The Labour Party’s governing body is reinstating a second referendum in its manifesto for elections in May if they are unable to change the Brexit deal or force a general election.
The National Executive Committee met to decide the wording of the manifesto and ruled against Labour campaigning for a referendum under all circumstances.
Instead, the ruling body decided the manifesto would be “fully in line” with Labour’s existing policy, a source told BBC News, and that they would demand a public vote if the government continues not to move on red lines.
“The NEC agreed the manifesto which will be fully in line with Labour’s existing policy to support Labour’s alternative plan and if we can’t get the necessary changes to the government’s deal, or a general election, to back the option of a public vote,” a source told BBC News.
Deputy leader of the Labour Party Tom Watson – who has consistently pushed for a second vote – said the document would be released next week after leaving the National Executive Committee, however, did not state his view on the outcome of the meeting.
Only now Labour is making their position clear on whether they support a People’s Vote after having dodged the issue for months, which led to some MPs leaving and creating The Independent Group.
And it is yet to be confirmed what Labour’s referendum would be on but as suggested in a party briefing paper earlier this year, it stated the choices would need to have “a credible Leave option and Remain” on the ballot paper.
Gloria De Piero, MP for Ashfield, who is against a second referendum agreed with the decision on Twitter stating it would only be an “option”.
“Labour’s manifesto for the European Parliament will not contain a pledge to hold a second Brexit referendum,” she wrote, “The party’s ruling national executive committee agreed that another nationwide poll should only be an ‘option’ if it cannot force a general election”.
