LABOUR must back a second Brexit referendum or risk being gubbed in next month’s European elections, the party’s deputy leader Tom Watson has said.
Writing in the Observer, he said a “confirmatory” referendum on any deal was “the very least” voters should expect.
The prospect of a second Brexit poll has split Labour, with around 40 of the party’s MPs deeply opposed, and another 80 pushing for a so-called People’s Vote.
Labour are currently in talks with the Tories in a bid to try and find some compromise over Theresa May’s Brexit deal.
The party’s current position is to aim first for a Labour Brexit and then, if that proves impossible, to back a new vote.
There’s pressure on Corbyn to insist on a new referendum, though it seems unlikely May will agree to that demand.
In his article, Watson said: “Labour won’t defeat Farage by being mealy-mouthed and sounding as if we half agree with him.
“We won’t beat him unless we can inspire the millions crying out for a different direction.
“We won’t win if we sit on the fence about the most crucial issue that has faced our country for a generation,” he said.
“Now that we know a bit more about what Brexit means, the very least that Leavers and Remainers deserve is a final say – a confirmatory referendum – on any deal.
“They deserve a Labour party that offers clarity on this issue, as well as the radical vision for a new political economy achieved by working with our socialist allies inside the EU.
“And, above all, they deserve better than Nigel Farage’s promise of a far-right Brexit that would solve nothing.”
Last week, a shock poll from YouGov put the Brexit Party on 27%, compared to just 15% for the Tories and 22% for Labour.
But Corbyn insisted that he was not “worried”.
He told the Sunday Mirror: “Farage just says ‘let’s get out of Europe without a deal’.
“But I do think he has to be challenged. If you just walk away from Europe, the complications are immense. There’s a very integrated manufacturing process with us and Europe.
“Many of our factories rely on just-in-time deliveries from Europe and deliver to Europe on a just-in-time basis. If that is disrupted there are massive problems.”
Farage said Watson had “broken his promises to the people.”
“The second referendum that he backs is a total insult to five million Brexit Labour voters. I now intend to wholeheartedly target Labour lies and dishonesty in the weeks ahead.
Watson responded: “He still can’t explain where his chum Aaron Banks got the cash for the biggest ever political donation. I will take no lessons in lies and dishonesty from Nigel Farage.”
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