Corbyn Should Back Remain
Photograph of Leader of Her Majesty's Most Loyal Opposition and Leader of the Labour Party Jeremy Corbyn. Photo courtesy of The Daily Telegraph.
The Labour Party's schizophrenic stance on the United Kingdom's withdrawal from the European Union has become simply untenable. Opposition Leader Jeremy Corbyn has the confidence of his Party's leadership and a tight grip on its direction. He should back Remain.
On 23 Sept., the Labour Party Conference in Brighton decided to back Mr Corbyn and his position to back a second Brexit Referendum. However, they struck down a proposal to support a Remain option should that referendum take place. Instead, they will present a 'credible Leave option' and a Remain option, according to the British Broadcasting Corporation.
Proponents of Labour's backing leave is that some of the most hard-line Leave areas in the nation are in regions such as South Yorkshire and the West Midlands. However, these constituencies lie in the coal-mining communities of Northumbria. The reason why these regions back Labour is because they rely on Labour Unions in their communities, organisations that the Labour Party unequivocally supports. Supporting Remain will not squander these seats.
According to The Economist, around two-thirds of Labour voters voted to Remain in the European Union in the 2019 Referendum. Additionally, the vast majority of Labour MPs and delegates also support remaining in the EU.
Despite being a long-time Euroskeptic and Socialist proponent, Mr Corbyn ended up voting Remain in 2016, as reported by The Washington Post. So, why does he now allow so much ambiguity on his Party's manifesto?
After the collapse of the Conservative Majority last month, Corbyn ended up leading or ragged coalition of parties that are working to block a no-deal Brexit scenario and an anti-Johnson agenda. Despite Brexit leaving him with a broader coalition than the Prime-Minister, Mr Corbyn has no actual interest in the Brexit issue.
Mr Corbyn wishes to ascend to Number 10, not by weaving his country through the most turbulent political crisis since the Second World War, but by promoting his extremist 'For the Workers' agenda. The Brighton Conference focused so much on issues such as a four-hour workweek, intervention in Independent Schools, and nationalisation of Heathrow International Airport.
The Labour Conference members made these resolutions to distract the public from their ambiguous Brexit position and turn their focus to their populist policies. They have not succeeded.
While the most turbulent issues should never overshadow the small and necessary policies, simply shoving it to the side and hoping no one noticed is not only irresponsible but goes against their electoral interests.
Both Labour and the Tories are bleeding voters and MPs to the Liberal Democrats since they are not only the only national Party to unequivocally support Remain. They are also the only Party not idling on the Left or Right flank, enticing many centrists and technocrats. The writer of this piece, originally a Labour supporter, has switched allegiances to the Liberal Democrats.
Deputy Labour Leader Tom Watson has called on Mr Corbyn to make Labour the largest Remain party. However, Mr Corbyn has flatly refused to do this. Mr Corbyn attempted to oust Mr Watson by dissolving the position of Deputy Leader; however, this attempt was squashed, according to The Guardian.
Liberal Democratic Leader Jo Swinson, has ruled out the possibility of a Labour-Liberal Democratic governing coalition, primarily due to his position of Brexit, according to the British Broadcasting Corporation. The next general election will most likely lead to a hung Parliament. If Mr Corbyn wants any shot at de-throning Prime-Minister Boris Johnson, then he needs the leave open the possibility of a Lib-Lab Pact.
Ms Swinson was chosen as Liberal Democratic leader last July, largely because, she was more willing to work with other parties than her counterpart Deputy Leader Ed Davey, according to Business Insider.
This decision signals that the Liberal Democratic leadership acknowledges the possible necessity of their participation in a coalition. However, they can not back Corbyn if he continues his position.
If Mr Corbyn wants to be known as one of the great British politicians and Prime-Ministers, he must lead the way that the vast majority of his supporters are demanding.
Sources:
Edgington, Tom. “What Is Labour's Brexit Plan?” BBC News, British Broadcasting Corporation, 23 Sept. 2019,
www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-45640548.
"Britain's Labour Party heads further left." The Economist, The Economist Group, 26 Sept. 2019,
https://www.economist.com/britain/2019/09/26/britains-labour-party-heads-further-left
Booth, William. "In or out? Labour Party remains tortuously conflicted over Brexit and leader Jeremy Corbyn." The Washington Post, Nash Holdings, 23 Sept. 2019,
Stewart, Heather. "Corbyn rejects call by Tom Watson for Labour to fully back remain." The Guardian, Guardian Media Group plc, 11 Sept. 2019,
Savage, Michael. "Tom Watson: Labour ditches vote on abolishing deputy leader role." The Guardian, Guardian Media Group plc, 21 Sept. 2019,
“Lib Dems 'would not prop up Johnson or Corbyn government'” BBC News, British Broadcasting Corporation, 16 Sept. 2019,
https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-49717388
Payne, Adam and Blenkov, Adam. "The Independent Group is considering an electoral alliance with the Liberal Democrats." Business Insider, Axel Springer SE, 30 March 2019,