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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/apr/25/andrew-adonis-apologises-brexiters-not-vote-labour-eu-elections-brexit
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| Adonis apologises for telling Brexiters not to vote Labour in EU elections | Adonis apologises for telling Brexiters not to vote Labour in EU elections |
| (6 days later) | |
| The pro-remain Labour peer Andrew Adonis, who is standing for the party in the EU elections, has backed its “sensible alternative plan” to deliver a Brexit deal, in a Facebook post that baffled some of his supporters. | The pro-remain Labour peer Andrew Adonis, who is standing for the party in the EU elections, has backed its “sensible alternative plan” to deliver a Brexit deal, in a Facebook post that baffled some of his supporters. |
| In the post, Lord Adonis, a candidate European parliament elections candidate in the South West England constituency, apologised for “off-the-cuff comments” he had made during an LBC radio phone interview, in which he said those who were pro-Brexit should not vote Labour because the party was going to stop Britain leaving the EU. | In the post, Lord Adonis, a candidate European parliament elections candidate in the South West England constituency, apologised for “off-the-cuff comments” he had made during an LBC radio phone interview, in which he said those who were pro-Brexit should not vote Labour because the party was going to stop Britain leaving the EU. |
| His apology came as it was revealed that Labour’s leaflets in the south-west make no mention of a second referendum. Instead, the leaflets promise “a better deal with Europe” involving a close relationship with the EU and a say over trade deals. | His apology came as it was revealed that Labour’s leaflets in the south-west make no mention of a second referendum. Instead, the leaflets promise “a better deal with Europe” involving a close relationship with the EU and a say over trade deals. |
| Adonis wrote on Thursday that he backed Labour’s plan for a soft Brexit, with the option for a referendum only if that cannot be delivered. | Adonis wrote on Thursday that he backed Labour’s plan for a soft Brexit, with the option for a referendum only if that cannot be delivered. |
| Adonis apologises for saying Brexiters should not vote Labour - live news | Adonis apologises for saying Brexiters should not vote Labour - live news |
| Several high-profile remain campaigners, including the former Labour MP Chuka Umunna, said they had initially believed the post was a spoof. | Several high-profile remain campaigners, including the former Labour MP Chuka Umunna, said they had initially believed the post was a spoof. |
| Adonis wrote: “Labour has always been clear that it respects the result of the referendum. What we do not respect is the way the Conservatives have sought to use Brexit to create a more unequal economy and a harsher society. | Adonis wrote: “Labour has always been clear that it respects the result of the referendum. What we do not respect is the way the Conservatives have sought to use Brexit to create a more unequal economy and a harsher society. |
| “That is why Labour has put forward a sensible alternative plan that would ensure a close economic relationship with the EU after Brexit, based on a new customs union and dynamic alignment on rights and standards. | “That is why Labour has put forward a sensible alternative plan that would ensure a close economic relationship with the EU after Brexit, based on a new customs union and dynamic alignment on rights and standards. |
| “If such a plan cannot be secured due to the government’s infighting and irresponsibility, we believe all options should remain on the table, including the option of a public vote.” | “If such a plan cannot be secured due to the government’s infighting and irresponsibility, we believe all options should remain on the table, including the option of a public vote.” |
| Adonis, a former Labour transport secretary who describes himself as a “Brexit denier” on his Twitter profile, has toured the country calling for a public vote as a route to stopping Brexit entirely. | Adonis, a former Labour transport secretary who describes himself as a “Brexit denier” on his Twitter profile, has toured the country calling for a public vote as a route to stopping Brexit entirely. |
| He had previously told LBC: “If you are a Brexiteer, I hope you won’t vote for the Labour party, because they’re moving increasingly against Brexit.” | He had previously told LBC: “If you are a Brexiteer, I hope you won’t vote for the Labour party, because they’re moving increasingly against Brexit.” |
| Umunna, who is now the spokesman for the breakaway Change UK party, wrote to the Labour leader, Jeremy Corbyn, on Thursday accusing him of gagging Adonis. “It is no longer tenable for you to face both ways, pretending to one set of people you have misgivings about Brexit, while continuing to facilitate exiting the EU,” he wrote. | Umunna, who is now the spokesman for the breakaway Change UK party, wrote to the Labour leader, Jeremy Corbyn, on Thursday accusing him of gagging Adonis. “It is no longer tenable for you to face both ways, pretending to one set of people you have misgivings about Brexit, while continuing to facilitate exiting the EU,” he wrote. |
| “Not only have you attached multiple terms and conditions to any scenario where the Labour party would consider the ‘option’ of a people’s vote, but you have gagged your leading MEP candidate in these elections – Lord Andrew Adonis – from championing a people’s vote and remaining in the European Union.” | “Not only have you attached multiple terms and conditions to any scenario where the Labour party would consider the ‘option’ of a people’s vote, but you have gagged your leading MEP candidate in these elections – Lord Andrew Adonis – from championing a people’s vote and remaining in the European Union.” |
| Adonis has previously warned Labour could face a party split if it backed an EU exit deal, and criticised the decision by Corbyn, and members of the shadow cabinet, to hold cross-party talks with the government in an attempt to agree a consensus deal. | Adonis has previously warned Labour could face a party split if it backed an EU exit deal, and criticised the decision by Corbyn, and members of the shadow cabinet, to hold cross-party talks with the government in an attempt to agree a consensus deal. |
| “These ‘talks’ are a last desperate pretence that some form of Brexit might be viable, when it isn’t,” he tweeted. | “These ‘talks’ are a last desperate pretence that some form of Brexit might be viable, when it isn’t,” he tweeted. |
| Adonis will face a number of high-profile candidates for other parties in the South West England constituency, where he is second on the Labour list behind the sitting MEP Clare Moody. | Adonis will face a number of high-profile candidates for other parties in the South West England constituency, where he is second on the Labour list behind the sitting MEP Clare Moody. |
| The journalist Rachel Johnson, sister of Boris Johnson, is standing for Change UK, while the former Conservative minister Ann Widdecombe will stand for the Brexit party in the same region. Ukip will also attempt to elect Carl Benjamin, who is better known as the polemicist YouTube personality Sargon of Akkad. | The journalist Rachel Johnson, sister of Boris Johnson, is standing for Change UK, while the former Conservative minister Ann Widdecombe will stand for the Brexit party in the same region. Ukip will also attempt to elect Carl Benjamin, who is better known as the polemicist YouTube personality Sargon of Akkad. |
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