Labour disunity about Article 50 has been hugely over-emphasized
It was much worse in the 1970s when Labour opposed the terms under which Tory Ted Heath (remember him?) wanted to enter what was then known as the Common Market.
In that instance, the Labour rebels voted with the Conservatives – otherwise their Bill would have been defeated despite a Parliamentary majority of 112. How times have changed!
Lord Prescott tells us that led to Labour resignations, calls for discipline over breaking the whip and a bitterness much worse than last week’s vote. But Labour were back in office within only a few years.
So perhaps some of us should re-think the way this story is being told to us, and take a good, hard look at the people trying to tell it.
Let’s also remember that the Conservatives are bitterly divided over this issue too – but they are better-able to hide it with their complicit mass media covering up for them.
Don’t forget that 70 per cent of all MPs – meaning the total must include Conservatives – voted to remain in the European Union. It is only because Eurosceptic backbenchers would split the party if the referendum vote wasn’t honoured that the Tory government is going through with Brexit.
Nationally we voted out and Labour must respect it. Jeremy Corbyn was absolutely right to impose a three-line whip to back Article 50. Doing anything else would have been a snub to democracy.
What Labour is doing – and must continue to do – is look to shape what Britain looks like after Brexit . So its amendments to protect workers’ rights and jobs by maintaining access to the single market are important.
We’re not going to stop leaving the EU, but Corbyn can fight for a Labour Brexit that puts people, living standards and business first.
Source: Labour is painted as being bitterly divided – let’s whip up unity on Brexit deal
Join the Vox Political Facebook page.
If you have appreciated this article, don’t forget to share it using the buttons at the bottom of this page. Politics is about everybody – so let’s try to get everybody involved!
Vox Political needs your help!
If you want to support this site
(but don’t want to give your money to advertisers)
you can make a one-off donation here:
Buy Vox Political books so we can continue
fighting for the facts.
The Livingstone Presumption is now available
in either print or eBook format here:
Health Warning: Government! is now available
in either print or eBook format here:
The first collection, Strong Words and Hard Times,
is still available in either print or eBook format here: