Corbyn will campaign to stay in the EU, says Shadow Foreign Secretary Hilary Benn

Hilary Benn has this morning said that Jeremy Corbyn has made it “very clear” that Labour will campaign to stay in the EU.

Last night it was reported that Chuka Umunna, who was until yesterday Shadow Business Secretary, said he wouldn’t serve in the Shadow Cabinet because Corbyn refused to rule out campaigning to leave the EU.

However, this morning Shadow Foreign Secretary Benn denied this and said that “Jeremy has made it very clear that we are going to stay to fight together for a better Europe. We will be campaigning to remain in the European Union”. Benn said that this will remain Labour’s policy “under all circumstances”.

“Jeremy said whatever differences we may have with some aspects of European policy, whatever reforms we want to see, we will stay to fight together for a better Europe. Our policy has not changed”, he said.

When asked why Umunna said Corbyn wouldn’t rule out campaigning to leave the EU, Benn replied “You would have to ask Chuka that”.

It was confirmed last night that Benn would stay in his position as Shadow Foreign Secretary. Other key appointments include Shadow Chancellor, which was given to John McDonnell and Shadow Home Secretary, which went to Andy Burnham.