LABOUR’S GREAT
Rebel MPs cross floor as Corbyn changes tune AGAIN
REBEL Labour MPs accused Jeremy Corbyn of trying to ‘thwart Brexit’ last night as they sided with the Government over the new laws needed to take Britain out of the EU.
The flagship EU Withdrawal Bill was expected to pass its first parliamentary hurdle in the early hours of this morning after a string of Labour MPs warned they would defy orders from Mr Corbyn to vote it down.
In a further sign of Labour’s chaos over Brexit, Mr Corbyn himself said it could now back Britain staying in the single market permanently, just three months after sacking three shadow ministers over the issue.
The EU Withdrawal Bill, previously known as the Great Repeal Bill, is designed to smooth Britain’s exit from the EU by transferring thousands of EU regulations into British law so they continue to operate on the day we leave in March 2019.
Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson yesterday warned that the UK would face a ‘chaotic and disorderly’ exit from the EU if the legislation was voted down. Labour’s high com- mand ordered MPs to vote against the Bill, accusing ministers of using it to stage a ‘power grab’. But the move infuriated Labour MPs representing pro-Brexit areas. Former minister Caroline Flint challenged Mr Corbyn to visit her South Yorkshire constituency where 68 per cent of voters backed Brexit.
‘I voted and campaigned for the UK to remain,’ she said. ‘Not in a metropolitan city or university town, but in a seat where I knew the Leave vote was the likely outcome. I welcome colleagues who weren’t campaigning in such seats to visit mine.’
Miss Flint, who was heckled by diehard Remainers on the Labour benches, said the only reason for opposing the Bill was to ‘thwart the result of the EU referendum and prevent or delay the UK leaving the EU’.
Frank Field, another former Labour minister, said the Bill was the ‘ only option’ for ensuring an orderly exit from the EU.
John Mann, Labour MP for Bassetlaw in Nottinghamshire, where 68 per cent of voters backed Brexit, said Labour’s tactics were ‘too clever for their own good’.
Pro-EU Tory MPs signalled they would keep their powder dry last night and vote with the Government. But ministers look certain to have to make concessions on the sweeping powers contained within the legislation after they were criticised by MPs on all sides.
Last night’s Labour rebellion underlined the agonies the party has faced over Brexit since the referendum. Mr Corbyn appeared to adopt yet another position on the issue yesterday – Labour’s 21st since the referendum – when he suggested Labour could fight to keep Britain in the single market permanently, even though this would mean free movement continuing for ever.
Mr Corbyn told the BBC: ‘There has to be a trade relationship with Europe. Whether that is formally within the single market or an agreement to trade is open to question.’
Adding to the confusion, Mr Corbyn later said that remaining in the single market was possible only if the UK stayed in the EU.
Tory MP Conor Burns ridiculed Labour’s flip- flopping, saying: ‘One could be forgiven for thinking Labour are getting their inspiration from Heinz, with 57 varieties of Brexit on offer.’
The Government has faced criticism over the sweeping powers contained within the new legislation. Ministers insist they need the power to make technical changes to laws with only minimal parliamentary scrutiny in order to ensure thousands of existing EU regulations are transferred to British law in time.
Mr Corbyn yesterday vowed to stay on and fight the next election. The Labour leader said he was ‘fit and healthy’ and had no intention of stepping down.
And he predicted the next election would come ‘a lot sooner’ than the scheduled date in June 2022, when he will be 73.
‘57 varieties of Brexit on offer’