Brexit news - as it happened: Corbyn-backing union shies away from backing fresh Brexit referendum
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Britain’s biggest union, Unite, has shied away from backing a fresh referendum on the final Brexit deal but said it “remains open to the possibility” of one.
At the start of the day, it looked like Unite would support a public vote on Theresa May's exit terms, which flies in the face of Labour's official policy.
However delegates voted overwhelmingly in a favour of a weaker statement, which said: “Our priority will be to force an early general election which can lead to the election of a Labour government which would, among other things, reach a better deal with the European Union and improved relations with Europe all round.”
“We are also open to the possibility of a popular vote being held on any deal, depending on political circumstances.
“Within these principles, the executive council has authority to respond as it thinks best to a fast-changing political situation.”
It comes as the prime minister’s warring cabinet has been urged to “get on with the job” by senior Tories as UK businesses warned their patience is reaching “breaking point” over the government’s inability to answer key questions on Brexit.
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