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Brexit: Labour would offer 'credible Leave option' in referendum | |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Jeremy Corbyn has promised a further referendum on Brexit with a "credible Leave option" if his party wins the next general election. | |
He said Labour was "ready" for the campaign, but its "priority" was to stop a no-deal Brexit. | |
The statement comes after union leaders called for a Leave option from Labour. | |
But some senior party figures - close Corbyn allies - say they will campaign to stay in the EU in any circumstances, even if Labour negotiates its own deal. | |
They include shadow chancellor John McDonnell and shadow foreign secretary Emily Thornberry, who have both said remaining would be the best thing for the UK. | |
Mr Corbyn was due to meet union leaders on Tuesday to discuss the issue. | |
He has not said whether he would campaign for Remain or a Labour Leave deal if he became prime minister. | |
The BBCs political correspondent, Iain Watson, said senior Labour figures had been arguing that backing Remain would recover ground lost to the pro-EU Liberal Democrats in recent elections. | The BBCs political correspondent, Iain Watson, said senior Labour figures had been arguing that backing Remain would recover ground lost to the pro-EU Liberal Democrats in recent elections. |
Pro-Remain Labour activists are also hoping the party's conference later this month will commit the leadership to backing Remain under all circumstances. | Pro-Remain Labour activists are also hoping the party's conference later this month will commit the leadership to backing Remain under all circumstances. |
But, while Labour-affiliated unions - including Unite, who are one of the party's biggest backers - would rather stay in the EU than have no deal, they believe a Corbyn government should offer voters a choice in a referendum between a negotiated deal and Remain. | |
'Ready to unleash' | |
Speaking to the TUC conference in Brighton on Tuesday, he said: "Our priority is first to stop no-deal and then to trigger a general election. | |
"No one can trust the word of a prime minister who is threatening to break the law to force through no deal. | |
"So a general election is coming, but we won't allow Johnson to dictate the terms." | |
He added: "We're ready for that election. We're ready to unleash the biggest people-powered campaign we've ever seen. | |
"And in that election we will commit to a public vote with a credible option to leave and the option to remain." | |
Where do the other Westminster parties stand on Brexit? | |
Conservatives - 288 MPs | |
Prime Minister Boris Johnson has said he wants to leave the EU on 31 October "do or die". He says he wants to leave with a deal, but is willing to exit without one to ensure Brexit goes ahead by the current deadline. | |
SNP - 35 MPs | |
The SNP is pro-Remain and wants the UK to stay a member of the EU. It has been campaigning for another referendum on Brexit, and if it were to get one, would support Remain. | |
Liberal Democrats - 17 MPs | |
The Lib Dems also want to stay in the EU and have another referendum to achieve their goal - to revoke Article 50 (the law that sees the UK having to leave the bloc). | |
Democratic Unionist Party - 10 MPs | |
The DUP has a confidence and supply agreement with the Conservatives, giving them their support in the Commons. They are backing the PM's plans to leave the EU with or without a deal at the end of October. | |
The Independent Group for Change - 5 MPs | |
This party is made up of MPs who left the Conservatives and Labour because of their positions on Brexit (as well as allegations of anti-Semitism in the Labour Party). They back another referendum, or "People's Vote", and want the UK to remain in the EU. | |
Plaid Cymru - 4 MPs | |
The Welsh Party backs remaining in the EU, despite Wales voting out in the referendum. They want a further referendum and to Remain. | |
Green Party - 1 MP | |
The party's one MP, Caroline Lucas, has been a vocal campaigner for another referendum and believes the UK should stay in the EU. |