Labour's Corbyn fends off challenge for Brexit remain campaign

UK opposition leader Jeremy Corbyn on Monday saw off a challenge that would have forced Labour to back Remain in a pre-election referendum on Britain's European Union membership.

Grass roots members tabled a composite motion at Labour's annual conference in Brighton calling for a definitive commitment to remain in the EU.

Corbyn and his allies demanded Labour adopt a neutral position while negotiating a deal with the EU within three months if the party came to power at the next general election. It would then hold a referendum within six months with a special conference to decide which side to back.

A keen Brexiteer, Corbyn needed the help of the trades unions, which wield 50% of the block vote at conference. There were serious disagreements between factions of the party over the issue, with pro-leadership members claiming Labour needs to appeal to both sides of the argument, allowing MPs in Leave and Remain electorates to campaign freely.

Others said the party could find itself in a widely-expected general election without a firm position on Brexit. They also argue that the vast majority of members want to stay in the EU.

BARNIER REJECTS UK BACKSTOP COMPROMISE

Meanwhile, in Berlin, chief EU Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier said Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s proposed solution for replacing the controversial Irish backstop was “unacceptable”.

Speaking after meeting with German foreign minister Heiko Maas, Barnier once again said the UK position had to change for there to be any hope of success with the Brexit deadline of October 31 looming.

Johnson on Monday claimed he was “cautiously optimistic” EU leaders would accept his proposals for the Irish border which include keeping an all-Ireland sanitary and phytosanitary zone for agrifood products to avoid border checks, but Barnier swiftly moved to reject the plan.

“The new government of the UK wants us to get rid of this solution, the so-called backstop and wants … a regulatory and customs land border on the island of Ireland. The UK government also wants the EU to change the way the internal market and border control operates after Brexit," he said.

“As I am sure you will understand, this is unacceptable. My mandate is clear of the 27 leaders, the EU and the European parliament, safeguarding peace and stability in Ireland and protecting the integrity of the single market."

“Let me therefore put it clearly that based on current UK thinking, it is difficult to see how we arrive at a legally operable solution that fulfils all the objectives of the backstop.”

Johnson has demanded the full removal of the backstop arrangement that would keep the UK inside the customs union and aligned to EU rules to prevent a hard border on the island of Ireland in the absence of a free trade agreement.

Barnier was also amusingly sceptical of UK claims that as yet untried technology could replace physical customs checks and paperwork.

“Objectively, there are possibilities. I don’t know how to inspect a cow with virtual methods,” he said.