Blackford warns Corbyn to ‘get off the fence’ and back a second referendum

Jeremy Corbyn will be guilty of “supreme cowardice” if he fails to press for a second European referendum in Brexit talks with the UK government.

SNP Westminster leader Ian Blackford said for the talks between Labour and the Conservatives to “have any purpose”, they must include the issue of a People’s Vote.

And he urged the Labour leader to “get off the fence” and support such a ballot.

Mr Blackford issued the challenge in the midst of talks between the two parties, with embattled Prime Minister Theresa May trying to find support in the Commons for her Withdrawal Agreement.

Speaking at the SNP conference in Edinburgh, he said: “If Labour’s talks with the Prime Minister are to have any purpose, Jeremy Corbyn must press for a second EU referendum in the cross-party talks. Failure to do so will be an act of supreme cowardice.”

Mr Blackford confirmed that his party’s MPS would “never” vote for the deal, calling on Labour to adopt the same stance.

And he said next month’s European elections, set to go ahead if no withdrawal deal is approved, give Scotland the “opportunity to be heard” and to “show to ourselves and the wider world that Scotland wants something better”.