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Listen: Diane Abbott’s Brexit hypocrisy

This evening Owen Smith has been unceremoniously sacked by Jeremy Corbyn from the Labour front bench after he called for another EU referendum. However, given that the Labour frontbench aren’t exactly known for sharing a coherent Brexit position, some are questioning how fair the move is.

After all, when it coms to calling for second referendums, Diane Abbott actually beat Smith to it. Back in November, the Labour frontbencher was reported, by the Guardian, to have written to two constituents pledging she would argue in favour of a referendum on the final Brexit deal – a policy that had been ruled out by the party:

‘I will argue for the right of the electorate to vote on any deal that is finally agreed.’

Only unlike Smith, Abbott is still in post. In fact, this evening she used an appearance on any questions to state that it was only right Smith was given the axe. Happily, Jonathan Dimbleby was on hand to raise the issue of her own behaviour:

DA: Owen Smith was a valued colleague. He wanted to make a contriubtion to the debate and he will continue to do so. What he can’t do is sit on our frontbench and advance a position that is imply not Labour party policy. No one is saying he can’t have his own opinions, but we’re clear that we are not calling for a second referendum.

JD: But shadow home secretary, why were you allowed to stay in your position when in November of last year you wrote a letter to your constituents saying ‘I will argue for the right of the electorate to vote on any deal that is finally agreed’… exactly the same position as Owen Smith.

DA: No, we have debated this in the party because we take the result seriously but we are not calling for a second referendum.

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