Unions last night heaped pressure on Labour to back a second referendum. Union leaders agreed a common stance on the issue following a meeting of general secretaries. This included some of the party’s biggest affiliated unions.
Leaders agreed to support a public vote on any deal agreed by a Tory prime minister. But with an expectation Labour would campaign for Remain.
If the party gained power, after a General Election Labour would still try to negotiate a new deal with the EU. Such a deal would also face a similar stand-off in a confirmatory referendum.
The common position will now be presented to Mr Corbyn. It is likely to be agreed when the shadow cabinet meets today.
What is Labour’s position on a second referendum?
Labour looks set to back a People’s Vote between any deal and remaining in the European Union.
The confirmatory ballot would also apply if the future Conservative leader was to back a No Deal as a means to exit the bloc.
What happens if there’s a General Election?
In the case of a General Election, Labour’s position will be to re-negotiate the deal with the EU to respect the Brexit vote.
This will also be put to a second referendum.
The ballot would have the Labour deal vs Remain BUT the Labour position would depend on the deal negotiated.
Would a pro-Remain stance disenfranchise their core support?
Many have argued that if Labour backed a pro-Remain card then they would disenfranchise many Leave-voting areas within their core constituencies. That assumption could be a myth.
As Professor John Curtice explains, “it does not necessarily follow that because a majority of all voters in most Labour constituencies voted to Leave, most Labour voters in those constituencies must have voted that way.”
What do Labour members think?
A recent poll indicated that Labour members overwhelmingly back a second vote over leaving the EU.
Some 72 per cent of the 1,000 people polled are hoping Corbyn backs a ‘People’s Vote.’
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