Labour’s Brexit farce

IF anyone knows what Labour’s policy on Brexit is, could they please tell Jeremy Corbyn. For weeks, he has been weaving his way round the subject like a drunken sailor and he’s still making no sense.

First he said the party wanted Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty – which begins the formal process of leaving the European Union – to be invoked as soon as possible and without a Parliamentary vote.

On Sunday he performed a spectacular U-turn, threatening to join forces with Remainers in other parties to block Article 50. This came as a surprise to his deputy Tom Watson, who insisted Labour would ‘certainly not hold up’ Brexit.

To add to this ludicrous fiasco Mr Corbyn then made another volte-face, saying this time that his support for Article 50 was ‘unconditional’.

And as if all that weren’t confusing enough, Labour’s Brexit spokesman Sir Keir Starmer – sent out yesterday to clarify his party’s position – muddied the waters even further. When asked whether Labour would seek to delay the talks, he had no coherent answer.

The truth is that this party is utterly dysfunctional. Most of its MPs are fervently committed to Remain, while millions of ordinary Labour supporters are just as passionate in wanting to leave. Mr Corbyn can’t articulate Labour’s Brexit policy because it doesn’t have one.

If it weren’t so serious, this shambling farce would be hilarious.