- Labour party NEC accepts to support the referendum
- Pro-referendum MPs are upbeat
- The ball is back in Tories’ court
UK Labour Party’s National Executive Committee will support a further referendum on Brexit but under particular circumstances. The committee came to an agreement during a meeting to decide on the wording on the Party’s manifesto for May’s European elections.
Demand a Public Vote
According to the BBC, the party issued a statement following a five-hour crunch meeting to say they had agreed on the manifesto. The outcome of the meeting seemed to mark a defeat for the Party’s deputy leader, Tom Watson, who has been publicly pushing for any kind of deal, agreed with the government in cross-party talks to become the subject of a confirmatory referendum. But the party will demand a public vote if it cannot get changes to the government’s deal or an election. A source from within the party said:
“The NEC agreed the manifesto which will be fully in line with Labour’s existing policy; to support Labour’s alternative plan and, if we can’t get the necessary changes to the government’s deal, or a general election, to back the option of a public vote.”
Labour party MPs who strongly support a second Brexit referendum hailed the statement which they say was the first public commitment by their party to support a referendum. According to sources, Watson had earlier on staged a walkout from a shadow cabinet meeting that was discussing the issue when a draft text was not provided. Watson told reporters:
“In the last few days, most of my colleagues on the NEC have been inundated with thousands of e-mails from Labour members who are saying that Labour voters recognize the parliamentary failure and they think that the only way to break this impasse is a people’s vote on any deal that parliament can agree.”
Await the Outcome of Debate
Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn has all along been keen to avoid his party issuing an all-throated “Remain” message especially in the run-up to local elections. Corbyn has emphasized the importance of listening to the members and European parliamentary candidates who support their position. However, he said they would await the outcome of the debate at the shadow cabinet and the National Executive Council. A party spokesperson stated:
“Labour is the only party which represents both people who supported Leave and Remain. We are working to bring the country together after the chaos and crisis created by the Tories.”
Pro-referendum MPs are content because they believe that Conservatives won’t move far enough and that creates an opportunity for the referendum. However, some are disappointed as they believe the vote is a way of skirting from a commitment in the run-up to European elections. The decision by Labor party now pulls the ball back into the Tories’ court as far as cross-party Brexit talks are concerned. Their message to Theresa May is:
“If you can compromise with us, we can hold back the tide of demands in our own party for a referendum.”
