In our heart, Labour wants to stay in the EU, says Emily Thornberry
LABOUR wants to remain in the European Union “in our hearts”, Emily Thornberry has said, claiming that staying in the bloc is “without a doubt” the best option for Britain.
As Europhile MPS today attempt to impose a softer Brexit on Theresa May, the shadow foreign secretary claimed it would be “quite difficult” for Labour to take the country out of the bloc because they are “internationalists” and “Europeans”.
In comments that are likely to widen divisions on Labour’s front bench, Ms Thornberry refused to say whether she believed the party would commit to leaving the EU in a snap election, stating that there was a “strong argument” for a second referendum.
“Most of us campaigned to remain and I think in our hearts we want to remain but the difficulty is that we have to square that with democracy; we’re democrats above everything else,” she told Sky News’s Sophy Ridge.
“In my heart I want to stay. I think it’s in Britain’s interests to remain in the European Union, without a doubt, but actually what tops everything else in this is democracy and if the people want us to leave then… it’s my job as a public servant to do as I’m told.” However, she added that if a second referendum was called in which Mrs May’s deal was pitted against staying in the EU, “I would obviously be campaigning to remain”.
She was joined by Tom Watson, Labour’s deputy leader, who said that it was “inconceivable” that the party would not commit to holding a socalled “people’s vote” in its manifesto should a snap election be called.
Mr Watson also suggested a second referendum should be called in all circumstances, including for Labour’s alternative deal, saying the option should be “the status quo or the new deal”.
He told the BBC’S Andrew Marr Show: “I think that’s the only way we can bring the country back together now, and both Keir Starmer and Jeremy Corbyn have said that this week. Obviously I don’t write Labour’s manifesto. I’m one vote around the table, but it seems to me inconceivable that if there was a general election tomorrow … that a people’s vote will not be in that manifesto. The people’s vote is the solution, not an option.”
However, within minutes of the interview ending, Mr Watson was challenged by Richard Burgon, the shadow justice secretary, who wrote on Twitter that Labour’s preferred option was “our proposed Brexit deal”. He added that if that could not be secured then a public vote was only “an option to prevent a disastrous no-deal Brexit or a Tory Brexit”. Mr Burgon is one of a number of frontbenchers to oppose a second referendum, with Barry Gardiner, the shadow international trade secretary, claiming Labour is not a “Remain party”.
A Labour spokesman said last night: “Our manifesto will be decided through our party’s democratic policymaking processes in the usual way, which includes ... MPS, trade unions and affiliates, councillors and party members.”
Meanwhile, at least 19 British MEPS representing Leave-voting constituencies are campaigning for a second referendum, along with nine MEPS from Remain areas, according to analysis carried out by The Daily Telegraph. That means 28 of the UK’S 73 MEPS. “This shows a chasm of disconnect between self-absorbed Remainer politicians and the people they fail to represent,” said Leave MEP Nigel Farage.