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The easiest thing for Corbyn would have been to leave it as an open vote to the Labour party members rather than a three line whip. He could have made it clear that it wasn't just a party politics issue and that he wanted members to have the freedom to vote with their conscience/their constituents.
Again, I think that would have been exploited to create the impression (a) that Corbyn's a weak leader and (b) that Labour's anti-Brexit.
I suspect a lot would have voted in line with their constituents and it wouldn't really make a difference but it would have avoided all the bad publicity of Diane Abbott disappearing off ill and influential members defying the whip.
I think those are extremely minor stories that won't damage the party.
Oliver Schick
aggi
andyp
Are there a lot of Leave voters who would change their mind if Leave involved leaving the single market and customs union? I haven't seen anything on it either way but I'd have though it would be a biggish story if that were the case.
The easiest thing for Corbyn would have been to leave it as an open vote to the Labour party members rather than a three line whip. He could have made it clear that it wasn't just a party politics issue and that he wanted members to have the freedom to vote with their conscience/their constituents.
I suspect a lot would have voted in line with their constituents and it wouldn't really make a difference but it would have avoided all the bad publicity of Diane Abbott disappearing off ill and influential members defying the whip.