Smith went against party policy by calling for a referendum over the final Brexit deal

This article is more than 1 year old

This article is more than 1 year old

The shadow Northern Ireland secretary, Owen Smith, was sacked by Jeremy Corbyn on Friday after breaking with Labour policy to call for a referendum on the final Brexit deal.

Smith, who challenged Corbyn for the party leadership in 2016, wrote an article in the Guardian, urging his party to reopen the question of whether Brexit was the right thing for Britain – and to offer the public a vote.

Corbyn is believed to have taken the decision on the basis that Smith had not been a team player, and had repeatedly breached shadow cabinet collective responsibility on Brexit, including by calling for Britain to remain in the single market.

But the sacking, which was announced on Friday evening, is likely to inflame tensions in the parliamentary Labour party over Brexit.

Corbyn has suffered a series of rebellions on the issue, including on remaining in a customs union – a stance that subsequently became Labour policy.

A vocal group of backbenchers has campaigned for Corbyn to go further and embrace single market membership; or even allow the public to reconsider their decision. Smith could now become a rallying point for them.

Smith said he had been sacked for his “long-held views”, and made clear he would continue to express them from the backbenches “in the interest of our country”.

Owen Smith (@OwenSmith_MP) Just been sacked by @jeremycorbyn for my long held views on the damage #Brexit will do to the Good Friday Agreement & the economy of the entire U.K. Those views are shared by Labour members & supporters and I will continue to speak up for them, and in the interest of our country.

In his piece for the Guardian on Friday, Smith said his party could only “serve democracy” by recommending a poll on the Brexit deal. “Labour needs to do more than just back a soft Brexit or guarantee a soft border in Ireland,” he argued.

“We have the right to ask if Brexit remains the right choice for the country. And to ask, too, that the country has a vote on whether to accept the terms and true costs of that choice once they are clear.”

Smith will be replaced by Tony Lloyd, the shadow housing minister, who returned to parliament in 2017 after an unsuccessful attempt to become Labour’s mayoral candidate for Manchester.

Owen Smith calls for referendum on final Brexit deal Read more

“Tony is a highly experienced former government minister who is committed to ensuring that peace in Northern Ireland is maintained and helping to steer the devolution deal back on track,” Corbyn said.



Anglea Smtih, Labour’s leader in the Lords, said, “In all the years I have known Owen, it’s always been enjoyable to work in the same team as him; he’s been very inclusive and as shadow Northern Ireland secretary he’s worked closely with the Lords team. He remains a good friend.”

The former Northern Ireland secretary Peter Hain claimed Smith had been the victim of a “terrible Stalinist purge”. Redcar MP Anna Turley said the decision was “disappointing”.

Smith recently travelled to Northern Ireland to meet all parties in the suspended Stormont assembly. SDLP leader Colum Eastwood said he was “very sorry” about the news. “Owen has a great grasp of the issues affecting us here. He particularly understood the challenges of Brexit and was very supportive of sensible solutions to help us avoid a hard border.”

The demand for a second EU referendum was the most distinctive policy position on which the Pontypridd MP fought his unsuccessful bid for Labour leadership, in the wake of the 2016 referendum.

Smith was convincingly defeated by Corbyn, but some of his views may chime with the party’s pro-remain base. When polled, members are strongly in favour of remaining in the single market and the customs union – and many would like to see Brexit prevented.

Corbyn has repeatedly insisted it is not Labour’s policy to offer voters a chance to consider the final Brexit deal at the ballot box.

Labour should ask if Brexit is the right decision, not just push for a softer version | Owen Smith Read more

Smith’s sacking followed the announcement earlier this month that the shadow work and pensions secretary, Debbie Abrahams, would stand aside while allegations of bullying against her are investigated – she has sinced claimed that she had herself been bullied by senior party figures.

Corbyn’s team, including the shadow Brexit secretary Keir Starmer, had carefully constructed a consensus over Brexit, which would see Britain remain in a customs union with the EU, but demanding a say in future trade deals.

