Corbyn’s email to members outlines modified position – which does not commit Labour to campaigning for remain in all circumstances
An email sent to Labour members this morning following a discussion among the Shadow Cabinet outlines a modified Brexit policy – but not the one touted by most ‘mainstream’ media last night.
While the email says that any deal should now go to the public, it says that Labour will campaign for remain “against either No Deal or a Tory deal that does not protect the economy and jobs” – but does not say the same for a Labour deal or in the unlikely event of a Conservative-arranged deal that does ‘protect the economy and jobs’.
It also makes clear that Labour still intends to agree a positive Brexit deal with the EU:
Labour set out a compromise plan to try to bring the country together based around a customs union, a strong single market relationship and protection of environmental regulations and rights at work. We continue to believe this is a sensible alternative that could bring the country together.
The Shadow Cabinet is reported to be almost entirely united in agreement with the new stance. The full email reads:
Dear member
I am proud to lead the Labour Party – the greatest political party and social movement in this country.
We all recognise that the issue of Brexit has been divisive in our communities and sometimes in our party too.
As democrats, Labour accepted the result of the 2016 referendum. In our 2017 manifesto, Labour also committed to oppose a No Deal Brexit and the Tories’ Brexit plans – which threatened jobs, living standards, and the open multicultural society that we as internationalists value so much.
I want to pay tribute to Keir Starmer and the shadow Brexit team for holding the Government to account during this process. That helped secure a meaningful vote on their deal – which we then defeated three times – including inflicting the largest ever defeat on any Government. And following their refusal to publish their legal advice, this Government became the first to be held in contempt of Parliament.
Labour set out a compromise plan to try to bring the country together based around a customs union, a strong single market relationship and protection of environmental regulations and rights at work. We continue to believe this is a sensible alternative that could bring the country together.
But the Prime Minister refused to compromise and was unable to deliver, so we ended cross-party talks.
Now both Tory leadership candidates are threatening a No Deal Brexit – or at best a race to the bottom and a sweetheart deal with Donald Trump: that runs down industry, opens up our NHS and other public services to yet more privatisation, and shreds environmental protections, rights at work and consumer standards.
I have spent the past few weeks consulting with the shadow cabinet, MPs, affiliated unions and the NEC. I have also had feedback from members via the National Policy Forum consultation on Brexit.
Whoever becomes the new Prime Minister should have the confidence to put their deal, or No Deal, back to the people in a public vote.
In those circumstances, I want to make it clear that Labour would campaign for Remain against either No Deal or a Tory deal that does not protect the economy and jobs.
Labour has a crucial, historic duty to safeguard jobs, rights and living standards. But no Brexit outcome alone can do that.
We need a general election. After nine years of austerity, too many people in this country cannot find decent secure well-paid work, and have to rely on public services that have been severely cut back.
Our country is ravaged by inequality and rising poverty, huge regional imbalances of investment, and the government is failing to tackle the climate emergency facing us all.
That is why we need a Labour government to end austerity and rebuild our country for the many not the few.
Yours
Jeremy Corbyn
SKWAWKBOX view:
The new stance maintains Labour’s commitment both to democracy and to protecting the UK’s people against the damaging versions of Brexit looming under the next Tory leader. It’s a strikingly intelligent move, one that maintains focus on a general election as the real solution to Tory failure.
It is entirely in line with Corbyn’s determination to work for the 99% and not just the 48% or the 52%. It is also a deserved snub for those who have tried to push Labour into abandoning leavers and damaging our democracy.
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Jeremy Corbyn. A true statesman! You make me proud to be a member of the Labour Party.
Reflects position in the country and honours result 52/48
That was over 3 years ago.
SteveH 09/07/2019 at 11:53 am · · Reply →
That was over 3 years ago.
And people didn’t know what they were voting for and, only 37% voted for brexit and, and, and, etc, etc, etc. ad-bastard-nauseam, ad infinitum
Change the bleedin’ record ffs.
Continually trying to pacify the Lexiters is a recipe for fudge and failure.
All versions of Brexit are damaging.
No they are not, Labour brino is only way we can implement manifesto commitments
Do you have any credible evidence to support that nonsense you’ve just written.
Doug, there is no such thing as BRINO but there are various fudges and this is one of them.
British Steel
Labour brino already given green light by EU
No Brexit no manifesto
Now who should people vote for in GE
SteveH 09/07/2019 at 11:55 am · ·
Do you have any credible evidence to support that nonsense you’ve just written.
Followed by this nonsense:
SteveH 09/07/2019 at 11:58 am · · Reply →
That’s why I support a CV in all circumstances. Why are Brexiteers afraid of democracy.
Followed by this nonsense:
SteveH 09/07/2019 at 12:06 pm · · Reply →
The leadership have once again fudged it. When is the leadership going to listen to the majority of its members and voters.
Hypocritical, much, steve?
🥱
Doug, you don’t appear appear to understand the B in BRINO.
Jack T
So who should people vote for in forthcoming GE
Of course people should vote Labour. Why, is there any another Socialist choice?
SteveH
All anti Democrats are damaging the country
Doug 09/07/2019 at 11:46 am
That’s why I support a CV in all circumstances. Why are Brexiteers afraid of democracy.
Why do you persist in whinging about the result that didn’t go your way, hypocrite?
I guess it’s the same reason you ‘whinge’ about Tory policies when they represent ‘the will of the people’. 🙂
Or maybe how you defend disruptive scumbags like watson to the hilt as long as he agrees with your shower of shite and causes all sorts of shite while he decries the leadership and party policy.
Back in yer box, knobhead.
I think that applies to you Doug.
Brexit is dead, Skwakbox is trying to spin it
This is pure positive spinning to a ludicrous extent of Jeremy’s actually historic sell-out to the Labour Right PVers and Remainers, Skwawkbox !
Let’s clear away the slippery waffle in Jeremy’s message. The really significant content of this message is ( despite Jeremy initially claiming cynically that, “As democrats, Labour accepted the result of the 2016 referendum…”):
“… Whoever becomes the new (Tory) Prime Minister should have the confidence to put their deal, or NO Deal, back o the people in a public vote.
In these circumstances, I want to make it clear that Labour would campaign for Remain against either No Deal or a Tory Deal that does not protect the economy and jobs”
Given that No Tory deal could possibly meet Labour’s six conditions completely, this actually means Labour is now, as of today, apparently, without a Conference vote, an unconditional Second Referendum and Remain Party, just like the Lib Dems and Greens.
Labour can now wave goodbye to the bulk of its working class Leave voters in our Labour Heartlands in the Midlands, Northern England, and Wales. Labour simply cannot win a snap Autumn General Election on this policy. Very few traditional working class Labour voting Leave supporters in our heartlands will be persuaded by the bits of diversionary flummery in his message about Labour still hoping to be in power to negotiate a better deal with the EU. They will instead, simply, and correctly, now see Labour as utterly reneging on its promise to respect the outcome of the 2016 Referendum, and instead now fully embracing both a Referendum re-run, AND supporting Remain in such a Referendum.
The Labour Left have once again (as they ALWAYS have done historically) cravenly capitulated to the sabotage and blackmail of the Labour Right (and the middle class Left Liberal naivety of much of the post 2015 “Corbynistas”). This time quite possibly spelling the eventual end of Labour as a mass social democratic party – following all the other European social democratic parties into that dustbin of history.
Oh well, the hopes of the unexpected “Corbyn Insurgency” of 2015 onwards was fun whilst it lasted. But it is now over.
The leadership have once again fudged it. When is the leadership going to listen to the majority of its members and voters.
When is the leadership going to listen to the majority of its voters.
No evidence. (And no question mark).
The Toffee (597) at 12:42 pm
🥱
Yawn all you like, plums….but evidence your claims.
I am a member. My family are members of the labour party. What the hell do you expect. You exoect the labour party to support coming out of the EU no matter what the cost. I did vote remain at the time. Yet now after seeing the way remain parties have acted I would vote leave. People don’t like being pushed around. I think have a good relationship with the EU but don’t actually be in the EU. Yes why not as half wants in half wants out give or take the million at the time of 2016 referendum. Who in their right minds want to come out at all costs.
Suits me as a member. Glad it’s been clarified
Just for information : the Labour voters in the so-called ‘heartlands’ (actually with an excess of working class conservatives) had a majority of Remain voters *in all classes*.
The fictional image is simply nostalgia for a piece of nostyalgia for a 19th century – with the aim of constructing a self-serving electoral fantasy.
Try a trip to Bolton RH you may be surprised?Its not all flat hats and the peter kay sense of humour.They have just dumped the Labour council after nearly half a century!I am originally from the town and left when the cotton industry collapsed,many years ago.The town like many others have never recovered and the people there blame the foreigner ,and we will find that we could have a lashback across not only Bolton but the whole region.We have made a serious mistake in allowing the Torys to share out the poisoning Brexit effect
I’ve lived all my working life in the Yorkshire industrial areas – and haven’t left.
I really don’t need any lectures about local conservatism – or caricatures about the north (which are rife on the Toytown left) –
and the need to work against cartoon descriptions.
Let’s wait and see, jp. (Who’d have thought jp and the usual suspects would ever be united in disappointment over the same thing!)
It was inevitable that a further fudge/spin/sell-out/call it what you want would be necessary, if only to head off the Panorama thing tomorrow night. If, as seems possible, these warm words buy off the Labour Right and the MSM for a while, we might get more sympathetic media treatment should the documentary be as toxic as is promised. It might even last till the election if they can lay off the smearing. (Fat chance, I hear you cry!)
Whatever, Corbyn once again has proved his tenacity and shown us true statesmanship. Let’s hope the public notice…
Bye bye Labour – from here in Peterborough
Really?
Can’t see anywhere else to post this – but others may be interested in this intelligent JVL-posted article by David Rosenberg on the Panorama ‘antisemitism’ ‘enquiry’ :
https://www.jewishvoiceforlabour.org.uk/article/the-coming-hatchet-job-on-labour/
Another article pins down the questions about the JLM and its affiliation to the Labour Party in a very coherent and telling way.
It’s pretty obvious that the JLM does not fulfil the requirements expected of an affiliated organisation – particularly when compared to JVL.
https://www.jewishvoiceforlabour.org.uk/article/questions-for-the-jewish-labour-movement/
I always try to avoid going off topic but I feel I have to add that as 99.999% of our members are NOT anti semetic. Furthermore we have the full support of Orthodox and Socialist Jews and Jewish intellectuals. However the MSM and others refuse to accept that these people are part of the ” Jewish Community” and totally disregard their views.
Like all fair minded people these Jewish supporters know that we are definitely NOT an institutionally anti semetic party, our leader Jeremy Corbyn is NOT anti semetic. Any suggestion otherwise will therefore be easy to refute.
I am absolutely certain if any evidence to the contrary existed it would have been presented long ago. After all the MSM and others have been trawling the internet etc for this for the last 4 years and have come up with absolutely nothing to justify the allegations against us and our leader.
You know that the MSM don’t let the truth stand in the way of a good smear hence your reference to a hatchet job but people aren’t stupid and recognise a stitch up when they see it. That is the reason why all the attempts demonise Jeremy Corbyn failed and 13,000,000 people voted for a Corbyn led government at the last election.
John Ware didn’t just write for the Sun, he also wrote for the Guardian; the Telegraph; the Sunday Times & Jewish Chronicle. BBC independent journalist?
