More than 150 constituency Labour parties (CLPs) have been considering mounting a challenge to Jeremy Corbyn’s Brexit policy at conference this autumn, with an apparent rise in support for a referendum on a final deal among some of his key allies.



A handful of the local parties, some of them in leave-voting constituencies, have already agreed to adopt a motion for a public vote on Theresa May’s deal with an option to remain in the European Union. Others were expected to decide in the coming weeks.

Project Fear redux? Tories divided over planning for a no-deal Brexit Read more

Support for a fresh vote has also been quietly growing in Momentum, the Corbyn-supporting grassroots group which played a crucial role in preventing activists at last year’s conference from getting a vote on the party’s Brexit stance.

Meanwhile, there has been increasing pressure from within the unions, including Unite, to join the Transport Salaried Staffs’ Association (TSSA) – whose leader, Manuel Cortes, firmly backs Corbyn – in giving the public a final say.

Some of the Labour leader’s closest political allies, including John McDonnell, were understood to have advised him to leave the prospect of a second referendum “on the table”, although they have said they would prefer a general election.

Senior Labour insiders have expressed concern about the scale of feeling among the party grassroots, and in particular young Labour voters, on the leadership’s opposition to a second referendum on an eventual Brexit deal.

However, Corbyn has repeatedly said that it was not currently Labour policy to back a fresh vote. He said earlier this month: “It’s not our policy to have a second referendum, it’s our policy to respect the result of the referendum.” But when asked to rule it out in all circumstances he has been more equivocal.

One shadow cabinet minister said: “We’re not there yet but there’s been a very definite shift internally over the last few weeks in support of a public vote. It would have to be framed as a vote on the government’s Brexit deal, rather than a rerun of the original referendum, as we have always said we respect the result.”

Another senior Labour figure said that it would be “extraordinary” if the issue was not debated at conference as it would be the membership’s last chance to do so before the UK left the EU, barring the announcement of a special conference.

The motion being debated by 150 local Labour parties, drawn up by the Corbyn-backing pro-EU Labour for a People’s Vote campaign, has specifically called for the party leadership to oppose any Brexit deal that failed to satisfy Labour’s six tests. There are 632 CLPs across the country.

It has urged Corbyn to “call for an immediate general election and make a manifesto commitment to call a public vote on the deal with an option to remain in the EU”, adding: “If we cannot get a general election, still campaign for a public vote, and call for a general election following a government defeat in that vote.”

If a CLP agreed to back the motion, it would then send it to the Labour party nationally, after which delegates at the annual conference would decide if it should be debated and whether to support it in a vote.

Billy Hayes, the former general secretary of the Communication Workers Union who backs the campaign, said: “Brexit was a bad idea in 2016 and things have only got worse. We need a Corbyn government now. Just as in most trade unions, the final agreement must go back to the people. It’s time for the people to be given their say.”

Other pro-EU Labour groups have been calling for the membership to be given a vote at conference. Remain Labour and Labour Against Brexit have co-sponsored a motion which they have claimed would be debated by 300 local parties calling for Corbyn to support a People’s Vote and campaign to remain in the bloc.

Momentum’s appetite has also increased for having a say in the form of a contemporary motion at conference. A petition of Momentum members calling for a second referendum has almost reached 4,000 signatories. It needs 4,400, or 10% of the group’s membership, to force a vote of all members.

A senior Momentum source said: “There’s definitely a view that there should be a debate on it at conference. The problem last year was that a lot of the motions put forward were put forward by remainers who didn’t have the best interests of leadership at heart.

“But this year it looks like there will be motions that will be about Brexit and the Labour party’s position on it without being deliberately written in a way that would criticise the leadership. They’re likely to to be more sympathetic to Corbyn so will get a better hearing.”

Cortes, the general secretary of the TSSA union, said: “Tory Brexit is an ideological project that will attack the rights of workers, deregulate the economy and blame immigrants for the failure of the elite. Boris and Bannon want to create a fascistic alliance with Trump. There is nothing in this for working people. That’s why the trade union movement is increasingly moving towards supporting a popular vote on the deal.”

Most of Labour is pro-Corbyn and anti-Brexit – we must be heard | Alena Ivanova Read more

A spokesman for Corbyn said: “A second referendum is not our policy and we are not arguing for one.” However, one Labour source said: “It’s very clear that Brexit includes questions of further referendums of different types. The question will come up and it is the case that Brexit will be debated at conference.”

Labour insiders were reluctant to be drawn on how the party leadership would respond to the call for a second referendum being passed at conference. “We’re a democratic party so obviously what conference says, matters,” said one. However, others suggested it did not mean Corbyn would necessarily adopt the policy.

It came as Downing Street said there would be no second referendum “in any circumstances”, even though support for a public vote on a final deal appeared to have increased as preparations for no deal stepped up.

Earlier, Lord Mandelson – an ardent Labour remainer – said May should back a referendum because the prospect would help her face down Tory Brexiters, although such a move would put her leadership under serious threat. Remain-supporting MPs suggested it could be the only way to break the current political stalemate.