However, Corbyn has made clear that he has a number of concerns with aspects of single market membership, fearing that it could prevent a future Labour government from renationalising public services such as the Royal Mail.</s>
• Labour leader sacks a senior member of his team after he publicly backed a second Brexit referendum.
• Shadow Northern Ireland Secretary Owen Smith called for Britain to stay in the single market and vote again on Brexit.
• Neither position is official Labour policy.
• Smith's sacking is set to bring Labour divisions over Brexit to a head.



LONDON — Jeremy Corbyn has sacked Owen Smith as Labour's shadow Northern Ireland Secretary after he publicly called for a second Brexit referendum.

Smith used an article for the Guardian on Friday to call for a second vote on Brexit as well as to call on Britain to remain in the single market. Both positions are contrary to Labour policy.

A spokesman for Corbyn said that Smith had been "asked to stand down as Shadow Northern Ireland Secretary, and has been replaced by Tony Lloyd with immediate effect"

Smith tweeted that he had been "sacked by @jeremycorbyn for my long held views on the damage #Brexit will do to the Good Friday Agreement & the economy of the entire U.K.

He added: "Those views are shared by Labour members & supporters and I will continue to speak up for them, and in the interest of our country."

In a statement, Corbyn said that: "Tony is a highly experienced former Government Minister who is committed to ensuring that peace in Northern Ireland is maintained and helping to steer the devolution deal back on track."

Commenting on his appointment, Tony Lloyd said: "As we leave the European Union, ensuring there is no hard border between Northern Ireland and the Republic is of paramount importance and this will be my number one priority. This is an incredibly important job, with a huge in-tray and I am looking forward to starting work."</s>Jeremy Corbyn has been accused of a "Stalinist purge" after he sacked Owen Smith - who challenged him for the leadership in 2016 - from the Shadow Cabinet.

Mr Smith was removed form his job as shadow Northern Ireland secretary after attacking Brexit and urging the Labour Party to campaign for a second EU referendum in a newspaper article.

He is replaced by the veteran former minister Tony Lloyd, who only returned to the Commons last year after quitting as an MP in 2012 to become police and crime commissioner for Greater Manchester.

With Mr Corbyn already under attack over his response to the Russian poisoning crisis and rows in the party over anti-Semitism, Mr Smith's sacking threatens to reopen the civil war in the Labour Party.

Immediately after his dismissal, a defiant Mr Smith tweeted: "Just been sacked by @jeremycorbyn for my long held views on the damage #Brexit will do to the Good Friday Agreement & the economy of the entire U.K.

"Those views are shared by Labour members & supporters and I will continue to speak up for them, and in the interest of our country."

And within minutes there was a wave of support for Mr Smith on Twitter from Labour MPs critical of Mr Corbyn.

Former Northern Ireland secretary Peter Hain tweeted: "This is a terrible Stalinist purge @OwenSmith_MP has been doing a terrific job on Northern Ireland.

"He's ideal for the role with his experience expertise and considerable ability. Widely respected. In a Shadow Cabinet with few big hitters he was definitely one."

Former Shadow Cabinet member and leading Remainer, Chuka Umunna, said: "It's extraordinary that a Shadow Cabinet member - doing an excellent job in their brief - should be sacked for standing up for our principles and advocating a Brexit policy that commands the overwhelming support of our members, supporters and voters. What has happened to our party?"

Labour MP Angela Smith tweeted: "@OwenSmith_MP took a principled position today re single market and customs union. Vindictive response from leadership a mistake."

And another MP, Wes Streeting, added: "If only anti-semites were dealt with as swiftly and severely as Remainers."

Announcing Mr Smith's sacking, the Labour Party said: "Owen Smith MP has been asked to stand down as Shadow Northern Ireland Secretary, and has been replaced by Tony Lloyd with immediate effect."

Mr Corbyn said: "Tony is a highly experienced former Government Minister who is committed to ensuring that peace in Northern Ireland is maintained and helping to steer the devolution deal back on track."

