Labour's Ian Lavery (centre) campaignig during the 2017 general election
LABOUR chairman Ian Lavery has vowed to campaign for a Brexit deal that will enable the party to “deliver radical change” in government.
In a Twitter video posted on Tuesday, Mr Lavery said that the Tories have “failed on Brexit” and that the debate has been “hijacked by those who want to maintain the status quo or unleash a disaster capitalism that will put our health service up for sale.
I can confirm that I would campaign and vote to leave the European Union with a Labour deal that protects jobs, the economy and our rights at work.
— Ian Lavery (@IanLaveryMP) December 10, 2019
If you want to remain in the EU, or leave with a deal that protects jobs, the economy and our rights at work, then vote Labour. pic.twitter.com/ZC390x6O0j
“Neither of those options was put to the people in 2016 in what was voted for.”
Mr Lavery said Boris Johnson’s repeated claim that he will “get Brexit done” is “a fraud on the British people.”
He says he will support a Labour-negotiated departure from Europe in order to protect workers’ rights, environmental standards and “allow us to deliver the radical change that Britain needs.”
Mr Lavery’s announcement is the first major pro-Leave intervention from a close ally of Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn.
It contrasts with many of his shadow cabinet colleagues — including shadow chancellor John McDonnell and shadow Brexit secretary Keir Starmer — who have publicly indicated that they would back Remain in a second referendum.
Mr Lavery said that he understood claims that Labour is too London-centric and insisted that “there is a recognition we need to start reflecting more of our MPs in the North and Midlands.”
He also refused to rule out running in the upcoming deputy leadership contest yesterday, which will be triggered when outgoing deputy leader Tom Watson formally stands down from his position tomorrow.
