Labour never accepted Brexit – now they see their chance to reverse it | Politics | News
Labor leadership contenders Andy Burnham and Wes Streeting (Image: PA)
Many Leftists never really accepted the decision to leave the European Union. They think the British people made a terrible mistake by voting for Brexit in 2016. That was certainly the view among Labor MPs; but they did not dare to voice their honest opinions out loud.
Now, Labour’s leadership turmoil has given them the chance to say what they really think. And Britain may soon have not just a Labor leader, but a prime minister who wants to rejoin the EU and isn’t shy about saying so. Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy gave a striking example of Labour’s insincerity. He was asked directly on Sky News on Monday whether he supported rejoining the EU.
Read more: Nigel Farage issued a clear warning – even Labor MPs concede Burnham could lose
Read more: Keir Starmer accused of ‘rewriting Brexit’ with controversial new law
Mr Lammy replied: “I’m committed to collective responsibility. That’s the manifesto we stand on.”
Asked the same question on LBC, he said: “When you resign, you are free to say whatever you want. You are subject to collective responsibility in government.”
In other words, he can’t tell us what he really thinks. But it’s pretty clear that he really thinks Britain should rejoin the EU.
To be fair to Mr. Lammy, he’s right. Every minister in the Cabinet is expected to support the Government’s official policy on at least major issues, and if they fail to do so they will be forced to resign.
Official policy is to stay outside the EU; Not because Sir Keir Starmer supports it, but because he knows he has to say it to win the 2024 General Election.
But now the two Labor politicians hoping to replace Sir Keir can say what they want.
Former health secretary Wes Streeting said Brexit was a “catastrophic mistake”. And he said: “We need a new and special relationship with the EU, because Britain’s future is in Europe and one day it will return to the European Union.”
Why did he say this? First, because he believes it and is now free to express his honest opinion.
But secondly, because he was trying to appeal to Labor Party members. It is the public, not ordinary voters like you and me, who will decide Labour’s next leader. So they will decide who will be prime minister.
And they’re a bunch of Remainers. If you want their support, opposing Brexit will help.
Andy Burnham, who also hopes to become Labor leader, told the Labor Party conference last year that he wanted Britain to rejoin the EU, saying: “I hope it happens in my lifetime… that’s my belief and I’ll say it openly.”
He sought to downplay those comments, saying there was a “long-term case” for advocating joining the EU now, but insisted he was not campaigning on the issue in the Makerfield by-election in June. Mr Burnham hopes to use this by-election to return to parliament as an MP and thus seek the leadership of the party.
His issue now is that he needs to appeal to Makerfield voters, including Wigan, St Helens and surrounding areas. The last thing they want to hear is another debate about Brexit.
So Mr Burnham is now trying to downplay Remainers’ views. But that will change when he faces a different constituency – Labor activists, the same people Mr Streeting is currently trying to appeal to.
Brexit is now in real danger. It is possible that Brussels will return to power again.
