Brian Monteith
The newly elected Brexit Party MEP on the lessons to be
learned
Conservative and Labour party failure and arrogance caused the Brexit Party to be formed. Yet now, even after their trouncing in the European Parliament elections, they are still not listening to their constituencies.
Between them, Theresa May and Jeremy Corbyn failed to honour their manifesto commitments and ensure the UK left the EU on 29 March. The result has been the worst election defeat for the Conservative Party since it was formed in 1834, managing only 8.8 per cent support – and the Liberal Democrats pushing Labour into a humiliating third with only 13.7 per cent – down 10 points.
In Conservative-supporting areas, the Brexit Party benefitted as an estimated 70 per cent of their supporters gave their vote to Nigel Farage’s party – born only six weeks ago – or sat on their hands. The Tory response has seen some candidates in the party leadership election pledging to ensure the UK leaves the EU on the new date of 31 October – deal or no deal. Yet, after such a heavy defeat, some, such as Jeremy Hunt, Matt Hancock and Rory Stewart, say the departure could or should be delayed. If that were to happen the votes that
went to the Brexit Party will undoubtedly stay there in any general election.
Likewise, the majority of constituencies that returned a Labour MP in 2017, and especially those in the North, voted to Leave the EU in the referendum the year before. The reason this is not obvious to most onlookers is that the Labour MPS have refused to represent their electors’ views and press ahead with delivering Brexit.
Now, in response to the poor performance by Labour in last week’s election, Corbyn is said to be seriously considering backing a second referendum, and committing the Labour party to campaigning for the UK to remain in the EU. If he does that he can kiss goodbye to many of the seats Labour holds, as voters who want Brexit to be delivered and feel badly let down by Corbyn’s Labour give their support to the Brexit Party.
Yes the Liberal Democrats attracted remain-supporting Labour voters – but they are located predominantly in seats Labour does not hold, whereas the Brexit Party has been scooping up disenchanted Labour voters in what were once considered strongholds, such as Wales, the north east and north west of England and industrial heartlands of Yorkshire and the Midlands. Corbyn is fooling himself if he believes confirming Labour as a remain party will put him in Downing Street.
Unless the old parties change their behaviour, the Brexit Party will continue to grow and change British politics for good.
• Brian Monteith was elected as a Brexit Party MEP for North East Region