Britain’s Shadow chancellor John McDonnell has signalled Labour will whip its MPs to back a bid for a new Brexit referendum.
Labour divisions on the issue were thrown into sharp focus as former minister Caroline Flint estimated up to 70 of the party’s MPs are opposed to a second national EU withdrawal poll in the UK.
Mr McDonnell told Sky News’ Sophy Ridge on Sunday: “Normally we will whip and that will be decided in the normal way by the chief whip and the shadow cabinet and the party overall.
“I think on an issue as this we would see a whip but also you’ve got to respect people’s views and their constituency interests as well, and the whipping arrangement will be determined in discussion in due course.
“I just say this – and I think it’ll be for MPs right the way across the House in all parties now – that they’ve got to look to the long-term interests of the country, they’ve got to protect people’s jobs, they’ve got to protect the economy, otherwise we’ll never be forgiven in the future.”
Ms Flint appealed for the party leadership to allow a free vote and also urged colleagues to back an improved Brexit deal given the 2017 election promise to respect the 2016 referendum result.
The MP told Sky News: “My appeal to John McDonnell, to Jeremy Corbyn, to Keir Starmer, is allow MPs to have a free vote on an improved deal.
“So those MPs who want a second referendum can vote for that but those of us who want to keep our promises to our electorate can also keep faith with those people and vote for an improved deal.”
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