Scottish Labour Leader Richard Leonard To Speak At Second Referendum Rally For First Time

"We must stop Boris Johnson’s plan for a no-deal Brexit."
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Richard Leonard, the leader of the Labour Party in Scotland, will stand on a pro-second referendum platform for the first time on Monday.

In a speech at Edinburgh University Student’s Association, he will demand “any Brexit deal” is put to the public for their approval.

Leonard will say: “A no-deal Brexit would damage our economy and put lifeline services like our NHS at risk.

“Labour is clear that we must stop Boris Johnson’s plan for a no-deal Brexit.”

“Any Brexit deal must be put back to the people to give them a final say with an option to Remain on the ballot paper.

“Scottish Labour will campaign passionately for a Remain victory to secure jobs, living standards and our country’s future.”

He will be joined by representatives of For our Future’s Sake and Our Future Our Choice, two youth organisations that form part of the People’s Vote campaign.

Leonard pushed Jeremy Corbyn to move Labour to a more explicitly pro-Remain position following the party’s “extremely disappointing” results at the European elections in May.

John McDonnell confirmed on Sunday any referendum held by a Labour government would be a straight choice between Remain and a deal.

The shadow chancellor told the BBC’s Andrew Marr Show on he would campaign for the UK to remain in the EU.

Barry Gardiner, the shadow international trade secretary, told the BBC there should be a higher winning threshold on any second referendum. “They (referenda) should only be used in my view when it’s a major constitutional issue but when that happens I don’t believe a 50 per cent plus one is the basis to do it,” he said.

With a snap election on the horizon, the People’s Vote campaign has also launched a huge tactical voting push to encourage voters to back the candidate in their seat who supports a second referendum.

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