NO NO NO CLUE AT ALL
Leader dismisses growing support for poll rerun
JEREMY CORBYN has been slammed by opponents for categorically ruling out a second EU referendum.
The Labour leader made his position on a second vote clear yesterday despite rising support for a Brexit rerun among members of his party.
A poll last month revealed that 80 per cent of Labour members back a second EU referendum. Another poll last week suggested a 16-point lead for a referendum on the final Brexit deal.
But appearing on the Andrew Marr Show, Corbyn made clear his opposition to another vote on Britain’s membership of the bloc.
He said: “What we’ve asked for and demanded is a meaningful vote in Parliament at the end of it ... we’re not asking for a second referendum.”
Asked if they were going to in the future, the Labour leader replied: “No.”
The comments risked disappointing Remain-backing Labour MPs – particularly as Corbyn also ruled out backing a Norway-style Brexit deal which would see the UK staying in the single market even after quitting the EU.
Alison McGovern, a Labour MP and leading supporter of the Open Britain campaign, said the party should be spelling out the realistic and credible policy that Labour voters overwhelmingly want,
She said: “Jeremy Corbyn is right to call for the closest possible trading relationship with the EU. Anything less will inflict severe damage on our economy, our industries and our public services.
“And the only way to achieve a ‘jobs-first Brexit’ is to commit to staying in both the single market and the customs union.”
Pete Wishart, the SNP Commons leader, tweeted: “The usual ‘clarity’ from Corbyn again on Brexit. We’re now getting ‘easy’ movement of people in the mix now. Tories there for the taking and we get this.”
Lib Dem leader Vince Cable said: “As has long been suspected, Labour’s leadership is moving closer and closer to the Conservatives’ hard Brexit, which would damage the economy and cost jobs.
“They are betraying their own members and parliamentary base, who want to remain part of the customs union and single market.” SNP foreign affairs and Europe spokesman Stephen Gethins said: “Labour have moved from being the official opposition to the official cheerleaders for a Tory hard
Brexit.”