The Limits to Labour’s Constructive Ambiguity over Brexit

Labour proposes a 'jobs-first' and hard Brexit at the same time. Its current policy of constructive ambiguity on Brexit is not the win-win approach its advocates claim. The party leadership needs to make the case for single market membership and demonstrate what can be done to address the concerns about freedom of movement while remaining within the single market. If it does not, it will struggle to show that it has a better solution to the economic downturn caused by Brexit than the Tories have, and risks ending up as divided as its opponent

ESO: Key source: United Kingdom: Parliamentary Election, 8 June 2017 http://www.europeansources.info/record/united-kingdom-general-election-2017/

ESO: Background information: Just how far has Jeremy Corbyn come – and how far could he still go? http://www.europeansources.info/record/just-how-far-has-jeremy-corbyn-come-and-how-far-could-he-still-go/

Labour Party: Manifesto 2017: Negotiating Brexit http://www.labour.org.uk/index.php/manifesto2017/brexit

ESO: Background information: As the Labour Party’s influence grows, it must clarify its Brexit strategy http://www.europeansources.info/record/as-the-labour-partys-influence-grows-it-must-clarify-its-brexit-strategy/

The Conversation, 26.07.17: Fact Check: is being in the single market dependent on membership of the EU? https://theconversation.com/fact-check-is-being-in-the-single-market-dependent-on-membership-of-the-eu-81530

EUObserver, 27.07.17: Corbyn re-opens Labour's single market wound https://euobserver.com/uk-referendum/138629

The Guardian, 27.07.17: Labour softens stance on staying in single market after Brexit https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2017/jul/27/labour-softens-stance-single-market-brexit

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