Ahead of next week's Labour Brexit manifesto news, a quick thread. I'm assuming the policy will be yes to a PV with a remain option; no to free movement in Lab's Brexit deal; and no commitment to campaign for remain (or leave). 1/
For many remainers, this will be hugely disappointing. They will see it as a betrayal, and as a sign that the Labour Party wants (eg) to end free movement, and wants to let Brexit happen. 2/
Labour's Brexit will not meet the infamous six tests. Yes, it will have future relationship commitments to social and environmental standards, but there will be no single market membership. 3/
But... remainers should not forget that this represents a compromise. Within Labour there are some who favour (this sort of) Brexit, and some who favour remain. The key part of Lab's policy is that it will be for the people to decide which path to take. 4/
Remainers' attention should be on the strength of that commitment; rather than on the content of Labour's Brexit deal. Note that those who have called for a PV were in favour of a PV which pitted remain against a) Theresa May's deal, and b) Boris Johnson's deal. 5/
Labour's Brexit is likely to be softer than either of those. And how the Labour leadership campaigns in the eventual PV is, one might think, hardly likely to be decisive. 6/
Now... I have long been sceptical of the PV route; and have called instead for remainers to make the argument for revoke. For Labour, that ship has now sailed. 7/
If the chosen path is a PV, it is (surely) important that the PV question is one which offers a leave option which leavers like (or can accept), and a remain option which remainers like. 8/
A PV between (eg) EEA (or similar) and remain would be roundly derided from all the usual places. 9/
So... in a very roundabout (and almost certainly unintended way), Labour's position might be welcome; in that it provides a better prospect of a legitimate PV. 10/10
