Labour will not decide Brexit policy until vote

Opposition wants to put new deal against no-exit in new referendum

Labour will campaign at the next general election without a clear policy on Brexit after its National Executive Committee voted to delay a decision on being in favour of leave or remain until after a vote has taken place.

Members of Labour’s NEC voted 16-10 in favour of a statement setting out a plan to delay a decision on whether to back staying in the EU until after a general election.

The SNP last night slammed Her Majesty’s opposition for being “completely incoherent” on the issue.

The plan put forward by leader Jeremy Corbyn would see a Labour government strike a new deal with Brussels and then put it to a public vote, against remaining in the EU while pushing for reform.

A decision on how Labour would campaign in that referendum would not be taken until a special conference. Labour’s plan would see a government led by Mr Corbyn negotiate a new deal with Brussels before calling a referendum.

The party would remain neutral about whether to back remain or the Labour-negotiated deal until a decision was taken at a special conference.

Mr Corbyn refused to be drawn on whether he would support remaining in the EU or a Brexit he negotiated when questioned by the BBC’s Andrew Marr.

He also said the UK could be better off outside the EU, if it left on Labour’s terms.

The embattled leader was quizzed on apparent rifts opening in his party, which is hosting its annual conference this year in Brighton.

Adding to the confusion, senior Labour MPs including Sir Keir Starmer – the party’s Brexit spokesperson London Mayor Sadiq Khan and Emily Thornberry insisted Labour should campaign in favour of remain.

Scottish Labour leader Richard Leonard reiterated support for Jeremy Corbyn but said he would support the party taking a remain stance.

Ms Thornberry said Labour must lead the campaign to remain in the EU even if it meant rejecting a deal they had negotiated with Brussels.

She insisted it was not disloyal to call for Labour to back remain, stressing it was the best way to win power.

“When people here today take a position that they want a second referendum and we want to remain, that doesn’t mean that we are not socialists or that we are disloyal to Jeremy Corbyn.

SNP MSP George Adam said: “Richard Leonard added little to the sum total of what we know about Labour’s Brexit position.”

Picture: PA. Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said the UK could be better off out of the EU if his party negotiated the deal.