LABOUR have given up all hope of rejoining the EU. At least, that’s what Keir Starmer has said.
Doubling down on Brexit damage, the party leader has even ruled out rejoining the single market or customs union and childishly accused the EU of "nicking our dinner money".
But Labour campaigners in Rutherglen and Hamilton West – the Westminster by-election sparked by Margaret Ferrier’s removal as an MP by recall petition – don’t need to worry about anything so trivial as what their leader’s been saying.
READ MORE: Labour by-election candidate branded 'out of touch' over Brexit stance
That will explain why Labour candidate Michael Shanks is campaigning to join Starmer’s Westminster group of MPs, while also pledging to oppose him on issues like the two-child benefit cap.
The inconsistency has become something of a pattern for Labour campaigners – as eagle-eyed social media users spotted one had been out on the trail sporting a distinctly anti-Brexit slogan.
“Britain is better off with Labour in Europe,” their clipboard said, alongside contact information including the website eurolabour.org.uk.
But unfortunately for Scotland, that slogan is hopelessly out of date.
I see Labour canvassers in the Hamilton by-election seem confused about their party’s policy on Europe. So very Scottish Labour. One message on the doorstep. But not the leadership policy. So tell voters the truth. Labour is now a hardline Brexit party….. pic.twitter.com/LQK8v4cXPs
— JOHN NICOLSON M.P. (@MrJohnNicolson) August 31, 2023
As SNP MP John Nicolson noted: “I see Labour canvassers in the Hamilton by-election seem confused about their party’s policy on Europe. So very Scottish Labour. One message on the doorstep. But not the leadership policy.
“So tell voters the truth. Labour is now a hardline Brexit party …”
That pro-Europe Labour slogan is in fact so out of date that the website advertised alongside it has been left defunct – and subsequently taken over by some less savoury offers.
Instead of being the official website for the European Labour party and sporting banners such as “Save the NHS from a Tory Brexit”, eurolabour.org.uk is now apparently dedicated to “Euro Sex Dating”.
READ MORE: 'Embarrassing': Douglas Ross called out after glaring Scottish law error
The site does reviews of “the best sex apps" that you can "use to hookup with local girls” …
If you believe that, you may also believe what Labour had on the website beforehand.
It previously stated: “There is a clear danger that everything from employment to consumer rights to access to the Single Market are at risk following the vote to leave the EU, and that is why we will be campaigning hard, and pressing the Tory government to ensure British citizens continue to have these rights."
How did that go?
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel