Giving the public another say on Brexit may be a last resort to ensure a “way out of this mess”, former Labour leader Ed Miliband said today.
He spoke out as Labour’s ruling National Executive Committee was meeting today to decide the party’s stance on a second referendum for the planned European Parliament elections at the end of May.
Ahead of the meeting, Jeremy Corbyn came under huge pressure from union bosses, senior MPs, MEPs and party members to move more decisively towards a confirmatory public vote on any Brexit deal which emerges.
“It’s a last resort,” Mr Miliband told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme.
“I voted in the House of Commons for a customs union, for Norway, for a confirmatory referendum. I want a final way out of this mess. I’m open-minded about how we do it.”
Shadow Northern Ireland secretary Tony Lloyd added: “We have voted for public votes as we have tried to reach out and build a consensus in Parliament. It’s important to recognise that Parliament itself didn’t vote for a public vote. We did.”
However, the party is deeply split, with many MPs representing Leave constituencies in the North and Midlands fearful that voters could desert Labour if it backs a second referendum.
An additional 12 Labour MEP candidates, though, today signed up to a pledge to campaign for a second Brexit referendum and to campaign for Remain if a public vote is called.
Labour’s deputy leader today said he had been “inundated” with emails backing a fresh referendum to break the political deadlock over Brexit.
Tom Watson told the BBC that party members were arguing the best solution to the impasse was “a people’s vote on any deal” and he urged: “We have to listen to European candidates who support this.”
