IS THIS THE DAY PEOPLE’S VOTE DIED?
Fiasco in Commons as just 85 MPs support a second referendum
CAMPAIGNERS for a second EU referendum were humiliated last night as just 85 MPs came out in support of it.
Amid a row between backers of the so-called People’s Vote, no fewer than 334 MPs voted against a motion for holding another ballot – defeating it by a margin of 249.
Jeremy Corbyn dealt a critical blow by ordering his MPs to abstain on the vote, even though a second referendum is now Labour Party policy. But the margin of victory was so high that it would have made no difference even if Labour had swung behind the amendment.
The vote was a humiliation of the People’s Vote campaign – which has spent months pushing for another referendum. The campaign itself had been forced to say earlier in the day that it did not back the amendment either – because it thought it was premature.
Last night’s vote also exposed splits in Labour over the issue, with one of Mr Corbyn’s frontbench team, Ruth Smeeth, resigning so she could vote against another ballot.
Stephanie Peacock also resigned last night as an opposition whip – after voting for it.
More than 40 of his MPs defied the whip: 24 to support a second referendum and 17 to oppose one.
Mr Corbyn himself attracted derision after telling the Commons he was still in favour of a ‘people’s vote’, despite whipping his MPs to abstain. Tory MP Julian Lewis stood up to tell him that since last night’s vote: ‘The matter is completely dead’.
The Independent Group, which laid down the second referendum amendment and which was also humiliated, accused Labour of ‘betraying’ their supporters.
Anna Soubry, the former Tory MP who is now the Group’s Brexit spokesman, said: ‘This is a betrayal of Labour Party members and voters, Labour MPs, Labour’s confer- ence policy and, most importantly, the British public. But The Independent Group will not give up. We will keep up the pressure for a People’s Vote on the final Brexit deal.
‘We’ll keep holding the Government to account and providing the real opposition our country needs. The British people deserve the final say on Brexit.’
Labour’s Brexit spokesman Sir Keir Starmer explained the decision not to support the amendment, saying: ‘Those pressing this amendment seem to be out of step with the vast majority of co-campaigners, campaigning for exactly the same push.’
The People’s Vote campaign supported Labour’s position, saying the laying of the amendment had been premature.
A spokesman said: ‘ We do not think today is the right time to test the will of the House on the case for a new public vote. Instead, this is the time for Parliament to declare it wants an extension of Article 50 so that, after two-and-ahalf years of vexed negotiations, our political leaders can finally decide on what Brexit means.’
John Longworth, chairman of Leave Means Leave, said: ‘ We welcome the fact Parliament has rejected a proposal for a second referendum.
‘ The democratic will of the people was expressed clearly in June 2016 and the Government promised that would be the final decision.’
Labour whipped its MPs to abstain on the referendum vote, but 24 voted in favour – not including Brighton’s Lloyd RussellMoyle, who went through both lobbies to cancel his own vote out.
Another 17 broke the whip to oppose the move, including at least four Labour frontbenchers.
One of them, Ruth Smeeth, announced on Twitter she had quit as an aide to Tom Watson, the deputy leader.
She has been a long- standing critic of Mr Corbyn’s handling of the anti-Semitism scandal engulfing Labour.
She wrote: ‘ This was a difficult decision but I have a duty to support the will of my constituents. We need to leave, and leave with a deal that works for the Potteries.’
Just hours after ordering his MPs to abstain on the motion, Mr Corbyn sparked laughter when he told the Commons: ‘I reiterate our support for a public vote, not as political point-scoring but as a realistic option to break the deadlock.’
A TIG source said they believed the People’s Vote campaign had decided not to back yesterday’s amendment because too many of them were close to Labour figures and wanted senior roles in future.
Independent Group MP Sarah Wollaston said she would try again next week after her amendment
‘The opposition our country needs’ ‘The will of my constituents’
calling for a new referendum was rejected.
Dr Wollaston said: ‘The disappointing thing is that the Labour Party, having said they would support a people’s vote, clearly haven’t supported a people’s vote.’ The SNP leader in Westminster Ian Blackford tweeted: ‘ Labour abstained. An opportunity to drive forward the need for such a vote and Labour flunk it. They are the midwives to a Theresa May Brexit. Absolutely spineless.’