John McDonnell heaps pressure on Jeremy Corbyn to turn Labour into anti-Brexit party
JOHN McDonnell heaped pressure on Jeremy Corbyn to turn Labour into an anti-Brexit party – as he predicted they could back Remain today.
Labour’s Treasury chief said there could be “white smoke” at a showdown meeting of the shadow cabinet this afternoon.
Turning the screw ahead of the crunch clash, he said Labour’s Brexit policy has run its course and the time is ripe for change.
He told a meeting in the City of London yesterday: “Watch this space. We might see some white smoke tomorrow.
“I am expecting some decision making to take place.
“I am in favour of going back to the people. If there is a referendum I would campaign for remain.”
Mr Corbyn has faced fierce pressure to fully back a second referendum and commit to campaigning for Remain in the contest.
He was grilled by anti-Brexit union bosses at a meeting yesterday on why he has refused to end Labour’s Brexit fudge.
But many of his closest aides have warned they will be slaughtered at the ballot box in their northern heartlands if they try to stop Brexit.
'NO GRIP ON REALITY'
Speaking in the Commons yesterday, the Labour leader backed another referendum.
He blasted Boris Johnson for threatening a no-deal Brexit on October 31 accusing him of having “no grip on reality”.
And he demanded to know what Theresa May thinks is worse, “crashing out with no deal in October, or putting this issue back to the people for a final say?”
He added: “Whoever the next Prime Minister is, they will barely hold the support of this House, so they certainly have no mandate to force a disastrous hard-right Brexit on this country.”
Mr Corbyn would spark a fresh bout of Labour civil war if he turns Labour into a full-blown anti Brexit party at todays meeting.
Over two dozen Labour MPs wrote an open letter demanding the party honours its promises and commits to seeing Brexit done.
And many more would erupt in fury if Labour became an all-out Remainer party.
MAC QUEST
JOHN McDonnell is vowing to ban companies from the London Stock Exchange if they fail to meet tough new eco targets.
The Shadow Chancellor, right, will use the Treasury’s “might” if Labour gets in.
But campaigners warn heavy regulation will “destroy our county” with investors fleeing the UK, billions being wiped off pensions and more on the dole.
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