Labour MPs seek manifesto pledge on EU vote

a SENIOR Labour MP is leading calls for his party to back an in-out referendum on Britain’s EU membership ahead of a Commons vote on the subject this week, in which Conservative ministers have been told to abstain.

Launching the Labour for a Referendum campaign today, Home Affairs Select Committee chairman Keith Vaz urged the party to pledge to give the public a say in its next manifesto.

Mr Vaz, MP for Leicester East, said: “I believe that it is the democratic right of the people to make that decision for themselves.”

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He spoke out after two other Labour MPs in the new group, Kelvin Hopkins and John Cryer, signed a rebel Tory amendment on the issue, on which the Commons is expected to vote this week.

Conservative ministers have been ordered to abstain from voting on the amendment, which at least 100 MPs are tipped to back if it is selected by Speaker John Bercow for debate on Wednesday.

Jim Dowd, Labour MP for Lewisham West and Penge, said: “As the Tories tear themselves apart over this issue, Labour for a Referendum provides the opportunity to unite the party on giving people a say on our future in the EU.”

He and 11 other Labour MPs – Ronnie Campbell, Rosie Cooper, Ian Davidson, Natascha Engel, Frank Field, Roger Godsiff, Kate Hoey, John McDonnell, Austin Mitchell, Grahame Morris and Graham Stringer – have signed up to the campaign. Left wing commentator Owen Jones, actor Richard Wilson and three Labour council leaders are also members.

Shadow chancellor Ed Balls, who accused the Prime Minister of playing a “destabilising ... short-term game” with the issue, said it would be wrong to commit to a referendum now.