Politics is not, and has never been about the art of sitting on the fence. It is about having opinions and justifying them. That Labour has forgotten this crucial fact is crippling for its standing.
If that were ever true, it is a very stupid position. It is entirely rational to vary the opposition’s stance according to circumstance. As Keynes said ‘When the facts change, I change. What do you do?’
What’s changed?
The majority of Labour’s members and voters still support a CV and remaining in the EU
”The majority of Labour’s voters still support a CV and remaining in the EU”
NO EVIDENCE
🥱
That it?
How profound. And you hope to convince people that your opinions are fact?
Embarrassing, really.
Well will not get a labour government now betrayed the majority we donr need a second vote need the 1st one honouring
This is quite straightforward, no matter how much the usual suspects try to muddy the waters.
There are two points;
1/ Labour has said that under any circumstances it wants a second referendum and Remain to be an option in that referendum.
2/ They will campaign for remain if the choice is a Tory deal or no deal. If Labour become the government and negotiate what they see as a good deal, there will still be a referendum with remain as a choice, but only an idiot would expect them to campaign against a deal they agreed.
No doubt if they could not get a good deal they would campaign for Remain.
So instead of taking shots at Corbyn and co. we need to put pressure on the Tory wets. They are now the ones who will decide whether we get a second referendum or not and should now be the real focus of all our efforts.
Wake up people!
Were it that simple.
It’s a bit of an improvement on the previous prolonged tray of fudge – but it’s still cakeism that fails to grasp that the best deal available is to retain the existing relationship with the EU.
John Mann represents the intellectual puddle that is the ‘let’s get out and then we can negotiate getting back in if that’s what people want’ idea – missing out on the existing concessions that the UK has. Doh!
The point has been passed some time ago when the cakeism had tactical validity. It is now well past its sell-by date and will not consolidate Labour support – quite the reverse. Pledging to oppose Tory policy whilst holding out the option of a Labour version of the same isn’t a good look.
It is that simple.
All you are complaining about is that they do not agree 100% with you that Remain is the best option in all circumstances.
It has nothing to do with wanting things both ways and is entirely straightforward and consistent with what they have been saying since the last conference.
They have set out their position very clearly.
I’m a staunch Remainer and I can see this is a good thing and our best use of our efforts as Remainers, now is to focus on shifting the Tory wets toward a second referendum…
Unless a star at Conference moves an amendment:
‘To delete option 1 and all after the first 5 lines of option 2 and add ‘A Labour Govt will also fight on our 5 left wing Demoratic Socialist freedoms:
* Migrants needing job offers so we democratically control labour supply (can take workers needed from any country not just Fortress Europe).
* Democratic control of capital supply.
* A customs union with the EC on non- Neo-Liberal but our terms so UK companies can trade with there tariff free (and no need Irish backstop).
* Bring back migration adjustment funds for Councils (cut by Tories and Lib Dems).
* Trade unionise migrant workers.
But it won’t be me, stopped as a delegate 3rd year in a row by Right Wing and middle class liberals.
I fear Labour may have got a little closer to snatching defeat from the jaws of victory but only diverse working class socialists and the best read of progressive middle class socialists can now perhaps save the dream now, we will do our best.
Solidarity!
Sorry. No it won’t fix the serious leak of Labour support.
Yes a very complicated and detailed statement from our Leader.Unfortunately it will not stop the internal treacherous supporters of the moderate bombers,welfare vandels and misfits of at least half the PLP and a small but dangerous group within the membership!.We will eventually have to face up to the real threat from the enemy within and I am sorry to say that but Corbyn will also have to face up the Evil within our party,who are bought and paid for.,and Will see an end to Corbyn and the Socialist Labour . If we fool ourselves that this statment will lead to peace and harmony……..just saying!
Joseph OKEEFE at 2:05 pm
If Corbyn’s policies reflect the views of the majority of the Labour Party’s membership and voters then Jeremy and his vision will be safe.