Mr Lloyd said after his appointment: "As we leave the European Union, ensuring there is no hard border between Northern Ireland and the Republic is of paramount importance and this will be my number one priority.

"This is an incredibly important job, with a huge in-tray and I am looking forward to starting work."

Mr Smith's dismissal came within hours of him breaking ranks with Mr Corbyn by reopening the question of whether Brexit is "the right choice for the country", and urging Labour to offer the public a referendum on the final deal.

The Pontypridd MP, who challenged Mr Corbyn for the Labour leadership in 2016, only returned to the Shadow Cabinet less than a year ago after last year's general election.

He has argued strongly for Labour to back a customs union with the EU27, something that has now become party policy.

But in an article for the Guardian, he said Labour could only "serve democracy" by recommending a poll on the Brexit deal.

"Labour needs to do more than just back a soft Brexit or guarantee a soft border in Ireland," he argues.

"Given that it is increasingly obvious that the promises which the Brexiters made to the voters, especially, not only their pledge of an additional £350m a week for the NHS, are never going to be honoured, we have the right to ask if Brexit remains the right choice for the country," he wrote.

"And to ask, too, that the country has a vote on whether to accept the terms and true costs of that choice once they are clear."</s>
• Labour leader sacks a senior member of his team after he publicly backed a second Brexit referendum.
• Shadow Northern Ireland Secretary Owen Smith called for Britain to stay in the single market and vote again on Brexit.
• Neither position is official Labour policy.
• Smith’s sacking is set to bring Labour divisions over Brexit to a head.

LONDON – Jeremy Corbyn has sacked Owen Smith as Labour’s shadow Northern Ireland Secretary after he publicly called for a second Brexit referendum.

Smith used an article for the Guardian on Friday to call for a second vote on Brexit as well as to call on Britain to remain in the single market. Neither position is Labour’s official policy.

A spokesman for Corbyn said that Smith had been “asked to stand down as Shadow Northern Ireland Secretary, and has been replaced by Tony Lloyd with immediate effect”.

A Labour source added that: “Owen was asked to stand down for repeatedly breaching shadow cabinet collective responsibility on Brexit by advocating single market membership.”

Smith tweeted that he had been “sacked by @jeremycorbyn for my long held views on the damage #Brexit will do to the Good Friday Agreement & the economy of the entire U.K.”

He added: “Those views are shared by Labour members & supporters and I will continue to speak up for them, and in the interest of our country.”

Smith stood against Corbyn in 2016 following a challenge against Corbyn’s leadership by Labour MPs. However, Smith rejoined Labour’s top team after the challenge and is understood to have had good relations with the leadership since.

His departure highlights growing divisions within the party over Brexit, with significant numbers of Labour MPs, as well as Labour members, pushing for the leadership to take a tougher anti-Brexit position.

Smith was backed by former leadership contender and anti-Brexit campaigner Chuka Ummuna, who tweeted: “what has happened to our party?” in response to his sacking

In a statement on Smith’s replacement, Corbyn said that: “Tony is a highly experienced former Government Minister who is committed to ensuring that peace in Northern Ireland is maintained and helping to steer the devolution deal back on track.”

Commenting on his appointment, Tony Lloyd said: “As we leave the European Union, ensuring there is no hard border between Northern Ireland and the Republic is of paramount importance and this will be my number one priority. This is an incredibly important job, with a huge in-tray and I am looking forward to starting work.”</s>Jeremy Corbyn has sacked former leadership rival Owen Smith, after he called for a second referendum on the Brexit deal.

Smith, who was Shadow Northern Ireland Secretary, this morning said Labour should keep asking whether Brexit remains the right choice for the UK.

He will be replaced by Shadow Housing Minister Tony Lloyd.

Mr Smith wrote on Twitter: "Just been sacked by Jeremy Corbyn for my long held views on the damage Brexit will do to the Good Friday Agreement & the economy of the entire U.K.

"Those views are shared by Labour members & supporters and I will continue to speak up for them, and in the interest of our country."

