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Brexit: Labour supports a referendum with caveats | Brexit: Labour supports a referendum with caveats |
(32 minutes later) | |
Labour's governing body has agreed to support a further referendum on Brexit under certain circumstances. | Labour's governing body has agreed to support a further referendum on Brexit under certain circumstances. |
The National Executive Committee met to decide the wording of its manifesto for May's European elections. | The National Executive Committee met to decide the wording of its manifesto for May's European elections. |
It rejected the idea of campaigning for a referendum under all circumstances - as supported by deputy leader Tom Watson and many Labour Party members. | It rejected the idea of campaigning for a referendum under all circumstances - as supported by deputy leader Tom Watson and many Labour Party members. |
But the party will demand a public vote if it cannot get changes to the government's deal or an election. | But the party will demand a public vote if it cannot get changes to the government's deal or an election. |
Labour is "the only party which represents both people who supported Leave and Remain", a spokesperson said. | Labour is "the only party which represents both people who supported Leave and Remain", a spokesperson said. |
The National Executive Committee (NEC) oversees the overall direction of the party and is made up of representatives including shadow cabinet members, MPs, councillors and trade unions. | The National Executive Committee (NEC) oversees the overall direction of the party and is made up of representatives including shadow cabinet members, MPs, councillors and trade unions. |
A Labour source 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." | A Labour source 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." |
BBC political correspondent Nick Eardley said pro-referendum Labour MPs seemed fairly happy with the NEC's "fudge". | |
Stephen Doughty described it as "great news" and Wes Streeting tweeted that the NEC had "made the right call and confirmed that a public vote will be in our manifesto for the European elections". | |
But fellow MP Bridget Phillipson said Labour had "done the bare minimum needed and I can only hope it will be enough to secure the support of all those millions of our voters demanding the final say on Brexit". | |
Conference policy | |
The UK will have to take part in European Parliamentary elections on 23 May unless a Brexit deal is accepted by MPs before then. | The UK will have to take part in European Parliamentary elections on 23 May unless a Brexit deal is accepted by MPs before then. |
Labour agreed a policy at its last conference that if Parliament voted down the government's withdrawal deal with the EU - which it has effectively done three times - or talks ended in no-deal, there should be a general election. | Labour agreed a policy at its last conference that if Parliament voted down the government's withdrawal deal with the EU - which it has effectively done three times - or talks ended in no-deal, there should be a general election. |
But if it could not force one, conference agreed that the party "must support all options remaining on the table, including campaigning for a public vote". | But if it could not force one, conference agreed that the party "must support all options remaining on the table, including campaigning for a public vote". |
Since then, though, Labour has entered into cross-party talks with the Conservatives to see if they can reach a consensus on how to get a Brexit deal through Parliament so that Britain can leave. | Since then, though, Labour has entered into cross-party talks with the Conservatives to see if they can reach a consensus on how to get a Brexit deal through Parliament so that Britain can leave. |
Many Labour members wanted the party to make its agreement to any deal conditional on it being put to a public vote - what Labour calls a "confirmatory ballot". | Many Labour members wanted the party to make its agreement to any deal conditional on it being put to a public vote - what Labour calls a "confirmatory ballot". |
Labour have not yet made clear what their proposed referendum would be on, but a party briefing paper to MPs published earlier this year said it would need to have "a credible Leave option and Remain" on the ballot paper. | Labour have not yet made clear what their proposed referendum would be on, but a party briefing paper to MPs published earlier this year said it would need to have "a credible Leave option and Remain" on the ballot paper. |
Where is Labour now? | |
On the surface it doesn't look like Labour's position has changed - but it has a little bit. | |
