Senior Labour figures today warned Jeremy Corbyn of a potential “haemorrhage of voters” to Ukip this summer if the party’s leader fails to address the concerns of traditional supporters.
Former ministers said if Labour does not correctly pitch its EU referendum campaign, voters in its heartlands who want to leave Europe may desert Mr Corbyn.
It comes amid concern that Labour could lose up to 200 council seats in May’s local elections, with the London mayoralty and power in devolved assemblies also at risk. Labour’s leadership team is already reeling from infighting that saw one of Mr Corbyn’s top aides quit this week.
Warnings over the referendum’s aftermath came today from Labour figures on both sides of the In or Out EU divide. Ex-Home Office minister David Hanson wants Labour to campaign to remain in, but said: “It’s also important we recognise Labour voters will potentially wish to vote to leave.
“It’s conceivable that post-referendum all the main parties could have a substantial part of their core vote disappointed with the outcome… we need to ensure Labour voters remain Labour voters.” Labour is haunted by the aftermath of the Scottish independence referendum when many supporters switched to the SNP, angry that Labour campaigned with the Tories to maintain the Union.
Concerns something similar may occur in England after the EU referendum were stoked by a party report this week highlighting how Ukip has established a “strong position” in traditional Labour areas. MP Graham Stringer said it was essential Labour did not go into the referendum campaigning to stay in Europe no matter what.
The former Cabinet Office minister, part of the Labour Leave campaign, said: “Nearly half of Labour voters want out, so there is a huge danger. If a political party does not represent large numbers of its supporters, those supporters make a judgement that the party isn’t what they thought it was and they may shift.” He urged Mr Corbyn to make Labour’s EU support conditional on a better deal, to make “a haemorrhage of voters” less likely.
Mr Corbyn’s head of policy, Neale Coleman, has quit after apparently clashing with press chief Seumas Milne.Party insiders claim a pro-Ken Livingstone group is battling for power with a camp led by shadow chancellor John McDonnell.
