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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.
Labour's divisions over Brexit Where is Labour now?
Labour's deputy leader Tom Watson is campaigning for a vote on any deal - including one that Jeremy Corbyn might negotiate. On the surface it doesn't look like Labour's position has changed - but it has a little bit.
An ally of the party leader on the NEC , Claudia Webbe, has denounced Tom Watson as "divisive". 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.
But, in truth, he is merely highlighting the divisions which are already there. 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.
Some Labour MPs in Leave areas want no mention of a second referendum - a view shared by some of the leader's shadow cabinet allies. Others, though, are disappointed because they think this is a way of avoiding a clear commitment in the run-up to the European elections.
Others can live with the current formulation of a heavily caveated commitment to a referendum as a last resort. In truth, it puts the ball back into the Tories' court when it comes to those cross-party Brexit talks.
But the need to fight European elections has led 34 of the party's candidates to say that this ambiguity is no longer sustainable, and around 100 MPs from across the party agree with them. 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."
They wanted a clear commitment to a referendum under all circumstances. That's the bargain he's offering.
Read Iain's analysis in full
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 shadow environment secretary Sue Hayman said there had been "really constructive discussion", with the two parties "getting much more into the nuts and bolts of the detail", and said that she believed the government was "open to moving forward in our direction".
But Labour's shadow attorney general Shami Chakrabarti said it was for Labour frontbenchers involved in the Brexit talks with government to tell the NEC whether there was "any hope now of a sensible, jobs-first Brexit deal" or whether "the only means of breaking the deadlock is a confirmatory vote".
Labour's position on BrexitLabour's position on Brexit
June 2017 - Labour's general election manifesto accepts referendum resultJune 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 electionNovember 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 vote16 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 rejected25 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 referendum14 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 deal27 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