'All options on the table! Starmer hints Labour could back a SECOND Brexit vote

Labour Brexit Secretary Keir Starmer said “all options are on the table” should Theresa May fail to have her Brexit deal passed in Parliament.

Mr Starmer insisted Parliament needs to be able to decide what steps to take if MPs reject Mrs May’s withdrawal deal with the European Union and should have the option of calling a fresh referendum.

Speaking on the Today programme, the Labour frontbencher said: “I focused obviously on the vote in Parliament and the meaningful vote. If that vote is to reject the Article 50 deal, Parliament must decide what happens next.

“In those circumstances, it seems to me all options remain on the table.”

Mr Starmer maintained a second Brexit vote was not planned within Labour but suggested the party could change its position depending on the agreement expected to come to Parliament in November.

He continued: “We’ve not called for a vote on the deal, we’ve called for a vote in Parliament on the deal.

“But I accept the proposition that if this is voted down, Parliament then decides what happens next and in those circumstances keep your options on the table, not off the table.”

The shadow Brexit Secretary also dismissed claims from fellow Labour MP Barry Gardiner that a second vote on EU membership could lead to “civil disobedience.”

Mr Starmer added: “We’ve had lots of ups and down already on Brexit, I’m sure there’s many to come, I’m not seeing signs of civil disobedience.”

His intervention came hours before a key speech from Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab during which he plans to present a series of technical notices outlining contingency plans for a no deal Brexit.

Mr Raab is expected to say the UK would “continue to behave as responsible European neighbours.”

The Brexit Secretary will explain there is already planning talks between the Bank of England and the European Central Bank for a no-deal scenario and called for talks to begin on data protection and between port authorities.

Under current plans, the reports will be published in batches, starting on Thursday and running through September.

The Government has not confirmed the subjects they cover but reports suggest they include subjects including aviation safety, civilian nuclear power, medical drugs, the rights of British citizens living in the EU, road haulage and fishing rights.