British people, would you be more likely to vote Labour if it supported a second referendum on Brexit?
As a Labour member and supporter of the leadership, I've generally supported the line they have taken as a compromise position. They've tried to gain acceptance by Labour leavers by honouring the referendum and also tried to gain acceptance by remainers by offering a softer version of Brexit than the Tories.
This strategy worked in the 2017 General Election when we polled well, without quite winning the election. Times have changed though and both leavers and remainers have hardened their positions. Most leavers see nothing short of a no-deal Brexit as a betrayal of what they voted for, even though the leave campaign talked about negotiating a deal and even sometimes mentioned the Norway option. Most remain voters I know who are not Labour Party members see anything less than a second referendum as a betrayal by the Labour Party. I find this attitude frustrating - even as a remain voter myself - because if Labour is going to go against an existing referendum result and a third of its voters, it can't do so lightly. The Labour voting coalition is traditionally a diverse coalition which includes (for example) northern working-class people and liberal metropolitan young professionals.
This is what it is though and much as I'd like to talk about Jeremy Corbyn's social democratic policies, its Brexit which is on most people's minds. Judging by canvassing, its possible Labour will finish third in the European elections and underscore even their own poor polling (though the Tories will be fourth or fifth).
Please comment in as much detail as you like. I really can't be arsed dealing with people being rude though and please keep it relevant. I don't mind non-Brits joining this debate as long as you are not saying ridiculous things about globalist conspiracies or whatever.
Thanks
This strategy worked in the 2017 General Election when we polled well, without quite winning the election. Times have changed though and both leavers and remainers have hardened their positions. Most leavers see nothing short of a no-deal Brexit as a betrayal of what they voted for, even though the leave campaign talked about negotiating a deal and even sometimes mentioned the Norway option. Most remain voters I know who are not Labour Party members see anything less than a second referendum as a betrayal by the Labour Party. I find this attitude frustrating - even as a remain voter myself - because if Labour is going to go against an existing referendum result and a third of its voters, it can't do so lightly. The Labour voting coalition is traditionally a diverse coalition which includes (for example) northern working-class people and liberal metropolitan young professionals.
This is what it is though and much as I'd like to talk about Jeremy Corbyn's social democratic policies, its Brexit which is on most people's minds. Judging by canvassing, its possible Labour will finish third in the European elections and underscore even their own poor polling (though the Tories will be fourth or fifth).
Please comment in as much detail as you like. I really can't be arsed dealing with people being rude though and please keep it relevant. I don't mind non-Brits joining this debate as long as you are not saying ridiculous things about globalist conspiracies or whatever.
Thanks
41-45, M