Tom Watson, along with some trade unions and some party members, wanted a full-throated commitment to a referendum under all circumstances. What they have ended up with instead is a compromise or a fudge. Labour will call for a referendum if the Conservatives don't make changes to their Brexit deal. | |
Some pro-referendum MPs aren't too disappointed because they believe the Conservatives won't move far enough and that leaves the door open to a referendum in the end anyway. | |
Others, though, are disappointed because they think this is a way of avoiding a clear commitment in the run-up to the European elections. | |
In truth, it puts the ball back into the Tories' court when it comes to those cross-party Brexit talks. | |
Jeremy Corbyn is saying to Theresa May "if you can compromise with us, we can hold back the tide of demands in our own party for a referendum." | |
That's the bargain he's offering. | |
Speaking ahead of the NEC's decision, Tom Watson, the party's deputy leader, said "the context has changed" since the 2018 party conference and Labour should now throw its full support behind a second referendum "to heal the divide in the country". | Speaking ahead of the NEC's decision, Tom Watson, the party's deputy leader, said "the context has changed" since the 2018 party conference and Labour should now throw its full support behind a second referendum "to heal the divide in the country". |
But shadow international trade secretary Barry Gardiner said it would be a change in Labour's policy, which is to "try to deliver on what people voted for" in the 2016 referendum. | But shadow international trade secretary Barry Gardiner said it would be a change in Labour's policy, which is to "try to deliver on what people voted for" in the 2016 referendum. |
After a meeting of the Parliamentary Labour Party on Monday night, MP Neil Coyle - who backs a public vote - said he had lost 500 members in his own constituency over the issue. | After a meeting of the Parliamentary Labour Party on Monday night, MP Neil Coyle - who backs a public vote - said he had lost 500 members in his own constituency over the issue. |
He said the NEC should "stand up for members or expect members to leave", claiming they could join Change UK - the new party made up of from former Labour and Tory MPs - instead, which is campaigning for a People's Vote. | He said the NEC should "stand up for members or expect members to leave", claiming they could join Change UK - the new party made up of from former Labour and Tory MPs - instead, which is campaigning for a People's Vote. |
The latest talks between the government and Labour on Monday were described as "positive" and "productive" by the PM's de facto deputy David Lidington. | The latest talks between the government and Labour on Monday were described as "positive" and "productive" by the PM's de facto deputy David Lidington. |
Labour's position on Brexit | Labour's position on Brexit |
June 2017 - Labour's general election manifesto accepts referendum result | June 2017 - Labour's general election manifesto accepts referendum result |
28 September 2018 - Labour agrees if a general election cannot be achieved it "must support all options… including campaigning for a public vote" | 28 September 2018 - Labour agrees if a general election cannot be achieved it "must support all options… including campaigning for a public vote" |
November 2018 - Shadow chancellor John McDonnell says Labour will "inevitably" back a second referendum if unable to secure general election | November 2018 - Shadow chancellor John McDonnell says Labour will "inevitably" back a second referendum if unable to secure general election |
16 January 2019 - 71 Labour MPs say they support a public vote | 16 January 2019 - 71 Labour MPs say they support a public vote |
6 February 2019 - Mr Corbyn writes a letter to Mrs May seeking five changes to her Brexit policy with no mention of a "People's Vote" | 6 February 2019 - Mr Corbyn writes a letter to Mrs May seeking five changes to her Brexit policy with no mention of a "People's Vote" |
25 February 2019 - Labour says it will back a public vote if its proposed Brexit deal is rejected | 25 February 2019 - Labour says it will back a public vote if its proposed Brexit deal is rejected |
14 March 2019 - Labour orders its MPs to abstain on an amendment calling for a second referendum | 14 March 2019 - Labour orders its MPs to abstain on an amendment calling for a second referendum |
27 March 2019 - The party instructs its MPs to support Margaret Beckett's amendment which calls for a confirmatory public vote on any Brexit deal | 27 March 2019 - The party instructs its MPs to support Margaret Beckett's amendment which calls for a confirmatory public vote on any Brexit deal |
30 April 2019 - NEC agrees that the European election manifesto will commit to a further referendum under certain circumstances |