Labour leadership contenders Andy Burnham and Wes Streeting (Image: PA)
Many Left-wingers never really accepted the decision to leave the European Union. They think the British public made a terrible mistake by voting for Brexit in 2016. And that was certainly the view among Labour MPs – but they didn’t dare state their honest opinion out loud.
Now, Labour’s leadership turmoil has given them a chance to say what they really think. And the UK could soon have not just a Labour leader but a prime minister who wants to rejoin the EU and isn’t afraid to say so. David Lammy, the Deputy Prime Minister, has just provided a stark illustration of Labour’s lack of candour. He was asked directly on Sky News on Monday whether he supported rejoining the EU.
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Mr Lammy responded: “I’m committed to collective responsibility. The manifesto we stood on.”
And asked the same question on LBC, he said: “Once you resign, you’re free to say what you want. In government, you’re subject to collective responsibility.”
In other words, he can’t tell us what he really thinks. But it’s pretty clear that he really thinks the UK should rejoin the EU.
To be fair to Mr Lammy, he’s right. Every Cabinet minister is expected to support the Government’s official policy, at least on the big issues, and if they won’t do that, then they have to resign.
The official policy is to remain outside the EU – not because this is what Sir Keir Starmer supports, but because he knew he had to say this in order to win the 2024 General Election.
But the two Labour politicians who now hope to replace Sir Keir can say what they like.
Former health secretary Wes Streeting said Brexit had been a “catastrophic mistake”. And he said: “We need a new special relationship with the EU, because Britain’s future lies with Europe – and one day back in the European Union.”
Why did he say this? Firstly, because he believes it and he’s now free to give his honest opinion.
But secondly, because he is trying to appeal to Labour Party members. They are the people, not ordinary voters like you and me, who will decide the next leader of the Labour Party. That means they will decide who becomes prime minister.
And they are a bunch of Remainers. If you want their support, it helps to oppose Brexit.
Andy Burnham, who also hopes to become Labour leader, told the Labour Party conference last year that he wanted the UK to rejoin the EU, saying: “I hope it happens in my lifetime … that’s my belief, and I’ll say it clearly.”
He has now attempted to play down these comments, saying there was a “long-term case” for advocating to join the EU, but insisted he was not campaigning on that issue in the Makerfield by-election taking place in June. Mr Burnham hopes to use this by-election to return to Parliament as an MP, allowing him then to stand for the party leadership.
His problem is that he currently needs to appeal to Makerfield voters, including those in Wigan, St Helens and the surrounding area. The last thing they want to hear is a fresh row over Brexit.
So Mr Burnham is currently trying to play down his Remainer views. But this will change if and when he faces a different electorate – Labour Party activists, the people Mr Streeting is already trying to appeal to.
Brexit is now in real danger. A return to rule by Brussels is on the cards.