Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
‘Option to Remain could be on ballot in 2nd Brexit poll’
A SECOND Brexit referendum could include an option to stay in the EU, Sir Keir Starmer told delegates, who gave him a long standing ovation.
The Shadow Brexit Secretary said it was right that “Parliament has the first say”.
But he added: “If we need to break the impasse our options must include campaigning for a public vote and nobody is ruling out Remain as an option.”
Demands for another poll have mounted since EU chiefs rejected Theresa May’s Chequers plan.
Labour is set to vote against any deal the PM strikes with Brussels, as will some Tory MPS.
Mark Francois, of the Tories’ hard Brexit European Research Group, told the BBC: “If they try to put Chequers through the House of Commons then I and my colleagues will vote against it.” Labour insiders fear a second referendum could alienate supporters in its Brexit-backing heartlands.
Union boss Steve Turner of Unite warned: “While a majority of Labour members and trade unionists may have voted to Remain, many didn’t.”
Labour Leave’s Brendan Chilton said they would “haemorrhage votes” if they became seen as “the party of Remain”. Research suggests Labour would lose 19 of its 25 most marginal constituencies if it was seen to have frustrated efforts to leave the EU.
Meanwhile, PM Theresa May slapped down Tory hard Brexiteers calling for a Canada-style free trade agreement, saying it would be worse than no deal.