Labour rebel Caroline Flint says she could back Boris Johnson’s Brexit deal The MP for Don Valley claims up to 26 pro-Brexit Labour MPs could break with the party to back Boris Johnson’s plan

Pro-Brexit Labour rebel Caroline Flint says she would be prepared to back Boris Johnson’s Brexit plans.

26 Labour MPs from Leave-voting constituencies signed a joint letter to party leader Jeremy Corbyn on Wednesday, urging him to resist pressure to throw the party’s weight behind remaining in the EU via a second referendum.

Get behind a deal

Speaking on the BBC’s Andrew Marr Show on Sunday, the MP for Don Valley said the group are prepared to break with their party and back Boris Johnson’s Brexit deal.

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She said: “I think those people who signed the letter would like to still have the opportunity to vote on the deal.

“Don’t forget, when Theresa May was forced to stand down, we were in discussions about what the withdrawal agreement would be like.”

“Anybody who’s going to be Tory leader should think about how they reach out to people like myself.” Caroline Flint

Ms Flint was one of just three Labour MPs who rebelled in favour of Theresa May’s Brexit deal, but she insisted the number “will go up” in future votes.

Asked whether she would engage with Boris Johnson, she said: “I would talk to anybody to stop no deal, from any party.

“Whoever becomes Tory leader, the truth is they need to get behind a deal and they need a Parliamentary majority, whether it’s Boris Johnson or Jeremy Hunt.

“I think we are at the stage now where the health of the nation needs us to agree a deal and move on.

“Anybody who’s going to be Tory leader should think about how they reach out to people like myself and the 25 people who signed that letter, and to the Labour Party.”

Second referendum ‘will be blocked’

Ms Flint also said the pro-Brexit faction within Labour would block attempts to hold a second referendum.

She said: “I think that is pretty clear. We do believe that it’s not democratic to ask Leave voters to ask twice to prove themselves. We also have to respect democracy and bring the country together.

“Outside Westminster and the buzz of the media, there are both leave and remain voters who want to see progress being made.”

Ms Flint added: “I believe the only way to stop no deal is to support a deal, and to have an orderly Brexit.

“Despite everything that is going on, I am optimistic and hopeful that Parliament will do the job.

The 26 Labour MPs who put their names to the letter is a slight increase from the 24 who voted to oppose a second referendum when Parliament held indicative votes on the issue in April.

On that occasion, Parliament rejected a public vote by 292 votes to 280, with much of Theresa May’s cabinet abstaining.