I am writing to you to seek urgent clarification on Labour’s Brexit policy, following developments over the weekend which suggest your party is moving towards a position of suspending Article 50 and delaying Brexit to hold a second referendum.
The Government has made clear that we will not hold a second referendum. It would be wrong on principle, and in practice.
In remarks that will cause widespread concern in communities across the United Kingdom, however they voted in the EU referendum, Sadiq Khan suggested on Sunday that in order to hold a second referendum, “What needs to happen is, is this, we defer us leaving the European Union.”
You have said yourself that, “There’s no dispute that Britain will leave the European Union in March 2019,” but now Labour’s most senior elected representative is calling for a delay to Brexit. This adds to the string of top Labour figures – including yourself, Jeremy Corbyn, John McDonnell, and Tom Watson – who have left the door open to a second referendum.
More than two years on from the referendum, with the right deal within our reach, the vast majority of British people will see that instead of trying to make Brexit a success, Labour are only interested in trying to frustrate the process.
It’s vital that the British people have clarity and honesty from their elected representatives and, as such, it’s incumbent on you to answer the following questions, to give people a clear sense of Labour’s position:
1. Will you respect the result of the referendum and rule out holding a second referendum?
2. Will you rule out delaying Brexit and extending Article 50?
3. If you propose to delay Brexit by extending Article 50, for how long?
4. What would the question be in your proposed second referendum?
5. All of this would require, as the original referendum did, legislation approved by both houses. When and how would you legislate for your proposed second referendum?
While we work to deliver the instruction of the British people and get the right Brexit deal, people across the United Kingdom will be rightly concerned that Labour’s approach would invite the worst deal and take the country back to square one.
You have repeatedly said that all options should be “on the table”, but it is now time for you to urgently clarify where Labour stands on these crucial issues. I look forward to hearing from you soon.
Rt. Hon. Dominic Raab MP
Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union
