Labour MEP candidates pledge to back second Brexit referendum and vote Remain
2 min read
Jeremy Corbyn has come under fresh pressure to back a second Brexit referendum as a string of Labour's European election candidates publicly declared their support for a fresh vote.
A group of 22 hopefuls, including the leader of Labour's MEPs Richard Corbett and his deputy Seb Dance, have signed a pledge supporting a so-called "people's vote" if they are elected on 23 May.
The move comes ahead of a crunch meeting of Labour's National Executive Committee, which will meet on Tuesday to finalise the party's manifesto for the vote.
Twelve current MEPs fighting to retain their seats are among those who have signed the referendum pledge, which has been organised by the Labour Remain Group.
Andrew Lewin, the group's founder, said: "The overwhelming majority of Labour members and voters want to Remain in the EU and I am delighted that so many of our candidates have pledged to campaign for that outcome in the European elections.
"I hope and expect that more will join them in the coming days.
"Remain voters across the country who want to defeat Nigel Farage's Brexit Party can now vote with confidence and enthusiasm for Labour candidates who have pledged to fight for our future, as members of the European Union."
The pledge follows a row over draft Labour election leaflets which made no mention of a second referendum.
PoliticsHome understands that three unions - Unison, the GMB and Usdaw - want Mr Corbyn to include support for a new Brexit poll in Labour's forthcoming European election manifesto.
Labour members last year overwhelmingly backed a conference motion which said the party would support "all options remaining on the table, including campaigning for a public vote" if it could not force a general election.
But some members of Labour's top team - as well as a chunk of the party's MPs in Leave-supporting seats - remain deeply sceptical of a second referendum, fearing it could alienate voters who opted for Brexit in 2016.
Shadow Business Secretary Rebecca Long-Bailey on Sunday suggested the party could sign up to a Brexit deal with the Government without committing to a referendum on it.
Fellow frontbencher Barry Gardiner meanwhile insisted Labour's conference pledge had supported a second referendum to "stop a no-deal [Brexit] or to stop a bad Theresa May deal".
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