Opposition parties will try to secure second Brexit referendum
Labour will seek to push through moves for a second EU referendum this week in the Commons, it has been confirmed.
Shadow Brexit secretary Keir Starmer said that an amendment will be tabled to Boris Johnson’s EU Withdrawal Agreement Bill which will come before MPS this week.
The move will have the backing of the SNP and Liberal Democrats, but will need other MPS to switch to secure a majority.
The UK government will press ahead with its Withdrawal Bill this week, despite pulling a “meaningful vote” in the Commons yesterday after being defeated on the “Letwin amendment” which would block a no deal scenario.
Ministers still believe they have the support which could see legislation passed, meaning the UK could still leave the EU on October 31 as scheduled.
Boris Johnson has sent an unsigned letter to EU leaders seeking an extension if no withdrawal agreement is secured by the end of the month.
Sir Keir said the opposition is now poised to step up moves for a second vote.
“Whatever deal gets through, it should be subject to a referendum,” he told the BBC’S Andrew Marr show.
“We have already voted, I think, three times as a party for a second referendum with a three-line whip behind it.
“What we are trying to achieve is, this deal in particular but any deal, is put up against remain in a referendum.
“The position we have adopted is whatever the outcome, whether it’s Boris Johnson’s bad deal or a better one which could be secured, it has got to go to a referendum up against remain.”
Calls for a second referendum have previously come before MPS in the Commons, but were defeated. An “indicative” vote staged in March saw it defeated by just 12 meaning a switch of just seven MPS could secure success.
And SNP Westminster leader Ian Blackford confirmed that the Nationalists would support this.
“That’s been our position for a very considerable period of time. Of course we would support that,” he said.
But he warned that there would need to be a new “government in place” which could do that, with a fivemonth timescale earmarked for another referendum to be staged. It suggests a general election would be required first.
Liberal Democrat leader Jo Swinson said: “The best way to resolve the Brexit chaos is to have a People’s Vote and give the British people the final say about their future.
“The best deal we have is as members of the European Union and we want to give the people the chance to choose to stop Brexit.”
But Labour’s Edinburgh South MP Ian Murray, who has been a leading figure in the People’s Vote campaign, yesterday questioned the SNP’S commitment to a second