Labour’s decision to remain neutral on Brexit could destroy its election hopes

The risk is that the party has not learned lessons from its disastrous European election performance

Britain's main opposition Labour Party Leader Jeremy Corbyn (R) gestures after delivering a speech on stage moments after hearing to the news that the Supreme Court had ruled against the government and that the suspension of the UK parliament was 'unlawful', on stage during the annual Labour Party conference in Brighton, on the south coast of England on September 24, 2019. - Britain's Supreme Court on Tuesday ruled "unlawful" a decision by Prime Minister Boris Johnson to suspend parliament in the run-up to Brexit, saying it was "void and of no effect". UK Labour leader Corbyn calls on PM Johnson to resign soon after. (Photo by DANIEL LEAL-OLIVAS / AFP) (Photo credit should read DANIEL LEAL-OLIVAS/AFP/Getty Images)

Against all the odds Labour, in the end, had a good conference. Amid the news that the Supreme Court had found the Prime Minister to have abused his power and broken the law, Jeremy Corbyn delivered his speech to a rapturous reception. Indeed, the speech had to be brought forward so the assembled MPs could return to Westminster. He declared emphatically and justifiably that the government had attempted to usurp democracy, and Labour would defend it.

But make no mistake. The Tories have had a shocking few days but that, on its own, cannot rescue Labour. Labour’s own efforts this week to promote democracy could prove to be fatal in the forthcoming election.