Labour MPs sign open letter calling on Jeremy Corbyn to back second EU referendum
The London-based politicians have broken ranks to say "the government doesn't have a mandate to force a bad deal on our city".
Saturday 2 June 2018 14:08, UK
Pressure is mounting on Jeremy Corbyn to reverse his position on Brexit after 15 more Labour MPs broke ranks to call for a second referendum.
The politicians, who all represent London constituencies, joined forces with Lib Dem leader Sir Vince Cable and two of his MPs to warn of the dangers the capital faces when the UK leaves the EU.
Six former shadow ministers, several of whom were in place until last year, are included in the signatories of a letter sent to The Independent.
Regular Corbyn critics Mike Gapes and Wes Streeting, plus others including Rushanara Ali, Chuka Umunna, Margaret Hodge, David Lammy and Tulip Siddiq, supported the letter.
The 15 signatories represent nearly a third of the 49 Labour MPs in London.
It comes the day after eight Labour backbenchers, including four former shadow ministers, signed another open letter calling for a second referendum.
Many of its Labour signatories also signed the letter published by The Independent on Saturday.
It came after 10 Welsh Labour MPs also called for a second referendum, including Anna McMorrin and Tonia Antoniazzi, who are parliamentary private secretaries to shadow cabinet members.
Mr Corbyn, himself a London MP, has repeatedly said Labour does not support a second national poll and fired Owen Smith as shadow Northern Ireland secretary for proposing one.
In their letter to The Independent, the Labour MPs warned that the capital "represents all the most positive elements of being global, outward-looking, welcoming and tolerant, but that was all at risk if Brexit went badly".
They added: "The government has a mandate to negotiate a Brexit deal.
"What the government absolutely does not have is a mandate to force a bad Brexit deal on our city that could damage London for generations to come.
"So much of the economy of London relies on being in the single market and the customs union, and on freedom of movement.
"From the tech sector to finance, from construction to culture, London benefits hugely from being part of a larger European market. Outside of this European market, our city will suffer."
Five MPs from Labour's heartlands in the North East also signed a letter published by The Independent in May, calling for backing for the People's Vote campaign.
The group are seeking a public vote on the final Brexit deal.
Mr Corbyn is facing increasing pressure to alter his stance on Brexit after the launch of a new campaign by his left-wing supporters.
The group, called The Left Against Brexit, has announced a nationwide tour this summer as they attempt to stop the UK's departure from the EU.
It comes as the International Trade Secretary Liam Fox, a prominent Brexiteer, admitted that cabinet members analysing potential solutions to the post-Brexit Irish border customs problem have met just once in the month since they were given the task.
He said the group looking at the "customs partnership" proposal had been waiting for a report to be finished and will meet for a second time next week.
Dr Fox's group, which includes fellow Leave supporter Michael Gove, were told to examine what is thought to be the prime minister's preferred option and supported by ministers who backed Remain.
A second group is considering Leave-backers' favoured "maximum facilitation", or "max fac", solution.
The customs partnership idea would see Britain continue to collect tariffs on behalf of the EU.
The "max fac" idea is based on the use of technology to minimise the need for customs checks post-Brexit.