Jeremy Corbyn

• AMID the ghastly shenanigans played out in the House of Commons during the pre-Christmas Brexit debate, a voice of reason struggled to be heard. That voice belonged to Jeremy Corbyn.

His promotion of a unique customs union, which is Labour policy, was greeted positively by analysts in the business media but ignored by most of his backbenchers.

His sensible suggestion that Labour should seek to unite remainers and leavers around a coherent set of proposals was howled down by those who are obsessed with creating division and strive to deliver a dogs’ Brexit.

Lest we forget, after the vote next week, there could be at least two more years of fraught negotiations, before we reach a final agreement with the European Union.

Perhaps Jeremy Corbyn (inset) should try to take some of the heat out of Brexit by proposing the creation of a broad-based negotiating team that transcends party politics, but is answerable to parliament.

Labour could then get on with its priority objectives, promoting policies to repair the terrible damage done to the public services and the social wage, as well as restoring the wealth expectations of young workers.

Reversing George Osborne’s expansionary, Keynesian, socialist-style economics for the rich and metropolitan professionals, while the rest of us are lumbered with deflationary 1930s-style austerity.

If Labour is to achieve anything of significance the shadow cabinet and the party leadership must, one way or the other, sort out the rebellious, undisciplined, backbenchers.

It is pointless creating policy if the majority of Labour MPs are going to ignore it or, even worse, promote rival polices.

Jeremy Corbyn has one great asset, a large party membership which has shown on two occasions it will overwhelmingly support him. He should if necessary, look to them to authenticate Labour policy on Brexit and to bring his backbenchers to heel.

DON RYAN
Hadley Street, NW1