Politics is about choices. And over the past two years Theresa May has made all the wrong ones on Brexit.

She laid down irresponsible red lines at the start of the negotiations, narrowing our options to those acceptable to the Brexiteers and the DUP. And, after suffering the biggest defeat in parliamentary history, she chose to recklessly run down the clock rather than seek a credible way through the impasse.

When the prime minister brings back her deal in the next week or so, she will try to impose a choice on MPs: my deal or no deal.

That is a choice we, the Labour Party and the majority in parliament must reject. The future of our country is too important for us to have to pick between bad and really bad. We need another option.

Jeremy Corbyn’s decision to throw his backing behind a public vote provides a way through this crisis. Jeremy is right. The public should have the final say.

How Brexit will affect your travel to Europe Show all 14 1 /14 How Brexit will affect your travel to Europe How Brexit will affect your travel to Europe Passports British passports that expire after 29 March 2019 will continue to be valid as UK travel documents, but will lose the power that comes with being a European Union passport – notably the right of free movement within the EU27. UK passports issued from 30 March 2019 will have the words “European Union” removed from the cover and the first page (along with the translations into Welsh and Gaelic). But they will still be burgundy. By October 2019, new British passports will have dark blue covers Getty How Brexit will affect your travel to Europe Pets You will still be able to travel to the EU with your pet after Brexit, but it could well get more complicated depending on the status that the European Union decide to apply. If the UK is given “Part 2 listed status”, there would be some extra requirements for travelling pets and owners post-Brexit. “These would require an additional visit to the vet and some additional papers to be carried but would not prevent you from enjoying your trip,” says Eurotunnel. But it adds that if the UK is given unlisted, third-country status, “owners who wish to travel with their pets from the UK to EU nations will need to discuss their specific preparations and requirements with an Official Veterinarian at least four months prior to their desired travel date AFP/Getty How Brexit will affect your travel to Europe Eurotunnel/Eurostar The Treaty of Canterbury between the UK and France governs the Channel Tunnel link and operations will continue – subject to any local disruption at Folkestone and/or Calais AFP/Getty How Brexit will affect your travel to Europe Driving Motorists, whether taking their own cars or hiring abroad, are likely to need to obtain an International Driving Permit or two; different EU countries are signed up to different treaties, so for a trip embracing Spain and France you would need both types. These are currently sold from a limited number of Post Offices, but the government intends to make them widely available. The cost is £5.50 for each. Motor insurance will no longer automatically extend to the EU. Insurers will provide on request a “Green Card”, for which an extra charge will be made PA How Brexit will affect your travel to Europe Flights Even in the event of a no-deal Brexit, flights will continue to operate between the UK and European Union. However, in the event of the UK leaving with no deal, many flights are likely to be cancelled because departures would be capped at 2018 levels. As UK airlines have already announced thousands of new flights to Europe from the end of March 2019, some would have to be cancelled Getty How Brexit will affect your travel to Europe Air routes The network of flight links between Britain and eastern Europe could be affected by any reduction in the number of workers from those countries. Not only do they use the flights – so do their families and friends PA How Brexit will affect your travel to Europe Flight disruption rights Current European passengers’ rights rules, known as EC261/2004, stipulate high payouts for delays and cancellations that cannot be attributed to “extraordinary circumstances”. Buried in a document called Beyond the Horizon: The Future of UK Aviation, the government says “the UK will not fall below current standards of protection when we leave the EU” AFP/Getty How Brexit will affect your travel to Europe Entry regulations to the European Union From 11pm GMT on 29 March 2019, UK travellers will become “third-country nationals” when travelling to Schengen countries and subject to the standard rules of admission for citizens of nations such as the US, Japan and Australia. That means there must be at least 90 days (roughly three months) left on your passport beyond your intended date of departure. Because third-country nationals can remain in the Schengen area for 90 days, the actual check carried out could be that the passport has at least six months’ validity remaining on the date of arrival Getty How Brexit will affect your travel to Europe Online registration prior to travel – ETIAS From 2021, non-EU nationals who do not require a visa to enter the Schengen area – including British travellers – will need to request prior authorisation to visit Schengen countries. The Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) is aimed at reducing the “migration, security or public-health risk” from nationals of visa-exempt third countries, which is what the UK will become after Brexit. It costs €7 for three years AFP/Getty How Brexit will affect your travel to Europe ‘Brexit clauses’ A large number of travel providers – even including National Express coaches – have added “Brexit clauses” to their terms and conditions. These generally specify that they will not be liable for “consequential losses” as a result of Brexit-related issues PA How Brexit will affect your travel to Europe ‘Fast track’ lanes for passport control entering EU countries British passport holders will not be able to use them, and must join the queue for third-country nationals. People holding an EU passport or ID card as well as a British passport will be able to exit the UK on the British passport but enter Europe on the EU document Getty How Brexit will affect your travel to Europe Ferries The ferry industry insists vessels will continue to sail. The UK Chamber of Shipping says: “Unlike the carriage of cargo, trade deals do not have a significant effect on the cruise and passenger ferry industry. The explicit standardisation of commodity codes and tariffs associated with trade deals have little relevance to holidaymakers.” Having said that, the government and Kent County Council are planning for possible chaos at Channel ports because of a backlog of trucks in the event of a no-deal Brexit. This would impinge on holidaymakers’ plans PA How Brexit will affect your travel to Europe European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) The EU says: “If you fall ill or have an accident during a visit to another EU country, as an EU citizen you have the right to receive the necessary public healthcare in any EU country under the same conditions as people in the host country.” The EHIC also works in Iceland, Norway, Switzerland and Liechtenstein. Treatment, says the NHS, is “at a reduced cost or, in many cases, free of charge”. From 11pm GMT on 29 March 2019, when the UK ceases to belong to the European Union, British travellers will have no automatic right to use the EHIC. There is no certainty about what may replace it PA How Brexit will affect your travel to Europe Mobile phones From 30 March 2019, the law banning mobile phone firms from charging extra for calls and data in Europe will cease, though operators have yet to set out exactly what will replace it. In theory, mobile phone firms can impose whatever fees they think the market will bear. But Dave Dyson, chef executive of Three, says his firm is “committed to maintain the availability of roaming in the EU at no additional cost following Brexit” AFP/Getty

