Would-be Shrewsbury MP wants second Brexit vote

Dr Laura Davies, prospective parliamentary candidate for Shrewsbury & Atcham, spoke of her support for another vote on the issue as her party gave its strongest indication yet that it could support a re-run of the referendum.

Speaking at Labour's party conference shadow Brexit secretary Keir Starmer was given a standing ovation as he confirmed that the possibility of abandoning Brexit could be in any future referendum called on the outcome of the process.

However, Dr Davies' position does appear to put her at odds with the Shrewsbury & Atcham Constituency Labour Party, which recently voted against a motion calling for a 'people's vote' on the Brexit deal.

Dr Davies said: "It should be referred to as a people's vote because that is what it is. It is not undemocratic to allow another democratic election to take place.

"No deal was never on the ballot paper. In 2015 Suzanne Evans clearly stated we could have a trading relationship with the EU, like Norway or Switzerland, which is absolutely not what is happening and if even the deputy leader of UKIP was advising we could have a soft Brexit then that suggests to me that the public were misled on the decision and should have the chance to make that decision again."

Asked if she would vote for another referendum she said: "I would yes."

She added: "While I respect the result of the referendum, in that original referendum the decision people took was based on misinformation and downright lies."

Wyn Davies, Shrewsbury & Atcham CLP chairman said that the entire party would prefer a general election to a vote on Brexit.

He said: "I do not think the current government could have made a bigger hash of the negotiations had they tried.

"My own view is if there is a general election that would put a different government in power to negotiate a proper deal."

Prospective parliamentary candidate for Telford, Katrina Gilman said that without a general election, people should be given the chance to decide on leaving the EU in the "right way":

She said: "Telford clearly stated when they voted on Brexit that they wanted to leave the European Union. However, they did not vote for a disorderly exit or a deal that would cost jobs, damage our local economy and reduce their rights in work.

"That is why Labour has always been clear that any Brexit deal should pass six tests for the communities we serve.

“On workers rights’, migration, national security, jobs and the economy – the people of Telford should be confident that on March 31 2019, they won’t be worse off.

“As Labour members prepare to vote on Brexit at annual conference, I believe that if we don't have an early general election then we need options that ensure we exit the European Union in the right way for Telford.

“Labour’s Shadow Brexit Secretary Keir Starmer is right: The Tories who once promised to fix the roof while the sun was shining are now intent on burning the whole house down.

“We can’t, and won’t, allow that to happen.”

Graeme Currie, who has stood for Labour in North Shropshire, said the party was trying to make the best it could from the Brexit chaos.

"A lot has been made about so called arguments over Brexit during the party conference. In fact what it is is a discussion about what can be done.

"Labour is looking at how it can get a Brexit that is going to be the most positive deal for the people of this country.

"All the Tories are doing is all about the leadership of the party in the future."