Thornberry says Labour could put rejoining the EU in its manifesto instead of a second referendum
Labour MP Dame Emily Thornberry told Sky News that Labour should promise to rejoin the EU in its next general election manifesto rather than hold another referendum. Reform UK and the Conservatives criticised the idea, while Prime Minister Andy Burnham is exploring closer ties with Brussels.
1 / 2
The story, neutrally told
Mixed · 2Dame Emily Thornberry, Labour MP for Islington South and Finsbury, said Britain should rejoin the European Union without a second referendum, and that reversing Brexit should instead be put in Labour's manifesto for the next general election. Evening StandardN “Britain should rejoin the European Union without a second referendum, says senior London Labour MP Dame Emily Thornberry.” Read at Evening Standard ↗ Daily ExpressR “Mrs Thornberry has now proposed that Labour should include joining the EU as a commitment in its next General Election manifesto, rather than having a second public vote.” Read at Daily Express ↗ Centre · 1Speaking to Sky News, Thornberry said: "I don't think we need to have another referendum, but what we can do is have it in the manifesto, and then people can have a choice," adding "let's not bother with another referendum. Let's just have it as a general election" issue. Evening StandardN ““I don't think we need to have another referendum, but what we can do is have it in the manifesto, and then people can have a choice.” Read at Evening Standard ↗ Centre · 1Thornberry also said rebuilding ties with the EU was not a "sacred cow" and asked why it should not be discussed "when the majority of people agree with me that Brexit was a disaster". Evening StandardN ““Why shouldn't we talk about it when the majority of people agree with me that Brexit was a disaster, and we ought to get back into the European Union,” she told Sky News.” Read at Evening Standard ↗
Centre · 1The next general election is expected in 2029. The Evening Standard reported that Prime Minister Andy Burnham has put all options on the table, including the Customs Union, the Single Market or fully rejoining, and that London Mayor Sadiq Khan is leading growing calls to return to the EU. Evening StandardN “New Prime Minister Andy Burnham has put all options on the table, including going back into the Customs Union, the Single Market or fully rejoining the European bloc.” Read at Evening Standard ↗ Mixed · 2Burnham told Parliament on Monday 12 October that failing to seek a better arrangement with the EU would be a "major dereliction of duty" and announced a UK-EU summit in Brussels; the Standard gives its date as 20 November and says deals there could eventually add £10 billion a year to the economy. Daily ExpressR “told Parliament on Monday (October 12) that failing to seek a better arrangement with the EU would be a "major dereliction of duty".” Read at Daily Express ↗ Evening StandardN “deals at a UK-EU summit on November 20 could eventually boost Britain's economy by £10 billion a year.” Read at Evening Standard ↗ Right · 1At the end of September Burnham said an in-out referendum "wouldn't be the right thing to do right now", but that it was "possible" a future Labour manifesto could promise a new vote on the UK's future in the EU, according to the Express. Daily ExpressR “At the end of last month, the Prime Minister said an in-out referendum "wouldn't be the right thing to do right now".” Read at Daily Express ↗
Centre · 1The government's approach has prompted a backlash from the Conservatives and Nigel Farage's Reform UK; Tory leader Kemi Badenoch criticised Burnham for seeking to "unpick" the original Brexit deal. Evening StandardN “The Government’s move has sparked a backlash from the Tories and Nigel Farage’s Reform UK.”“Tory leader Kemi Badenoch criticised Mr Burnham for seeking to “unpick” the original Brexit deal.” Read at Evening Standard ↗ Right · 1Reform UK's Richard Tice said on social media: "If Labour think they can rejoin the EU without a referendum, they have no idea what they are unleashing. No idea at all." Daily ExpressR “If Labour think they can rejoin the EU without a referendum, they have no idea what they are unleashing. No idea at all.” Read at Daily Express ↗ Centre · 1Other London Labour MPs also attacked Brexit on their first day back in Parliament, among them Deirdre Costigan, Tulip Siddiq and Marsha De Cordova, in a city that voted 60/40 to remain in 2016. Evening StandardN “MPs in London, which voted in 2016 by 60/40 to remain in the EU, lined up to slam Brexit on their first day back in Parliament.” Read at Evening Standard ↗
Right · 1The Express added that Thornberry, who chairs the Foreign Affairs Select Committee, has a long pro-Remain record, including criticising Jeremy Corbyn's neutrality in 2019 and backing a "people's vote". Daily ExpressR “Mrs Thornberry has a long-standing, pro-Remain track record. She publicly criticised then-Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn in 2019 for maintaining a neutral stance on Brexit” Read at Daily Express ↗
Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on. The pill in front of each says where its sources sit: Left, Centre or Right when one side supplies at least half of them, Mixed when they are evenly split. The number is how many outlets it cites.
