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Brexit news: Senior Labour figures clash over second EU referendum

Senior Labour figures have clashed over whether there should be a second referendum on Britain's membership of the European Union.

Deputy leader Tom Watson was seemingly at odds with shadow home secretary Diane Abbott on the need for a second poll.

A BMG research poll for the Independent has found that Brits now back Remain over Leave by ten points in the biggest lead since the Brexit referendum,

Speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live's Pienaar's Politics Mr Watson said "you shouldn't rule anything out" when engaged in "complex negotiations".

Shadow home secretary: Diane Abbott (PA)
Shadow home secretary: Diane Abbott (PA)

His comments came after shadow home secretary Diane Abbott told BBC One's The Andrew Marr Show that "the Labour Party doesn't support a second referendum".

Mr Watson said: "We've not said we want a second referendum, what we actually want is a negotiated settlement.

When asked about a second Brexit referendum, Tom Watson said: 'You shouldn't rule anything out' (Photo Leon Neal/Getty Images) (Getty Images)
When asked about a second Brexit referendum, Tom Watson said: 'You shouldn't rule anything out' (Photo Leon Neal/Getty Images) (Getty Images)

"The point about the vote this week was we don't want power to be taken away from unelected bureaucrats in Brussels, as the debate went in the referendum, to be given to the executive or unelected bureaucrats in Whitehall.

"We want Parliament to have a say on it."

When pushed on whether Labour would rule out a second referendum he said: "When you're in complex negotiations on behalf of the nation you shouldn't rule anything out.

"What I am trying to say to you, I don't think it is likely at all, it would be more likely that we try and renegotiate the deal should Parliament reject it."

Shadow international trade secretary Barry Gardiner said that Labour would "honour the referendum result".

He said: "The Labour Party has not said that we will have a second referendum.

"We will honour the referendum result, but we last week got a final vote for Parliament on the deal.

"That is the democratic guarantee that now is there because of Labour Members of Parliament and 11 Conservatives joining with us."

Mr Gardiner said after Brexit the UK had to remain "closely aligned with our major trading partner" - the EU - which could mean continued membership of the single market.

He told Sky News' Sunday with Niall Paterson: "We haven't swept either the single market or a customs union off the table. We have said we are not fixated on the structures, what we want are the benefits."

Ms Abbott also told Marr that Britain’s businesses, the NHS and schools would be in a "terrible position" if the number of "eastern European migrants" stopped post Brexit.

She said that the Government should be listening to the concerns of the public sector and their fears of a "collapse" in the number of EU migrants moving to the UK.

She said: "The health service they're very worried about a collapse in the number of EU migrants coming here.

"Social care would be in a terrible position, the health service, finance, education, so we will be listening as the Government should be listening to what business and the public sector says about its needs for labour.

"At this point both business and public services like health and education are saying we do indeed need these eastern European migrants that are coming here.

"The reality is that business, the CBI, the Institute of Directors but also health, education and social care they say that they need these European migrants and we have to listen to them."

Asked to elaborate on shadow Brexit secretary Sir Keir Starmer's call for easy movement, Ms Abbot said Labour would put in place a "fair and reasonable" system to manage migration.

She added: "It will be relatively less bureaucratic than some of the proposals the Government have made."

She added: "We will have to see how this negotiation goes. It may involve a visa system, but we have to see how these negotiations the Government's undertaking go."