Tom Watson in fresh push for Labour to back a second EU referendum

Tom Watson is to make a fresh push for Labour to back a second EU referendum, insisting the party’s members have always been pro-European

  • Watson is due to give a speech at the Centre for European Reform on Monday
  • He will argue a referendum is the way to break Brexit deadlock in Westminster 
  • Jeremy Corbyn has resisted pressure to fully embrace a second referendum  

Labour’s deputy leader Tom Watson will today mount a renewed push for the party to back a second EU referendum, saying: ‘Our hearts are Remain.’

In a keynote speech to the Centre for European Reform, he will say Labour’s members and its values have always been pro-European.

Mr Watson will argue the only way to break the Brexit deadlock at Westminster is to put the issue back to the people in a public vote, in which Labour would campaign ‘proudly’ for Remain.

During a speech to the Centre for European Reform Watson will argue the only way to break the Brexit deadlock at Westminster is to put the issue back to the people in a public vote

Jeremy Corbyn has resisted pressure to fully embrace a second referendum amid criticism of the party’s dismal showing in last month’s European elections.

Confusion over its position, which is supporting another referendum in certain limited circumstances, was blamed for its coming third place behind the Brexit Party and the Liberal Democrats. 

Mr Corbyn has come under increasing pressure even from his own allies, with both John McDonnell and Diane Abbott asking him to back a second vote. But other Left-wing allies such as union boss Len McCluskey accuse Mr Watson of trying to topple him from the leadership using Brexit as a ruse.

In his speech, Mr Watson will say there is still time to reverse the Brexit vote, but only if Labour fully backs a second referendum. He says: ‘Pro-European is who we are and who we have always been. Our members are Remain. Our values are Remain. Our hearts are Remain.

‘The only way to break the political deadlock is to bring the public back into this decision and we must argue strongly to remain. Our future doesn’t need to be Brexit. We can change our future. We can put Britain back at the heart of Europe.

He adds: ‘We can be proud of leading the fight for a fairer and stronger future together. But we can only achieve this future if Labour fights for it and champions it. It’s time we do that.’ Mr Watson is likely to face a strong push-back from allies of Mr Corbyn.

Corbyn has come under increasing pressure even from his own allies, with both John McDonnell and Diane Abbott asking him to back a second vote

Last week party chairman Ian Lavery hit out at Remainers within the party, dismissing them as ‘Left-wing intellectuals’ who were ‘sneering at ordinary people’ in traditional Labour heartlands who voted for Leave.

However Mr Watson will say that all strands of opinion within the party were entitled to a hearing. ‘We cannot go on dismissing one another’s right to speak and questioning one another’s motives and intentions,’ he will say.

‘Some people have begun to equate support for Europe with class identity. I don’t think that’s right or helpful.’

He argues the ‘core’ EU values of internationalism, solidarity and freedom were also the values of Labour.

‘I’m a European democratic socialist. I don’t love Europe despite being socialist, I love Europe because I am a socialist. Democratic socialism is achieving common causes by the strength of collective endeavour. That’s what Europe is,’ he adds.

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