Corbyn’s Labour Party leaves too much unsaid
The current parliament has lost none of its acrimony. What is lacking is any sustained leadership from the two major parties. Labour is stuck with Jeremy Corbyn and his extreme left-wing policies and, worse, his poor judgement.
Despite what my former parliamentary colleague John Mann says, Jews are not likely to back Labour. Why should they? Too much has been left unsaid in recent months when a stronger lead from Labour was simply not forthcoming.
British Jewry felt isolated and the Corbyn/McDonald axis was unmoved. So the Labour leadership position is firmly set on this and other issues.
The Tory leadership is also entrenched with May’s “Brexit means Brexit” slogan, which has captured the headlines but in reality has created a confused management approach, causing uncertainty and conflict between ministers and officials. Theresa May’s talents are considerable, as evidenced by her time at the Home Office, but the very nature of her choosing a deliberate hard-line negotiation is a failure in contemporary politics.
Within the past few weeks, the well regarded Institute for Public Policy Research has warned that irrespective of early economic trends Britain faces a decade of disruption in the wake of Brexit with a slowing economy compounded by an ageing population and technological transformation that could result in up to 15 million lost jobs.
All this going on makes the likely result of the next General Election extremely unpredictable.
There would be an opportunity for Labour, assuming the party disposes of Corbyn and supports a proposal for a second referendum.
However half-hearted Labour was at the earlier vote, it could now tap into the growing number of people who believe that they were misled by the promises of the exit campaign.
The base figure of 48 percent Remainers is sufficiently high for the party to build on.
Even if a further referendum result were to go the same way, Labour would at least have achieved the opportunity for a rethink on what is a massively divisive issue.
But a week in politics is a long time. While there continues to be much political argument over Brexit, a new issue emerges, namely the actions and policies of President Trump as they affect Britain.
The hastily drawn up invitation by the prime minister for a state visit for Donald Trump adds to the anger and distress felt by an increasingly large number of people as it was revealed May was aware while she was in the US of the immediate ban on refugees and nationals from a number of countries.
It seems inevitable the massive demonstrations will continue both here and in the United States.
Where does all this leave Prime Minister Theresa May? A summer election is off the agenda, with a most contentious visit by her new partner President Trump expected around this time of the year.
While May has little wriggle room, Labour minus Jeremy Corbyn is in with a chance whenever the election occurs. For all its limitations, Labour will emerge more sympathetic to the British electorate than any partnership of May and Trump.
