EU referendum, brexit and the aftermath

That's a cynical statement. I find it quite believable that Clive Lewis couldn't in good conscience back a Tory-sponsored hard brexit. I'm disappointed and amazed that there weren't more rebellions. I feel totally betrayed by Labour - yes the people voted for Brexit but they never voted for the hard Brexit May steamrollered through Parliament and the three line whip is shameful.

So what was Corbyn supposed to do? Opposing the bill outright would have been political poison and wouldn't have worked, anyway--because they knew full well that the usual Tory loyalism would have prevented a rebellion. Labour tried and moved a number of amendments, all of which were voted down, and that's the only thing they could do. (You may well say that you thought them feeble and not going far enough towards preventing a 'hard' Brexit, but it doesn't matter--they wouldn't have got through under any scenario.)

I personally don't like the three-line whip because I don't think any vote should be whipped, and of course with Corbyn's history it always leaves a funny taste, but it was the best of a lot of worse options, as if the vote hadn't been whipped, the hostile press would have had a field day, damaging Labour, and Corbyn's leadership would have been weakened. In a nutshell: They couldn't have won this one because they don't have a parliamentary majority.

The whole thing is obviously a shambles but it's simply Labour being caught between a rock and a hard place. That there wasn't a bigger rebellion signals that.

@hoefla I can only presume that it's a combination of Corbyn's deep down dislike of the EU combined with a desire to not be seen to oppose the will of the people but it was hugely misguided and this country will feel the effects for a long time.

No, there's no scope for pinning the blame on Corbyn this time. This was at worst a gambit, resulting in a small number of soft resignations (because of 'Remain' constituencies), very amicable statements in Clive Lewis' case, and no great waves created. We'll see if it worked--of course it may not, and Labour may still do badly in Stoke and Copeland, but if they do well, it will mark a transition for Corbyn.

What do you think Corbyn could/should have done?

(Just to be clear--I remain quite clearly opposed to Brexit and I think Theresa May is doing an appalling job, not that I have a say, anyway. :) )