Diane Abbott says ‘Labour is up for an election’ if prime minister takes no-deal Brexit off the table
Diane Abbott speaking on BBC's The Andrew Marr show. Picture: BBC - Credit: Archant
Shadow Home Secretary Diane Abbot claims the threat of a no-deal exit from the EU and a 'Trump Brexit' means Labour cannot yet support a general election.
Diane Abbott told BBC's Andrew Marr that Labour could back a general election if the prime minister gave a categorical assurance to MPs that he will not crash out of the EU without a deal.
She said: "He could come to parliament and categorically give parliament an undertaking that he's not going to come out without a deal.
"But he won't do that, because coming out without a deal is something that people around him like Dominic Cummings would want because then it becomes not just Brexit but a Trump Brexit - opening up the British economy to American multi-nationals.
"But if he were to come to parliament and say that he's not going to crash out without a deal, we would be satisfied with that."
You may also want to watch:
The Labour MP told Andrew Marr that once her party is aware of what kind of extension the EU is offering, then they will consider Boris Johnson's proposal for a general election.
"We have over half a million members and they want an election," said Abbott.
Most Read
- 1 The true cost of Brexit is becoming clearer
- 2 Why have Remainers gone so quiet?
- 3 Did Euros fever contribute to result of EU referendum?
- 4 Boris Johnson's awkward moment with the Queen
- 5 Be careful what you wish for... voting reform could kill Labour
- 6 Dominic Cummings explains why Boris Johnson didn't do Andrew Neil interview
- 7 MATT FREI: Brexit posed a question... and we haven't even begun to answer it
- 8 How the Kominsky Method grapples with growing old
- 9 PMQs: Ian Blackford drops truth bomb over post-Brexit trade deal with Australia
- 10 Michael O'Leary: My hope for the future over Brexit
"I don't think anyone of us believes Boris Johnson should be in power for a minute longer than is necessary."
She added that Labour hadn't yet had a chance to discuss the Lib Dem's bill which also supports a general election.
The Hackney North and Stoke Newington MP said the bill was problematic because it calls on the EU to give the UK an extension.
"We can't dictate to the EU what length of extension they want to give," she said.
"We have to hear from them."
Abbott insisted that a no-deal Brexit would be a "disaster" for Britain.
She said: "If we crashed out of the EU we would have no access to European arrest warrants, no access to Europol, no access to all sorts of databases.
"Labour will do anything in its power to stop that.
"We're waiting to see what the EU says. But make no mistake, the Labour party is up for an election."
Become a Supporter
The New European is proud of its journalism and we hope you are proud of it too. We believe our voice is important - both in representing the pro-EU perspective and also to help rebalance the right wing extremes of much of the UK national press. If you value what we are doing, you can help us by making a contribution to the cost of our journalism.
