Is Momentum about to back a People’s Vote?
A meeting of the local Camden division of Momentum. Photograph: Polly Hancock. - Credit: Archant
A petition of members of left-wing pressure group Momentum has hit a key milestone - triggering a bigger conversation with the wider membership.
At least 4,000 members of the group – formed to back Jeremy Corbyn's leadership bid and now one of the most powerful voices within the Labour party – have now backed a policy change to support a People's Vote on the final Brexit deal.
As it stands Corbyn has refused to back a People's Vote, but earlier this week Sir Keir Starmer said the option was still on the table.
Now Momentum's ruling body will meet on 1 September to consider the petition, organised by Tower Hamlets activist Alena Ivanova, calling for the group to back a conference motion on holding a referendum on the final Brexit deal.
'If we were staring down the barrel of a no-deal gun, I personally would like to be asked what I thought about that,' Momentum organiser Laura Parker told the BBC.
'Because however you voted, you didn't vote for this country to throw itself off a cliff... I could see a lot of Momentum members being very concerned.'
You may also want to watch:
Amanda Chetynd-Cowieson from the anti-Brexit youth organisation For our Future's Sake (FFS) said: 'Momentum are a significantly influential voice within the Labour Party and this shows the ever-increasing pressure on Labour's leadership to support a People's Vote. A People's Vote is the left wing argument, and the progressive one.'
A Labour source told The New European last month: 'This could prove tricky for Jeremy. A significant shift from Momentum would certainly put pressure on him to back a People's Vote. If this is debated at conference I think we really could see a change in direction.'
Most Read
- 1 US election result could spark 'end of Brexit', claims peer
- 2 Brexiteer says EU 'spiteful' to end fast-track lanes for Brits after Brexit
- 3 'Assorted caviar' and 'board games' - Gifts confiscated from Boris Johnson due to anti-corruption laws
- 4 Farage says he can dodge US travel ban because he's a 'journalist'
- 5 Poll puts Labour on highest level of support since 2014
- 6 Question Time: Tory minister told 'diverse' cabinet doesn't erase race issues in party
- 7 MANDRAKE: Chilling news for Telegraph bosses
- 8 Former Labour MP tells Jeremy Corbyn to retire after being suspended from party
- 9 Poll: Most Britons think Labour was right to suspend Jeremy Corbyn
- 10 Poll finds Boris Johnson key factor for Scots backing independence
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.
