Will Brexit Split the Labour Party?

In this new Federal Trust video John Palmer and Brendan Donnelly review the state of the Conservative and Labour Parties after the recent by-elections. They conclude that both parties face challenges to their traditional identities. If Labour win the next General Election, the European issue will be a particular bone of contention within the Party's ranks.

SPEAKERS:
John Palmer was the European Editor of The Guardian and subsequently a Founder/Political Director of the European Policy Centre in Brussels. He is a Board Member of the Federal Trust.

Brendan Donnelly is the Director of the Federal Trust and a former Conservative MEP.

ABOUT THE FEDERAL TRUST
The Federal Trust is a research institute studying regional, national, European and global levels of government. It has always had a particular interest in the European Union and Britain’s place in it. The Federal Trust has no allegiance to any political party. It is registered as a charity for the purposes of education and research.

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[Purple_flower]

Labour doesn't need to go so far to the right in order to get elected. Starmer needs more courage.

On the EU question Starmer has had nothing of merit to say so far.

[stevejones]

The Labour leadership shouldn't be trying to compete with the Tories in backtracking on emissions legislation, let alone on net zero commitments.

[indricotherium]

You'll be lucky if the Labour leadership don't include brexit among a legion of pressing issues which they will claim aren't the real priority or they haven't got time for.

[tomkernan]

The Government are drawing the wrong conclusion from their narrow victory in Uxbridge. Labour would have won the vote by selecting a pro-ULEZ candidate, who could spell out the benefits of ULEZ and support compensation for the small number of people effected. Instead, they chose an anti-ULEZ candidate, giving the Conservatives a very narrow home run. A pro-ULEZ Labour candidate would have easily won the seat, as ULEZ is an accepted necessity in the Climate Overheating Age. Starmer should not draw the wrong conclusion either.

[andrewblewett]

Another excellent discussion and analysis. Thank you. This LP member is very pro EU and very green. I see no other route to sustainable progress economically. Probably like many I am hoping that Starmer will open the door and at least create the conditions for joining the EU, even if it requires another leader to do it… anyone who thinks Europe has « gone away » is seriously mistaken. It never will. For right or left, or centre. Successful positive engagement is the only solution.

[robertallen]

leaving is not in labours gift it requires cross party support or the Eu will just say no, sadly britains decline will continue to eventual collapse

[michaelgoss]

Another good and interesting talk. I have a sixth sense that by the late spring of next year and I have had it for some time, that Brexit will be intensely unpopular. Notably with the TCA agreements kicking in, in October and January next. Thanks for the talk.

[Lara__]

It'll most likely split the tory party, which has now become extreme far-right.

[TigerP]

I think we have to see how the Conservative party got to where it is today. It was UKIP and the fear of losing more and more members and votes to them. Who is going to split the Labour vote? The Lib Dems?

[ljcm]

Why should it? Labour may need to modify it's environmental policy, but ULEZ is a public health issue and the Tories are deliberately conflating it with the Climate crisis. Where Labour have slipped up is in it's messaging around ULEZ, which cost it the 500 odd votes needed to win Uxbridge.

[annemoncrieff]

Moving labour to the right started under blair and that was when they lost the Scottish vote cos we saw it happening then
By going right the tories cld only go further right into facism so this, in a way, is all in blair and campbell.

[gynwkyz]

Most informative political channel on utube.

[patricialeighton]

I didn't know that only the laboiur Partty and Tories will be contesting the next election. There are huge regional differences which will change the overall result-not least the role of the only clear pro EU Party-the LibDems. These discussions are far too England/London centric-can we please have more thoughts on the UK as a whole

[steverichmond]

Please.... as a supporter of re-join, having worked for Ted Heath when we joined, can you liven the channel up... 3 minutes in and I am losing the will to live.

[CockWomble]

I doubt it. Relax and prepare yourself for an incoming Labour Government 😊

[channelsixtyeight_]

As much as I despise The Right, a Tory win in 2024 will break up the UK. I'll LMFAO if that happens, Tory England needs to be on its own, allowing Scotland and Wales self-determination.

[woodennecktie]

what a bright insight , brexit is also dividing the tories and the entire uk . but it's not dividing europe, just shaked but not stirred

[johnmarshman]

... fell asleep waiting for the point to be made....

[imck]

"Scottish" labour don't want to talk about brexit coz labour in England want to target red wall ex bojo fans

[CheeseLovingGuy]

Gender is going to badly hurt the labour party.