CORBYN DEMANDS SECOND BREXIT VOTE
Pledge to support Remain and safeguard jobs and wages
This is a significant and very welcome step forward IAN MURRAY MP ON CORBYN’S NEW STANCE
JEREMY Corbyn attempted to draw a line under Labour’s Brexit chaos yesterday by finally backing a second referendum and vowing to support Remain against a damaging Tory deal.
The Labour leader promised to fight against a “no deal or damaging Tory Brexit” after months of indecisiveness on the issue.
But his statement did not make clear what Labour would do if they won a general election and were put in charge of renegotiating Theresa May’s deal with Brussels.
That means the party could still go into a snap election this autumn with a manifesto that promises to secure a better Brexit deal with the EU.
Under the plan, that deal would still be put to a second referendum but it’s not been decided if Labour would campaign for its own Brexit deal or campaign for Remain.
The SNP – who would campaign to cancel Brexit – claimed the policy shift “raises more questions than it answers”.
The party’s Europe spokesman Stephen Gethins said: “While the move to back a referendum and take a remain position is a positive step in preventing a Tory Brexit or a catastrophic no-deal exit, Jeremy Corbyn has left open the door to switching back to being pro-Brexit in the event of a snap general election.
“Jeremy Corbyn’s Brexit con-trick of facing both ways at the same time simply will not wash with people any more. He must now clarify what Labour’s position would be in the event of a general election.”
Labour’s tortured position on Brexit was widely seen as a major factor in their humiliating performance in the EU elections last month.
And it has had a stark impact in Scotland, where voters overwhelmingly backed Remain in the 2016 referendum.
Scottish Labour leader Richard Leonard formally broke ranks with Corbyn last month by backing a second referendum in all circumstances and pledging to campaign for Remain if one takes place.
The change of heart came two weeks after Labour finished fifth in the European elections in Scotland and lost all of its MEPs.
In an e-mail to members yesterday, Corbyn wrote: “Whoever becomes the new Prime Minister should have the confidence to put their deal, or No Deal, back to the people in a public vote. In those circumstances, I want to make it clear that Labour would campaign for Remain against either No Deal or a Tory deal that does not protect the economy and jobs.”
It followed a Shadow Cabinet meeting yesterday and a meeting with trade union leaders on Monday. But Corbyn stuck by his “sensible alternative” of a Brexit deal with the EU, including a customs union and close alignment with the single market. He wrote: “Labour set out a compromise plan to try to bring the country together based around a customs union, a strong single market relationship and protection of environmental regulations and rights at work. We continue to believe this is a sensible alternative that could bring the country together.”
Pro-EU Scots Labour MP Ian Murray last night welcomed the move.
“This is a significant and very welcome step forward,” he said.
“We must get out there and tell voters the only way to stop Brexit and remain in the EU permanently is to vote Labour.”