Can Labour Ever Make Its Mind Up On Brexit?

[lindapalmara]

https://www.pressreader.com/uk/daily-mail/20171211/281724089892023John McDonnell: we must leave the single market to respect the referendum result

This is Labour' policy so far (we think, it'll be changed tomorrow


Tom Watson: we should stay in the single market and customs union permanently

Jon Ashworth, Jenny Chapman: we have to leave the single market

Diane Abbott: we should keep freedom of movement

Jeremy Corbyn, Keir Starmer: freedom of movement ends with Brexit

Barry Gardiner: staying in the customs union would be a disaster

Corbyn: whipped vote against single market and customs union membership

Starmer: we should stay in the single market and customs union (which means keeping free movement)
Starmer himself is all over the place, both arguing freedom of movement should end and also saying we should stay in the single market, an outcome which is not possible. Corbyn whipped his MPs to vote against single market and customs union membership – he even sacked rebels on this – now Labour’s Brexit Secretary says it is party policy. This shambles is just the among the Shadow Cabinet, let alone backbenchers…

[emmie]

all the more reason to keep them out of power.

[Old_Geezer]

Every party has opposing points of view on the subject. Think of the fuss when DD pointed out earlier agreements didn't stand should the later trade discussions failed.

This fudging of stuff so everyone can believe what they want of the proposed agreement, so they have an excuse to act sanely and move on, is a disaster deliberately designed to occur.

IMO if the EU changed their impositions imposed on single market /customs union members, and had a simple trading block, we could remain. But whilst they dictate conditions and control beyond that, no self respecting nation should barter away their independence for an agreement on reduced trade barriers. The ball has always been in the EU court be behave reasonably.

[emmie]

OG but that doesn't mean they will?

[ichkeria]

The problem is McDonnell, Corbyn and co are Brexiters: they don't shout too loudly about it because they don't want to sound like Farage and co.
However most Labour MPs are staunch Remainers ans support the single market or a soft Brexit. All debate on Europe was stifled at the party conference. I have supported Labour most of my voting life, but the current situation is objectionable to say the least.

[jno]

pretty much the same as the Tories, who seem to be at one another's throats all the time over Brexit - and perhaps that's a reason for keeping them out of power too, as Emmie suggests. (The difference is that in their case, their leader is a remainer, not a leaver.)

In this they reflect the voting public. The shambles is nationwide.

[Old_Geezer]

I don't believe they will for it would reduce the very power grab they are going for. And they feel the need to penalise any member leaving as they fear losing control over the member countries who might realise they don't have to put up with it, when their aim is to increase control.

[youngmafbog]

Labour aer just as split as the Tories. Leaving the EU has never been a left/right issue.

The big difference is that labour (and their supporters - esp on here) harp on about the Tory split but seem to not see the splut in their own Party.

[Gromit]

The link in the OP does not work, here it is:
https://www.pressreader.com/uk/daily-mail/20171211/281724089892023

Labour are clearly split on the single market. Lefties Corbyn and McDonnell want a hard brexit. The ight of the party are remainers and want a soft brexit. What the actual Labour Party policy is, is unclear.

Saying that, the Conservatives are in the same boat, with hard and soft brexiteers giving out conflicting messages. They are in-fighting at Cabinet level.

In terms of ‘not making its mind up on brexit’ and being ‘confused, I would say it was a draw between Labour and the Conservatives, they are as bad as each other.

[gulliver1]

Why can't the Con Party Con the EU, about Brexit, like they Con the Uk public ?. It should be second nature to them.

[jno]

ymb, the reason for that's plain enough: opposition members arguing among themselves don't matter. When the party in power is split down the middle, however, it affects the whole country. (And in this case affects Berexit.)

You've got the party you wanted in power. You've got the Brexit vote you wanted. If it's still turning into a dog's dinner, perhaps it's the Tories, rather than Labour, who are your problem?