Keir Starmer: No appetite for new vote on Brexit
Tim Farron's pledge to call a second EU referendum would be met with disdain from the majority of the British public, according to Labour's Brexit Secretary.
Sir Keir Starmer criticised plans laid out in the Lib Dem manifesto to hold a new public poll on the final Brexit deal, with one option being to remain in the EU.
He said he believed there was 'very little appetite' for a second referendum and insisted that Labour would put the emphasis on getting the best deal for Britain's economy.
Sir Keir visited Walsall to join Labour's parliamentary candidate for Walsall South Valerie Vaz on the campaign trail.
He told the Express & Star: "I think Tim Farron needs to knock on a few more doors if he thinks there is a widespread appeal for a second EU referendum.
"The promised Lib Dem resurgence has simply not happened.
"From my experiences on the doorstep I don't think there is any appetite for another referendum. People are far more interested in the question of what type of deal are we going to get.
"We are putting the emphasis on Britain's economic future, which is a far more important issue as far as I am concerned."
Sir Keir is in the midst of a tour of marginal seats that has seen him visit nearly 30 constituencies in the campaign so far.
Both Ms Vaz's Walsall South seat and Walsall North are said to have been highlighted by Conservative Party Headquarters as possible Tory gains in the June 8 election.
Despite Labour's low poll ratings, Sir Keir maintained that the party is 'in it to win it' and would be fighting for as many seats as possible.
"We know that we cannot underestimate the challenge that lies ahead. In some senses we have got to disregard the national opinion polls in favour of the mini opinion polls that are taking place on the doorsteps of constituencies all around the country.
"The message I am getting is a positive one and I believe we have some incredibly strong local candidates.
"Make no mistake, in this election we are going out to win."