Mr Corbyn said: "Tony is a highly experienced former Government Minister who is committed to ensuring that peace in Northern Ireland is maintained and helping to steer the devolution deal back on track."

Mr Smith, who unsuccessfully challenged Mr Corbyn for the party leadership in 2016, insisted Labour needed to do more than "just back a soft Brexit".

Mr Corbyn has been careful to say that Labour is not seeking a second referendum on a Brexit deal, but has avoided completely ruling out such a vote.

Writing in The Guardian, Mr Smith said: "Given that it is increasingly obvious that the promises the Brexiters made to the voters - especially, but not only, their pledge of an additional £350 million a week for the NHS - are never going to be honoured, we have the right to keep asking if Brexit remains the right choice for the country.

"And to ask, too, that the country has a vote on whether to accept the terms, and true costs of that choice, once they are clear.

"That is how Labour can properly serve our democracy and the interests of our people."

Mr Smith said that remaining in the EU single market and customs union was the only way to meet the UK's commitments under the Good Friday Agreement.

"If we insist on leaving the EU then there is realistically only one way to honour our obligations under the Good Friday Agreement and that is to remain members of both the customs union and the single market.

"I'm pleased my party has taken a big step in this direction by backing continued customs union membership, but we need to go further."

Tony Lloyd said: "“As we leave the European Union, ensuring there is no hard border between Northern Ireland and the Republic is of paramount importance and this will be my number one priority. This is an incredibly important job, with a huge in-tray and I am looking forward to starting work."</s>The British Labour party's shadow Northern Ireland secretary Owen Smith has been "asked to stand down" after calling for a second Brexit referendum.

Mr Smith made the call in an article in the

Mr Smith said he had been sacked by party leader Jeremy Corbyn for his views on the "damage" Brexit will do to the UK's economy and the Good Friday Agreement.

In an apparent message to Mr Corbyn he added: "Those views are shared by Labour members and supporters and I will continue to speak up for them, and in the interest of our country."

He has been replaced by Tony Lloyd, who Jeremy Corbyn said "is a highly experienced former government minister who is committed to ensuring that peace in Northern Ireland is maintained and helping to steer the devolution deal back on track."

Labour former Cabinet minister Peter Hain accused Jeremy Corbyn of a "terrible Stalinist purge". The former Northern Ireland secretary said Owen Smith had been doing a "terrific job" and "in a shadow cabinet with a few big hitters he was definitely one".

Labour MP Anna Turley said Mr Smith's sacking was "disappointing" and he would be a loss to the front bench.

Former Cabinet minister Ben Bradshaw told Mr Smith he was "very sorry to see you go".

Shadow home secretary Diane Abbott said: "Owen Smith was a valued colleague, he wanted to make a contribution to the debate and he will be able to continue to do so.

"What he can't do is sit on our front bench and advance a position which is simply not Labour Party policy."

Ms Abbott herself wrote to constituents in November saying she would "argue for the right of the electorate to vote" on the Brexit deal.

But she told BBC Radio 4's Any Questions: "We have debated this in the Labour Party, debated it seriously because we take the referendum result seriously.

"But we are not calling for a second referendum."

Jeremy Corbyn (right) and Owen Smith, pictured together in 2016. Picture: PA</s>Jeremy Corbyn has shown Owen Smith the exit door from the frontbench Source: Christopher Furlong/Getty Images

BRITAIN’S LABOUR PARTY leader Jeremy Corbyn has sacked Owen Smith from the shadow cabinet after he called for a referendum on the final Brexit deal.

“Just been sacked by @jeremycorbyn for my long held views on the damage #Brexit will do to the Good Friday Agreement & the economy of the entire UK,” Smith, who was shadow Northern Ireland minister, wrote on Twitter.

“Those views are shared by Labour members & supporters and I will continue to speak up for them, and in the interest of our country,” he added.

The move came after Smith, who had challenged Corbyn for the party’s leadership in 2016, wrote an article in The Guardian urging his party “to ask that the country has a vote on whether to accept the terms” of a final deal to leave the European Union.

