Corbyn clash with MPs over EUnity

Leader flip-flops over party’s In letter

JEREMY Corbyn was at odds with his own MPs last night – after hijacking an appeal for party unity over the EU.

More than 200 Labour MPs will issue a message to party members today to say they back Remain.

They acted after a poll showed nearly half of Labour voters do not know the party’s stance in the referendum. Two in five quizzed in the YouGov poll even thought Labour MPs support Brexit.

The letter was drafted by Sedgefield MP Phil Wilson and approved by Labour EU campaign chief Alan Johnson. Corbyn also signed up to it, but then changed his mind before signing up again – and then changing his mind AGAIN. Yesterday he altered a key phrase from “the Labour Party is united in arguing that we are better off remaining in the EU” to “overwhelmingly believes we are better off”.

That infuriated the Labour In for Britain group behind the letter.

A source said: “It gives MPs another excuse to be unhappy with Jeremy. The tone is similar but not what MPs originally agreed.” Mr Corbyn has been criticised for his lukewarm campaigning. The Leave ve camp even says he is helping theirheir cause.

Former Labour Cabinet minister Peter Hain in said: “There’s a great deal of confusion onfusion about what the Labour position osition is.”

All but a dozen Labour MPs supportort Britain staying in. . An aide to Mr Corbyn byn said: “Sorry aboutbout all the confusion.”sion.”