• Elections: Jeremy Corbyn promises to stand up to "the rich and powerful"
  • United Kingdom: The biggest crisis of the British crown since the death of Lady Di

Labor opposition leader Jeremy Corbyn has caused a stir in the middle of the electoral campaign by declaring his "neutrality" before Brexit, despite the fact that 70% of his voters support the permanence . Corbyn became the protagonist of the four-way debate on the BBC, "Question Time," when he had to answer a question asked by a viewer: "Would you vote for the exit or for staying in a second referendum?"

The Labor leader responded by claiming that he would first negotiate a "credible" agreement with Brussels and that his role would then be "to ensure that a referendum is held in a fair atmosphere." "And as prime minister I will adopt, if the time comes, a neutral position to be able to execute the result and unite the country, instead of continuing with this endless debate about the European Union," he concluded.

Last September, in an article in The Guardian , Corbyn had already anticipated his "neutrality" in a hypothetical second referendum. Never until Friday had it been so explicit to open mic.

During an election ceremony in Sheffield, Corbyn stepped out of criticism for declaring his "neutrality" to the issue that has practically divided British society in two: "I think being a good intermediary and listening to everyone is indeed a sign. of strength and maturity. "

Corbyn's warm stance on Brexit led to the resignation of his number two, moderate Tom Watson, at the start of the campaign for the December 12 elections. Its Foreign and Brexit spokespersons, Emily Thornberry and Keir Starmer, both supporters of the permanence, have also decided to remain in the background during the Labor campaign, marked by a "radical" manifesto of economic reforms.

The "premier" Boris Johnson took advantage of his rival's confession to continue attacking him on the flank of Brexit during the BBC debate: "Corbyn's position has been mutating and now it turns out that he will be neutral. I don't know how it can be neutral or indifferent to an agreement negotiated by oneself. I don't think it is sensible for this country to continue spending another year with disputes over the EU and then have another referendum in Scotland. "

Johnson, who still has a 13-point advantage over his rival according to the Financial Times survey survey (42% to 29%), however, did not find the occasion to repeat his hypnotic slogan again and again: "Get Brexit Done "(" Culminate Brexit "). The "premier" had to defend himself against questions about the precarious state of public health or about the lack of confidence that arouses among the British.

Nicola Sturgeon, chief minister and leader of the Scottish National Party (SNP), maintained his composure and gave new impetus to his promise of a new sovereignist consultation that is giving wings to his campaign. Sturgeon promised to support a possible Jeremy Corbyn government "in exchange for an independence referendum" (the Labor leader threw balls out claiming that this would not be possible in his first years of office).

The worst stop out of the debate among the four leaders was the Liberal Democrat Jo Swinson, who is watching with concern how his party deflates in the polls up to 14%. Swinson was attacked for his complicity in David Cameron's austerity policies (he was undersecretary of Employment in the Coalition Government) and for his "disdain for democracy", for proposing the simple revocation of Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty to cancel the Brexit, instead of supporting a second referendum.

According to the criteria of The Trust Project

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  • European Union
  • Jeremy Corbyn
  • David Cameron
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