The Labour Party's shadow Chancellor of the Echequer John McDonnell speaks to journalists as he arrives at the party's conference in Liverpool, Britain, September 24, 2018. REUTERS/Phil Noble LIVERPOOL, England (Reuters) - Britain’s opposition Labour Party would keep the option for a second vote on any Brexit deal struck with the European Union on the table but it would prefer a national election to sort out the issue, its finance spokesman said on Monday. “We believe general election is the best solution because people can then have a wide-ranging debate and also then choose the team that would then do the negotiations,” John McDonnell told Sky News. “If we can’t get a general election, we’ve kept the option of People’s Vote on the table and that’s what we’ll go for, but I’d much prefer a general election,” he said, adding a second vote would be on the deal itself rather than leaving the EU because the party would respect the outcome of the 2016 referendum. Writing by Michael Holden; editing by Guy Faulconbridge
Labour would prefer a national election, rather than a second referendum, to solve any disagreements on a deal struck with the EU. The party has been in turmoil since Jeremy Corbyn was elected leader last year, and is now facing an internal battle over whether it should back Mr Corbyn If a referendum were to be the option, it would be on the deal and not a second Brexit vote, as the party wishes to respect the 2016 result, according to McDonnell.