Labour’s new, fuzzy Brexit position won’t go far enough for ardent Remainers

In a public vote on a Tory deal, or no deal, Labour is campaigning for Remain. With a Labour government in power it’s a lot more unclear

“Calm down. There’s no reason to panic. Let’s discuss the situation.”

That was the message the powerful boss of the Unite union, Len McCluskey, had for the Labour Party during an appearance on the BBC’s Andrew Marr Show. Just eight days later he was at a meeting of the five biggest Labour supporting unions that has taken the party to the brink of backing a final say referendum, regardless of who is in power and what deal is on the table.

The statement that emerged says that in the event of a Tory Brexit deal there should be a public vote and that Labour should campaign for Remain. In the event of the party taking power through a general election before Brexit, the position will depend on whether a “jobs first” deal can be negotiated. But there should still be a confirmatory ballot with Remain on it.

The declaration, which will now be discussed by Labour, was quite the talking point at the TUC communications awards ceremony. Unite’s agreement to it was seen as particularly significant and important given what it potentially says about the direction of the Labour Party’s approach going forward.

The links between the union’s power brokers and Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn’s office, much criticised as putting a block on change, are extraordinarily close.

Among the wider union movement, there is a broad spread of opinion. Tim Roache and the GMB have strongly backed a final say. Under Dave Prentice, Unison, which played host to the meeting, has been steadily moving in that direction. Both men are keenly aware that their members’ livelihoods are at stake.

At the other end of the scale, the Communication Workers Union (CWU) led by Dave Ward has a policy of not campaigning for a “second referendum/people’s vote”. The fact that it did not oppose what came out of the pow wow is therefore also worthy of note.

What brought it about? Where all the unions that were represented (shop workers union Usdaw also attended) come together is in their mounting alarm at the way support for the Labour Party has been draining away, as has its membership, a large chunk of which likely voted Liberal Democrat or Green during the recent local and European elections. Then there was the recent opinion poll putting Labour in fourth place.

They want a Labour government, preferably a majority Labour government. The results of those elections and the polling data, make the latter look like a long shot. In a general election, Labour may have its work cut out just to win the most seats despite facing off against an unpopular and incompetent government.

Is the statement enough to stop the bleeding? Could it turn the tide?

In one respect, what was achieved at the meeting, described as cordial and constructive, was admirable. Despite the differences of their respective positions, the union leaders were able to build consensus among themselves. In contrast to the way they are often portrayed in the right wing press (firebrand, dinosaur, you know the drill) they showed a willingness to compromise to achieve a unified position. There are many who would argue that British politics could use some of that.

But many Remain backing Labour members and trade unionists remain frustrated. One of them pointed me to what they saw as the crucial flaw with the declaration: it suggests that if you strongly back Remain you might be better off with Labour in opposition.

In a public vote on a Tory deal, or no deal, Labour is campaigning for your favoured option. With a Labour government in power it’s a lot more fuzzy.

The trouble is that among the public, and certainly a large majority of Labour members and, yes, trade unionists, there isn't much appetite, or belief, that a “jobs first Brexit” can be achieved.

It looks like a unicorn. But as things stand, so does a Labour government.