Sadiq Khan attacks Corbyn’s ‘fudge’ on Brexit as he joins shadow cabinet members backing Remain
Sadiq Khan has urged Labour members not to accept any "compromise" on Brexit amid a major row at the party's annual conference over its stance in a second referendum.
In an attack on Jeremy Corbyn's plan to delay making a decision on whether Labour would campaign against Brexit, the London mayor told members: "Do not accept a fudge."
Mr Khan became the latest senior Labour figure at the gathering in Brighton to insist that the party must commit to keeping the UK in the EU.
The Labour leadership is facing an angry backlash over the issue, after grassroots activists and many MPs, including senior shadow cabinet ministers, demanded that Mr Corbyn come out firmly for Remain.
The Labour leader is instead proposing that the party should not decide its position until after a general election.
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Labour big-hitters add to pressure on Corbyn with pro-Remain message
In a "direct appeal" to delegates at the conference, Mr Khan said members should reject any delay in Labour deciding its stance.
He said in a statement: “Labour has come to a vital crossroads. At conference this week, we have the opportunity to come together to define how we seek to deal with the biggest challenge facing our country – Brexit.
“Labour's values of solidarity, social justice and internationalism are clearly best served by remaining in the European Union.
“So I'm making a direct appeal to delegates at Labour conference: do not accept any “compromise” on Brexit, do not accept a fudge, do not delay us setting out what our stance would be in any future referendum.
He added: “Labour is a Remain party and we need to make this official by making it our policy to campaign to stay in the European Union under all circumstances - and to whip all our MPs to back that position.
”Staying neutral in the face of the biggest economic and social threat to our country for decades is simply not an option."
“It’s time for Labour to commit to stopping Brexit - not only by promising to give the British public the final say, but by pledging to throw all our energy behind the campaign to stay in the European Union.”
The Brexit plan put forward by Labour's ruling National Executive Committee (NEC) say the party supports another referendum but that it should "only decide how to campaign in such a referendum – through a one-day special conference, following the election of a Labour government".
On Saturday, shadow foreign secretary Emily Thornberry became the latest MP to dissent from the official line by arguing that the party should "lead the campaign to Remain."
And speaking at a fringe event on Sunday, she dismissed the proposal for a delay in deciding Labour's position in another referendum, saying: "I can't see why we can't make a decision now."
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