Labour to back second EU vote

THE Labour Party is prepared to back a second referendum to prevent a “damaging Tory Brexit”, if its withdrawal plan is rejected by MPs this week.

Jeremy Corbyn said he would put forward or support an amendment in favour of a public vote to stop Theresa May’s deal being “forced on the country” if his Brexit demands are not met.

Labour will seek to enshrine its five requirements in law by tabling an amendment to the government’s Brexit motion, which is set to be debated in the Commons tomorrow.

The demands include a permanent and comprehensive customs union with the EU and close alignment with the single market, as well as a dynamic alignment on rights and protections and commitments on participation in EU agencies and funding programmes.

If the plan is rejected, Labour will then support a second referendum. The Labour leader told a heated meeting of the Parliamentary Labour Party last night: “One way or another, we will do everything in our power to prevent no deal and oppose a damaging Tory Brexit based on Theresa May’s overwhelmingly rejected deal.”

A Labour source hinted a remain option would be on the ballot paper in a second referendum, but Leave Means Leave chairman John Longworth accused Labour of a “Brexit betrayal”, while Conservative Party chairman Brandon Lewis said Mr Corbyn should back Mrs May’s deal instead of “working to thwart Brexit”.