The piece highlighted the divisions within the Labour Party over Brexit, which most of its MPs oppose, but which many supporters in its working-class heartlands voted for.

The party has said it is committed to delivering Brexit, but Corbyn recently called for Britain to stay in “a customs union” after it leaves the EU in March next year, contrary to the negotiating position set out by Conservative Prime Minister Theresa May.

The sacking has sent shockwaves through the party, with other senior Labour MPs critical of Corbyn.

Lord Peter Hain described it as a “Stalinist purge” while Chuka Umunna called it extraordinary and asked “what has happened to our party?”.

Corbyn has described Smith’s replacement Tony Lloyd as “committed to ensuring that peace in Northern Ireland is maintained”, and will work to get devolution “back on track”.

Read: Conservative MP apologises to Jeremy Corbyn for claims about his links to Cold War spies

Read: Jeremy Corbyn calls for new customs union with EU after Brexit</s>Owen Smith has been sacked as Shadow Northern Ireland Secretary after breaking ranks over Labour’s Brexit stance. Smith, who challenged Jeremy Corbyn for the Labour leadership in 2016, said the party should back a referendum on the final deal in an interview on Friday. Just hours later, the party announced Smith had been “asked to stand down” and would be replaced by Rochdale MP Tony Lloyd. Smith came out fighting on Twitter, however, saying his view, which is not party policy, is shared by Labour members and he “will continue to speak up for them”.

Labour MPs have been lining up to support Smith and it comes as Corbyn was embroiled in a fresh anti-semitism row. The leader appeared to condemn the removal of an anti-Semitic mural in a Facebook post in 2012. A spokesman for Corbyn said “Jeremy was responding to concerns about the removal of public art on grounds of freedom of speech.” Corbyn has been dogged by accusations of allowing anti-semitism to flourish in the Labour Party.

“Labour needs to do more than just back a soft Brexit or guarantee a soft border in Ireland,” Smith had said in the interview. He said he feared how a hard Brexit would hit Northern Ireland, adding: “Given that it is increasingly obvious that the promises which the Brexiters made to the voters, especially, not only their pledge of an additional £350m a week for the NHS, are never going to be honoured, we have the right to ask if Brexit remains the right choice for the country. And to ask, too, that the country has a vote on whether to accept the terms and true costs of that choice once they are clear.”

The former Northern Ireland secretary said Owen Smith had been doing a “terrific job” and “in a shadow cabinet with a few big hitters he was definitely one”. Labour MP Anna Turley said Smith’s sacking was “disappointing” and he would be a loss to the front bench. Former Cabinet minister Ben Bradshaw told Smith he was “very sorry to see you go”.

The row threatens to reopen divisions amongst Labour MPs over Brexit. Corbyn also continues to face pressure from the party’s staunchly pro-EU membership to change position on leaving the bloc. Labour shifted to back remaining in a customs union with Europe, but said they would honour the result of the referendum. On appointing Lloyd, however, Corbyn said: “Tony is a highly experienced former government minister who is committed to ensuring that peace in Northern Ireland is maintained and helping to steer the devolution deal back on track.” Lloyd has previously served as a Foreign Office minister under Tony Blair and was chair of the Parliamentary Labour Party between 2006 and 2012 when he was MP for Stretford, later renamed Manchester Central.

After standing down in 2012 to successfully run as Greater Manchester Police and Crime Commissioner, Lloyd was credited for brokering the ground-breaking Manchester devolution deal with the coalition government. He lost out in the Labour selection to run for Manchester Mayor to Andy Burnham and so re-entered Parliament. After the announcement of his appointment to the Northern Ireland post, he said: “As we leave the European Union, ensuring there is no hard border between Northern Ireland and the Republic is of paramount importance and this will be my number one priority. This is an incredibly important job, with a huge in-tray and I am looking forward to starting work.”</s>Jeremy Corbyn has sacked shadow Northern Ireland secretary Owen Smith after he called for a second EU referendum in an article earlier today.

