Labour Leader Jeremy Corbyn is ‘selling out the British people by endorsing a plan to force a second EU referendum,’ says Pendle MP, Andrew Stephenson. In Parliament this week, Mr Corbyn bowed to pressure from Labour Party members and MPs and tabled an amendment asking MPs to formally consider holding a divisive second referendum, breaking the promise he made in his manifesto to respect the result. If a majority of MPs back a referendum, Parliament could force Theresa May to hold a new in/out public vote that could lead to Brexit being reversed.
Andrew Stephenson MP has criticised the Labour Party amendment, which is supported by Jeremy Corbyn.
‘The people of Pendle, and the UK, voted to leave the EU in a historic referendum. Politicians at the time, including Mr Corbyn, made it clear that this was a one-off vote and that the decision of the British people would be implemented. It is Parliament’s job to honour the result of the referendum and to deliver Brexit in a way that protects jobs and businesses and which is in the national interest.
What we are seeing at the moment is a complete and utter abdication of responsibility by Parliament. Some MPs have no interest in delivering Brexit and are only interested in playing party political games and thwarting the process of leaving the EU. A second referendum could fatally undermine faith in Parliament and in our democracy and would damage social cohesion by reopening divisions across the entire UK. It would create additional uncertainty and is not supported by the vast majority of the people of Pendle who just want Parliament to do its job and get on and deliver Brexit. Jeremy Corbyn is selling out the British people by endorsing this plan to force a second referendum,’ said Andrew.
The 2016 Referendum saw a higher proportion of Pendle residents vote than in the three preceding General Elections. Pendle voters backed Leave by 63%.
