At first glance it looks like a betrayal – undermining Jeremy Corbyn just when he’s building up support against Boris Johnson among opposition parties. But is it?

The Guardian is reporting that a large group of Labour Brexiters have announced that they would now support Theresa May’s old, three-times-rejected EU withdrawal agreement, as they believe this is the only way of ensuring that the Brexit doesn’t happen without any deal at all.

Labour MPs opposed to a second referendum are considering a “radical and dramatic intervention” to make clear to Jeremy Corbyn and Boris Johnson they are prepared to vote for a Brexit deal, with one estimating that dozens of colleagues are now ready to back the withdrawal agreement.

Stephen Kinnock, the Labour MP who coordinates around 30 MPs in a group called Respect the Result, said he believed that passing the withdrawal agreement was the most certain way of stopping the UK crashing out without a deal.

Despite Johnson’s refusal to negotiate with the EU unless it drops the backstop, Kinnock said a time would come in the autumn when a compromise deal could be done based on the withdrawal agreement that emerged out of cross-party talks.

Putting aside for a moment the fact that no withdrawal agreement emerged from cross-party talks (it was foisted on us out-of-the-blue by Theresa May), it seems to be too late for Boris Johnson to accept such a move.

The old withdrawal agreement accepted the Northern Ireland border backstop mechanism, and BoJob is firmly opposed to it. He will not accept an agreement that includes it and this is a main sticking-point in his current dialogue with the EU27.

So it seems unlikely that Mr Kinnock and his crew will have their way.

The question arises: Then what will they do?

I reckon their best bet is to support Mr Corbyn. Both they and he want to stop a “no deal” Brexit and his plan for another referendum, while unappealing to them, does at least include an option of Brexit with an agreed deal.

It’s not what they want, but it might just be the next-best thing.

Source: Labour bloc plans ‘radical’ move to push through Brexit deal | Politics | The Guardian

Have YOU donated to my crowdfunding appeal, raising funds to fight false libel claims by TV celebrities who should know better? These court cases cost a lot of money so every penny will help ensure that wealth doesn’t beat justice.

https://www.crowdjustice.com/case/mike-sivier-libel-fight/

---

Vox Political needs your help!
If you want to support this site
(but don’t want to give your money to advertisers)
you can make a one-off donation here:

Here are four ways to be sure you’re among the first to know what’s going on.

1) Register with us by clicking on ‘Subscribe’ (in the left margin). You can then receive notifications of every new article that is posted here.

2) Follow VP on Twitter @VoxPolitical

3) Like the Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/VoxPolitical/

Join the Vox Political Facebook page.

4) You could even make Vox Political your homepage at http://voxpoliticalonline.com

And do share with your family and friends – so they don’t miss out!

If you have appreciated this article, don’t forget to share it using the buttons at the bottom of this page. Politics is about everybody – so let’s try to get everybody involved!

Buy Vox Political books so we can continue
fighting for the facts.

The Livingstone Presumption is now available
in either print or eBook format here:

Health Warning: Government! is now available
in either print or eBook format here:

The first collection, Strong Words and Hard Times,
is still available in either print or eBook format here: