Jeremy Corbyn has sought to reassure Labour Party members fearful of a catastrophic Tory Brexit that a Labour Brexit will be just as hard and catastrophic.
Speaking to the press Corbyn said, “It’ll be great. I’ll be able to protect British workers much better outside the EU. The miners, steel workers, ship workers. Everyone’s jobs will be fine because when we leave Labour will just nationalise everything. We’ll barely notice the drop in income and it will improve equality as everyone will be affected. Plus, 52% voted to leave and I believe we’re for the many, not the few.”
The leader has faced criticism in some quarters for the decision not to hold a meaningful vote on Brexit at this years party conference.
John McDonell told us, “This is democracy in action. We asked the party membership what they felt most passionate about and what they’d like to see discussed. Brexit was way down behind whether our next manifesto should be on recyclable paper or not.”
However, not everyone is convinced.
One member told us, “I said I wanted to put Brexit down but momentum told me not to. They said if I did then it would show that I’m secretly a Tory at heart. So I put some bumf about how there should be more disabled toilets in train stations.”
Momentum have denied they tell members what to say.
Nicolas Bukharin told us, “We’re here to advise. If people choose to follow that advice then good for them. The best thing for the Labour Party is to not discuss Brexit. Jeremy is firmly for it which puts him in line with working class voters but a lot of our members are young and believe he’s all for keeping us in Europe and building a socialist paradise. So best not to rock the boat unless you want the Tories to eat all your children.”
Elsewhere, some newer members were stung by the suggestion that they were part of a cynical cult of personality surrounding Corbyn.
Rupert St Albans, wearing a Jeremy Corbyn t-shirt told us, “I like Jeremy’s policies and believe he’s honest when he says there would be no point discussing Brexit. Like everyone here I want to stay in the EU. What’s the point of discussing something we all want? It’s only the Tories that want to leave because it will make them rich.”
The Herald will be blogging live from the debate and vote on whether the Labour Party should use recyclable paper in its manifesto.
