WREXIT
Jeremy Corbyn backs second Brexit referendum as Emily Thornberry confirms Labour will campaign to REMAIN in betrayal to 17.4m Leave voters
JEREMY Corbyn tonight announced he will back a second Brexit referendum which could betray 17.4million Leave voters.
The leftie leader pledged to support moves for a "public vote to prevent a damaging Tory Brexit" - after months of dithering.
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Mr Corbyn said he would throw Labour's support behind a second referendum if MPs vote down his alternative plans, which propose keeping Britain in the EU's customs union and tie the country close to the single market.
Hours later, Shadow Foreign Secretary Emily Thornberry confirmed the party would campaign to remain.
She told Channel 4 News: "If it's a choice between that and a disastrous Tory Brexit, we will be campaigning to remain, because that's all we can do."
It is the first time Mr Corbyn has officially backed the idea of a referendum which could end up keeping us in the EU despite the result of the 2016 vote.
And the policy is still fudged - with no clarity on what form the referendum would actually take or when it would be.
Senior sources close to Mr Corbyn confirmed last night that the second referendum must include Remain on the ballot paper.
But they refused to say what the Brexit option should be and even speculated that it could include “multiple choices”.
Mr Corbyn told his MPs: “The Prime Minister is recklessly running down the clock, in an attempt to force MPs to choose between her botched deal and a disastrous No Deal. We cannot and will not accept.
"One way or another, we will do everything in our power to prevent No Deal and oppose a damaging Tory Brexit based on Theresa May’s overwhelmingly rejected deal.
“That’s why, in line with our conference policy, we are committed to also putting forward or supporting an amendment in favour of a public vote to prevent a damaging Tory Brexit being forced on the country.”
Fears had been growing that if Mr Corbyn didn't go against his principles and back a second referendum more Labour MPs would leave and join the new Independent Group.
And the dramatic announcement may also temporarily move the focus away from the anti-semitism crisis currently surrounding the Labour party.
But the announcement sparked a fresh bout of furious infighting and MPs representing pro-Leave constituencies vowed they would do all they can to stop a “corrosive” second vote.
The Nando-dependent Group
BREAKAWAY MPs in the newly formed Independent Group tuck into Nandos after their first official meeting.
The ex-Labour and Tory MPs smiled in the picture tweeted by Chuka Umunna. It came amid rumours the first Lib Dem is to join.
Gavin Shuker, ex-Labour MP for Luton South, was elected as “convener” at yesterday’s meeting. They have not yet chosen a leader.
Heidi Allen said: “We’ve had a really good first meeting, discussing a lot of things structural around process, values and priorities.”
'THE PRICE WILL BE PAID'
Former shadow cabinet minister Lucy Powell said around 25 Labour MPs will vote against a second referendum.
And Labour’s former Europe minister Caroline Flint said there will “never be unity in the party” if it thwarts Brexit.
While pro-Brexit MP John Mann warned Corbyn in last night’s meeting: “In the Midlands and north of England this decision today will stop you from being Prime Minister. The price will be paid”.
Stoke Central MP Gareth Snell told The Sun: “I won’t be voting for a second referendum under any circumstances.”
Asked how many Labour MPs would vote against a second referendum, he said: “Enough to make sure it doesn’t happen.
Labour MP for Aberavon Stephen Kinnock said he held “deep reservations” about a second vote and warned it would have a “corrosive” impact on democracy in the UK.
'STICKING TO PROMISES'
Senior Labour backbencher Sir Kevin Barron also criticised Mr Corbyn's decision to back a second referendum.
He said: “The Labour manifesto in 2017 clearly stated that we accepted the referendum result, therefore I cannot understand why we are now being asked to back another.
"I will be sticking to my promise to my constituents and voting against any attempt to force a second referendum.”
Meanwhile, London Mayor Sadiq Khan backed Corbyn's U-turn, saying: "It is the right decision for London - and for the whole country - to give the public their say for the first time on a final Brexit deal."
'BITTERLY BETRAYED'
Meanwhile Tory critics slammed Mr Corbyn and accused him selling out Leave-supporting Labour voters.
Tory MP Simon Clarke said: "Labour have been shaping up to try to overturn the decision of millions of northern voters for some time. Those voters will, rightly, feel bitterly betrayed."
Colleague Bob Seely tweeted: "Shameless #Corbyn who wanted Brexit now backs a second referendum to save his sorry leadership."
Tory party chairman, Brandon Lewis, added: "With only 32 days to go until we leave the European Union, it is clear that Jeremy Corbyn's Labour want to betray the will of the British people and ignore the biggest democratic vote in our nation’s history.
“Corbyn’s Labour have ripped up their promise to respect the referendum result and are now pursuing a divisive second referendum that would take us back to square one.
"Once again it’s clear: Jeremy Corbyn is using Brexit to play his own political games.
“Instead of working to thwart Brexit at this critical stage, Jeremy Corbyn should put the country’s interest before his party’s - by backing a deal that respects and delivers on the result of the referendum.”
But the party’s Remainers were jubilant with the decision.
