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Analysis of the impossible Brexit choice facing Labour [THREAD]
Labour's dilemma stems from its past stances on the matter, and was already set in stone when Keir Starmer took over.
Jeremy Corbyn was leader every second from before the referendum until after the UK left the EU.
Labour's dilemma stems from its past stances on the matter, and was already set in stone when Keir Starmer took over.
Jeremy Corbyn was leader every second from before the referendum until after the UK left the EU.
Boris Johnson's deal will be damaging for the UK. No doubt about it. It will fail to meet Labour's 6 tests. It will harm the life chances of the entire population and impoverish millions.
But no-deal is indisputably even worse.
So what happens if there's a vote on a deal?
But no-deal is indisputably even worse.
So what happens if there's a vote on a deal?
There will only ever be two options. Limited time and political maths mean there won't ever be a *different* deal instead.
So the choices are:
- vote for the deal: no matter what excuses or qualifiers are uttered beforehand, the Tories & RW media will make Labour co-own Brexit.
So the choices are:
- vote for the deal: no matter what excuses or qualifiers are uttered beforehand, the Tories & RW media will make Labour co-own Brexit.
- vote against the deal: ah, but that is *effectively* a vote for no-deal. Remember, there's only two choices, two doors to pick - and the Tories have a MUCH bigger megaphone when it comes to shouting afterwards.
- abstain: the "ignore both turnings and drive straight on" option
- abstain: the "ignore both turnings and drive straight on" option
But as we have already seen on other issues, the Tories have no problem painting an abstention as a lack of position, and the electorate generally seem to buy that specious argument.
So there you have it. An impossible choice with Labour snookered even before they go up to vote.
So there you have it. An impossible choice with Labour snookered even before they go up to vote.
However, there is a fourth bad choice (there are no good ones).
- give MPs a free vote: this could be prefaced by a 6-point demolition of the deal, and comments to the effect that Labour works on behalf of the entire population, Leave and Remain, and represents both L&R areas.
- give MPs a free vote: this could be prefaced by a 6-point demolition of the deal, and comments to the effect that Labour works on behalf of the entire population, Leave and Remain, and represents both L&R areas.
Benefits: less dangerous than voting against (we do not want no-deal by accident!) and it also constitutes a "position" (vote your conscience on behalf of your constituents), more than abstaining would appear to.
It's the "least rubbish" rubbish choice.
It's the "least rubbish" rubbish choice.
Whatever happens, Labour won't come out looking great.
But it needs to
a) be seen to do something (abstaining doesn't count in the eyes of the wider population)
AND
b) ensure it remains free to criticise bad Brexit stuff that happens, without facing charges of hypocrisy
/END
But it needs to
a) be seen to do something (abstaining doesn't count in the eyes of the wider population)
AND
b) ensure it remains free to criticise bad Brexit stuff that happens, without facing charges of hypocrisy
/END
