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Brexit: Corbyn aides warn against pre-election referendum | Brexit: Corbyn aides warn against pre-election referendum |
(32 minutes later) | |
Labour officials close to Jeremy Corbyn are warning him to resist pressure to back a further Brexit referendum ahead of a general election. | Labour officials close to Jeremy Corbyn are warning him to resist pressure to back a further Brexit referendum ahead of a general election. |
These senior aides are concerned he is being pushed into a position which would delay a general election for some months by the shadow chancellor, John McDonnell, and other leading members of his shadow cabinet. | These senior aides are concerned he is being pushed into a position which would delay a general election for some months by the shadow chancellor, John McDonnell, and other leading members of his shadow cabinet. |
Behind the scenes, there is quite simply a major disagreement. | Behind the scenes, there is quite simply a major disagreement. |
Senior Labour figures have been discussing how to respond if Boris Johnson presents a Brexit deal to Parliament this coming Saturday. | Senior Labour figures have been discussing how to respond if Boris Johnson presents a Brexit deal to Parliament this coming Saturday. |
Some shadow cabinet members such as Ian Lavery and Jon Trickett would want the deal voted down, a vote of no confidence to follow swiftly, and an alternative administration put in place to ask for a Brexit extension and call an election. | Some shadow cabinet members such as Ian Lavery and Jon Trickett would want the deal voted down, a vote of no confidence to follow swiftly, and an alternative administration put in place to ask for a Brexit extension and call an election. |
But another powerful group - including Mr McDonnell and deputy leader Tom Watson - are pressing for a referendum ahead of a general election. | But another powerful group - including Mr McDonnell and deputy leader Tom Watson - are pressing for a referendum ahead of a general election. |
One possibility would be to seek to amend a Boris Johnson deal to make it subject to a public vote. | One possibility would be to seek to amend a Boris Johnson deal to make it subject to a public vote. |
But in correspondence seen by the BBC, some of Mr Corbyn's closest advisers are warning against taking this route. | But in correspondence seen by the BBC, some of Mr Corbyn's closest advisers are warning against taking this route. |
First, they believe a referendum will not gain enough votes in the House of Commons so the Labour leader will be seen to have failed in pushing for one. | First, they believe a referendum will not gain enough votes in the House of Commons so the Labour leader will be seen to have failed in pushing for one. |
Second, he risks being portrayed as trying to duck out of a general election - which will then be used against him by his opponents when the election does eventually come. | Second, he risks being portrayed as trying to duck out of a general election - which will then be used against him by his opponents when the election does eventually come. |
And third, even if successful, there would be no electoral mandate for a new referendum in any case. | And third, even if successful, there would be no electoral mandate for a new referendum in any case. |
One aide has warned Mr Corbyn is at risk of being bounced into a position that he really doesn't want to be in. | One aide has warned Mr Corbyn is at risk of being bounced into a position that he really doesn't want to be in. |
But those aides are concerned the Labour leader is now ignoring the advice of long-standing colleagues. | But those aides are concerned the Labour leader is now ignoring the advice of long-standing colleagues. |
'A slow coup' | 'A slow coup' |
Key members of his office - including chief of staff Karie Murphy - were moved to Labour's HQ recently. | Key members of his office - including chief of staff Karie Murphy - were moved to Labour's HQ recently. |
This was widely seen as an attempt to sideline some of Mr Corbyn's staunch defenders who also oppose campaigning on a Remain platform in any general election. | |
Continuing members of staff are now having informal meetings, albeit with Mr Corbyn's agreement, to discuss their roles with Lord Kerslake - a former senior civil servant who has been an unpaid adviser to the shadow chancellor. | Continuing members of staff are now having informal meetings, albeit with Mr Corbyn's agreement, to discuss their roles with Lord Kerslake - a former senior civil servant who has been an unpaid adviser to the shadow chancellor. |
I understand Mr Lavery and Mr Trickett have questioned the wisdom of embarking on a review of the leader's office now, while one insider said "we should be focusing on taking on the Tories rather than having consultants in to look at the staff." | I understand Mr Lavery and Mr Trickett have questioned the wisdom of embarking on a review of the leader's office now, while one insider said "we should be focusing on taking on the Tories rather than having consultants in to look at the staff." |
One Corbyn supporter described the process as "very serious" and suggested it was like witnessing a "slow coup". | One Corbyn supporter described the process as "very serious" and suggested it was like witnessing a "slow coup". |
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