Mr Smith, who challenged Mr Corbyn for leadership of the party in 2016, was brought into the shadow cabinet front bench after the general election last year.

He has been replaced by the shadow housing minister Tony Lloyd.

In a statement, Mr Corbyn said: ‘Tony is a highly experienced former Government Minister who is committed to ensuring that peace in Northern Ireland is maintained and helping to steer the devolution deal back on track.’

Mr Smith wrote a comment piece for the Guardian in which he called for a second Brexit vote, saying that we need to ask if Brexit is the right choice for the UK.

He wrote: 'Given that it is increasingly obvious that the promises the Brexiters made to the voters – especially, but not only, their pledge of an additional £350m a week for the NHS – are never going to be honoured, we have the right to keep asking if Brexit remains the right choice for the country.

'And to ask, too, that the country has a vote on whether to accept the terms, and true costs of that choice, once they are clear. That is how Labour can properly serve our democracy and the interests of our people.'

Mr Corbyn has insisted that it is not Labour's policy to offer a second referendum, but it is a policy Mr Smith ran on while fighting him to become leader.</s>He was "asked to stand down" as Northern Ireland secretary and has been replaced by Tony Lloyd, who Jeremy Corbyn said "is a highly experienced former Government minister who is committed to ensuring that peace in Northern Ireland is maintained and helping to steer the devolution deal back on track."

Owen Smith MP has been sacked from the shadow cabinet after breaking ranks with Jeremy Corbyn by calling for a new EU referendum.

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Mr Smith said he had been sacked for his views on the "damage" Brexit will do to the UK's economy and the Good Friday Agreement.

In an apparent message to Mr Corbyn he added: "Those views are shared by Labour members and supporters and I will continue to speak up for them, and in the interest of our country."

Mr Smith, who unsuccessfully challenged Mr Corbyn for the party leadership in 2016, insisted Labour needed to do more than "just back a soft Brexit".

Mr Corbyn has been careful to say that Labour is not seeking a referendum on a Brexit deal, but has avoided completely ruling out such a vote.

In a sign of the leader's anger at Mr Smith's intervention, he was asked to stand down from the frontbench and replaced with immediate effect by former minister Tony Lloyd.

Writing in The Guardian, Mr Smith said: "Given that it is increasingly obvious that the promises the Brexiters made to the voters - especially, but not only, their pledge of an additional #350 million a week for the NHS - are never going to be honoured, we have the right to keep asking if Brexit remains the right choice for the country.

"And to ask, too, that the country has a vote on whether to accept the terms, and true costs of that choice, once they are clear.

"That is how Labour can properly serve our democracy and the interests of our people."

Mr Smith said that remaining in the EU single market and customs union was the only way to meet the UK's commitments under the Good Friday Agreement.

"If we insist on leaving the EU then there is realistically only one way to honour our obligations under the Good Friday Agreement and that is to remain members of both the customs union and the single market.

"I'm pleased my party has taken a big step in this direction by backing continued customs union membership, but we need to go further."

He said: "Tony is a highly experienced former Government minister who is committed to ensuring that peace in Northern Ireland is maintained and helping to steer the devolution deal back on track."

Mr Lloyd said: "As we leave the European Union, ensuring there is no hard border between Northern Ireland and the Republic is of paramount importance and this will be my number one priority.

"This is an incredibly important job, with a huge in-tray and I am looking forward to starting work."

The former Northern Ireland secretary said Owen Smith had been doing a "terrific job" and "in a shadow cabinet with a few big hitters he was definitely one".

Labour MP Anna Turley said Mr Smith's sacking was "disappointing" and he would be a loss to the front bench.

Former Cabinet minister Ben Bradshaw told Mr Smith he was "very sorry to see you go".

Leader of the Liberal Democrats, Vince Cable MP, said it was a "shame" to see Mr. Smith sacked.
Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn sacks Shadow Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Owen Smith after he called for a second referendum on European Union membership. He is replaced by Rochdale MP Tony Lloyd.