'We HAVE to respect the vote' How Diane Abbott spoke AGAINST second Brexit referendum
DIANE Abbott, the Shadow Home Secretary, claimed “we have to respect the vote” of the Brexit referendum in a newly resurfaced episode of BBC Question Time, almost three years before Jeremy Corbyn announced that Labour is prepared to back a second referendum.
Brexit: Diane Abbott rules out second referendum in 2016
Yesterday, Mr Corbyn claimed his party is committed to backing a second referendum if Theresa May’s Withdrawal Agreement still does not meet Labour’s six Brexit tests. He will first seek to enshrine the party’s Brexit demands in law by tabling an amendment to the Government’s motion this week. However, if the plan is rejected, the party will either table or support an amendment for another referendum on the UK's departure from the bloc.
Emily Thornberry said the veteran left-winger would certainly campaign for Remain if the second vote goes ahead, despite Labour's previous standing in its last manifesto that it would support the outcome of the 2016 referendum.
Former Labour frontbencher Owen Smith was forced to resign last year after he publicly called for a referendum on the final Brexit deal, as his position was then against Labour Party policy.
However, in a newly resurfaced episode of BBC Question Time, aired on June 26, 2016, Labour MP Diane Abbott claimed the Leave vote had to be respected.
She told the audience of the BBC political show: “It's the most important political vote of my lifetime.
“I don't believe we should re-run it.
“I think we have to respect the result of the vote.”
Nevertheless, in 2017, she wrote to constituents, pledging she would argue in favour of a referendum on the final Brexit deal.
The Labour MP for Hackney North and Stoke Newington wrote: “I will argue for the right of the electorate to vote on any deal that is finally agreed."
In 2018, she said on Nick Robinson's podcast when asked what would happen if another vote took place: "My view is that if we had a second referendum tomorrow, Leave would win again.
"And not only would Leave win again, but Leave voters would say: what didn’t you understand about Leave the first time?"