Labour's North Tyne mayoral candidate struggles to explain his position on Brexit in ITV News interview

Ella Wills21 February 2019
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From the backstop, to no-deal and talk of party defections, Brexit is undeniably confusing. But for one Labour mayoral candidate, the process of leaving the European Union became inexplicable during a television interview yesterday.

Labour candidate for the North of Tyne metro mayoral election, Jamie Driscoll, appeared to be completely baffled by the process on Wednesday.

In a interview with ITV News, Mr Driscoll became flustered when asked to explain whether he was for or against leaving the European Union.

Footage shows the prospective regional leader asked to voice his position on Brexit, however Mr Driscoll was unable to state whether he was pro or anti, or even if he preferred the idea of a second referendum.

The interview in full  

Jamie Driscoll: “The majority of people in the northeast didn’t want to Remain, but neither do they want a no-deal Brexit.”

ITV News: “So what’s your position on this issue? You seem very confused?”

JD: “I’m, ha, what we need is a Brexit that will deliver, we need a choice of whether we’re gonna have a Brexit.”

ITV: “So you want a second referendum?”

JD: “Not necessarily. I want…”

ITV: “Not necessarily? What is your position?”

JD: “I’ll get to the end of it. What we need is a clear Brexit option. There has not yet been one before Parliament. So when that Brexit opposite says – we don’t know, will we be in a customs unions or not? Will we be in…”

ITV: “Do you want Brexit to happen?”

JD: “We need to know what the Brexit will be. The phrase Brexit could cover anything from a no deal to…”

ITV: “But are you pro or anti?”

JD: “I think you’re trying to simplify a question that is not simple.”

When queried to outline his position, Mr Driscoll said: "What we need is a Brexit that will deliver, we need a choice of whether we're going to have a Brexit."

Asked if this meant he would like a second referendum, Mr Driscoll replied: "Not necessarily."

"Not necessarily?" interviewer Joe Pike replies. "What is your position?"

But Mr Driscoll could only respond: "What we need is a clear Brexit option."

The clip was widely shared online as people on social media branded the interview "hilarious".

One person responded: "This has made me cry with laughter."

Another wrote: "Simple enough. He wants a clearly defined unBrexity Brexit with us in and out of all that other stuff!"

While one said: "Well, that's cleared Brexit up then."

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