Peter Kyle said: “I think it’s been part of our conference policy for a good six to eight months now, so I’m not surprised Labour has got to this point and the clock is ticking.”
“The truth is I have spoken to as many people from Conservative side as I have Labour. I have spoken to people in the Cabinet down to backbenches.
“Last week I had a Government minister call to meet up and discuss this deal.”
Fellow Remainer Stephen Doughty said: “It’s a very welcome step forwards.”
Lord Mandelson was delighted with the decision – saying a second referendum was now “inevitable”.
'WELCOME NEWS'
Tottenham MP and People’s Vote campaigner David Lammy said: “It is welcome news that the Labour Party is now, at long last, signalling it will accept the principle of giving the public the final say on Brexit.”
"Even if MPs can agree some sort of deal, it would be wrong to force it on the British people when we now know so many of the promises made in 2016 have been broken and any deal will be worse than the one we’ve already got inside the EU."
But other Remainers poured scorn on Mr Corbyn’s commitment - saying he was “just kicking the can down the road”.
Brexiteers also tore into Mr Corbyn’s annoucement, with the boss of the Leave Means Leave campaign John Longworth branding it a “cowardly decision from a man who should never be trusted with the Premiership of this country”.
Mr Corbyn faced claims that he only acted to back a second referendum to avoid more of his MPs quitting the party rather than actually liking the idea.
It comes after he lost eight MPs to the new Independent Group last week - most of whom blamed his reluctance to support a referendum.
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He added: “Leave Means Leave strongly believes no deal is no problem, however, if Corbyn and his comrades get their way it won’t just be no deal for the UK but no future either. This Brexit betrayal must be stopped.”
Jacob Rees Mogg told The Sun: “In an outburst of Socialist logic the Labour Party now backs a losers vote after those who most strongly campaigned for it have left to set up their new group.”
Meanwhile, Labour will also endorse an amendment by Yvette Cooper due to be voted on this Wednesday which would rule out No Deal by giving the Commons the right to delay Brexit instead.
Does Corbyn's U-turn bring a second referendum closer?
TODAY'S U-turn is the first time that Jeremy Corbyn has promised to back efforts to get a second referendum.
But a so-called "people's vote" is still some way away - with several more steps needed before it could actually happen.
And Westminster insiders suspect Mr Corbyn's move is more to do with keeping his MPs happy than trying to overturn Brexit - given his lifelong suspicion of the EU.
On Wednesday, the Commons will vote on the way forward for Brexit.
One of the amendments debated will express support for Labour's alternative Brexit deal which would keep Britain in the EU customs union.
Only if that motion fails - as seems almost certain - will Mr Corbyn formally back a second referendum.
Theresa May has vowed to bring her deal back to Parliament by March 12, and if it passes then Britain WILL quit the EU.
But if it fails, MPs will get a chance to vote on the next steps - and that would be the moment for Labour to support a referendum.
Even if Labour, the SNP, Lib Dems and Independents win enough Tory support to get a "people's vote", it's not clear what form the referendum would take.
No one knows whether it would have two or three choices on the ballot paper - with the PM's deal, No Deal and Remain all potential outcomes.
And to give Britain enough time for a second referendum, the EU would have to allow a delay of several months to the ongoing Brexit process.
Mr Corbyn has previously resisted all moves to reverse Brexit despite pleas from pro-EU Labour activists.
Today's move comes after nine of his MPs quit last week, with eight forming the anti-Brexit Independent Group.
It could end up backfiring by panicking Tory Brexiteers into voting for Mrs May's deal because they're worried it's the only way to deliver Brexit at all.
The Sun Says
SO that’s that. Labour WILL betray 17.4million Leave voters, as The Sun long ago predicted.
Corbyn has already committed to trying to postpone Brexit on March 29.
His conditional agreement to back a second referendum is a sickening reversal of his manifesto pledges to honour the first.
Imagine how Labour’s millions of duped Leavers will feel if his duplicity ends up negating their Brexit vote — after they helped him to a half-decent election performance in 2017.
Most of Labour’s at-risk marginal seats, and those they need to win, voted Leave. But Labour’s more paralysing fear is more Remainer MPs abandoning the party. They have clearly decided to throw their Leavers under the bus.
The party is now in desperate straits.
It’s not just Brexit. For years it has rubbished claims that it has been over-run by racist anti-Semites and rabidly hard-Left conspiracy lunatics. Now Corbyn’s ally Jon Lansman, founder of Momentum, admits that it’s all true.
“We have a major problem,” he says. “It is obvious we have a much larger number of people with hardcore anti-Semitic opinions . . . polluting the atmosphere in constituency parties and online.”
Deputy Leader Tom Watson is in open revolt, launching a “party within a party” to prevent more moderates defecting.
It may be too late. Corbyn’s own anti-Semitic extremism attracted all the racists and cranks who have forced out one Jewish MP and her colleagues. All the while he has faced both ways on Brexit.
If he is about to pay the price for it all, it is well deserved.
Jeremy Corbyn 'sad' nine MPs who quit Labour over anti-Semitism but REFUSES to change direction
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