EXCL Jeremy Corbyn must back Yvette Cooper’s bid to delay Brexit, Labour MEPs say
4 min read
Jeremy Corbyn is facing fresh calls to throw Labour’s weight behind a cross-party bid to extend Article 50 and delay Brexit.
Three of the party’s representatives in the European Parliament have written to the leader saying he must back a Commons amendment from Labour backbencher Yvette Cooper and “immediately” move to block a no-deal Brexit.
The party has yet to formally announce whether it will whip MPs to back Ms Cooper’s amendment, which would make room in the Commons calendar for a bill demanding an Article 50 extension.
However, two senior frontbenchers have dropped strong hints that the party could support the move, while Unite chief Len McCluskey - whose union is Labour’s biggest financial backer - today said he was likely to support a three-month delay.
The joint letter to Mr Corbyn - seen by PoliticsHome - is signed by Labour MEP for the North West Julie Ward, Seb Dance, London MEP and deputy leader of the European Parliamentary Labour party, and the Labour MEP for Scotland, Catherine Stihler.
In it, the trio of MEPs tell Mr Corbyn that Britain "must request an extension to Article 50" because Parliament is "completely incapable of finding a deal or acceptable compromise".
“The Conservative government is leading our country towards a no-deal Brexit cliff-edge that would decimate and destroy businesses and livelihoods across the country, as well as damaging our global standing,” they write.
“We need to prevent such an outcome happening, especially given that Theresa May’s Brexit deal has now been voted down without any alternative options that can command a majority in the House of Commons.
“There is also a huge amount of key legislation that the Government would still need to pass in the upcoming two months, including the Implementation Bill itself, the Immigration Bill, the Agriculture and Fisheries Bills, and the Trade, Health, and Finance Bills, plus around 700 statutory instruments.
“The time to make a choice on our future relationship with the EU is now. But given the mismanagement and mishandling of the negotiations by Theresa May, there is insufficient time to ensure we can guarantee strong and cooperative future relationship with the EU.”
In a direct plea to Mr Corbyn, they add: “Given the tight Brexit negotiation timeframe, an extension of Article 50 is the only viable option to ensure that we can protect our economy, safeguard people’s jobs, environmental standards, worker’s rights, living standards, and livelihoods, whilst ensuring a prosperous future for young people and future generations to come.”
'NOT SABOTAGING BREXIT'
Ms Ward told PoliticsHome that Mr Corbyn specifically needed to back the amendment from Ms Cooper if it is selected for a vote next Tuesday.
"With less than 68 days to go, the Conservative government are throwing the UK headlong towards a catastrophic no-deal Brexit that will cause untold disruption and decimate our economy and livelihoods across the country,” she said.
“I believe the only way forward is for the UK to immediately request an extension of Article 50 and that can be done if MPs support Yvette Cooper's Bill.
“This is not about sabotaging Brexit - it is about protecting livelihoods, workers' rights and the peace deal in Northern Ireland.
“We must now be pro-active because of Theresa May's failure and inability to understand the EU, to move on her red lines and negotiate cross-Party. The buck stops with her.”
A Labour source said the party would not be drawn on whipping arrangements but would "look at all mechanisms to prevent no deal".
'BE BRAVE ENOUGH'
The joint demand came as Unite boss Mr McCluskey emerged from talks with Theresa May urging the Prime Minister to make “concrete” proposals including a three-month extension of Article 50.
“An extension of Article 50 would demonstrate belief that she needs more time to thrash out a deal, an indication that she will not pursue a no-deal would relieve tens of thousands of my members’ concerns at the moment and that’s what she should do,” he told reporters.
"She should be brave enough to do that and then negotiations and discussions can take place to see if we can resolve this."
PoliticsHome Newsletters
PoliticsHome provides the most comprehensive coverage of UK politics anywhere on the web, offering high quality original reporting and analysis: Subscribe
