Labour frontbencher says he will not be ‘trapped’ into claiming party is for Remain

Labour frontbencher Barry Gardiner has refused to endorse Labour as a Remain party.

Gardiner was interviewed by Krishnan Guru-Murthy on Channel 4 News after key frontbenchers in the party appeared to shift further towards backing for a People’s Vote.

The shadow trade secretary said that the party would back Remain over a no-deal Brexit, but would not go as far as saying Labour was in support of Remain overall.

“So you are a Remain party now, can you say that?” enquiried Guru-Murthy. “I, Barry Gardiner, in the Labour Party, are a Remain politician?”

As Gardiner tried to dodge the question, it sparked fellow guest Mark Francois to snigger behind him.

“You like to trap people in forms of words,” responded the Labour MP.

As the presenter tried again to get an answer, Gardiner was insistent he had set out the party’s position.

“I have told you, I have told you very clearly, we will fulfil the promises we have made.

“We have in all honesty, tried to negotiate a deal for Brexit, because that is what we committed ourselves to do.

“We said we would oppose, that’s the job of the opposition, but we oppose in the national interest and we could not get the government to the right place.”

Francois continued to shake his head as the presenter said he was “putting him down for Remain” despite not getting a clear answer.