Chief whip’s confirmation he would campaign to stay in EU adds to pressure on Corbyn

Another senior Labour figure has confirmed he would campaign for remain in a second EU referendum, as Brexit looks set to become a flashpoint at the party’s conference in Brighton.

In an email seen by the Guardian, Labour’s chief whip, Nick Brown, told his constituents this week he would campaign for remain, joining his senior colleagues John McDonnell, Diane Abbott, Emily Thornberry, Keir Starmer and Tom Watson in backing that position.

The growing number of shadow cabinet members backing remain increases the pressure on Jeremy Corbyn, to voice his support for staying in the EU. He and others in the shadow cabinet have been reluctant to say how they would campaign in the event of a second referendum, as they try to avoid angering Labour voters in leave areas.

Brown, who first said he would campaign for remain in March in an email to a constituent in his Newcastle East seat, wrote in his latest message that he was a “moderate remainer” and had consistently believed staying in the EU was in the national interest.

However, since March Labour’s stance has been hammered out at the top levels of the party and has settled on trying to renegotiate a Brexit deal and then putting that to a second referendum with an option to remain.

An alliance between progressive parties would be fragile, but it could win an election | Zoe Williams Read more

Brown wrote: “The Labour party would campaign to put any Brexit outcome under this government back to the people through a referendum with the option to remain. As I have said before, I am a moderate remainer and have consistently believed that continued membership of the EU is in the national interest.

“I also believe it is in the overwhelming interest of the north-east of England. Therefore in such a confirmatory ballot, as in the 2016 referendum, I would campaign and vote to remain in the EU.”

Newcastle narrowly voted remain in the EU referendum.

Corbyn will face fresh pressure over Brexit from scores of activists at the party’s conference in Brighton later this month.

Brexit and whether Labour should back a second referendum dominated last year’s conference, which resulted in the party deciding to adopt an “all options on the table” policy, including the possibility of a public vote.

So far this year motions have been submitted by more than 60 local Labour branches calling for Corbyn to abandon his plan to renegotiate a Brexit deal and then put it to a second referendum. Instead they want the party leader to shift his policy to back remain now and block Brexit.

Clive Lewis, a shadow Treasury minister, said backing remain would bolster party morale. This week the Liberal Democrats announced a significant shift in their Brexit position by supporting the revocation of article 50.

Lewis said: “As an MP I know what wins elections for Labour – it’s our members, who are more than 90% in favour of remain. Our army of volunteers aren’t just foot soldiers, they’re members of a democratic movement. They need to feel ownership over our Brexit policy, they need to be excited and enthused by it.

“Yes, the people should have the final say, but for our morale we need a clear anti-Brexit position in Labour. That means we must campaign in any public vote for remain.”

Ana Oppenheim, from the pro-remain campaign group Another Europe is Possible, said: “Recent events have shown what Brexit really means – all-out attack on our rights and democracy by a new, nastier brand of the Tory establishment. There is no way that we or delegates from CLPs [constituency Labour parties] will accept a slightly better fudge as happened last year. We will take a remain position to a vote on conference floor.”

Michael Chessum, the national organiser for Another Europe is Possible, said it would be a “scandal” if Brexit was not debated at conference.

Motions will be passed to Labour’s conference arrangements committee, which meets on 16 September, to sift through the proposals and check they are in order. Delegates will then hold a priorities ballot to vote on what issues deserve time for debate and a further vote.

It has taken the Labour leadership months to try to develop a position on Brexit that could keep voters and members in both camps happy. However, if the motion impelling Corbyn to back remain at a second referendum is passed, the party may be required to re-evaluate its position.

A source close to the shadow cabinet said: “Ultimately if we’re a democratic party we have to be democratic. The unions are onside with a [referendum] but they don’t want to pick a side. Then you’ve got the membership who want remain. There undoubtedly is going to be a discussion at conference about that.”