His comments were the latest interpretation of a Labour “compromise” statement on Brexit, thrashed out on Sunday in a room involving almost 300 conference delegates.
Although the motion was approved by Labour delegates in a vote on Tuesday, it failed to end widespread confusion about the party’s preferred strategy on Brexit.
The document said the party’s priority was to force a general election if prime minister Theresa May’s attempt to negotiate an exit deal with Brussels failed, while leaving open the idea of some sort of public vote on Brexit if that approach foundered.
John McDonnell, shadow chancellor, had insisted on Monday that any new public vote would only be on the terms of the Brexit deal, and not on whether to reverse the original referendum decision to leave the EU.
Sir Keir’s comments that “nobody is ruling out Remain as an option” was not in a draft of his speech sent to journalists as he stood up to speak to conference delegates, prompting speculation that he was deliberately defying the party leadership. [...]
Labour is deeply split over Brexit, with many younger supporters in urban areas being enthusiastic Europhiles, while blue-collar backers in the party’s traditional heartlands back Leave.
[...]Sir Keir confirmed that Labour would vote against any Brexit deal Mrs May finalised with Brussels because the government had virtually no chance of meeting his “six tests” on how Britain’s departure from the EU should work. [...]
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