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British MPs appeal to Corbyn to back second Brexit vote

Britain's opposition Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn on stage at the Labour Party Conference in Liverpool, north west England on September 23, 2018, the official opening day of the annual Labour Party Conference. - Britain's Labour Party kicks off its annual conference on Sunday hoping to prove it is ready to unseat the embattled Conservative government despite its own splits on Brexit and rows over anti-Semitism. (Photo by Paul ELLIS / AFP) (Photo credit should read PAUL ELLIS/AFP/Getty Images)

A group of British lawmakers appealed to Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn on Thursday to back a second referendum on Brexit, saying they did not have enough support in parliament to persuade the government to stage such a vote.

Parliament is in deadlock over Britain’s departure from the European Union after resoundingly rejecting Prime Minister Theresa May’s plan last week, throwing up several outcomes, including leaving without a deal or a second referendum.

Reuters reported, May has ruled out staging a second vote, saying parliament should respect the 2016 referendum when 52 per cent of Britain voted to leave the EU. Corbyn also does not support a second referendum but says the option should remain on the table.

Supporters of a second referendum say it is the only way to break the deadlock in parliament by asking for the people to decide.

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“The clock is ticking and at this late stage, I appeal to Jeremy Corbyn to do the right thing by the majority of our voters, our supporters and members and back a people’s vote,” Labour lawmaker Luciana Berger said.

Conservative lawmaker Sarah Wollaston said they could only force through a plan for a second vote if Corbyn supported such a move in the 650-seat lower house of parliament.

“Without the unequivocal backing of the Labour leadership at the moment we would not have the numbers,” she said.

S-Davies Wande