Corbyn edges towards a second referendum after Labour disaster
JEREMY CORBYN moved closer to unconditionally supporting a second referendum after Labour’s dismal election performance led to key shadow Cabinet ministers calling for a clearer position.
The party’s ambiguous Brexit stance was widely seen as the reason Labour secured just 14 per cent of the vote in the European elections.
John Mcdonnell, the shadow chancellor, said: “Our only option now is [to] go back to the people in a referendum, and I think that’s the position we’re in now.”
Diane Abbott, the shadow home secretary, said: “When we come in third after the Brexit Party, that is a clue something is wrong with our strategy. We need to listen to our members and take a clearer line on a public vote.”
Mr Corbyn yesterday appeared to shift his policy as he said Labour would back a second vote on “any deal”.
“There has to be an agreement with the European Union and there then has to be a public vote,” he said.
Labour’s policy has so far been to support a second referendum in order to stop a bad Brexit deal or to prevent Britain leaving the EU without a deal, but the party has always said a general election is its first preference.
The Labour leader said the party’s support for a second referendum would now extend to any deal.
Meanwhile, Mr Mcdonnell went a step further than Mr Corbyn and said a general election was “unrealistic” as Conservative MPS would not back it.
“Turkeys don’t vote for Christmas,” he told Sky News. “We’re not going to give up on getting a general election, but that’s unrealistic to expect that now, so we’ve got to say to people very plainly – to prevent a no-deal, whatever political party you are in, join us now and try to campaign to go back to the people.”
It came after Mr Corbyn wrote to the Parliamentary Labour Party: “It is also clear that the deadlock in Parliament can now only be broken by the issue going back to the people through a general election or a public vote. We are ready to support a public vote on any deal.”
The Labour leader said the party would first consult its membership before making a decision on adopting a more definite stance on a possible second referendum.
Speaking to the BBC, he said Labour would “consult members through the constituency parties and affiliated trade unions and bring the issue back to conference in September”.
A Labour spokesman told The Daily Telegraph: “A general election is still the preference as per [Labour Party] conference motion,” suggesting the official stance had not changed.
MPS called on the party leader to “get a grip” and come out stronger in favour of a second referendum.
One Labour MP attacked Mr Corbyn for “characteristic ineptitude” in the wake of the party’s European election results.
“It is infuriating in the face of such a clear public message from voters,” the MP told The Telegraph.
David Lammy, another Labour MP, said: “We’re hiding on the biggest issue of the day. Our activists did not want to come out for us. We had Labour members who did not feel able to vote Labour.
“It was shocking. It was the worst that I’ve seen in my 20 years in politics. We have to get a grip.”
Peter Kyle, a Labour MP and strong proponent of a second referendum, said: “Voters are moving to parties that speak with clarity. Jeremy’s response to that is to continue to speak with ambiguity.
“I am genuinely fearful about whether our party can survive.”
Meanwhile Sir Keir Starmer, the shadow Brexit secretary, repeated his call for a second referendum.
“The only way to break the Brexit impasse is to go back to the public with a choice between a credible leave option and remain,” he said.