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Tory politicians in heated e-mail row over anti-Brexit march

Organisers of the People’s Vote march said 700,000 people demonstrated in favour of a second referendum (Reuters)
Organisers of the People’s Vote march said 700,000 people demonstrated in favour of a second referendum (Reuters)

Conservative infighting over Brexit has reached new levels, with the party’s MEPs now battling it out in emails sent to hundreds of European politicians and their staff.

Pro-EU Charles Tannock and pro-Brexit Rupert Matthews were involved in a row over Brexit over an e-mail thread that could be seen by all 751 MEPs and their assistants.

Matthews cast doubt on the number of people who took part in an anti-Brexit March on Saturday before Tannock hit back to say that Brexit was a “destructive” act.

The row was sparked when Labour MEP Seb Dance sent an e-mail to all MEPs about the protest in favour of a “people’s vote” held in London at the weekend, which organisers said involved 700,000.

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“I have no idea what will happen next,” Dance wrote on Monday. “I hope we can stop Brexit, but I recognise that that is not – yet – the likeliest outcome.

“But whatever does happen next, please remember that there are many, many millions of British people who – whether we’re in or out of the EU – will never give up on Europe, or what it represents.”

Matthews replied questioning the level of support for the event and wrote: “I would ask you to disregard Mr Dance’s email. More people voted to leave the European Union than have ever voted for anything in British history …

Pro-EU Conservative MEP Charles Tannock (European Parliament)
Pro-EU Conservative MEP Charles Tannock (European Parliament)

“…Mr Dance may “hope we can stop Brexit”. To do so would be an affront to democracy, an insult to the British people and confirmation that the European Union is an undemocratic organisation.”

That sparked a reply from Tannock, who pointed out he attended Saturday’s demonstration with other Conservative politicians who don’t support Brexit.

“Rupert Matthews MEP does not speak for all Conservative MEPs,” he wrote in the exchange seen by Yahoo UK.

“I personally strongly believe Brexit is a regrettable selfish, and destructive act.”

MORE: With banners and dogs anti-Brexit demonstrators take to London streets

Tannock said voters were “deceived” in the 2016 referendum and that many would now like a vote on the final deal which included the option to remain. He warned though thats his pro-Brexit party colleagues would “fight tooth and nail to prevent” a second vote.

“I am very sad the majority within the Conservative party I joined 34 years ago and which was once an internationalist pro-European party has become as illustrated by the views of Mr Matthews so hostile to the European project,” he concluded.

Two UK MEPs were recently kicked-out of the Conservative party after rebelling over Brexit.

Green MEP Philippe Lamberts accused ‘Brexiteer’ Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn was pushing the UK towards a no-deal (European parliament)
Green MEP Philippe Lamberts accused ‘Brexiteer’ Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn was pushing the UK towards a no-deal (European parliament)

Labour’s position on Brexit also came under fire on Tuesday.

Green MEP Philippe Lamberts, a member of the European parliament’s Brexit steering group, accused Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn of being a “Brexiteer” whose tactics risked pushing the UK towards a no-deal.

Speaking to journalists in Strasbourg, he said: “I see a poisonous combination of forces [at Westminster].

“That is the hard Brexiteers on the Tory side which are intent on killing any Withdrawal Agreement – it’s a small number but of course she needs that number – and on the other hand you have the opposition which still seems to harbour the thought that if they can deprive may of a majority on the Withdrawal Agreement that will result into elections … I think this is a dangerous combination.”

Lamberts said he believed the best chance of keeping the UK in the EU was to get the Withdrawal Agreement through the UK parliament and then see if there was a change of government during a transition period.

“If another referendum takes place during the transition for whatever reason then it creates a new political situation and maybe the EU 27 will be willing to consider the UK coming back,” he said.

Corbyn met EU chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier last month to discuss Labour’s six tests for a “sensible” Brexit deal, which includes a customs union.

MORE: Corbyn meets Barnier in push for “sensible” Brexit deal