Hope so Steve,Whatever we decide on with brexit I will stand by,because their really is life after the brexit debate and hopefully a Labour government?
”If Corbyn’s policies reflect the views of the majority of the Labour Party’s membership and voters”
What’s the views of the majority of voters then, plums?
Come on, tell us, seeing as you KNOW.
Toffee – Perhaps you would know too if you joined the party.
Jeez H., Toffee – on the one hand you moan about the ‘lack of evidence’ re. supporters’ views (although there is a fair amount for those who care to look) …. Then you moan about any suggestions – either within the Party or more widely – about *determining* what those views are!
Make up your mind.
SteveH 09/07/2019 at 2:42 pm · ·
Toffee – Perhaps you would know too if you joined the party.
—————————————————–
Oh, so joining the party’d give me clairvoyancy would it, steve?
Becoming a member would give me a special insight into the mindset of the electorate that isn’t affiliated to any party, eh?
You’re properly weird. Get help. Seriously.
There is nothing complicated in it at all. A 12 year old could understand it. It is those very saboteurs who are more interested in wresting power away from the left than shifting the Tories or preventing Brexit that want to muddy the waters and keep members disgruntled.
All that stands between Remainers and a second referendum now are a few Tory wets…
You only need to look at LP history – – – bevan got us the NHS in spite of manny MPs; So much power in the self seeking right& their comfortable friends.
Labour is nothing if it ceases to be the party of principle.
We need clearly to explain ourselves to the electorate – our principles and the reasoning behind them, our ultimate aim of a truly fair society and our strategies to achieve that society – before we ask for their informed consent in elections.
Our principles and our aim of a fair society don’t change but interim goals and strategies to achieve that ultimate aim may change.
Our spokespeople need to rehearse their arguments in internal debate until they can confidently and forcefully explain to the media that changes in strategy to reflect changed circumstances will frequently be necessary but that our principles remain firm.
A Declaration: The Plot to Keep Jeremy Corbyn Out of Power
As the establishment’s need to keep him away from power has grown more urgent and desperate so has the nature of the attacks
04/07/2019
byJonathan Cook
I agree with JPenney, this is a huge capitulation, taken without even a Conference decision. There is a WORLD of difference between being a party which respects the decision of the EU referendum and being a party which wants second referendums in multiple circumstances AND to campaign for Remain in those referendums. So much for the manifesto promise to respect the referendum. And goodbye to “honest politics”.
I rather doubt that the nuance that Labour MAY conceivably not adhere to the “Second Referendum and Remain” cause in the case of a deal negotiated by itself will have much impact. Labour has now tarred itself with the brush of being fundamentally a “Second Referendum and Remain” party – like the LibDems, Greens, Plaid, SNP.
Does it matter electorally? Richard Johnson’s analysis below shows that winning the Leave-voting target Conservative seats is the absolute sine qua non of securing a Labour government. At the same time, sitting Labour MPs tend not to be vulnerable in Remain-voting seats, but are highly vulnerable in Leave-voting seats. Labour is therefore VERY unlikely to win a GE in its new identity as a “Second Referendum and Remain” party. We have done a Syriza and capitulated – without the bother of having had a government!
https://blogs.lse.ac.uk/brexit/2019/02/04/labours-path-to-vicotry-is-through-leave-voting-conservative-marginals/
When it comes down to the wire and Tories insist it’s Dopey’s deal or no deal – no snap GE and no second referendum, just a do-or-die Commons vote – what would you advise Labour to do then?
Whip to vote for the deal or whip to guarantee a no deal exit?
Either way Labour shares the blame for the Torytastrophe.
Unless of course you’re STILL predicting sun-lit fucking uplands and the least foxy Fox on the planet coming home with a thousand great trade deals?
Should we perhaps take the New Labour option – say “FUCK principle, FUCK socialism, I want POWER” – turn more Tory than Thatcher and call it New Labour2?
No BlaCamManTwat pottage for me, thank you.
