Jeremy Corbyn backs second Brexit referendum
Change of strategy comes after MPs rejected his alternative plan
Jeremy Corbyn says Labour will back a second EU referendum after his alternative Brexit plan was defeated in the House of Commons.
The Labour leader said: “We will back a public vote in order to prevent a damaging Tory Brexit or a disastrous no deal outcome.” However, he added that the party would “also continue to push for the other available options” to prevent those outcomes, including a general election.
Sky News says the announcement “marks a significant shift in Labour's strategy”, but The Times suggests Corbyn’s statement was “ambiguous”.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
It came after the Labour Party’s proposal for a Brexit deal, based on a customs union with Europe, was defeated by 240 votes to 323. Ken Clarke, the Conservative former cabinet minister, rebelled to support Labour’s amendment while one Labour MP, Stephen Hepburn, voted against it.
MPs also rejected the Scottish National Party’s amendment ruling out a no deal Brexit under any circumstances by 288 votes to 324. However, Labour MP Yvette Cooper's amendment, which the government supported, was backed by 502 votes to 20.
Although the outcome of last night’s votes has seen Corbyn back a second referendum, some are already doubtful that he will see it through. The scepticism grew after frontbencher Richard Burgon continued to focus on Labour’s deal, rather than a second poll.
Taking to Twitter, he wrote: “Disappointing that Labour’s Brexit motion didn’t pass. But given parliament looks set to extend Article 50, there’ll be further opportunities to secure support for Labour’s alternative Brexit deal.”
This lead to former shadow cabinet minister Owen Smith, a regular critic of the Labour leader, saying: "I expect Jeremy Corbyn to throw his full weight behind campaigning for a public vote.” David Lammy MP said it was clear that Labour’s alternative plan “cannot command a majority” and that MPs must “put this decision back to the people” in the form of a new referendum.
John McDonnell told ITV that “when the meaningful vote comes back” to MPs, “that’s the time when we will have to put the amendment up”.
However, to the dismay of those pushing for a second referendum, he continued to bang the drum for other options, adding: “We are still going to argue that we want a general election, we are still going to argue we think our deal that we have put up was the best option. But we realise we have got to break this deadlock.”
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Geoff Capes obituary: shot-putter who became the World’s Strongest Man
In the Spotlight The 'mighty figure' was a two-time Commonwealth Champion and world-record holder
By The Week UK Published
-
Israel attacks Iran: a 'limited' retaliation
Talking Point Iran's humiliated leaders must decide how to respond to Netanyahu's measured strike
By The Week UK Published
-
Crossword: November 2, 2024
The Week's daily crossword puzzle
By The Week Staff Published
-
What is the next Tory leader up against?
Today's Big Question Kemi Badenoch or Robert Jenrick will have to unify warring factions and win back disillusioned voters – without alienating the centre ground
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
What is Lammy hoping to achieve in China?
Today's Big Question Foreign secretary heads to Beijing as Labour seeks cooperation on global challenges and courts opportunities for trade and investment
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Is Britain about to 'boil over'?
Today's Big Question A message shared across far-right groups listed more than 30 potential targets for violence in the UK today
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
UK's Starmer slams 'far-right thuggery' at riots
Speed Read The anti-immigrant violence was spurred by false rumors that the suspect in the Southport knife attack was an immigrant
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
How could J.D. Vance impact the special relationship?
Today's Big Question Trump's hawkish pick for VP said UK is the first 'truly Islamist country' with a nuclear weapon
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
The Tamils stranded on 'secretive' British island in Indian Ocean
Under the Radar Migrants 'unlawfully detained' since 2021 shipwreck on UK-controlled Diego Garcia, site of important US military base
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
How conservative is Labour?
Today's big question Keir Starmer's party triumphed in the general election despite prioritising 'wealth creation and growth, not redistribution'
By Abby Wilson Published
-
Britain's Labour Party wins in a landslide
Speed Read The Conservatives were unseated after 14 years of rule
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published