-Labour backs second Brexit referendum听
Last Thursday, Britain鈥檚 agriculture minister resigned over the decision to give lawmakers a vote on delaying Brexit beyond March 29 if Prime Minister Theresa May鈥檚 deal is rejected. Underlining that he prefers to be "free to participate in the critical debate that will take place in the weeks ahead," George Eustice said he fears events in U.K. parliament this week "will lead to a series of events culminating in the EU dictating the terms of any extension requested and the final humiliation of our country鈥�.
This move is unlikely to be the last resignation as the U.K. heads to more uncertainty.
In less than a month, the U.K. will leave the EU, but still, no agreement has been made and a no deal Brexit scenario is still on the table.听
However,听last week, the Labour party announced that it would support a second referendum on Brexit to prevent May from forcing the U.K. to leave the EU without a deal. Jeremy Corbyn, the leader of the U.K.鈥檚 main opposition party Labour, will hold a meeting with the parliamentary wing of the party in which he will back an amendment that calls for an extension of Article 50 and will also support an amendment calling for a people鈥檚 vote on the current Brexit deal.
鈥淭he Prime Minister is recklessly running down the clock, in an attempt to force MPs to choose between her botched deal and a disastrous No Deal. We cannot and will not accept,鈥� a Labour party statement read.
鈥淭hat鈥檚 why, in line with our conference policy, we are committed to also putting forward or supporting an amendment in favor of a public vote to prevent a damaging Tory Brexit being forced on the country,鈥� the statement added.
鈥淥ne way or another, we will do everything in our power to prevent no deal and oppose a damaging Tory Brexit based on Theresa May鈥檚 overwhelmingly rejected deal,鈥� the party warned.
The Labour party is still hesitating over whether it should back the already proposed amendment that would see parliament accept May鈥檚 deal on condition that it would be put to a public vote, while the other option is to remain in the EU under the U.K.鈥檚 current terms.
Corbyn will also put forward an amendment in parliament this week to set out Labour鈥檚 alternative Brexit plan that will include a comprehensive customs union with the EU in which the U.K. would have a say, a close alignment with the single market, protection of workers鈥� rights and the upholding of current environmental standards, among others.
MPs will vote on the Brexit deal by March 12 and if May鈥檚 deal is defeated, then the option of delaying Brexit will be brought to the table. While there is no improvement on the Irish backstop issue, delaying Brexit and the option of holding a second referendum or general elections are the other possibilities to break the deadlock.