Left0 outlets
No left outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
Centre1 outlet
- Framing
- Reports Thornberry's call as a policy proposal within a wider day of London Labour MPs criticising Brexit and a government move to rebuild EU ties.
- Emphasis
- Context of Burnham's EU approach, the 20 November summit, the potential £10 billion gain, other Labour MPs' criticism and a business voice (M&S Food).
- Leaves out or plays down
- Does not mention Thornberry's earlier Remain record or Richard Tice's response; gives little space to Brexit supporters beyond Badenoch.
- Charged language
- “sacred cow”
- For example
-
“Dame Emily, MP for Islington South and Finsbury, stressed that rebuilding ties with the EU was not a “sacred cow”.” — Evening Standard
Right1 outlet
- Framing
- Presents the remarks as provoking anger, with a headline of "Fury" and "get over it!", and stresses Thornberry's long-standing Remain activism.
- Emphasis
- Reform UK's Richard Tice's warning, Thornberry's past statements on Corbyn and "people's vote", and Burnham's comments that a referendum is possible later.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Leaves out other Labour MPs' remarks, the Conservative response, and the Standard's figures on the summit date and £10 billion gain. It does not show who the cited "fury" comes from beyond Tice.
- Charged language
- “Fury”“get over it!”“off our bloody rockers”
- For example
-
“Fury as Emily Thornberry says Brexit 'not a sacred cow' - ‘get over it!’” — Daily Express
“demanded people "get over it" and dubbed the withdrawal in 2020 as a "disaster"” — Daily Express
What every side reports
- Thornberry told Sky News she did not think another referendum was needed and that rejoining the EU could go in Labour's manifesto.
- She called Brexit a disaster and said the majority of people agree.
- Andy Burnham is Prime Minister and wants to rebuild ties with the EU.
- Reform UK opposes the idea of rejoining without a referendum.
Where accounts differ
-
How the remarks were received
- Centre
- Describes a backlash from the Tories and Reform UK to the government's EU move, alongside Labour MPs lining up to criticise Brexit.
- Right
- Says there was "fury" at Thornberry's comments, citing Reform UK's Richard Tice.
Emily Thornberry person
Argues Brexit was a disaster and that rejoining the EU should be a manifesto commitment decided at a general election, with no separate referendum.
“I would say let's not bother with another referendum. Let's just have it as a general election (issue).” — Evening Standard
Left0 articles
No coverage yet.
Centre1 article
-
Scrap Brexit without a second referendum, says senior London Labour MP Emily Thornberry
Neutral Straightforward report of Thornberry's Sky News remarks set against Burnham's EU plans and other London Labour MPs' criticism of Brexit.
Right1 article
-
Fury as Emily Thornberry says Brexit 'not a sacred cow' - ‘get over it!’
Critical Frames the remarks as controversial, leading with "Fury" and Reform UK's warning, and highlights Thornberry's pro-Remain history.
- 13 Oct 14:30 First Evening StandardN Scrap Brexit without a second referendum, says senior London Labour MP Emily Thornberry
- 14 Oct 06:38 +16h 7m Daily ExpressR Fury as Emily Thornberry says Brexit 'not a sacred cow' - ‘get over it!’
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.
Ask about this story
Loading…