Labour Brexit policy explained: EU election manifesto pledge and why it's a row

Just like the choosing of a new Pope, we’ve seen white smoke.

Only this time it’s from a nondescript room in Labour’s Westminster HQ where 41 party officials have been thrashing out a Brexit policy.

Labour chiefs today agreed what the party will say about a second referendum in the May 23 EU elections.

Labour WILL back a second referendum – but only if it can’t get a general election or changes to Theresa May’s deal.

It was subject to a huge row in the run-up to the decision, with Tom Watson, who wanted Labour to go further, walking out of a meeting.

Now that it’s over, everyone is trying to claim victory.

So what has actually been agreed and what does it mean? Here’s a quick guide.

What has been agreed?

Labour has agreed its Brexit manifesto pledge for the European Parliament elections on May 23.

The carefully-formed wording was signed off by the party’s 41-member ruling National Executive Committee (NEC) at a gruelling five-hour meeting today.

The manifesto will say Labour backs “the option of” a second referendum on Brexit – but only in certain circumstances.

These are if Labour can’t get a general election; or can’t get the “necessary changes” to Theresa May ’s Brexit deal.

Otherwise, Labour is still pushing ahead with its own Brexit plan. And talks with the Tory government about a compromise Brexit plan are continuing.

Why is there a party row?

Remain figures, including deputy leader Tom Watson, wanted to go much further – by demanding a public vote on any Brexit deal that is agreed.

Under their plan, any deal would have been put to a “confirmatory” referendum letting the public choose between that deal and Remain.

Pro-EU Labour backers sent more than 2,000 e-mails to the NEC urging them to back a “confirmatory” vote on any deal.

The Unison, GMB and Usdaw unions – who all have NEC reps – also demanded the manifesto included the policy, as did key members of the pro-Corbyn group Momentum.

And more than 100 MPs and MEPs demanded it too.

Who ‘won’ today?

Allies of Jeremy Corbyn won a victory by ensuring the more nuanced wording went into the manifesto.

According to reports, Remain-backers on the NEC – led by the TSSA union – tried to pass an amendment that would have committed to a referendum on any Brexit deal.

But it was easily defeated, according to reports.

The agreed plan means there will not be a public vote under all circumstances. That’s been branded a “fudge” by some Remainers and leaves much more wriggle room later on.

However, it also acknowledges fears that becoming the ‘referendum’ or ‘Remain’ party would alienate voters in Labour’s northern heartlands.

So why are Remain MPs claiming victory?

Despite apparently losing the day, Remain MPs celebrated.

That’s because they believe the “necessary changes” to Theresa May’s deal won’t be achieved – because talks with Labour have been grinding on for weeks.

And that means in the end, Labour will be forced to back a public vote.

A Remain-backing Labour MP told the Mirror: “I can’t see how they will get the necessary changes.

“And in any case, the overwhelming majority of Labour MPs will not back a deal without a confirmatory vote attached. Simple as that. Numbers haven’t changed.”

Labour Remainer Ian Murray added: “Given there won’t be a general election and the Tories will agree customs union and single market, the manifesto commits to a public vote.”

They’re also relieved that the words “public vote” will appear in a Labour manifesto – which, after all, is a big shift from the party’s stance a year ago.

Labour Remainer Wes Streeting said the NEC had “made the right call and confirmed that a public vote will be in our manifesto”.

So… this means all things to all people?

Yes.

Compare the Remainers’ claims to Gloria De Piero, who represents a Leave seat. She said the manifesto “will not contain a pledge to hold a second referendum.”

Or Labour’s many hard Remain enemies, like Nicola Sturgeon. The SNP leader said: “Labour is a Brexit supporting party.”

Even second referendum campaigns Best For Britain and People’s Vote couldn’t agree whether Labour’s policy was a good thing.

Best For Britain’s Naomi Smith said Labour has “come a long way” and is keeping second referendum as an option.

But Labour MP Bridget Phillipson of People’s Vote said Labour has done the “bare minimum” with a “mealy-mouthed” manifesto pledge.

“Labour risks demoralising activists, depressing turnout among supporters and decreasing the share of the vote for candidates who – like the overwhelming majority of our party – are fighting for a People’s Vote on any Brexit deal,” she said.

How does this relate to the conference policy?

This all unfolded the way it did because of another careful bit of wording – agreed six months ago at Labour’s party conference in Liverpool.

Back then, Labour agreed:

“If we cannot get a general election Labour must support all options remaining on the table, including campaigning for a public vote. If the Government is confident in negotiation a deal that working people, our economy and communities will benefit from they should not be afraid to put that deal to the public.”

You’ll notice today’s wording is a bit different, because it makes specific reference to getting “necessary changes” to the government’s deal.

So it’s very much in the spirit of the conference policy, but moves it on and makes it a bit more specific.

What does it mean for the EU elections?

Labour’s enemies on both sides will try and paint today’s decision in the worst possible light.

Remain parties will say Labour is backing Brexit and Brexit parties will say the party is moving towards a second referendum.

Both will have the benefit of being, at least partly, true.

Today’s decision leaves the possibility that Labour MEP candidates could break ranks from the official ‘party line’ in the EU election campiagn.

By this morning 34 of Labour’s 70 MEP candidates had signed a pledge to campaign for a referendum, then back efforts to remain in the EU.