Labour rallies behind option of having second referendum on Europe

LABOUR has opened the door to reversing Britain’s decision to leave the European Union, by backing a potential second referendum.

The party’s conference in Liverpool voted overwhelmingly to keep the option of a fresh vote “on the table”, after shadow Brexit secretary Sir Keir Starmer explicitly stated that it could include the option of staying in the EU.

Sir Keir (right) won a standing ovation from a large majority of delegates, though some remained firmly in their seats.

His declaration that “nobody is ruling out Remain as an option” was not included in printed copies of his speech distributed to the media, sparking speculation that he may have gone beyond the position agreed by Labour’s high command.

But leader Jeremy Corbyn said that the contents of the speech had been cleared by his office in advance.

He said Labour would subject any deal reached by Theresa May with Brussels to the six tests set out by Sir Keir, including that it should deliver “the exact same benefits” as single market and customs union membership.

And he said Labour was prepared to vote the PM’s deal down.

Both Sir Keir and shadow foreign secretary Emily Thornberry told the conference they would personally vote Remain in any re-run referendum. But Mr Corbyn himself repeatedly declined to say which way he would vote, telling Five News: “It depends what the question is in the referendum... We will decide as a party when the referendum comes what our position will be.

“I think it’s pretty obvious what party members are thinking at this conference.”

More than 100 constituency parties tabled motions calling for a second referendum, and thousands of People’s Vote supporters marched through Liverpool to intensify pressure on Mr Corbyn.

The final motion put to delegates does not commit Labour to a referendum, and makes clear that its preferred option would be an early general election.

But Sir Keir told the conference that if Labour could not secure an election “we must have other options”.

He said: “That must include campaigning for a public vote.”

But there were signs of dissent within the party.

The general secretary of the Labour Leave group, Brendan Chilton, described Sir Keir’s comments as “a betrayal of the very highest order” which would cost Labour seats in the Midlands and Wales.

“At times the speech had more in common with a leadership stump speech than a policy announcement,” said Mr Chilton.

“Many people will wonder whether Sir Keir is trying to line himself up as the Remain replacement for Jeremy.”