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Emily Thornberry challenged Jeremy Corbyn by pushing for a referendum before a general election today saying “there is life after Brexit”.
She made the comments while the Labour leader was giving a speech in Northampton in which he made clear his view was a general election should come first and then a second referendum.
Ms Thornberry, the shadow foreign secretary, told the BBC’s Victoria Derbyshire: “My concern is if we had a general election it would be a quasi-referendum. It would be all about in or out or what kind of deal. I can see the sense in trying to have a referendum first.”
Mr Corbyn is at odds with many of his MPs who want a second vote before a general election. Asked if she was lobbying Mr Corbyn on the issue, Ms Thornberry said: “A number of us are trying to think of a way through this.
“If all of the oxygen is swallowed up on the issue of Brexit, the decision we make on Brexit will ensure what government is in for five years. There is life after Brexit and we need to have an appropriate government for that.”
Labour MP for Newcastle North Catherine McKinnell said this morning: “If you what to know what the public think about Brexit — ask them about Brexit — then have a General Election about who you want to run the country.”
Meanwhile, Hove and Portslade Labour MP Peter Kyle said on ITV’s Peston last night it would be “irresponsible” to have a general election before Brexit is resolved.
Following his speech today, Mr Corbyn was asked whether, if an extension was secured, he would commit to an election before a referendum.
Mr Corbyn doubled-down on his stance, saying: “The second referendum is what we proposed under a Labour government when it’s been elected. Our absolute priority is to make sure no deal is taken off the table and an extension of membership [to the EU] is required … after an election a Labour government would introduce legislation to ensure a referendum takes place between the agreement we would reach with the EU and remain.”
Also today the Labour MP for South Shields Emma Lewell-Buck threatened the party with legal action claiming misogynistic bullying had made her life “hell”.
She is currently facing deselection under the Labour Party’s trigger ballot process. Her lawyers claim she has been subjected to six years of abuse from members of her local group and allege the party has failed to investigate numerous complaints.
In a message to the Labour Party today, she said: “Please stop stonewalling and denying the hell I have been through and am still going through. I feel so utterly let down.”
A Labour source denied that the party failed to properly investigate complaints.
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