Labour to order MPs to vote for amendment calling for second Brexit referendum, McDonnell announces

Motion likely to be voted on when Theresa May puts her revised Brexit deal before the Commons next week

Labour will order its MPs to vote for a backbench motion that would trigger a fresh Brexit referendum, John McDonnell has said.

The shadow chancellor said the party would back an amendment being tabled by Labour MPs Peter Kyle and Phil Wilson after it dramatically shifted its policy last week to support a fresh public poll.

The Labour leadership had asked for the original Kyle-Wilson amendment to be redrafted to allow the party's MPs to support another referendum without approving Theresa May’s Brexit deal. The initial text had pledged back for the prime minister's exit plan providing she put it to a public vote.

Speaking at a briefing for Westminster journalists, Mr McDonnell said he hadn’t seen the final text but added: ”We’re trying to ensure our members don’t have to vote for Theresa May’s deal to get to the stage.

“There doesn’t necessarily have to be a reference to Theresa May’s deal...We don’t want an explicit reference to Theresa May’s deal.”

Asked if Labour would order MPs to vote for the amendment, he said: “Yes. That’s the discussion that’s going on.”

The decision promoted fury from some of Labour MPs in Leave-voting areas, with dozens reported to be considering voting against any proposal to give the public a Final Say vote.

Some have demanded a free vote on the issue so they do not have to defy party orders or resign from frontbench jobs, but Mr McDonnell said he expected the vote to be whipped in the usual way.

However, he played down speculation of a sizeable rebellion, saying there was ”a minor difference of view” and that party leaders would "respect" MPs who took a different stance.

The shadow chancellor has previously suggested that Labour could put forward its own amendment on another referendum but said this was now unlikely.

He said: “We’re considering whether we put one down ourselves but it’s more likely and better for us to back a backbench amendment because then it doesn’t alienate some others coming across [from other parties].”

Mr Kyle and Mr Wilson are expected to table their amendment when Ms May brings her revised Brexit deal back before the Commons, which she had promised to do before 12 March.

The government is hoping to win Labour MPs' backing for the deal, and earlier this week announced a £1.6bn fund to help 'left behind' towns.

Some MPs had demanded investment in deprived areas and guarantees on workers' rights and environmental protections in return for supporting the deal, but many MPs who had contemplated backing Ms May said the new funding announcement did not go far enough.

Mr McDonnell said: "This government are so incompetent they can even bungle a bribe. It’s gone down like an absolute lead balloon, even with some of those MPs who were lobbying for it."

He also said “nobody is satisfied” with the government's expected guarantee on workers' rights, adding: “All the manoeuvres to try to get Labour MPs onside with the various bribes that have taken place have just been completely counterproductive.”

Labour's shift to support a fresh Brexit referendum was seen in part as a bid to stop further MPs defecting to The Independent Group (TIG).

Eight Labour MPs and three Conservatives have already joined the new grouping and other Labour MPs have admitted they are considering their position in their party.

TIG took its first step towards becoming a full political party on Tuesday when some of its MPs held talks with the Electoral Commission.

Speaking after the meeting, Group spokesman Chuka Umunna said there was "no specific timeframe" for registering as a party but that the group wanted to field candidates at the next election.

He said: "We aren't a political party but quite clearly there is an appetite for a new one, so we are here to discuss with them what that involves."

He was joined by former Labour MPs Gavin Shuker, Ann Coffey and Chris Leslie and former Conservative Heidi Allen.

Mr Umunna said TIG was unlikely to field candidates in May's local elections, saying: "In terms of decisions on local elections or any other elections in the immediate next few months we will make decisions about that.

"But we are clear that when a general election comes, people want an alternative.

"We have been advised that the only way that you can actually deliver that is by being a registered political party so you can be on the ballot paper. That is our goal."

He added: "In the coming weeks and months we want to ensure that we properly involve everyone in the country who wants to see that alternative come into being.

"We will be launching a 'change politics project' which we will be taking all over the country to include people in the process."