Labour MP denies she backs new Brexit poll
A BIRMINGHAM MP insisted she was not backing a second referendum on Brexit just a day after calling for one.
Preet Kaur Gill, Labour MP for Birmingham Edgbaston, said on Sunday that she backed the “people’s vote” campaign calling for a referendum on the final deal agreed between the UK and the EU. In practice, if the public voted against the deal then Brexit would be aborted.
The “people’s vote” is backed by Labour backbenchers including Chuka Umunna and Stella Creasy but is opposed by the Labour leadership.
However, Mrs Gill is a Labour shadow minister, in her role as shadow international development minister.
Despite the tweet, she claimed she does not support a referendum after all, and simply wanted MPs to have a vote in Parliament.
On Sunday, she was contacted on Twitter by a student activist, who said: “As an MP in a constituency with so many students and young people, I hope you’ll join us in calling for a people’s vote on the Brexit Deal?”
Mrs Gill replied: “Great to see the student voice coming out and speaking up!! ... I hear you and agree that a people’s vote on the deal is an absolute must.”
But on Monday she deleted the tweet and issued a new one saying: “Just to clarify my position – a meaningful vote on the deal by Parliament is a must which will be informed by the people we represent.”
One Labour shadow minister who has definitely backed a second referendum is Lord Hunt of Kings Heath, a shadow health minister.
The Birmingham peer was hauled in front of Labour Lords leader Baroness Smith for a dressing down, but kept his position in Mr Corbyn’s shadow team.
In March, former shadow cabinet minister Owen Smith was sacked from his role after he called for a second referendum.