Brexit: Second referendum campaign in chaos as top team SACKED by millionaire chairman

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THE Second Referendum campaign descended into all-out civil war today over a bitter row over who should lead it.

PR guru Roland Rudd last night sacked the People’s Vote campaign director James McGrory and publicity chief Tom Baldwin in a shake-up of the group.

People’s Vote campaigners are at war over tactics for a 2nd Brexit referendum

Labours ex-campaigns chief Patrick Heneghan was made acting CEO of the group, which campaigns for a second referendum.

Both warring sides are unable to agree on whether to all-out campaign for Remain or not.

But the sacked pair refused to leave and furiously accused Mr Rudd Amber Rudds brother of launching a boardroom coup.

They turned up for work this morning and led mutinous staff at campaign headquarters in Westminster in a walkout.

Amid chaotic scenes, Mr Baldwin and Mr Rudd toured the TV studios to give rival interviews tearing into each other.

Mr Baldwin told BBC Radio 4’s Today Programme: “Roland Rudd has chosen this time to put a wrecking ball really through the campaign.

“It’s not about me, and it’s certainly not about him. I mean the People’s Vote campaign is five different organisations.

“He is non-executive chairman of one, I think the outgoing executive chairman of one.

“And he’s making a mistake that I think a lot of businessmen do when they dabble in politics, which is to think that because they had a certain title on a board that they then own the campaign.”

In another interview, he added: There is no disarray in the Peoples Vote campaign.

There is a boardroom coup against the campaign which we are resisting.

Mr Rudd hit back by insisting Mr Baldwin should move on to a different type of role.

He added: “Listen, there’s no row about where we stand. We all want another vote.”

Fuming staff at the Peoples Vote campaign took to Twitter to say they had not seen Mr Rudd show up to their HQ for many months.

Abby Tomlinson, who works on youth and student led campaign ‘For our Future’s Sake’ said she’d not met or seen him once.

She added: “Also – to send an email at 9:30pm on a Sunday to all staff members saying that senior leadership had been sacked caused significant stress and anxiety to many. A lot of us couldnt sleep last night thanks to that email. Blatant disregard for staff wellbeing.

“He then cancelled the meeting he said he was going to hold to answer our questions last minute, instead going on the today programme and sky.

“Just so inconsiderate of every hard working staff member who have put their entire selves in this campaign, at such a pivotal moment.”

The all-out civil war erupted after many weeks of internal feuding between the rival factions.

It comes after Lib Dem MP Chuka Umunna yesterday admitted there is not enough support among MPs to trigger a second referendum.