Tom Watson can say what he wants; Jeremy Corbyn sets Labour policy on Brexit
At odds over Brexit: Tom Watson (left) and Jeremy Corbyn.
Let’s have a bit of clarity about Labour Party policy on the European Union and Brexit.
It is that, after Boris Johnson has been prevented from taking the UK out of the EU without any withdrawal agreement at all, Labour wants a general election at the earliest opportunity.
The intention is that this would result in a Labour – or Labour-led – government that would go back to the EU27 to negotiate a new withdrawal agreement.
This agreement would then be put to the people of the UK in a second referendum, alongside an option to remain in the EU.
It has been suggested that if Labour fails to get the deal wanted by party leaders, it will advise people to support remaining.
Tom Watson can say whatever he wants but it won’t change party policy; he is simply trying to cause mischief.
So his speech today (September 11), calling for a referendum before an election, is meaningless.
It’s a valid position, sure – one could argue very reasonably for a referendum before an election, because it would end an issue that has split voters across the UK, bringing us all back together to vote on the other issues affecting us, that have suffered a lack of publicity and debate due to Brexit.
An opposing argument may be that having a general election first would give a resulting Labour government a mandate to hold the negotiations and the second referendum it plans; this course of action would be approved by the public.
I think the latter approach is better. Don’t you?
Source: Brexit: Labour deputy Tom Watson calls for referendum ahead of election – BBC News
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You are being too kind accusing Tom Watson of only causing ‘mischief’. This man’s continuing disloyalty to Corbyn and the Labour Party is an utter disgrace.
I was only wondering yesterday where Tom Watson was and that he’d been incredibly quiet since those false paedophile abuse ring claims came home to roost. I mean, where was he all last week in the Commons – I couldn’t see him, did I miss him?
Of course, I shouldn’t be surprised that he turns up to muddy the waters now, while popular opinion has been turning to Corbyn’s favour. These Blairites will do anything to scupper the chance of their own party to become the next govt of this country
When will that man go away?
This man has been a disrupting and divisive influence in the Party. He just can’t seem to help himself. How can we jettison him? I don’t see him as helpful at all. His entire reason for existing seems to be to contradict the leadership. How is this beneficial to anybody? Surely, he’d be better off in the Illiberal Hypocrites? How can we unseat him and get somebody who will actually benefit the Party and support the leadership’s position?
No. Jeremy Corbyn does not set policy (any more than Tom Watson). Labour policy is set by the members at conference, and through national policy forums. That is the principle that Corbyn has been following, and is as it should be.
You are right, of course. But Jeremy Corbyn certainly is the one who explains to the country what Labour policy is – not Tom Watson.