Rebel letter to Sun says Labour should vote OUT instead of ‘bludgeoning’ voters to vote Remain
Seven MPs, led by Frank Field, blasted the party for 'betraying its own suporters' in a statement given exclusively to us
REBEL Labour MPs last night sensationally rounded on party chiefs for trying to “bludgeon” supporters into voting to remain in the EU.
In a scathing indictment, they blamed Labour’s 2010 election defeat on Gordon Brown’s failure to address working class voters’ concerns over immigration.
The seven MPs, led by Frank Field, blasted the party high command for betraying its own supporters.
In a statement given exclusively to The Sun, they said: “Our party lost almost a million voters to Ukip who had previously supported Labour candidates.
“They believe Labour no longer supports their views, particularly on the impact of immigration on working class living standards. Trying to bludgeon Labour voters to vote Remain — almost as a Labour test of loyalty — sets us on course to lose another million votes at the next election from this group of loyal Labour voters who believe our country’s destiny is outside the EU.”
The bombshell marks a direct attack on Jeremy Corbyn’s lacklustre leadership and the stance of pro-EU stalwarts such as Harriet Harman and Hilary Benn.
It follows The Sun’s front page call yesterday for Britain to turn out in force next Thursday and vote for Brexit.
It also coincides with the dubious decision by ex-PM Gordon Brown, the “Great Clunking Fist”, to rally undecided Labour voters.
It was Mr Brown as PM who sparked uproar in the 2010 election by slamming Labour supporter Gillian Duffy as a “bigoted woman” for raising the immigration issue.
The rebel statement is signed by Merseyside MP Frank Field, a longstanding champion of the working class poor, and six other MPs. They are leading Brexiteer Gisela Stuart and veteran Eurosceptics Kate Hoey, Ronnie Campbell, Kelvin Hopkins, Graham Stringer and Roger Godsiff.
They state: “We seven MPs try to represent the views of 40 per cent of Labour voters on this issue.
“Our message is clear. All those Labour voters who wish to vote Leave should do so and see themselves, as we do as MPs, as good, loyal supporters of the Labour Party.
“Please remain loyal to Labour and vote to leave the EU. We believe it is best for our country.”
The revolt against Labour’s official Remain stance is growing, with MPs including John Mann and Dennis Skinner planning to defy it.
Polling experts say an exodus of past and present Labour voters could swing the vote in favour of Brexit.
Confused.commies
CONFUSION reigned yesterday as Labour’s two most powerful figures made astonishing claims in a last-ditch bid to stop the party’s voters backing Brexit.
Leader Jeremy Corbyn warned leaving the EU could lead to people having to pay to use the NHS. Then his deputy Tom Watson made a shock call for curbs to EU freedom of movement. His intervention opened up an immediate division with pro-immigration Mr Corbyn.
In an interview with the BBC’s Laura Kuenssberg, Mr Watson said: “I think a future Europe will have to look at things like the free movement of labour rules.”
That is in stark contrast to Mr Corbyn’s stance, who said recently of free movement: “I don’t see it as a problem or a fear. I see it as an opportunity.”
But Brexit-backing Labour MP John Mann blasted: “If David Cameron’s ‘renegotiation’ told us one thing, it is the EU will not move on this founding principle.”
Mr Watson’s call came before a speech today urging voters not to treat the vote as a chance to give the PM a “bloody nose”.
Yesterday the head of Labour’s Remain campaign Alan Johnson admitted he was nervous about the polls with eight days to go.
Mr Corbyn’s doomsday NHS prediction came as he gathered his Shadow Cabinet and pro-EU trade union bosses in a show of leftie support for Remain.
In the latest dose of Project Fear, they argued leading Brexit backers Boris Johnson and Michael Gove wanted to end a free-to-use NHS. He spoke just minutes after unions wheeled out NHS workers as part of their anti-Brexit “health scare” campaign.
Student midwife Emily Maclean told the event in London: “Every day, Britain’s babies come safely into the world thanks to the care of midwives from Europe. Trust me, the NHS needs these people.”
The British Medical Journal last night urged doctors to vote In.
'Invest in UK if Leave wins ballot'
ONE of Europe’s biggest banks yesterday advised investing in UK companies in the event of Brexit because they would “outperform the European market”.
Analysts at Deutsche Bank said a Leave vote would cause panic on Europe’s stock markets in the weeks after the June 23 referendum.
It fears falls of as much as ten per cent, but predicts the FTSE 100 will perform better, boosted by a weak Pound. The value of Sterling has already fallen eight per cent since its November peak and it is feared it could tumble another five per cent by the end of the year.
A weak Pound will be good for exporters, as it will make British goods cheaper for Europe to buy.
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Deutsche Bank’s Sebastian Raedler, who helped compile the research, said: “If this is correct the FTSE 100 should outperform the Stoxx 600, the wider European markets, by around five per cent.”
But uncertainty over Brexit caused a major sell-off on Europe’s stock markets yesterday. The FTSE plunged two per cent, down 121 points. Trading closed with £30billion wiped off shares as it dropped below the 6,000 mark for the first time since February.
It was revealed Bank of England Governor Mark Carney is to meet European Central Bank boss Mario Draghi and finance chiefs in Frankfurt on June 23 to prepare a response to Britain’s vote.
Pro-EU Labour MP and Treasury Select Committee member Wes Streeting said: “The warning signs are already there. Turning our back on Europe would wreck the economy, putting millions of hardworking British people’s financial stability at risk.”
Kid benefits block to stay
BRITAIN can stop EU benefit tourists claiming handouts for their kids within days of arriving here.
The European Court of Justice yesterday ruled our three-month residency checks are justified by “the need to protect the finances of the host member state” following a complaint from Brussels.
Brexit betting boost
BREXIT is on course to overtake Remain as favourite to win the EU referendum by the weekend, bookies predicted last night.
William Hill have slashed the odds of leaving the EU from 7/4 to 6/4.
Remain, which was once 1/7 favourite to clinch victory, saw its odds lengthen from 4/9 to 8/15. A
William Hill spokesman said: “It seems inevitable Brexit will be the favourite by the weekend if this trend continues.”