Corbyn under pressure as nearly 90 MPs and MEPs demand Labour back second Brexit referendum
Jeremy Corbyn is facing renewed pressure from within his own party after 90 MPs and MEPs demanded Labour backs a second Brexit referendum.
Labour's National Executive Committee (NEC) has been urged to support a public vote on any Brexit deal in its European manifesto.
A letter from 75 MPs and 14 MEPs set out plans to beat Nigel Farage's Brexit Party with "a message of hope and solidarity", ahead of a key NEC on Tuesday.
The letter states: "Labour has already, rightly, backed a confirmatory public vote.
“The overwhelming majority of our members and voters support this, and it is the democratically established policy of the party.
“We need a message of hope and solidarity, and we need to campaign for it without caveats.”
Labour grassroots were outraged by a leaked draft of a campaign leaflet on Thursday, which made no mention of another referendum.
Instead, the mailshot pledges a Labour government "a better deal with Europe", but fails to mention that Brexit may still not happen.
The Love Socialism, Hate Brexit group of MPs said the party must act, citing that polls suggest it is a choice between Farage's Brexit Party and Labour.
Polls suggest there is mass support from Labour members to back another Brexit vote with Remain on the ballot, the group claim.
They added: “To motivate our supporters, and to do the right thing by our members and our policy, a clear commitment to a confirmatory public vote on any Brexit deal must be part of our European election manifesto.
“We understand the many different pressures and views within our movement, but without this clear commitment, we fear that our electoral coalition could fall apart.”