Jeremy Corbyn sparked a fresh row with his party today by promising a new Brexit referendum after the next general election while refusing to say if he would back Leave or Remain.
Labour’s leader vowed to support “going back to the people” but with conditions that clashed with pro-EU activists intending to launch motions against the party’s fence-sitting at a party conference next week.
Mr Corbyn set out his plans in a Guardian article promising to negotiate a new deal keeping Britain in a customs union and close trading relationship with the EU.
This “credible leave offer” would then be put to the public with Remain as the only other option on the ballot paper.
He wrote: “I pledge to carry out whatever the people decide, as a Labour prime minister.”
Aides to the leader denied reports that he had decided to be neutral during the referendum campaign, saying he would decide his stance at the time and deliver whatever choice the public made.
However, the formula clashes with positions taken by shadow cabinet members John McDonnell, Emily Thornberry and Tom Watson who have already said they would campaign for Remain against any deal.
Moreover, allies say Mr Corbyn expects the next general election to be held in two months, a timetable that rules out calls from deputy leader Mr Watson for a referendum ahead of any election.
Reaction to his proposal was mixed.
Sedgefield MP Phil Wilson, a supporter of the People’s Vote campaign, welcomed the commitment to “back a confirmatory referendum” but went on: “There will be many people worried that Jeremy staying neutral in a final say referendum would not really be a sustainable position.”
He added: “At next week’s party conference, we will… show we’re a party that recognises that any form of Brexit is not as good as staying in the EU.”
Labour peer Stewart Wood tweeted an image of a pro-EU pamphlet issued by ex-Labour premier Harold Wilson during the 1975 referendum, to disprove claims that Mr Corbyn would be copying his predecessor’s tactics if he stayed neutral.
Read More
He said: “[Wilson] was not neutral. He led a government that sent this pamphlet to every household in the UK. Its view was clear.”
Senior MP Karen Buck said she would personally “campaign wholeheartedly for Remain”.
