Yesterday for a brief moment it looked like a youth mobility scheme would be agreed between the EU and the new Labour government, only for it to be denied by No.10.
I couldn't agree more. As I have already posted in a Facebook group, this is the time to do it. The Tories are in disarray, Labour has a whopping majority and the next election is a long way off. Get on with it - no more 'softly, softly...'
Yes, they should crack on. But the idea that the Labour Party is united in favour of the EU is an illusion. On the left of the Party are some fairly dyed-in-the-wool, ideological opponents of anything "EU". And they aren't without influence.
One of the most persistent (and really annoying) delusions of so many Labour supporters and Brexit opponents is that all the Brexiteers are on the Right, and that they're Tories.
Labour Party opponents of the EU were, and still are, on the Left, diminishing towards the centre and right of the Party. This also shows why UK politics is so pathetically messed up - those supporters and members on the Labour Left are always accusing other more moderate Labour MPs and supporters of being Tories. The irony is completely lost on them.
Opposition to the EU, with few exceptions, has always been at the opposite extremes of the UK political spectrum - Tory Right vs Labour Left. This meant that sometimes, like in 2011, you would find the likes of Corbyn, Skinner and Rees-Mogg voting alongside each other on matters concerning the EU.
Me too. Unfortunately he acquired a rather righteous cult following who seemed to lack sufficient critical thinking skills to consider that he might actually be wrong about some things. And though he's long gone, Benn's following still remains, mostly uncritical to the last and impervious to facts. He still has influence over Labour Party members and supporters.
Is Labour afraid of negative reaction in the “red wall” seats? Large majority but not a large uplift in % of popular vote. But sod all that, you’re right they should crack on
Don’t forget that Rachel Reeves supported Brexit after the event. Life isn’t that simple and big negative headlines so soon will unpick a fragile coalition in the Labour Party
Its probably just the numbers. Labour will reduce restrictions on foreign students because universities will go bust without them. They will abandon the high wage threshold because we need nurses, fruit pickers and care workers. They probably doubt their own ability to "stop the boats." They don't want an additional boost to immigration numbers that are a gift to the right.
Is it not the case that the Tory Brexiteers were originally to the Right of that Party, and the Labour Brexiteers to the Left of that Party? And is that not still the case? Does not the Labour Government still have to pander to the
All the old Corbyn cronies who are still in the Party have always been ideologically anti-EU.
Likewise, trade Union boss Mick Lynch and his followers have always been anti-EU.
"Brexit for the many", Labour's old slogan invented to distinguish their product from that other old Labour-invented slogan "Tory Brexit", is still alive and kicking.
They may not say it out loud, but Labour's actions have the whiff of, "Brexit wasn't done properly, so we'll give you our version". The old "Brexit for the many".
Meanwhile, it's still true that 63% of the UK electorate didn't vote for any kind of Brexit.
I couldn't agree more. As I have already posted in a Facebook group, this is the time to do it. The Tories are in disarray, Labour has a whopping majority and the next election is a long way off. Get on with it - no more 'softly, softly...'
Yes, they should crack on. But the idea that the Labour Party is united in favour of the EU is an illusion. On the left of the Party are some fairly dyed-in-the-wool, ideological opponents of anything "EU". And they aren't without influence.
Agreed, Peter. And yes, we know they have some dinosaurs in their ranks who aren't (to mix my metaphors) about to change their spots :-)
One of the most persistent (and really annoying) delusions of so many Labour supporters and Brexit opponents is that all the Brexiteers are on the Right, and that they're Tories.
Labour Party opponents of the EU were, and still are, on the Left, diminishing towards the centre and right of the Party. This also shows why UK politics is so pathetically messed up - those supporters and members on the Labour Left are always accusing other more moderate Labour MPs and supporters of being Tories. The irony is completely lost on them.
Opposition to the EU, with few exceptions, has always been at the opposite extremes of the UK political spectrum - Tory Right vs Labour Left. This meant that sometimes, like in 2011, you would find the likes of Corbyn, Skinner and Rees-Mogg voting alongside each other on matters concerning the EU.
I can remember Tony Benn (with whom I agreed on quite a lot) railing against the EU.
Me too. Unfortunately he acquired a rather righteous cult following who seemed to lack sufficient critical thinking skills to consider that he might actually be wrong about some things. And though he's long gone, Benn's following still remains, mostly uncritical to the last and impervious to facts. He still has influence over Labour Party members and supporters.
Politics is still very much like that, sadly.
Is Labour afraid of negative reaction in the “red wall” seats? Large majority but not a large uplift in % of popular vote. But sod all that, you’re right they should crack on
Don’t forget that Rachel Reeves supported Brexit after the event. Life isn’t that simple and big negative headlines so soon will unpick a fragile coalition in the Labour Party
You are quite right!
Its probably just the numbers. Labour will reduce restrictions on foreign students because universities will go bust without them. They will abandon the high wage threshold because we need nurses, fruit pickers and care workers. They probably doubt their own ability to "stop the boats." They don't want an additional boost to immigration numbers that are a gift to the right.
Is it not the case that the Tory Brexiteers were originally to the Right of that Party, and the Labour Brexiteers to the Left of that Party? And is that not still the case? Does not the Labour Government still have to pander to the
All the old Corbyn cronies who are still in the Party have always been ideologically anti-EU.
Likewise, trade Union boss Mick Lynch and his followers have always been anti-EU.
"Brexit for the many", Labour's old slogan invented to distinguish their product from that other old Labour-invented slogan "Tory Brexit", is still alive and kicking.
They may not say it out loud, but Labour's actions have the whiff of, "Brexit wasn't done properly, so we'll give you our version". The old "Brexit for the many".
Meanwhile, it's still true that 63% of the UK electorate didn't vote for any kind of Brexit.