Veteran MP comes off fence to back May’s proposal

A YORKSHIRE Labour MP has declared he will back Theresa May’s Brexit deal, warning the referendum result must be respected or the party will face “dire” consequences at the ballot box.

Veteran Rother Valley MP Sir Kevin Barron said the Prime Minister’s Withdrawal Agreement is the only option on the table that “truly enacts the promises that I made to my constituents and avoids the horror of a no-deal Brexit”.

In a swipe at MPs campaigning for a second referendum if Mrs May’s deal falls, the veteran MP who backed Remain in 2016 said it “truly saddens me that so many in the Commons are trying to overturn the decision”.

Labour’s policy is to push for a general election if the Prime Minister loses the meaningful vote today. Jeremy Corbyn said the party will table a motion of no confidence in the Government “at a time of our choosing,” telling the BBC’s Andrew Marr Show: “It’s going to be soon, don’t worry about it.”

Mr Corbyn earlier confirmed that Labour would go into any election on a platform of opening new negotiations with Brussels on a fresh Brexit deal.

However a large number of Labour MPs and activists want the party to back a “People’s Vote”.

Writing in The Times, Sir Kevin, who has previously said he was undecided about which way he would vote, said he promised he would not “disrespect my constituents by needlessly trying to block Brexit” in the 2017 general election.

Meanwhile, Labour MP Jim Fitzpatrick said yesterday he will not vote down the deal – although he could still abstain. The Poplar and Limehouse MP said he would be happy to cast the vote that allowed Mrs May’s deal to pass to avoid a no deal Brexit.