Labour is still feuding over a second referendum as Corbyn's shadow transport secretary demands a new vote after narrow victory in by-election

  • Shadow Transport Secretary Andy McDonald piles pressure on his party leader
  • He said: 'We should have a second vote. If we are looking at crashing out with No Deal the option is to remain'
  • But John Mann said after by-election result any new EU vote should be 'dead'

By Martin Robinson, Chief Reporter For Mailonline

Published: | Updated:

One of Jeremy Corbyn's key allies said today that Britain must have a second referendum to avoid crashing out of the EU and Labour should campaign to remain.

Shadow Transport Secretary Andy McDonald has insisted the UK should vote again if the country is 'looking down the barrel' of No Deal. 

He also said that any Brexit deal agreed by MPs must also be put back to the people. 

But Labour MP John Mann said today that after the Peterborough by-election yesterday where the Brexit Party almost beat the party means a second referendum is now 'dead'.

Mr Corbyn has been urged to 'get off the fence' on the issue - but his shadow cabinet colleague Mr McDonald piled even more pressure on him side with another EU vote.

Shadow Transport Secretary Andy McDonald said the UK should vote again on leaving the EU if No Deal is likely on October 31
Shadow Transport Secretary Andy McDonald's intervention will pile even more pressure on his leader Jeremy Corbyn (pictured in Peterborough today)

Shadow Transport Secretary Andy McDonald said the UK should vote again on leaving the EU if No Deal is likely on October 31 and any deal should be subject to a People's Vote - piling pressure on his leader Jeremy Corbyn (pictured in Peterborough today)

He told the BBC: 'We accepted the outcome of the referendum and we would leave the EU on terms that would protect our economy. That is not now available to us.

'We have said if No Deal is the choice before us - and indeed any deal that would come through Parliament - should go back to the people; we should have a second vote.'

John Mann says that the Peterborough by-election result where the Brexit Party nearly won should kill off any idea of a second referendum

John Mann says that the Peterborough by-election result where the Brexit Party nearly won should kill off any idea of a second referendum

He added: 'We went into the referendum on a remain and reform platform. If we are looking at crashing out with No Deal the option is to remain.'

Last week Jeremy Corbyn deepened his party's woes over Brexit as he said a second referendum was 'some way off'.

Speaking in Dublin, the Labour leader resisted pressure from senior colleagues to commit to campaigning immediately for a public vote.

He said the only way to break the deadlock would be a general election or a second referendum after negotiating a softer Brexit deal with Brussels.

Mr Corbyn said there must not be a repeat of the 2016 referendum on Britain's EU membership - leading to fears that Remain would not be on the ballot paper.

He argued that Labour could strike a better agreement with Brussels that would include a customs union, which would then be put to a public vote.

He said: 'We don't back a rerun of 2016. That happened. That is gone. What I do say is that if Parliament comes to an agreement, then it's reasonable, and if Parliament wishes it, there should be a public vote on it but that is some way off.'

The Labour leader is under pressure from allies John McDonnell and Diane Abbott to come out unequivocally in favour of a second vote. But others on the left, including party chairman Ian Lavery and Len McCluskey, have argued strongly against.

Mr Corbyn could not say definitively that remaining in the EU would be on the ballot paper in a public vote.

He said: 'I would go back to the EU, explain that we had fought an election campaign in order to make sure there was a good relationship with Europe in the future, that we weren't afraid of public opinion on this, and ask them to seriously consider what we are suggesting, which is a customs union with a British say and trade relationship with Europe, and a dynamic relationship on rights would not be undermining Europe on workers' rights, on consumer rights, on environmental protections.'

Mr Corbyn's remarks leave open the option of Labour campaigning in favour of a Brexit deal in any second referendum, rather than for the option of remaining in the EU, which is favoured by many shadow cabinet ministers. 

Jeremy CorbynBrexitLabour

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