After months of mixed messages from Labour over the party’s position on Brexit, this evening Jeremy Corbyn attempted to set the record straight in an interview with Andrew Neil. Speaking on Britain and the EU: the Brexit interviews, Corbyn tried to clarify Labour’s position on Brexit now that Theresa May has formally triggered Article 50.
He said that his party would vote in Parliament against a Brexit deal if it does not meet the six tests set out by Keir Starmer, the shadow Brexit secretary, earlier this week. When it was pointed out to him that a vote against the deal could lead to a ‘cliff edge’ Brexit on WTO terms, Corbyn said that he did not want the UK to leave without a deal — and hoped a ‘no vote’ would mean May continued the talks in search of a better deal. However, his words would have held a bit more meaning had any of Labour’s amendments to the Article 50 bill succeeded.
The most notable line, however, was on the subject of ‘IndyRef2’. Asked about a second Scottish independence referendum, Corbyn said that while he did not back independence, he did not believe Westminster should block the will of the Scottish Parliament on this — instead it was a question of timing:
AN: The Scottish government was elected with a second referendum in its manifesto. The Scottish Parliament has voted for one this very week. Would you deny the Scots a second referendum?
JC: I don’t think Westminster Parliament should block a referendum once it has been proposed by the Scottish Parliament.
Scottish Labour’s stance on a second referendum is rather different. Kezia Dugdale, the leader of Scottish Labour, has repeatedly said that a second referendum is a bad idea — and not something the Scottish people want. The party’s official position is that they are ‘firmly opposed to a second referendum’. Not that May should give in to an SNP demand, as Corbyn seems to suggest. By talking as if a second referendum is on the table, Corbyn has played into the SNP’s hands at a time when he should be supporting his party north of the border.
Update: Scottish Labour have released a statement in an attempt to clarify Corbyn’s comments claiming Corbyn holds the same position. Really? He says that his condition for a new referendum is a vote in the Scottish Parliament. Such a vote took place on Tuesday and should not be ‘blocked’, he told Andrew Neil. Scottish Labour is quite happy for that vote to be blocked (ie, ignored by Theresa May). They say the condition for a new referendum is the ‘will of the Scottish people’. Anyway, here’s the statement:
‘Scottish Labour voted against Nicola Sturgeon’s demands for a second referendum on Scotland leaving the UK. We don’t need another divisive referendum from Nicola Sturgeon and the SNP. Public opinion shows that Scots do not want another referendum.
As Kezia and Jeremy have both said, if there has to be another referendum, voters should be able to make an informed choice. It should only take place after Brexit when there is clarity on the choice being offered.
But as figures from across the political spectrum have said, including Ruth Davidson, if after Brexit the will of the Scottish people is to have another referendum, the UK government should not block it.’
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