Dozens of Labour MPs ready to break ranks and support Remain

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Labour MPs from across Britain vowed today to campaign for Remain in a second referendum despite Jeremy Corbyn defeating a move to adopt such a stance as party policy.

The Labour leader wants to put off until after the next election deciding between campaigning for Remain, Leave or staying neutral in another referendum where there would be a choice between a newly negotiated Brexit deal or staying in the EU.

He called on the voting muscle of trade unions yesterday to scupper a grassroots membership motion at Labour’s annual conference in Brighton to make it a Remain-campaigning party.

However, MPs made clear today that they would not be deterred. Wakefield MP Mary Creagh said: “There is no deal that is as good for jobs, Northern Ireland, security & the environment as the one we have now ... I’ll be campaigning for Remain.”

Manchester Withington MP Jeff Smith said: “For the avoidance of doubt ... I will be campaigning for Remain in any future referendum.”

Birmingham Yardley MP Jess Phillips said: “I’ll campaign for Remain. The end.” Edinburgh South MP Ian Murray tweeted: “I’ll be ferociously campaigning for remain as will @scottishlabour. Corbyn staying neutral may help the Remain cause.”

Bury North MP James Frith said: “Any Brexit deal must go back to the people in a final say referendum. I’ll still campaign to Remain.”

Cardiff Central MP Jo Stevens said: “The best deal we have is as a member of the EU. I’ll again campaign for Remain in any referendum.”

The commitment appeared particularly strong among MPs representing cities, including the capital.

Tottenham MP David Lammy said: “Hands up if you will be campaigning for Remain in a confirmatory referendum,” and he was retweeted by shadow Treasury minister Clive Lewis, MP for Norwich South.

Brentford and Isleworth MP Ruth Cadbury tweeted: “Like many PLP colleagues I’ll be campaigning in a ref to #Remain; in line with local @UKLabour policy, the interests of the UK & wishes of my constituents.” Tooting MP Dr Rosena Allin-Khan said: “I am pro-Remain. Tooting is pro-Remain. Tooting Labour is pro-Remain.”

Shadow chancellor John McDonnell, shadow foreign secretary Emily Thornberry and shadow Brexit secretary Sir Keir Starmer would also back Remain.

Coming out now to campaign for Remain would risk alienating Leave voters, but critics of the new policy say it looks indecisive and will be difficult to explain to voters.

In chaotic scenes, the conference rejected the pro-Remain motion on a show of hands , with debate chairwoman Wendy Nichols seen talking to Labour general secretary and Corbyn-ally Jennie Formby.

Announcing the result, Ms Nichols said: “Sorry I thought it was one way... and Jennie said something else, so. Yes, that was lost.” It meant a victory for Mr Corbyn and the National Executive Committee’s plan of not deciding which side to be on in a second referendum until after an election, when a special conference would discuss the latest Brexit position.

Shadow business secretary Rebecca Long-Bailey today defended Ms Nichols, saying: “If she had any concerns about the vote then no doubt she would have raised it and would have called for the vote again.”

If the decision had gone to a card vote, it could have exposed the reliance on unions to block it.

London Mayor Sadiq Khan said he did not believe the resulted reflected “the views of the overwhelming majority of Labour members”.

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