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Of course Labour is scared in Leave constituencies, but today’s manifesto does nothing to help. Committed Leavers hate the customs union and hate even the thought of a referendum. Labour promises both. It’s impossible to please everyone, but entirely possible to alienate them
To be clear: the key problem wasn’t bad policy but bad politics. Gov almost certainly won’t allow customs union and Labour will whip for a referendum. That makes today all the more frustrating: party hasn’t hardened position but has still managed to drive Remainers away.
We need to be pragmatic and that’s why I’ve always tolerated and understood Labour’s triangulation. If it looked like it was still going to win votes, I would still support it. But it looks set to be an electoral calamity - and that is what makes it so inexcusable.
If I’m proven wrong next month, fantastic. I’ll be delighted. But risk is Labour will unravel, and Labour MPs in Leave seats will respond to that not by softening their position but by capitulating to the government. We may have just witnessed the implosion of both main parties.
