‘If only he’d have set this out in December’
Jeremy Corbyn finally gets off the fence. If only he’d have set this out in December, when Theresa May was struggling to get the withdrawal agreement through Parliament. The whole approach by everyone would have been different for the first half of 2019, and we wouldn’t be facing the imminent threat of Boris Johnson as PM. SimonLegend
‘A different way of sitting on the fence’
This is just a different way of sitting on the fence. The indecision and confusion continue. PaperAxe
‘Corbyn is just spelling out what has been said many times before’
Labour has actually always been remarkably consistent about its Brexit policy. People may not like Labour’s Brexit policy, they may wish that it were different. Plenty of people within the party fall into those categories. But it is just disingenuous to say that Labour doesn’t have a position or that its position is unclear.
Corbyn is just spelling out what has been said many times before: the ideal scenario is a general election, a Labour victory and Brexit on Labour’s terms. Failing that, a second referendum and backing remain (for now). Portaloo
‘Pull us back from the last three years of utter madness’
Corbyn has done the right thing in finally coming out in support of remain in a second referendum. If a handful of Tories stick with their principles and vote with Labour a second referendum would hopefully give us a clear remain vote. Pull us back from the last three years of utter madness that have alienated us from allies and weakened the fabric of society that binds us all. Kingpin300
‘Simply no change at all’
Labour’s so-called policy change on Brexit is no such thing. Their policy is still to back a Labour Brexit deal but oppose a Tory Brexit deal. We’ve known that for some time. Labour didn’t back May’s EU withdrawal agreement, and backed amendments for another referendum in parliament.
To say that Labour will oppose a Tory Brexit, but support a Labour Brexit deal, is simply no change at all. Budanevey
‘They need to actively promote a second referendum as a solution’
The absolute proof of the pudding for Labour – and the only way they will win back support – is to now be seen to actively and aggressively promote a second referendum as a solution. Simply announcing it as a policy position and then going back to talking about buses is not anywhere near enough. There has to be genuine commitment. SmallHeathern
‘Speaks volume about the level of irrelevance they have fallen to’
The fact that in July 2019, Labour feels it has to state they would campaign for remain against no-deal or a Tory deal speaks volume about the level of irrelevance they have fallen to regarding Brexit.
In the fine print, they also say that in the unlikely event of an emergency landing of Corbyn in Number 10, they would not revoke Article 50 but seek for another deal with the EU (the same deal but painted red). ID7903204
‘They may have my vote again’
I am now watching Labour closely. If this turns out to be what it is trying to look like they may have my vote again. But I am not going to give my support until it is absolutely clear that there is no between the lines Lexit hidden here.
But on what’s been said so far, I will vote with Labour in the event of GE. Lynden71
‘Corbyn simply can’t be trusted to see through what he’s currently promising’
I see nothing in Labour’s recent policy announcement on Brexit that’s going to make want to switch back to supporting them. Apart from anything else, Corbyn simply can’t be trusted to see through what he’s currently promising. I’m half-expecting a half-retraction later today, rowing back on the pledge. Galveston
‘Him coming out and supporting Remain will boost the Tories’
People don’t understand that Corbyn coming out and supporting remain will boost the Tories. They’ve been praying for Corbyn to play the big remain bogeyman for three years and he has (correctly) refrained to doing this. This announcement will fuel the Conservatives who still (probably) hold a very slim majority. What’s for sure is that both the Tories and the anti-Corbynites have been trying to set up Corbyn for failure ever since he got the Labour PLP.
Seeing the absolute derision with which this is being met in the Remain camp ... it’s quite clear that all the Corbyn bashing of the last three years has worked wonders. Voltaire21
‘Corbyn is under attack, but there’s little he can do’
Seems fair. Corbyn coming under a lot of attacks, but there is very little else they can do. As opposition, they cannot trigger a general election or demand a new referendum even if they want to, because the power to do so lies solely in the hands of the Conservatives.
The referendum should never have happened, and ever since that date, Corbyn and the Labour party should have come out clearly in favour of the half the country that voted remain, knowing what a Tory Brexit would mean. That they didn’t is on them.
But at this point, and with a Johnson government looming on the horizon, I don’t really see what else they could do than try to force his hand, which is the purpose of today’s letter. danielplainview