Blocking Brexit will lead to protests, Corbyn warned
Labour's suggestion that it may attempt to block Britain's departure from the EU would lead to mass protests from furious Brexit backers, Jeremy Corbyn has been warned.
The party has sent out a series of conflicting messages over its stance on Brexit, with Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell ruling out a second 'in/out' referendum, before Sir Keir Starmer insisted remaining in the EU was still an option.
Sir Keir, who suggested Mr McDonnell may not have been briefed on Labour's latest attempt at a Brexit policy before he made his comments, has now said the party could back an extension of Article 50 – meaning the UK would not leave the bloc on March 29.
Speaking at the Labour Party conference in Liverpool, Sir Keir said that if the party leadership's preferred choice of a General Election was not possible, it must be prepared to campaign for a public vote on Brexit with 'remain' as an option.
His comments were made at a Brexit debate, which had been demanded by more than 100 Labour constituency branches in the UK.
Tory Brexiteers have lambasted Labour for putting forward 'confused' views over Britain's departure from the EU, with Lichfield MP Michael Fabricant saying: "Keir Starmer, like so many other committed Remainers, uses mealy-mouthed words to wriggle in any direction he can to to prevent the people's will – namely to leave the European Union – from coming about.
"Like many in the establishment, they are determined that the UK remain with that fast declining bloc: the EU.
"Of course, the light at the end of the tunnel, is that Starmer, Corbyn and McDonnell all seem to disagree.
"But if Labour were to ever come to power and Starmer's dreams of remaining in the EU realised, I think the nation would arise in justifiable protest against this defiance of the democratic will."
Stone MP Sir Bill Cash, the Chair of the European Scrutiny Committee, said: "The Labour Party is in complete chaos over Europe. They claim to respect the vote of the British people but in fact they do not.
"They are totally split."
Sir Keir announced that Theresa May’s Chequers plan would almost certainly fail Labour’s 'six tests' for the Brexit deal.
“If Theresa May brings back a deal that fails our tests – and that looks increasingly likely – Labour will vote against it. No ifs, no buts.
“And if the Prime Minister thinks we’ll wave through a vague deal asking us to jump blindfolded into the unknown, she can think again.
"We will vote down a blind Brexit.”
He then prompted wild applause from delegates, saying: "If [a General Election] is not possible, we must have other options.
"And, conference, that must include campaigning for a public vote. Conference, it’s right that parliament has the first say.
"But if we need to break the impasse, our options must include campaigning for a public vote and nobody is ruling out remain as an option."
Sir Keir also launched a scathing attack on Theresa May, telling delegates: "If your party wants to tear itself apart, that’s fine. But you’re not taking our country with you.”
He added: “Just when we need a strong government, what do we see from the Tories? Division, chaos and failure.
“No credible plan for Brexit. No solution to prevent a hard border in Ireland. And no majority in parliament for the Chequers proposals.
“A Tory civil war that has gone on for years, now threatens our future prosperity. The party that once promised that it would fix the roof while the sun was shining is now intent on burning the whole house down.”
Jeremy Corbyn was due to address the conference today.
