Brexit: Labour split on 2nd referendum as Corbyn says public vote 'only way out'

Labour’s split over a second EU referendum deepened today after Jeremy Corbyn said a public vote is the “only way out” of the Brexit crisis.

The Labour leader appeared to be inching closer to a so-called People’s Vote last night, when he said “the only way out of the Brexit crisis ripping our country apart is now to go back to the people”.

In the comments released overnight, he added: “Let the people decide the country’s future, either in a general election or through a public vote on any deal agreed by parliament.

“For Labour any outcome has to work for our whole country, not just one side of this deliberately inflamed divide.”

The pro-referendum TSSA union and People’s Vote campaign claimed Mr Corbyn’s intervention was a step towards a ballot on Brexit.

But it prompted other union allies, including Dave Ward of the CWU and Len McCluskey of Unite, to warn Mr Corbyn against a second referendum.

And interviewed at lunchtime today, Mr Corbyn stressed a a public vote is still “some way off” – adding he doesn’t back a “re-run” of the 2016 referendum.

Mr Corbyn said: “If Parliament comes to an agreement then it’s reasonable, if Parliament wishes it, there should be a public vote on it.

“But that is some way off.

“The important thing now is to prevent this government, which doesn’t have a majority, which is incapable of legislating, from leading us into crashing out of the EU at the end of October.”

He added: “The referendum would be on a negotiated deal or alternatives to that. It’s not a rerun of 2016.”

Mr Corbyn met Irish premier Leo Varadkar today in Dublin, where they shared their “serious concerns” about the “dangers” of no-deal Brexit.

A spokesman for Mr Varadkar said the pair held “detailed discussions” on Northern Ireland, Brexit and “the current political situation in Westminster”.

Labour’s leader also met President Michael D Higgins at Aras an Uachtarain.

Mr Corbyn was shielded from the media on his way into Government Buildings.

The Labour leader has been under intense pressure to explicitly back a referendum on Brexit after the EU elections saw his party suffer heavy losses.

Divisions were inflamed by the decision to expel Blairite Alastair Campbell for voting for the Lib Dems – helping them clinch second place.

TSSA General Secretary Manuel Cortes said Mr Corbyn’s commitment to go back to the people was a “massive step forward”.

He added: “We really welcome Jeremy’s unequivocal commitment to a public vote on any Brexit deal in the absence of a general election and doing whatever it takes to stop a no-deal Brexit.

“This is a massive step forward for our Party which will delight our members and voters alike. 

“However, in the interest of straight-talking politics, we also need to clearly spell out that Labour will campaign in favour of Remain in any public vote.

“And, should we get into government before that time, we will remain committed to giving the people of our country the final say on Brexit.”

Labour MP Bridget Phillipson of the People’s Vote campaign said her leader was “at last beginning to listen to what our voters and members are saying.”

She added: “There is no immediate prospect of a General Election.

“That is why it is now vital Labour follows through on its clearly stated conference policy by campaigning for the only available fair and democratic solution to the Brexit crisis – a People’s Vote that gives the public the final say.”

Last night Labour’s deputy leader Tom Watson claimed 84% of members and supporters he surveyed wanted an all-member ballot to decide Labour’s policy.

“As deputy leader I’ll support them to make this happen,” he added.

But Unite general secretary Len McCluskey said Labour was not signed up to a second referendum “at all”.

He told ITV: “In fact my message to the Labour Party is, don’t be spooked by these Euro elections.

“This is a time to be calm, yes we need to reflect on where we are but all the Euro election results told us was that we have a divided nation.

“We knew that anyway. In many respects this is the second referendum that people have been looking for.”

And CWU general secretary said that while Labour needs to “jump off the fence”, “I don’t think we should be backing a second referendum.”

Instead he called for “soft Brexit”, telling Sky News: “My concern is I’ve become increasingly concerned with the attitudes of some people who are trying to turn this into some sort of culture war.

“I think this is very very dangerous, it’s playing into the hands of the Brexit Party, the likes of Tommy Robinson.

“It’s abandoning working class people and not listening to their concerns. That is the biggest threat to getting Labour elected.”