Corbyn’s ‘con trick’ on his own voters over key bill

JEREMY Corbyn was accused of performing a ‘con trick’ on Labour voters last night as his MPs prepare to vote against a critical Brexit law.

The Labour leader will order his MPs to oppose the EU Withdrawal Bill in a Commons vote today. Brexit Secretary David Davis said opposing the bill was a vote for ‘chaos and confusion’.

Justice Minister Dominic Raab accused Mr Corbyn of fraud after Labour told Brexit supporters during the election that it would respect the result of the referendum.

He told Sky News: ‘Come Monday evening I think the Labour Party will have their cards called because they toured up and down the country saying they were going to back Brexit.

‘Now they’re voting against this whole bill. That is a fraud, it is Jeremy Corbyn’s biggest con trick on Labour voters and the country yet.’ Up to 30 Labour MPs may rebel today by voting for the bill. Those who represent seats that voted for Brexit fear they will face a wave of anger from constituents.

It emerged yesterday that Mr Corbyn has come under fire from one of his own frontbenchers over the decision.

Shadow minister John Healey, the MP for Wentworth and Dearne in South Yorkshire, told Mr Corbyn he was ‘sending the wrong message’ to voters in the party’s northern heartlands.

Sources say Mr Healey, Labour’s housing spokesman, told last week’s shadow cabinet meeting: ‘We are sending the wrong signal to the country with this. We have to vote for the bill.’ The law will repeal the European Communities Act of 1972 which enshrines the supremacy of EU law. It will also smooth the path to Brexit by transferring EU laws on to the domestic statute book.

After months of changing its policy on Brexit, Labour now backs staying in the single market and customs union for years after we leave the bloc during any ‘transition’ phase. Tony Blair yesterday applauded the approach, saying it was ‘greatly to be welcomed’.

Mr Corbyn rejected claims the party’s position has changed, telling The Mail on Sunday: ‘In case you hadn’t noticed, there was a referendum last year. The people voted to leave and that is what we shall do.’

Mr Davis will argue today that anyone who votes against the bill is voting for a ‘cliff edge of uncertainty’.

He will say: ‘A vote against this bill is a vote for a chaotic exit from the EU. The British people did not vote for confusion and neither should Parliament.

‘Providing certainty and stability in the lead-up to our withdrawal is a key priority. Businesses and individuals need reassurance that there will be no unexpected changes to our laws after exit day and that is exactly what the Repeal Bill provides.

‘Without it, we would be approaching a cliff edge of uncertainty which is not in the interest of anyone.’

Labour’s Brexit spokesman Sir Keir Starmer has demanded that the UK keeps pace with EU laws on workers’ rights and the environment after we leave. He also claims the bill gives ministers excessive powers to change laws.

Labour MP Kate Hoey last week accused her party of ‘trying to scupper Brexit’. Ministers expect to win the vote comfortably, with Tory Remainers set to keep quiet until the bill returns to the Commons later this year.

‘Cliff edge of uncertainty’