendum could reverse the 2016 decision to leave the EU — which was not in the printed text of his speech released in advance — drew a standing ovation from many delegates in the conference hall.

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has long opposed the idea of a new referendum.