Labour once hoped that the EU referendum would be a source of consolation. MPs spoke gleefully of the Conservative schism that would result. As a united opposition, they would keep Britain in Europe and advertise their fitness for office. But rather than remedying the party’s angst, the campaign has exacerbated it.
Remain strategists needed Labour voters to clear a path to victory. They may now perform that service for Leave instead. As many as 40 per cent of them back Brexit, compared to just 4 per cent of Labour MPs. In the view of one shadow cabinet minister: “It’s over already.” MPs speak of “horrific” postal vote returns.
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