John Harris (Can anyone rescue Labour?, 31 March) is right to refer to the “outstanding irrelevance” of the Labour party in the Brexit debate, but we should make a stab at understanding why this is so. The problem goes back to the party’s acceptance of rule changes that paved the way for setting the three constituent parts of the party – members, MPs and unions – against one another. It goes back to the party’s acceptance of the referendum proposal without even fighting for constitutional guarantees.
Then there was the election of a leader with a leftist Eurosceptic history. His supporters in Momentum were split and Momentum took no position during the referendum. The organised left supported “Lexit” or “people’s Brexit” and characterised opponents in the party as “plotters”, “Blairites” and “closet Tories”. The leadership ran a poor referendum campaign, leaving voters unclear where it stood. After the referendum it called for an immediate triggering of article 50 and imposed a three-line whip on MPs to support the Brexit legislation. Most Labour MPs caved in and no lead was given to supporters tempted by the forked words of Brexiters. The leadership accepted the shibboleth that it would be undemocratic to try to change the “people’s will”. The party was barely represented at the Unite for Europe march. It is an ignominious record – I say this as a veteran member. Perhaps if we recognise the depths to which we have fallen, we might be able, even at this late stage, to find another way. We don’t want to lose both our EU and our LP.
Robert Fine
Emeritus professor of sociology, University of Warwick
• As a Labour party member for more than 57 years, I am as concerned as any member or supporter about the implications of the polls for the prospects of the party and those who most need a Labour government. But as I approach the beginning of my 51st year as a Newcastle councillor, I regret that so much of what passes for an analysis of Labour’s future concentrates almost exclusively on the national scene. Labour is far from irrelevant in the sphere of local government, where it remains a strong force, defending local communities as best it can against unprecedented cuts and still able, as a recent publication by the Local Government Association Labour Group exemplifies, to generate innovative policies to meet local needs. The party should be increasing its engagement with local Labour councils and councillors not only to support their efforts, but also to draw on their experience in developing the distinctive policies needed to make it clear that Labour remains not only relevant, but also capable of delivering the economic and social change that is desperately needed.
Jeremy Beecham
(Ex-chair of Labour NEC 2005-6)
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