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European elections 2019: Call for 'urgent' Labour Brexit change | European elections 2019: Call for 'urgent' Labour Brexit change |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Senior Labour figures have called for an urgent change in the party's Brexit policy after "disastrous" EU election results. | Senior Labour figures have called for an urgent change in the party's Brexit policy after "disastrous" EU election results. |
As Labour fell to third place, deputy leader Tom Watson said: "We need a change of direction urgently." | As Labour fell to third place, deputy leader Tom Watson said: "We need a change of direction urgently." |
Shadow foreign secretary Emily Thornberry said Labour should now campaign to remain in the EU. | Shadow foreign secretary Emily Thornberry said Labour should now campaign to remain in the EU. |
But Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said the party would "bring our divided country together". | But Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said the party would "bring our divided country together". |
With some results still to declare, Labour was on course for less than 15% of the vote - worse than the party's previous low in 2009 - and a fifth place finish in Scotland. | With some results still to declare, Labour was on course for less than 15% of the vote - worse than the party's previous low in 2009 - and a fifth place finish in Scotland. |
In a statement, Mr Watson said the likely election of a "hardline Brexiteer" as Conservative leader put additional pressure on Labour to change its approach. | In a statement, Mr Watson said the likely election of a "hardline Brexiteer" as Conservative leader put additional pressure on Labour to change its approach. |
He said: "It is now a serious concern that the next Tory Prime Minister runs down the clock until 31 October and crashes out of the EU with no deal. We cannot let that happen. | He said: "It is now a serious concern that the next Tory Prime Minister runs down the clock until 31 October and crashes out of the EU with no deal. We cannot let that happen. |
"Labour is rightly calling for a general election. But we cannot go into an election with our current Brexit position." | "Labour is rightly calling for a general election. But we cannot go into an election with our current Brexit position." |
Ms Thornberry told the BBC that Labour's EU election campaign lacked clarity on Brexit. "We were not clear on the one single thing that people wanted to hear," she said. | Ms Thornberry told the BBC that Labour's EU election campaign lacked clarity on Brexit. "We were not clear on the one single thing that people wanted to hear," she said. |
She said Labour had done "everything we can to try and get a decent policy on leaving the European Union" but now faced a Conservative leadership which would "insist" on a no-deal Brexit. | She said Labour had done "everything we can to try and get a decent policy on leaving the European Union" but now faced a Conservative leadership which would "insist" on a no-deal Brexit. |
The party must be "equally clear" by supporting another referendum and campaigning to remain, she said. | The party must be "equally clear" by supporting another referendum and campaigning to remain, she said. |
Former Labour communications director Alastair Campbell told the BBC he had voted for the Liberal Democrats "for the first time in my life". | Former Labour communications director Alastair Campbell told the BBC he had voted for the Liberal Democrats "for the first time in my life". |
"I felt on this issue the Labour party has let its own supporters down, its members down and the country down in the way that it has failed properly to develop a policy that the party and country could unite around." | "I felt on this issue the Labour party has let its own supporters down, its members down and the country down in the way that it has failed properly to develop a policy that the party and country could unite around." |
Shadow justice secretary Richard Burgon admitted it had been a "deeply disappointing night" for his party. | |
He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme a no-deal Brexit was becoming more and more likely and Labour must "use whatever mechanism we can" - including a public vote - to stop such a scenario. | |
'Challenging on the doorstep' | 'Challenging on the doorstep' |
Mr Corbyn blamed the results on "Tory failure" to deliver Brexit, turning the EU elections into a "proxy second referendum" where single-issue parties such as the Brexit Party would thrive. | |
He said: "With the Conservatives disintegrating and unable to govern, and parliament deadlocked, this issue will have to go back to the people, whether through a general election or a public vote. | He said: "With the Conservatives disintegrating and unable to govern, and parliament deadlocked, this issue will have to go back to the people, whether through a general election or a public vote. |
"Labour will bring our divided country together so we can end austerity and tackle inequality." | "Labour will bring our divided country together so we can end austerity and tackle inequality." |
But Labour's MPs are divided on Brexit with some - like former leadership contender Owen Smith - supporting a change in Labour policy to back remaining in the EU. | But Labour's MPs are divided on Brexit with some - like former leadership contender Owen Smith - supporting a change in Labour policy to back remaining in the EU. |
Labour MP for Tottenham, David Lammy, called for the party to "get its act together" and come out fully in support of another referendum. | Labour MP for Tottenham, David Lammy, called for the party to "get its act together" and come out fully in support of another referendum. |
"We simply cannot go on with this mealy-mouthed approach to a confirmatory vote," he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme. | "We simply cannot go on with this mealy-mouthed approach to a confirmatory vote," he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme. |
He said the party's lack of clarity on Brexit had "resuscitated the Liberal Democrats" and "handed votes to the Greens" as well as "facilitated Nigel Farage's Brexit Party". | He said the party's lack of clarity on Brexit had "resuscitated the Liberal Democrats" and "handed votes to the Greens" as well as "facilitated Nigel Farage's Brexit Party". |
Other Labour MPs in Leave-voting areas - like Don Valley MP Caroline Flint - said it would be a "mistake" for the party to appeal only to Remain voters. | Other Labour MPs in Leave-voting areas - like Don Valley MP Caroline Flint - said it would be a "mistake" for the party to appeal only to Remain voters. |
Labour chairman Ian Lavery told BBC Radio 4 that the results were disappointing, but that the Conservatives performed worse, suffering a "whiteout". | Labour chairman Ian Lavery told BBC Radio 4 that the results were disappointing, but that the Conservatives performed worse, suffering a "whiteout". |
He said: "We're the party who try to bring everyone together, it's been challenging trying to get that view across on the doorstep." | He said: "We're the party who try to bring everyone together, it's been challenging trying to get that view across on the doorstep." |