Labour at war over its policies on Europe

LABOUR’S bitter feud over Brexit deepened last night when MPs launched a bid to wrest control of European policy from Jeremy Corbyn, following confusion over his views on Britain’s future links with Brussels.

Party moderates signed a letter to Andy Kerr, the head of Labour’s ruling National Executive Committee, demanding an independent commission to decide its stance towards the EU.

It warned that many MPs were “deeply disappointed” about the lack of work on European policy under the hard-Left Labour leader.

“As a democratic institution, which prides itself on informed debate and comradely discussion, we believe it is imperative that this omission is corrected before the National Policy Forum meets in Leeds next weekend,” the letter said.

Frustration

“Brexit is the single biggest issue facing our country and our members deserve a say.”

The warning follows a Commons revolt by 60 Labour MPs against the party leadership’s Brexit stance.

One of the MPs said: “Frustration is growing and goes beyond the ‘usual suspects’ who have argued for a pro-single market outcome from the start.”

A Labour Party spokesman said its international policy commission and National Policy Forum were looking at the issue this year, “in meetings, evidence sessions and by considering all submissions received”.