Sadiq Khan vows to make staying in Europe a Labour policy

Sadiq Khan vows to make staying in Europe a Labour policy



The Mayor of London has said Brexit could be halted if the Labour Party made staying in the European Union a manifesto policy, and won the next election.

Sadiq Khan said it could still be possible to 'trump the referendum' result by effectively putting it back to the public as a manifesto pledge.

The Mayor has made the intervention at a time his party is in turmoil over its own position, though he has never waivered in his pro-EU stance.

He told the Guardian: 'For it to have credibility with the British public, there would have to be a Labour manifesto offer, because the public would say, not unreasonably "Hold on a sec, we voted to leave and you're now sticking two fingers up at us".



'What could trump the referendum result is us having a manifesto offer saying we would not leave the EU, or we would have a second referendum.'

The Labour party has been split on Brexit since the referendum last summer, with the leadership, including Jeremy Corbyn saying the result should be respected but other high-level MPs calling for another referendum.

Earlier this week, the opposition party was thrown into disarray as the Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell contradicted Mr Corbyn over the single market claiming Labour only wanted the 'benefits' of the single market and hinting they could back continued membership.



Shadow Brexit Secretary Sir Keir Starmer has also appeared to soften the Labour position, telling senior business figures that it was 'vital' to obtain the benefits of the single market and the customs union and 'how we achieve that is secondary to the outcome'.

Shadow home secretary Diane Abbott has said Labour is not taking any options for Brexit off the table.

Mr Khan's remarks to the paper come after Chancellor Philip Hammond said a post-Brexit transitional arrangement could last for three years after the UK's planned withdrawal in March 2019.

Mr Hammond said 'many things will look similar' on the first day after leaving the bloc.

Sources close to Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson said he was working closely with the Chancellor to take the UK out of the EU.



Mr Khan's comments will lead to some speculation that the Mayor is looking to keep his options open for a return to Parliament and a bid to be the Labour leader.

Mr Khan has not shied away from his pro-EU position, leading a city where an overwhelming majority voted to remain in the union, against the 52 per cent of the overall British vote.

After the referendum vote last year, Mr Khan said: 'I believe that Britain is better off within the European Union, but the British people have clearly spoken today, and their democratic will must now be fulfilled.

'Although we will be outside the EU, it is crucial that we remain part of the single market. Leaving the single market of 500 million people - with its free-trade benefits - would be a mistake. I will be pushing the Government to ensure this is the cornerstone of the negotiations with the EU. It is crucial that London has a voice at the table during those renegotiations, alongside Scotland and Northern Ireland.'

He has also led campaigns under the banner 'London is open' as he seeks to avoid a mass exodus of Europeans living in the capital.