Jeremy Corbyn has finally committed Labour to a second Brexit referendum, telling his MPs he will support a fresh Commons move to allow the UK to stay in the EU.
In a dramatic new bid to unite his party, the Labour leader made clear to a meeting of the Parliamentary Labour Party (PLP) on Monday that he would endorse an amendment for a so-called ‘People’s Vote’.
Remaining in the EU would be one option on the ballot paper, which could have ‘multiple choice’ options, aides confirmed later.
Just a week after eight Labour MPs defected the party to join The Independent Group, Corbyn said explicitly for the first time that he would either “put forward” his own plans or support a cross-party bid for a fresh referendum.
The party has yet to decide the details of what kind of question will be on the ballot paper, but it will whip its MPs for the plan when Theresa May brings back her deal to the Commons for a second ‘meaningful vote’ by March 12.
HuffPost UK understands the decision followed a crunch meeting of Corbyn’s Brexit sub-committee of senior frontbenchers on Monday, with shadow Brexit secretary Keir Starmer and shadow chancellor playing a key role.
Insiders said that the announcement was a “shift” because Labour was now committed to actively supporting a public vote if its own alternative Brexit plans failed to win approval in the Commons this week.
A senior Labour source explained that the move was “an evolution of our policy, rather than some great leap or big bang event”, but stressed that it was significant.
“It’s a big victory for Keir [Starmer, the Shadow Brexit Secretary] that delivers on his promise at Labour party conference,” another party source said.
One party figure familiar with the Brexit sub-committee talks stressed that the departure of the eight Labour MPs last week had “nothing” to do with Corbyn’s final decision. The policy was always going to be refined this week as MPs gathered to vote on fresh amendments to May’s Brexit plans, they said.
But at a packed meeting of the PLP, Corbyn faced dissent from MPs in Leave-voting areas who warned him a new referendum would split the party and cost him so many votes that he would never become Prime Minister.
One MP warned that up to 25 MPs would defy any whip to support a public vote.
Addressing his backbenchers, Corbyn confirmed the party will back Yvette Cooper and Oliver Letwin’s bid to delay Brexit when it is voted on in the Commons on Wednesday.
But the most significant announcement came next: “In line with our conference policy, we are committed to putting forward or supporting an amendment in favour of a public vote to prevent a damaging Tory Brexit being forced on the country.”
With Remain-supporting MPs threatening to defect unless Corbyn toughened his stance on the issue, the announcement appeared timed to prevent the ‘trickle’ of defections from turning into a ‘flood’, as one put it.
Peter Kyle, who has proposed a plan to make May’s deal conditional on a new referendum, said in the meeting he was pleased at the progress. Afterwards, Kyle declared: “There’s no turning back for Jeremy or the party now.”
A Labour source said that the problem with Kyle’s amendment was it gave the Tory government its support.
“We will not be voting for anything which supports May’s damaging Brexit deal. It included support for the government’s deal and we wouldn’t countenance that. They are looking to amend it so we will see what they come up with.”
Former Shadow Cabinet minister Owen Smith said he was delighted with Corbyn’s decision and said he expected a strong ’three line whip” to enforce it. A former senior Cabinet minister said that the announcement was “more than a nudge” forward.
However, John Mann, the pro-Leave MP for Mansfield, told Corbyn to his face: “In the Midlands and north of England this decision today will stop you from being Prime Minister. The price will be paid.”
Caroline Flint added “there will never be unity” in the party if it triggered another referendum, while Stephen Kinnock - who backs a ‘Common Market’-style Brexit - warned the move could be “corrosive” for public trust in Parliament as millions voted Leave in the 2016 referendum.
Snell, whose Stoke constituency voted heavily to Leave, said: “I won’t be voting for a second referendum under any circumstances.” Asked how many Labour MPs would vote against a second referendum, he said: “Enough to make sure it doesn’t happen.”
It’s unclear exactly what the Labour proposal will be for its referendum plan, but it is likely to include the options of a ‘credible’ Brexit - expected to include a customs union - or remaining in the EU.
Earlier, Corbyn’s speech was aimed at uniting the party. “Whether you’re Progress, Tribune, Momentum, Labour First, we all have to remember why we are here. We are put here to deliver a Labour government.”
One former shadow minister, who was no fan of Corbyn’s, said afterwards: “That was one of the best speeches I’ve heard Jeremy give. It was very conciliatory.”
Corbyn revealed that at the Shadow Cabinet on Tuesday he would ask every one of his frontbenchers to bring forward a programme of seminars to help backbenchers develop policy. “We want to harness all the knowledge of the PLP,” Corbyn said.
But tensions within the party boiled over at the PLP meeting as several MPs defended the leader, while others heavily criticised him for allowing anti-semitism to go so unchecked that backbenchers were forced to quit.
Former education secretary David Blunkett was scathing, warning that Labour was in danger of being taken over by ‘old fashioned Marxists’. MP Chris Bryant said that the failure to deal with anti-Jewish prejudice left the impression “that we are the nasty party.”
One shadow minister complained that Corbyn was not the problem, and that “something in here [the PLP meetings] needs to change”.
Staunch Corbyn supporter Chris Williamson was heckled, with some colleagues objecting to him citing the late, pro-Remain MP Jo Cox’s line that people have more in common than divides them.
One MP was so disgusted by Williamson that they walked out of the meeting, declaring: “I can’t bear listening to any more of that c**t.”
The Labour leader was asked three times to rule out ever accepting George Galloway back into the party. It is understood Galloway is barred from standing until 2022 as he stood against Labour in the 2017 election.
Corbyn thanked peer Lord Falconer for stepping forward to help the party improve its processes in dealing with anti-semitism. He added that the Jewish Labour Movement, which is considering its future after the departure of ex-MP Luciana Berger, was a valued an integral part of the party.
Labour backbencher David Lammy, who supports the People’s Vote campaign, was pleased by the decision to move the party’s Parliamentary policy more in line with conference policy.
“It is welcome news that the Labour Party is now, at long last, signalling it will accept the principle of giving the public the final say on Brexit,” he said.
“These are dangerous times for the Labour Party and our country. Jeremy Corbyn is today taking the first step to reunite our party by showing he is listening to our voters and members on this, the biggest issue of our time.”
Shadow minister Clive Lewis, supporter of the Best for Britain pro-EU campaign, said: “This decision is a hugely positive step for the Labour Party and our movement as a whole.
“With this announcement we’re now offering real and unambiguous opposition to Tory Brexit and giving the public the final say on the issue. To my mind we would never have been forgiven for facilitating Tory Brexit.”
Tory chairman Brandon Lewis said: “Corbyn’s Labour have ripped up their promise to respect the referendum result and are now pursuing a divisive second referendum that would take us back to square one. ”