Want to know what was wrong with Labour’s Euro election campaign? Here’s your answer
John McDonnell: He made Labour’s position perfectly clear last year. Why, then, did other politicians and media types try to muddy matters?
It seems there have been a few recriminations – inside and outside the Labour Party – over its performance in the European Parliamentary elections.
Many people are saying the party came a distant third behind the Liberal Democrats and the Brexit Party because the message from the leadership wasn’t clear enough.
Silly, silly people.
I can show you the problem in a short sequence of tweets:
So people are absolutely clear what I am saying.Of course I want a general election. But I realise how difficult this is to secure.I will do anything I can to block no deal Brexit. So yes if,as likely GE not possible, then I support going back to the people in another referendum
— John McDonnell MP (@johnmcdonnellMP) May 27, 2019
Do you support Remain being on the ballot, John? Only when you tell us that will we be absolutely clear.
— David Schneider (@davidschneider) May 27, 2019
David, I said that last year.
— John McDonnell MP (@johnmcdonnellMP) May 27, 2019
That is the problem, right there.
Labour had a very clear message to put out; one that made sense. It wasn’t divisive – it wasn’t “Remain at all costs!” or “Leave without delay!”
It was that Labour wanted the best deal for everybody. If that was impossible to achieve, it would be because of Parliamentary arithmetic – the opinions of MPs – and that could only be changed by a general election, so Labour would campaign for a GE to change Parliamentary arithmetic, making a better deal possible.
And if that didn’t work/happen, it would be because Parliamentarians were determined to make a mess of the matter. In that circumstance, Labour would campaign for the matter to go back to the people.
Simple. Practical. Clear-cut.
And then a bunch of tom-fools – in the press, in the Party itself, and on the social media – waded in with mealy-mouthed questions designed to muddy the water.
“Why haven’t you mentioned…” when Labour had mentioned it.
“When will you support…” when Labour already had.
“Why won’t you rule out…” when Labour had ruled it out.
“It won’t be clear until you say…” As John McDonnell wrote, above, he said it very clearly a year ago.
What’s most saddening is that some of the people pulling this nonsense out of their collective rear ends would have claimed This Writer’s respect before they did so.
I have had a lot of time for David Schneider in the past. I’m sure he still makes sense on many other issues – but he lost my respect on this.
If you recall anyone pulling this stunt – or hear it in the future – they should lose yours. And you should tell us who they are.
Have YOU donated to my crowdfunding appeal, raising funds to fight false libel claims by TV celebrities who should know better? These court cases cost a lot of money so every penny will help ensure that wealth doesn’t beat justice.
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I’ll start. Owen Jones. Paul Mason.
In my area, Yorkshire and Humber, Labour came second to Brexit party, not third.
That’s welcome. Third overall, though.
It was obvious last year that there would not be a GE or that the Government and TM would move toward a Customs Union. The frustration of the majority of LP members and especially young voters has been largely ignored by the NEC. The ‘Media’ bogeyman, coup conspirators and ‘Tom-fools’ are not entirely to blame for the loss of Labour MEP’s! Len Mac, Lexiters and devout Bennites have also contributed negative vibes, along with some Labour MP’s who still believe the core Vote is still in ‘post industrial working class’ populations! You can’t compromise on a binary question and after 3 years we now know it’s no deal or remain…put that to the people!
It isn’t a binary question. I know you’ve clearly made up your mind about it, but it really isn’t.
Labour need to start say what it is going to do in interviews thus looking like it has a direction and a plan to solve the problems the Tory party has created. To keep criticising the Tories for poverty ect without a solution is what every stuck in a rut person does and so makes them look petty and backward thinking.
Which interviews have YOU been watching?