During a crisis meeting with his party yesterday, Jeremy Corbyn’s shadow cabinet changed its Brexit policy to support a second referendum in all circumstances, after losing big to the Liberal Demorats at the European elections. But the move was met with conflict, as clashes arose between those who fear electoral suicide in Leave constituencies and shadow ministers who want the party to back Remain. In an effort to prevent further splits, the Labour Party is understood to be considering a compromise position, allowing MPs to campaign on either side of the Brexit debate.
John McDonnell, the shadow chancellor, is said to have been a key voice demanding that the party take an unambiguous stance on Brexit, according to The Times.
He said that the party’s present policy was “indecisive” and it needed to be “much clearer”.
His is understood to have proposed the same compromise struck by Harold Wilson, the former Labour prime minister, in the 1975 referendum that kept the UK in the European Community, which merged into the EU in 1993.
In the face of splits in the party, Mr Wilson permitted Labour MPs to