Labour could promise a second referendum on a renegotiated Brexit deal as part of its general election manifesto, shadow international trade secretary Barry Gardiner has suggested. In an interview with Sky News, Gardiner said the party could campaign on a pledge to secure a better deal than Theresa May's, and personally believed any such deal should be put to a public vote.
Labour's official policy is to push for a general election if May fails to get her Brexit deal through parliament, but Gardiner's comments signal growing internal pressure for a second referendum. A YouGov poll of over 25,000 people commissioned by the People's Vote campaign found that 75% of Labour voters support a second referendum, and that Labour could face a backlash if it fails to oppose Brexit.
Gardiner argued that a general election would be the quickest route to a people's vote, as legislating for a referendum would take longer. He said Labour would negotiate without the 'red lines' that hampered May, and then ask the public to decide on the resulting deal. A Labour source reiterated that 'all options' remain on the table, including a campaign for a public vote.
The comments come amid tensions over the People's Vote campaign, with shadow foreign secretary Emily Thornberry accusing it of trying to 'slap the Labour party around'. A People's Vote spokesman rejected this, saying the campaign is highlighting that Labour could suffer its worst electoral defeat since the 1930s if it enables any form of Brexit.
