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 Pro-Brexit fishing campaigner says Boris Johnson's deal has left her with 'no fish'
- 2 Nigel Farage reminded of claim that 'acid test of Brexit' surrounds fishing after clip resurfaces
- 3 European parliament agrees to add British overseas territories to post-Brexit tax haven blacklist
- 4 Ed Miliband mocks Kwasi Kwarteng's 'road to Damascus conversion'
- 5 Telegraph columnist blames Angela Merkel for Brexit
- 6 Piers Morgan causes hilarity with 'Priti Patel with a brain' jibe
- 7 Brussels to launch campaign teaching younger Britons about the EU
- 8 Backlash over Tory MP receiving Covid-19 vaccine despite not being classed as vulnerable
- 9 Boris Johnson to visit Scotland this week in attempt to shore up the union
- 10 SNP MP asks Priti Patel why she has not stood down following UK border comments
"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.