Labour move to back second referendum

Corbyn tells MPs he will do everything to stop Britain leaving EU without a deal

Labour will back an attempt to block a no-deal Brexit and put forward or support an amendment in favour of a public vote to prevent a “damaging Tory Brexit”, Jeremy Corbyn announced.

The leader told a meeting of the Parliamentary Labour Party that he will do “everything” in his power to prevent Britain crashing out of the European Union without a deal and will back the Cooper-Letwin amendment to take the option off the table.

And he said Labour is “committed to also putting forward or supporting an amendment in favour of a public vote to prevent a damaging Tory Brexit being forced on the country”.

The party will seek to enshrine Labour’s five Brexit demands in law by tabling an amendment to the government’s Brexit motion which is set to be debated 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.

Mr Corbyn told his MPs: “The prime minister is recklessly running down the clock, in an attempt to force MPs to choose between her botched deal and a disastrous no-deal.

“We cannot and will not accept. “Last week, after our visit to talk to EU officials and leaders in Brussels and Madrid, no one can be in any doubt Labour’s alternative Brexit plan is serious and credible.

“We are convinced our alternative, which puts jobs and living standards first, could command support in the House of Commons, bring people who voted leave and remain together, and be negotiated with the EU.

“That’s why we will be putting down an amendment in parliament this week setting out Labour’s plan for a comprehensive customs union with a UK say; close alignment with the single market; guarantees on rights and standards; protection for Britain’s role in EU agencies; and a security agreement which guarantees access to the European arrest warrant and vital shared databases.

“And we will be calling for legislation to underpin this mandate,” the Labour leader added.

“We will also be backing the CooperLetwin amendment to rule out a no-deal outcome.

“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.

“That’s why, in line with our conference policy, we are committed to also putting forward or supporting an amendment in favour of a public vote to prevent a damaging Tory Brexit being forced on the country.”

The prime minister is recklessly running down the clock, in an attempt to force MPs to choose between her botched deal and a disastrous no-deal. JEREMY CORBYN

Picture: Press Association. Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn could support an amendment in favour of a new public vote on Brexit.