Thread by @lewis_goodall

Everyone is saying that Labour's position is actually pro-Brexit, hidden by remainer mood music.

It's actually the other way around. It pays lip service to Brexit and honouring the result but the party has clearly moved to backing a new referendum.

Corbyn's sequencing:

-He says he won't accept May's deal.
-he wants an election.
-Then a a Labour deal.
-Or at worst a negotiated Tory/Labour deal.
-If none of these are obtainable than a referendum.

This might seem a long way from an unambiguous anti-Brexit position. But...

-He's unlikely to get an election from May.
-Without it he can't get a Labour deal.
-Tory/Lab talks are going nowhere.

By default then, Labour is backing a new referendum. They're just not shouting it from the rooftops. That might be poor/good strategy but it is the position.

And indeed- it is often forgotten- Labour has whipped for a referendum twice and Corbyn has voted for it twice.

Labour might not initiate the push for a referendum or be agitating for it as strongly as its proponents might like but given they've whipped for it twice, supported it twice, if nothing else changes it seems difficult to believe they won't do so again should it arise.

Labour is on paper a pro-Brexit party because first on its order of preference is a Labour deal. However, they know that isn't possible so in reality it means relatively in terms of actual Brexit outcomes.

When this might matter more is in a general election under a May successor, should they opt for one. However, for the time being, the net effect of Labour's position is to make a referendum more likely.

However, the fact that it has taken me seven tweets to explain it, probably says something.