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Real problem with Labour’s decision isn’t that it’s bad policy but bad politics. Why? Voters will think they’re being tricked. Lab’s admitted they’ll choose a side eventually, so for now they can tell everyone, lottery-style, ‘it could be you!’. It sounds dishonest, because it is
We know Labour will campaign for Remain. Almost everyone in the PLP and Shadow Cabinet wants to Remain, so do members, so do voters. We’re going to get there in the end. Why not just admit we’re going to get there now? Leavers are not stupid. This treats them as though they are.
What makes it even worse is Labour Leavers have either already left, or won’t ever leave. Pretending Lab might campaign to leave won’t win any of them back. Those who left over a customs union won’t return to the fold for a People’s Vote. All this does is drive away Remainers.
We saw in the European elections what happens when you try to ride all the horses at once. I’m all in favour of compromise, but in a two-choice vote you eventually have to pick a side. It was a mistake not to pick one now. Let’s just hope not a fatal one.
