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EMBARGO: IMMEDIATE

SCOTTISH LABOUR BACKS CONFIRMATORY VOTE AND WILL CAMPAIGN FOR REMAIN VICTORY - LEONARD

Richard Leonard MSP said:

“I am pleased that Scottish Labour’s Executive Committee has endorsed my call for the party to back a confirmatory vote on any Brexit deal with Remain as an option on the ballot paper.

“Scottish Labour will wholeheartedly campaign for a Remain victory in such a vote.

“Only Scottish Labour is building a radical platform for investment in people and communities, our industries and our public services."

ENDS

Notes to editors

Scottish Labour: Statement on Brexit position

Since we agreed our Scottish Labour Party statement on Brexit at the Scottish in Dundee in March 2019 there have been significant developments in the Brexit process: • Labour voted to extend article 50 beyond the end of March deadline. It has now been extended to the 31st October. • The UK Parliament has been unable to find a clear majority for a way forward. • Attempts by Labour’s Front Bench Team Labour in bi-lateral talks with the Government to find a deal around a Customs Union and Single Market alignment were unsuccessful. • Theresa May has resigned as leader of the Conservative Party. • The European Elections saw a squeeze on major parties with voters opting for clearer ‘anti- Brexit’ or ‘Harder Brexit’ messages. • The prospects of a General Election have become less likely • Theresa May’s deal is dead. It is almost inevitable that we will be facing a UK Conservative Government with a strategy and an unelected Prime Minister leading us to a ‘No deal’ Brexit, making ‘No deal’ increasingly likely.

Under these circumstances, and in line with our Scottish Labour Party Conference policy, Scottish Labour will therefore campaign for any Brexit deal to be automatically put to the people in a confirmatory vote. We will campaign for that vote to have a clear option to Remain. Scottish Labour will campaign in the confirmatory vote to Remain in the .