Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn wrote to the Prime Minister and set out five crucial demands that must be met for the party to support her Brexit deal. Prime Minister Theresa May wrote back to Mr Corbyn insisting that many of the conditions had already met in her deal, and suggested Labour’s plan would scupper the chance of signing trade deals post-Brexit. Speaking on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, the shadow Brexit secretary Sir Keir Starmer insisted a second referendum remained on the table for Labour.
Sir Keir reportedly wanted the threat of a People’s Vote to be included in the letter that was sent to the Prime Minister.
When pressed on whether a People’s Vote was “taken out by the leader’s office”, Sir Keir said he would “not go into the ins and the outs” of the drafting of the letter.
Sir Keir added: “The letter set out the close economic relationship in detail, it was credible, it's been well received in the UK and the EU.
“We made absolutely clear the next day - I said so, Jeremy Corbyn sent an email to all members making it clear that a public vote is an option still on the table.”
Brexit news: Sir Keir was pressed over whether Corbyn's team took a second vote out the letter (Image: GETTY•BBC)
Jeremy Corbyn emailed members the next day and I was very clear in the media the option of a public vote was still on the table
Sir Keir Starmer
BBC host Justin Webb said: “I put it to you this morning that originally that letter contained the option of a public vote and you have not denied that it did, people can assume what they want from that.”
Sir Keir replied: “What I am saying is that Jeremy Corbyn and I both said that in the letter of the close economic relationship,
