Jeremy Corbyn risks remainers’ wrath as he refuses to officially support second referendum saying there are ‘other options’
JEREMY Corbyn risked outrage from Labour ‘Remainers’ by refusing to officially throw support behind a second referendum - saying there were still “other options”.
Shadow Brexit ministers insisted Labour would immediately back a ‘People’s Vote’ after its alternative Brexit plan was defeated by 323 votes to 240 in the Commons.
Shadow Brexit Secretary Keir Starmer announced Labour would now move to the next step of backing a second referendum - telling the Commons: “If this amendment is defeated and the PM refuses to negotiate a close economic relationship, Labour will support or put forward an amendment in favour of a public vote. That public vote would include a credible leave option and Remain.
“It could be attached to the Prime Minister’s deal, what I’ve called a lock against a damaging Tory Brexit. Or it could be attached to any deal that managed to win a majority in the House of Commons.”
But a spokesman for Mr Corbyn’s spokesman contradicted them - saying a second referendum was only one of several options.
The spokesman said: “We support a public vote in order to prevent no deal or a damaging Tory Brexit.
“But of course we will continue to push for the other options as well to prevent those outcomes including our alternative plan, or a close economic relationship based on our alternative plan and of course also - if possible - a General Election.”
And in a further sign of division, Unite boss Len McCluskey declared there was “little support for a second referendum” among Britain’s factory workers.
In the Commons on Tuesday, Labour MP for Stoke Central Gareth Snell attacked his party’s Brexit policy - claiming it appeared as though it wanted to reverse Brexit “at any cost”.
But the new Independent Group of MPs attacked Labour for failing to back their second referendum amendment in Tuesday night’s votes, which meant it didn’t even get called for a vote.
Chris Leslie blasted: “Today yet another chance has been missed to secure a People’s Vote and break this Brexit impasse.”
Meanwhile last night the US billionaire David Rubenstein said a second referendum was “the only solution” that could break the Brexit impasse.
What did MPs vote on today in the Commons?
A SERIES of Brexit votes took place in the House of Commons tonight.
A - Jeremy Corbyn's Brexit deal (rejected 323 - 240)
The Labour boss wanted to force the PM to try for a customs union with the bloc.
K - SNP's, banning No Deal (rejected 324 - 288)
This would accept that the Commons won't leave the EU without a deal at all, regardless of any Brexit date.
C - Cooper-Letwin bill paving amendment (not moved so no vote)
This would have given MPs the right to take control of Brexit and delay it if there were no Brexit deal in place by March 18.
B - Alberto Costa's EU citizens rights (accepted by the Government, passed with no vote)
This will force the PM to seek a joint EU-UK deal on citizens rights no matter what happens with her Brexit deal.
F - Spelman/Dromey's to enshrine PM's Brexit extension promise (accepted and passed 502 - 20)
This notes the PM's commitment to hold a vote on extending Article 50, which she promised in the House of Commons yesterday. If MPs reject the deal and reject leaving with No Deal, she will have to bring forward legislation to change our EU exit date and delay Brexit.
But this isn't legally binding on the PM.
He claimed Brexit was hurting US economic growth. He told a private equity conference in Berlin: “It’s difficult for an American to come to Europe and tell Europeans how to run their country because we haven’t run ours perfectly.
“So it’s hard for me to give advice to people in England.
“But I do think that the only solution that I can see that would make sense to resolve this problem is a revote. The first vote was — you could say — not relatively informed because it wasn’t clear what Brexit really meant. Now it is clear.”
The 20 Tories who voted against Mrs May's plans for votes on No Deal and extending Article 50:
Lucy Allan (Conservative - Telford)
John Baron (Conservative - Basildon and Billericay)
Bob Blackman (Conservative - Harrow East)
William Cash (Conservative - Stone)
Rehman Chishti (Conservative - Gillingham and Rainham)
David T. C. Davies (Conservative - Monmouth)
Philip Davies (Conservative - Shipley)
Richard Drax (Conservative - South Dorset)
Philip Hollobone (Conservative - Kettering)
Gareth Johnson (Conservative - Dartford)
Esther McVey (Conservative - Tatton)
Nigel Mills (Conservative - Amber Valley)
Anne Marie Morris (Conservative - Newton Abbot)
Tom Pursglove (Conservative - Corby)
Henry Smith (Conservative - Crawley)
Bob Stewart (Conservative - Beckenham)
Desmond Swayne (Conservative - New Forest West)
Robert Syms (Conservative - Poole)
Michael Tomlinson (Conservative - Mid Dorset and North Poole)
Martin Vickers (Conservative - Cleethorpes)
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