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I don't want to diminish the horror of the Iraq war.
But it strikes me that this, on a *purely domestic* basis, is a political error of a similar scale. It will haunt the party for as long as Brexit haunts the country.
And it's unnecessary because... https://twitter.com/RachelReevesMP/status/1343591376240435200
But it strikes me that this, on a *purely domestic* basis, is a political error of a similar scale. It will haunt the party for as long as Brexit haunts the country.
And it's unnecessary because... https://twitter.com/RachelReevesMP/status/1343591376240435200
The deal will pass comfortably with or without Labour. And if it doesn't, the blame can - will - be 100% on Tories who wanted Brexit, campaigned for Brexit, negotiated Brexit ... and then rejected Brexit.
But ...
But ...
For Labour to back it lets Tories avoid responsibility. From now until forever, Labour cannot hold Tories to account for any consequence of the most stupid, harmful policy in half a century.
It also...
It also...
Betrays every person who opposed Brexit, and every person who believed Starmer when he said he would back nothing that didn't meet his 6 standards.
It removes the only substantial national political home for the majority (yep, majority) who think Brexit is a mistake.
And ...
It removes the only substantial national political home for the majority (yep, majority) who think Brexit is a mistake.
And ...
If you think for an instant this will buy back a lost vote from a Brexit ex Labour, you're wrong. Even the messaging ("we don't like it, but we'll do it") prevents that.
It is, in every way, damaging to Labour and the country.
Instead...
It is, in every way, damaging to Labour and the country.
Instead...
The party should be out there, repeating to the public the promises made, and broken. How this Brexit is not what was sold or voted for. How Brexit's backers oppose it.
Labour should be saying "we will back a deal that delivers what was sold, cos that's democracy"...
Labour should be saying "we will back a deal that delivers what was sold, cos that's democracy"...
But we should say "we cannot put our name to this, because it fails every test. We won't vote against it, because No Deal is even worse. But we are presented with a choice of shooting our left foot or our right - so we choose not to fire the gun at all"
...
...
Anything else is profoundly wrong, weak, stupid, a betrayal of voters, principles, and the best future for the country.
There. That's my take.
There. That's my take.