This isn’t about overturning the previous referendum, but about empowering the country to confirm or reject the negotiated outcome. It’s about preventing the catastrophe of a no-deal Brexit. And it’s about trying to draw a line under two years of division, disruption and uncertainty brought about by an incompetent Tory government.

We know it may not be the choice many of our colleagues will want to take. Frankly, it wasn’t the choice we thought would face us at this stage of the process when we triggered Article 50 two years ago. However, it is the only choice left for Labour and for parliament if we want to protect the long-term future of our country and our communities.

The question now is how MPs can work together to bring about that public vote. We believe the plan put forward by our Labour colleagues Peter Kyle and Phil Wilson is the most credible way forward. It offers a sensible compromise.

We believe the prime minister’s deal is flawed. However, we are willing to accept it on the condition that it is put back to the people to approve or reject. If the public choose to approve the deal, then we will leave on the government’s terms and we will help facilitate the passage of the necessary laws to implement the deal. If the public reject it, then we remain in the European Union.

The proposal is compatible with Labour Party policy for a public vote between a credible Leave option and Remain. It is also in line with what Jeremy Corbyn told the House of Commons on Tuesday when he said that, if Theresa May’s deal is approved by parliament, “there must be a confirmatory public vote to see if people feel that that is what they voted for”.

This is about doing what is in the national interest, but it is also about doing what is right for our party.

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As members of Labour’s National Executive Committee, we know that this is a difficult time for our movement on Brexit and beyond.

Our members and supporters want the reassurance that we will remain united behind our shared values of internationalism, solidarity, democracy and equality for all.

That means doing all we can to protect the country from a no-deal or disastrous Tory Brexit. And that means fulfilling the promise we made at our party’s annual conference to deliver and campaign for a public vote.