UK Labour Party leader Corbyn defends neutral Brexit stance

Labour Party leer Jeremy Corbyn is defending his decision to remain neutral in a possible future referendum on Britain’s membership in European Union. Corbyn said Saturday that he plans to be an “honest broker” in a Brexit referendum rar than urge voters to remain in EU or leave under terms of a new deal he would negotiate if he becomes prime minister after Dec. 12 election.

He said at a campaign event in Sheffield that “my role as Labour prime minister would be to ensure that is carried out in a fair way ... and that I will carry out result of that referendum.”

Corbyn anunced Friday night he would be neutral, a position assailed Saturday by political rivals on both sides of Brexit divide.

He h been repeatedly challenged by Prime Minister Boris Johnson to clarify his Brexit plan. Labour’s position is more complex than unabashedly pro-Brexit policy espoused by Johnson and his Conservatives, who seek to win parliamentary approval for deal alrey negotiated in order to leave EU by Jan. 31.

Corbyn says if he comes to power, Labour will negotiate a new deal with EU officials, n put that new deal to voters, who can choose between endorsing it or staying inside 28-nation EU bloc. He says he plans to let voters decide proposed referendum without him taking a position as prime minister.

That view was ridiculed on campaign trail Saturday.

Liberal Democratic leer Jo Swinson called it a total abdication of prime minister’s responsibility. Her party has vowed to halt Brexit by revoking Article 50, which triggered Britain’s withdrawal process.

Brexit Party leer Nigel Far, who vocates an immediate, final break with EU, said Labour Party is “bombing” with voters because of Corbyn’s vague position.

Johnson pushed for Britain to hold December election, which is taking place more than two years early, in hopes of winning a majority and breaking Britain’s political impasse over Brexit. All 650 seats in House of Commons are up for grabs.