Britain's Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn.- AP file photo
London - Lawmakers Boris Johnson and Jeremy Hunt are competing to replace May as Conservative Party leader and prime minister.
Published: Tue 9 Jul 2019, 10:00 PM
Updated: Wed 10 Jul 2019, 12:22 AM
Britain's main opposition Labour Party said on Tuesday that the country's soon-to-be chosen new leader should hold a second referendum on whether to leave the European Union or remain in the bloc, as the two contenders for the job prepared to face a grilling in a TV debate over their plans to break Britain's Brexit gridlock.
In a significant shift, Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said the party would campaign to stay in the EU if a referendum were called by whoever succeeds Prime Minister Theresa May. She announced her resignation last month after failing to get parliament to back her divorce deal with the EU.
Lawmakers Boris Johnson and Jeremy Hunt are competing to replace May as Conservative Party leader and prime minister. The winner of the contest is due to take office later this month and will have barely more than three months to win support for a Brexit deal before Britain's scheduled October 31 departure date.
In a letter to party members, Corbyn said that the new prime minister "should have the confidence to put their deal, or no-deal, back to the people in a public vote".