Northern Labour MPs lash out at party’s Brexit supremo Starmer as they accuse him of ‘driving voters into Farage’s arm’s with his pro-EU stance
- Northern MPs fearful that Brexit voters are deserting Labour because of Sir Kier Starmer’s pro-EU views
- Shadow Brexit Secretary also accused of undermining Jeremy Corbyn
- Downing Street claimed that Sir Kier’s preference for second referendum led to collapse of Brexit talks
Labour’s Brexit supremo was last night accused of ‘driving voters into Nigel Farage’s arms’ by championing a second referendum.
Sir Keir Starmer faced a bitter backlash from Northern Labour MPs fearful that their Brexit-backing voters are now deserting Labour because of his pro-EU stance.
The Shadow Brexit Secretary was also accused of openly undermining Jeremy Corbyn as part of his own bid to replace his party leader.
Labour’s Brexit supremo was last night accused of ‘driving voters into Nigel Farage’s arms’ by championing a second referendum. Sir Keir Starmer faced a bitter backlash from Northern Labour MPs fearful that their Brexit-backing voters are now deserting Labour because of his pro-EU stance
The row broke out after Downing Street privately claimed Sir Keir’s backing for a second referendum was a key factor in the collapse of Labour’s Brexit talks with the Government last week.
Shadow Cabinet colleagues and Northern MPs are growing increasingly anxious that Brexit-backing Labour voters in the North and Midlands are being ignored by senior party figures from pro-Remain London.
Greater Manchester MP Graham Stringer angrily accused Holborn MP Sir Keir of ‘driving voters into Nigel Farage’s arms’. He said: ‘Every time he says there has to be a second referendum he is losing us votes in the North of England, the Midlands and Wales.’
Sir Keir could not be reached for comment last night.
But speaking to the BBC earlier, he suggested that adding the option of a second referendum to the Withdrawal Agreement Bill would ‘break the impasse’.
Greater Manchester MP Graham Stringer angrily accused Holborn MP Sir Keir of ‘driving voters into Nigel Farage’s arms’