Labour at war over second referendum

FRESH Labour civil war erupted last night over the issue of a second EU referendum – as Nigel Farage’s Brexit Party became joint first in the opinion polls.

MPs who signed a letter asking Jeremy Corbyn to explicitly back a re-run of the Brexit ballot were furious after he refused to kowtow to their demands. Mr Corbyn’s frontbench are bitterly divided on the issue, with shadow ministers Clive Lewis, Anneliese Dodds and Marsha de Cordova backing the call for another referendum. But party chairman Ian Lavery is opposed, as are many of Mr Corbyn’s closest allies plus 70 of his MPs.

Campaigning in Peterborough yesterday, the Labour leader said the party’s National Executive Committee would make a decision on Tuesday. ‘Sadly, or perhaps it’s a good thing, I’m not a dictator of the Labour party,’ he added. But critics noted that Mr Corbyn has a controlling majority of allies on the 39-strong committee.

Opinion polls show Labour neck and neck with the Brexit party, ahead of the May 23 elections to the European Parliament. One has Labour and the Brexit Party on 28 per cent, with the Tories on 14.

Adam Drummond of pollsters Opinium said: ‘Nigel Farage’s party has rapidly won the contest of who will represent Brexit voters wanting to punish the Conservative government, with Ukip falling to 4 per cent.’

A Survation poll puts Labour and the Brexit Party on 27 per cent with the Tories on 16, and Remain-backing Change UK on 4 per cent.