Labour Brexit splits trigger bitter exchange between high-profile MPs
3 min read
The internal feud over Labour’s post-Brexit position on the single market and customs union has led to a bitter row between two of the party’s most outspoken MPs.
Arch-Remainer Chuka Umunna fired back at Leave-backing colleague Kate Hoey, saying she was "wrong" to claim that the party stood on a manifesto of quitting both trading groups.
Ms Hoey told ITV’s Peston on Sunday it was “very clear” that a vote for Brexit was a vote to quit all strands of the union and that Jeremy Corbyn was following that line.
But Mr Umunna tweeted that “retaining the benefits of the single market and customs union" – as is quoted in Labour's 2016 manifesto – could only be achieved by participating in both after Brexit.
But former Home Office minister Ms Hoey launched a counter-attack, accusing Mr Umunna of using Brexit as a means to “get at” Mr Corbyn and his party allies.
“Chuka is part of that little group in parliament who really were... disappointed when Jeremy did so well," she said.
“They don’t like Jeremy Corbyn, they would like him out, they know they can’t get him out because the party membership is very much behind him right across the country.
“I think they have seen Brexit as an issue where they can continually work together as a little group and they’ve got very little to do.
“They can’t campaign for a new leader so they’re working on Brexit, they’re using Brexit as a way to get at Jeremy and I think Jeremy and John McDonnell who were in every single lobby with me for years voting against the EU are clever enough to understand this.”
Former shadow frontbencher Mr Umunna took to Twitter again to argue Ms Hoey “does not understand” that his position is “about our country - it’s not about our leader or party".
Earlier today, Jeremy Corbyn told the BBC’s Andrew Marr Show that Labour would not support a referendum on whether to accept the final Brexit deal.
When asked whether the party could back the proposal, he said: "What we've asked for and demanded is a meaningful vote in parliament at the end of it ... we're not asking for a second referendum."
Asked if they were going to in the future, the Labour leader replied: "No."
It comes after deputy Labour leader Tom Watson and Shadow Foreign Secretary Emily Thornberry suggested the party could back a second vote.
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