Labour leadership accused of ‘stitch-up’ over Brexit stance as row erupts at party conference
Labour’s leadership has been accused of a “total stitch-up “ over Brexit, after members of its ruling National Executive Committee were given 90 minutes to raise objections by email to a statement backing Jeremy Corbyn’s position.
Senior shadow cabinet members including Emily Thornberry and Sir Keir Starmer have spoken out in favour of shifting the party’s position to backing Remain in any referendum, while deputy leader Tom Watson is arguing for a public vote on Brexit before any election.
But Mr Corbyn tabled a statement to the NEC on Saturday saying that, while the party backed a referendum and would offer the options of a “credible” Brexit deal or Remain to voters, a decision on how it would campaign in a second public vote would be left until after a general election.
General secretary Jennie Formby emailed NEC members around noon on Sunday, asking them to raise any objections by email before 1.30pm, or the statement will go forward to a vote at the party’s conference in Brighton later this week to enshrine it as official policy.
One Remain-supporting shadow cabinet source told The Independent: “It’s a total stitch-up process.
“People wanted a meeting of the NEC to discuss the issues, but they are doing it all by email. A lot of shadow cabinet ministers who would be raising concerns are going to be speaking at Remain rallies in Brighton during that time.”
It is expected that the NEC statement will go forward for a vote on Tuesday alongside a separate motion explicitly backing Remain.
More than 80 constituency Labour parties have put forward motions backing a pro-Remain campaign in any referendum, but the exact wording to be put to the vote will be decided in a “compositing” meeting on Sunday evening.
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But the pro-Remain source said: “The NEC statement will get through. NEC statements always take priority.”
