Labour MP David Lammy warns party could split if it doesn't back second referendum
David Lammy, a prominent campaigner for a second vote, says Jeremy Corbyn has been presented with an "open goal" on the issue.
Sunday 20 January 2019 15:11, UK
Jeremy Corbyn risks splitting the Labour Party if he does not back a second referendum, according to one of his MPs.
David Lammy, a prominent campaigner for a second vote, told Sky News the Labour leader has been presented with an "open goal" on the issue.
"I'd like the Labour party to go through the door and score the goal," the Tottenham MP told Sophy Ridge on Sunday.
"The only way of doing that it seems to me is to get us into a place where we are preparing for that final say referendum that has to take place."
When it was suggested Mr Corbyn was instead "missing the goal" and "hitting the crossbar", Mr Lammy replied: "Well he's moving the goalposts and I've been very clear on that.
"We now have seen that the deal has not gone through, that a vote of confidence has not been successful as people like me predicted back in September last year.
"It seems to me there is no point in continuing with votes of no confidence, throwing darts and missing the board."
Mr Lammy then went on to voice his fear that the issue could end up splitting the party.
"There is a small group in our party who are so frustrated, who have so much grievance, the fear is that they are going to go off and form another party. I personally reject that," he said.
"But the danger is that, just like 1983, a new party built around a relationship with Europe keeps the Labour Party out of power for a generation."
Labour's policy on Brexit, agreed at its party conference in Liverpool in September, is that its first preference is to secure a general election.
Failing that, the party "must support all options remaining on the table, including campaigning for a public vote".
He said a general election was "extremely unlikely" as the DUP and backbench Conservative MPs would not vote against Theresa May.
Echoing comments from shadow Brexit Secretary Sir Keir Starmer on Saturday, Mr Lammy said "the moment has arrived for clarity and for leadership".
Sir Keir said that while Wednesday's no-confidence vote was the "beginning not the end" of Labour's push for an election, he argued the party had reached the phase of considering backing a second referendum.
Speaking to the BBC's Andrew Marr Show on Sunday, Sir Keir said Labour "need to be realistic about what the options are".
He added that the options "are down in effect to two" - a deal that gives Britain a close economic relationship with Europe or a public vote.