Thread by @tony_nog

1) Some thoughts on @Keir_Starmer last night on #bbcqt, and why Labour's position is fatally flawed.

Starmer was clear, assertive and intelligent, and was running rings around the Brexiters....up until the point that he had to explain the Labour position, when he was laughed at

@Keir_Starmer 2) the fact is, simple messages work, obfuscation doesn't.
"We must just #Brexit" gets applause
"Get me out of this Brexit nightmare" gets even bigger applause
"There's no majority for being poorer" would be a winner

However....

@Keir_Starmer 3) "Labour position is clear, we'll vote on the deal, if we get one. If we can't vote on a deal, we'll push for a GE, if we can't get that, we'll look at other options including (whisper) a #PeoplesVote which includes (even quieter whisper) an option to Remain"
Non starter

@Keir_Starmer 4) this was when Keir got laughed at.
If Labour seriously think people want this long drawn out process, or are even listening after step 2, they are kidding themselves.

Leavers just think it's trickery, Remainers just think it's fence sitting, *no one* is happy with it

@Keir_Starmer 5) and when stating the position Starmer (and other Labour leaders) run out of steam at the key point, because it just by necessity of Labour's fence sitting sounds weak & ineffectual. So Labour get laughed at.

@Keir_Starmer 6) Dobbs, Tory peer said "what would Thatcher do" and then proceeded to dismiss the economic consequences of #Brexit

Starmer is entirely capable of replying "Thatcher created the SM"

But he can't land it, because Labour officially doesn't support SM either

@Keir_Starmer 7) Dobbs & Cleverly are no great intellects, and their Brexit positions are simplistic & naive, but no one laughed at them.

If Labour want to be taken seriously, the need an authentic message

That message can only, in the end, be Remain, everything else is a fudge

@Keir_Starmer 8) no one is buying the compromised 5 point plan that came out of conference, designed to keep Labour on the fence.

It's understandable, but it means the public will laugh at them when they are questioned

@Keir_Starmer 9) frankly it's time Labour Leadership woke up, smelt the coffee & grasped the feelings of the membership.

If they vote down a crap deal with no alternative, they are brexit wreckers

If they vote it through, they are enablers

Either way we all lose

@Keir_Starmer 10) or, they can continue to hide, to opt out of #Brexit because they look ridiculous when questioned, whilst the rest of us try to fight it
End/