Labour MP urges party to do deal on Brexit with Tories

YORKSHIRE LABOUR MP Caroline Flint has urged her party to do a Brexit deal with the Tories as further talks to break the deadlock get underway today.

The Don Valley MP told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “I think if a deal is struck in which Labour achieves many of its goals in that deal, that it takes us up to a general election in which all parties will be able to then set out their stall, then I think that is a deal that is worth pursuing.

“And if Labour signs up to a deal that includes those goals, I think a majority of Labour MPs will support that position.”

Ms Flint disagreed with reports that two thirds of Labour MPs would not back a deal without a confirmatory referendum.

And she insisted there was not a majority among MPs for a second referendum.

Referring to last week’s local elections, Ms Flint added: “Across the North and the Midlands Labour took a hammering... those people voted in the referendum, many Labour voters, and others beside, for Leave.

“We need to show we respect their vote otherwise they will not listen to us again.”

Labour’s Shadow Defence Secretary Nia Griffith, echoed her colleague’s concerns about a second vote when she appeared on the BBC’s Westminster Hour programme.

She said: “There are major difficulties with a second referendum — it would cause all sorts of aggro.

But she added: “The reality is, if we are faced with a no-deal situation, or the sort of Tory Brexit we would find unacceptable, then we would certainly want the public to be given the opportunity to have a vote on it.

“But the main issue here is — what is likely to actually get through Parliament? That’s going to be the real thing.”

Over the weekend Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell accused the Prime Minister of jeopardising the cross-party talks, claiming she had “blown the confidentiality” of the discussions.