Cross-party group of MPs pull second Brexit referendum amendment plans, blaming lack of Corbyn support ‘Labour should be clearly setting out a different course, not facilitating a job-destroying Brexit’

A cross-party grouping of MPs has pulled a proposed amendment that would legislate for a second referendum on the Brexit deal on Thursday, blaming the Labour leadership for not backing the plans.

One of the architects of the amendment Dr Sarah Wollaston, the Conservative MP for Totnes, said in a statement that the plans had been halted, conceding, “until we have the leader of the opposition’s backing, it would not pass”.

Surrounded by Labour and Conservative MPs, another member of the grouping, Luciana Berger, Labour MP for Liverpool Wavertree, urged party leader Jeremy Corbyn to “do the right thing and back a people’s vote”.

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“Labour should be clearly setting out a different course, not facilitating a job-destroying Brexit.”

“Yet at a time when Labour could be championing a People’s Vote, the leadership avoids answering that call. This is not good enough.”

‘Haemorrhage support’

She said that Labour could lose support from pro-EU supporters, many of whom back a second referendum.

She said: “I believe if Labour doesn’t back a People’s Vote we will haemorrhage support right across the country and we will suffer at those election boxes whenever the next general will come.”

When she was asked if it could split the Labour Party she said: “We want to see a resolution.”

“This is the most critical issue facing our country are we are all here to come together in the national interest because we think this is most pressing thing that we should be resolving at this time.”

Labour amendment

Labour’s front bench have tabled their own amendment to Theresa May’s Brexit bill that keeps the option for a second vote open but makes it clear the party would prefer a softer Brexit, with the UK remaining inside the EU Customs Union. They are also calling for no deal to be taken off the table.

Jeremy Corbyn said on Monday: “It is time for Labour’s alternative plan to take centre stage, while keeping all options on the table, including the option of a public vote.”

Many second referendum MPs in the party welcomed the move, but others have express dismay that the party is not fully supporting a second vote on the deal.

Other members of the shadow cabinet denied the party fully backs another referendum. Rebecca Long-Bailey, shadow business secretary, said the amendment did not “in any way” mean the party backed a second referendum.

“It is not stating that the party supports a second referendum in any way and indeed if it was passed, the amendment, and it went to a vote on the specific issues, then that would be a decision for the party to take at the time.”