Diane Abbott admits she is 'beginning to worry' about Labour's Brexit strategy
2 min read
Diane Abbott has admitted she is “beginning to worry” about Labour’s Brexit strategy as pressure mounts on the party to make a decision on a second referendum.
The Shadow Home Secretary - a close ally of Jeremy Corbyn - revealed her frustration just days after the Labour boss pleaded for more time to come to an agreed position.
Mr Corbyn told a meeting of the Shadow Cabinet on Tuesday that he needed two more weeks to try to get the trade unions to sign up to calls for Labour to back Remain in a so-called "people's vote".
PoliticsHome revealed how Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell - another key Corbyn ally - told Mr Corbyn that the party’s position on Brexit was "like a slow-moving car crash".
On Thursday, Ms Abbott responded to a Twitter user who said: "I've supported Lab Brexit strategy so far. Brave, principled, stopped hard Brexit, kept 2nd vote alive, brought Tories to knees. But, even I'm starting to worry."
The Hackney North and Stoke Newington MP replied: “Like you I have supported Labour’s Brexit strategy so far. But like you I am beginning to worry...”
Anti-Brexit campaign group Best for Britain’s chief executive Naomi Smith said: “Labour needs to be the stop Brexit party, it's as simple as that.
"Labour members and voters are crying out for the party to oppose Brexit. Diane Abbott won't be the only Labour MP worrying about the party's unclear position on this.
"The party is bleeding remain support and needs to act quickly to stop the rot."
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