Labour sensation: Corbyn backs People’s Vote
A red flag flies as Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn speaks at a rally at Pier Head in Liverpool, ahead of the party's annual conference in the city Photo: PA / Stefan Rousseau - Credit: PA Wire/PA Images
Jeremy Corbyn has confirmed he will back a second referendum if Labour conference votes in favour.
As conference opened in Liverpool the Labour leader said although he was not calling for a People's Vote he would not 'walk away' from any decision delegates make.
'What comes out of conference I will adhere to. But I'm not calling for a second referendum. I hope we will agree that the best way of resolving this is a general election,' he told the Sunday Mirror.
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'But I was elected to empower the members of the party. So if conference makes a decision I will not walk away from it and I will act accordingly.'
Corbyn's words mean that both he and deputy leader Tom Watson have said they would support a People's Vote.
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Richard Angell, director of Progress, Labour's centre-left movement, said: 'Jeremy Corbyn has sent a clear and welcome message to his supporters that he would be happy for them to change Labour policy and back a People's Vote to stop a hard Brexit.
'The Labour leadership has consistently refused to rule out a public say on the final deal, and pressure from the grassroots means that the party now has the chance to take a next step and demand one.
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'It is vital that delegates are given a say and not denied this opportunity – conference should simply be asked whether or not Labour supports a People's Vote. Some in the party establishment blocked a vote on Brexit last year and they should not be allowed to deny members a say again this year or allow only a vague motion for debate.'
The final decision on whether a vote will take place will be made on Sunday evening.
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