We’re not a pro-eu party, says Corbyn ally, as party splits over Brexit plan
‘If we whip for it, we won’t have a shadow cabinet by the end of the day’
JEREMY CORBYN was forced to defend his decision to whip his MPS behind a motion for a second referendum on any Brexit deal after threats of frontbench resignations over the move.
The Labour leader sent a letter to all MPS in which he acknowledged the motion for a “confirmatory referendum” could be read as “going beyond” party policy.
But, in the face of opposition from MPS who are wary of supporting a measure that appeared aimed at overturning Brexit, he claimed it was necessary to support it to keep the option of a public vote on the table to block a no-deal exit or stop Theresa May’s deal.
Earlier, Mr Corbyn had been warned by a shadow minister he would face “a very significant rebellion” if he tried to force MPS to back the motion, while another said: “If we whip for it, we won’t have a shadow cabinet by the end of the day.” Last night, Melanie Onn, a shadow housing minister, became the first to resign after refusing to back a second referendum.
Three shadow cabinet ministers, Ian Lavery, Labour party chairman, Andrew Gwynne, shadow communities secretary, and Jon Trickett, shadow Cabinet Office minister, rebelled against the Labour whip and abstained, while 27 Labour MPS voted against. It followed confusion yesterday morning over the party’s stance after Barry Gardiner, the shadow international trade secretary, warned Labour would have difficulty backing the plan for a “confirmatory” referendum as it was “not a Remain party”.
Within hours, after a meeting of the Labour leadership, a party spokesman said MPS would be told to vote in favour of the referendum motion drawn up by backbenchers Peter Kyle and Phil Wilson and tabled in the name of former foreign secretary Dame Margaret Beckett. The spokesman said: “In line with our policy, we’re supporting motions to keep options on the table to prevent a bad Tory deal or no deal.”
In his attempt to head off the resignations, Mr Corbyn said: “Labour is supporting the Beckett-kyle-wilson amendment (even where it can be read as going beyond our policy) to keep the option of a public vote on the table in order to stop a disastrous no deal or May’s unacceptable deal.”
He also tried to reassure rebels, adding: “Labour’s proposed deal remains our preferred solution: based on a customs union, close alignment with the single market and dynamic alignment on rights, standards and protections.”
Labour also whipped its MPS to support the party’s own alternative plan, as well as customs union proposals tabled by MPS Gareth Snell and Kenneth Clarke. Labour MPS were also encouraged to support the cross-party “Common Market 2.0” motion tabled by Conservative MP Nick Boles, which sets out plans for continued participation in the single market and a “comprehensive customs arrangement” with the EU.
Mr Corbyn sent the letter after facing a backlash from a group of shadow cabinet ministers, many of them strong supporters of his leadership, including Richard Burgon, Angela Rayner and Rebecca Long-bailey. It is understood most shadow cabinet ministers agreed to support the amendment, on the condition that the letter was sent, although some junior frontbenchers were con- sidering their options.
A party source said that decisions on any disciplinary sanctions for MPS breaking the whip in the “unusual” circumstances of indicative votes would be taken after the event by the whips’ office.
Earlier, Labour backers of a referendum were furious when Mr Gardiner said Labour could not support the referendum motion as it would mean the party could be portrayed as wanting Remain at any price and did not accept the result of the 2016 EU referendum.