I think this might where the Labour Party splits, judging by the actions of certain Labour peers today.
Then we’ll see who’s fucking who and who the real trolls are.
That about sums it up, David. The basics have never changed – a Labour Party supporting a right-wing Tory wheeze whilst confecting a fantasy that it’s not doing any such thing, ain’t going to cut the mustard.
Bottom line : the punters will pick the real Tory version rather than the imitation one.
“I agree with JPenney”
… the kiss of death to any workable programme.
… and contrary to any credible electoral analysis.
”…and contrary to any credible electoral analysis.”
Like your mate steve h’s, you mean?
After all,his electoral analysis consists of him knowing what every labour voter wants – whether they haven’t even decided to vote labour or not yet; he KNOWS.
No evidence whatsoever to back it up, mind. He probly goes on his 73% of labour members and applies it to the nation…
…But he’s ‘credible’ isn’t he, dicky?
Whopper.
About time. Common sense prevails.
Chukka was right, but acted in haste. Victory for ‘the anything but Brexiteers’. Corbyn has lost the reins of leadership & his moral compass, making Tom Watson a very happy man. His acolytes; Starmer; Blair; Brown; Hodge et al. & the bourgeois smugs can now celebrate being Lib.Dem. mark2. Thatcher’s legacy still cracks the whip, as you know we will never be allowed to leave; but the people were asked to vote, but voted the wrong way. Do it again stupid!
Have to say sadly i agree , Twatson is now the Leader of Labour and Corbyn is his bitch ,,, very very sad .What a fantastic ride it’s been tho we almost made it to a real DS party but thanks to good ole Lenny boy and that unelected unaccountable Zionist twat Lansman who cost us , the membership, it’s voice by sinking the vote at Conf on mandatory re-selection.Bye be labour in the North it will be a Scotland Mk2
Tom Watson a very happy man. His acolytes; Starmer; Blair; Brown; Hodge et al. & the bourgeois smugs can now celebrate being Lib.Dem. mark2. Thatcher’s legacy still cracks the whip, as you know we will never be allowed to leave; but the people were asked to vote, but voted the wrong way. Do it again stupid!
Yep. And several so-called socialists on here will be creaming themselves about now. We all know who they are; so do they.
When push comes to shove, these GOBSHITES run & hide leaving the poorest to pay for their fuck-ups. Bunch of shitbags. I hope they get used as firewood for burning toerags at the stake.
“Thatcher’s legacy still cracks the whip”
Indeed. Brexit is a neoliberal Tory idea : ‘Britannia Unchained’ and the ERG
“… leaving the poorest to pay for their fuck-ups.”
Again … Indeed! The Lexiteers seem heedless of this effect of Brexit.
Fucking BURN, hayward.
I _knew_ they would not deliver…
Neve remind people’s vote, we need a people’s party
Yay it seems MP’s are remembering there job is in part to protect there voters even if only from themselves, although in this case also extreme right wingers and disaster capitalists as well.
I know why odious racists want to leave the EU, I know why throwbacks like the ERG and Moggy want to leave the EU, I know why people desperate to sell off the NHS to trump want to leave the EU, I know why millionaire tax dodgers want to leave the EU, I know why most Tories want to leave they EU but for the life of me I still have no idea why some “Labour” members think it’s a good idea beyond willy of the peepal up narth and some bollocks about not being able to privatise stuff that is nationalised all over the EU?
Your ignorance of the EU is obviously profound ,Will C. You obviously have no knowledge of the Single Market rules, or specifically the Fourth Railway Directive, which requires all EU rail systems be thrown open to private tenders. Competition policy makes it impossible to re-nationalise the likes of water and power as a single entity without regular open tendering. and on it goes. Do a bit of reading mr ignoramous, before exposing your ignorance on here. No radical Left economic programme is possible within the EU neoliberal rules, even supporting key strategic industries, like steel, with state subsidies.