A bombshell leaked document today reveals Theresa May’s plan to block a second referendum and stage preferential votes in the Commons designed to allow Britain to leave the EU on July 31.
The leaked memo, shown to the Evening Standard, was sent to Labour on Wednesday, a day after the Prime Minister and Jeremy Corbyn met for private talks.
The revelation came as a surprise on the day Mr Corbyn pulled the plug on cross-party talks with the Government, saying that they had “gone as far as they can”.
The plan involves:
- Free votes for MPs in which they would rank in order of preference five different forms of customs arrangements with the EU, ranging from a full permanent trade pact to a looser or temporary arrangement. The aim is to force the Commons, which has rejected every option shown so far, to a decision.
- A free vote on making any deal subject to a second referendum, which appears designed to block the campaign backed by 150 Labour MPs for a confirmatory ballot attached to any deal.
- Whipped votes on other areas where the two sides appear to have reached agreement, including to keep European worker rights and green standards.
The document infuriated Labour MPs opposed to Brexit who said it seemed that the two leaders had discussed the plans.
Labour MP Alex Sobel called on Mr Corbyn to disown the plan – and to back a referendum immediately.
This is the battle plan for a desperate Prime Minister to freeze the people out over the biggest decision facing the country in two generations, said the MP.
There will be fury at Mr Corbyn from Labour supporters of a second referendum or confirmatory ballot, because the leaked paper says there will be a separate free vote earlier on whether to let the public have a final say.
A Whitehall source said the aim was to rule out a referendum before an exit plan is chosen.
The document says the aim is for Britain to finally leave the European Union on July 31 this year. Key votes would be staged the passage of a Withdrawal Agreement Bill.
Mr Sobel told the Standard: “Perhaps the most shocking and cynical aspect of this proposed stitch-up is that it has been drawn up with the idea that Labour could be persuaded to sign up to it.