Watson defies Corbyn and calls for referendum ahead of election
LABOUR’S plans for Brexit were thrown into fresh chaos yesterday as Tom Watson went against party policy and called for a second referendum to be held before a general election.
The intervention from the deputy leader means Labour’s most senior figures – including Emily Thornberry, shadow foreign secretary and Jeremy Corbyn, the party leader – have set out three different positions on Brexit.
Mr Watson claimed a public vote on Brexit was the only way to break the deadlock gripping Parliament as an election might fail to solve the “chaos”.
He also urged his party to “unambiguously and unequivocally back Remain” in a referendum.
Mr Corbyn took to the airwaves to denounce his deputy, saying the party’s policy was to win an election and then enter negotiations with the EU.
“It’s Tom’s view,” he said, adding: “I don’t accept and I don’t agree with it. Our priority is to get a general election to give people a chance to elect a government that cares for them.”
Mr Corbyn also hit back at the suggestion Labour would back Remain, saying: “We will negotiate a credible leave deal and then decide.”
On Question Time last week, Ms Thornberry was laughed down after admitting she would help negotiate a new deal with the EU – and then campaign against it in a referendum. Mr Watson set out his vision in a speech at the Creative Industries Federation, arguing that a general election dominated on a single issue such as Brexit was not desirable.
He said: “Boris Johnson has already conceded that the Brexit crisis can only be solved by the British people. But the only way to break the deadlock once and for all is a public vote. An election could fail to solve Brexit chaos.”
After attempting to shift Labour’s EU policy, Mr Watson was forced to deny that he was pitching himself as a successor to Mr Corbyn.
As well as earning a rebuke from the Labour leader, other opposition MPS showed their anger.
Emma Lewell-buck, MP for South Shields, said the demand for another referendum “alienates” those in Parliament who want to implement the result of the 2016 vote.
She said: “I think when MPS start taking a stance of telling constituents, ‘We’ll give you a vote and we’ll adhere to it’ and then saying ‘actually we’re cleverer than you, we know more than you and we’re just going to stick two fingers up to your votes’ – I think that’s a dangerous path to travel.”
Sir Keir Starmer, Labour’s shadow Brexit secretary, tried to sooth over the divisions, pointing out that while there was agreement over a second referendum, the policy was still being finessed.
The clash is the latest flare up between Mr Corbyn and his deputy, who were both elected by huge margins.