Labour MPs call for party conference vote on second Brexit referendum

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Jeremy Corbyn faced a growing revolt over Brexit today as Labour MPs and activists stepped up demands for a party conference vote on whether to back a second referendum.

The call was galvanised by a national poll claiming 63 per cent of party members want a vote on whether to accept the final terms of Theresa May’s negotiations with the EU or stay in the EU.

Only eight per cent were against the idea, according to the YouGov survey commissioned by the People’s Vote group which was set up by opponents of Brexit.

Jeremy Corbyn faces pressure for Labour to come out for or against Brexit 
PA

Mr Corbyn now faces a showdown ahead of conference where activists and some trade unions are pressing to be allowed a full debate and a binding vote on policy. Around 130 constituency Labour branches are backing a motion penned by Labour for People’s Vote.

Ilford North Labour MP Wes Streeting said Labour could not continue to fudge its stance on Brexit and offering a referendum would unite the public. “Labour needs a proper debate on our Brexit policy because a lot has changed since last year’s party conference,” he said.

“Clearly public opinion is shifting towards having a ‘people’s vote’ and people are horrified by the ay Brexit has been handled by the Government.”

Former shadow business secretary Chuka Umunna said: “This poll shows that Labour voters overwhelmingly support a People’s Vote, putting them at odds with the Party’s official pro-Brexit position.”

The first battle is over what motion is debated, if any, at conference. One option for the leadership is to draft a neutral motion that would not tie Mr Corbyn’s hands.

Some polls have suggested Mr Corbyn would lose votes nationally if the party came out fully for or against Brexit. It’s current position is to exit the EU but try to retain the trade benefits of membership and a customs union.

The poll found voters saying they would back remaining in the European Union by 53 per cent to 47 per cent - which mirrors the inaccurate predictions of many polls before the 2016 referendum.

Analyst Peter Kellner said the poll suggested Labour was “increasingly out of touch with its own voters” because opinion was shifting.

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