People can have opinions on new developments. Just because they voted for someone does not mean that they will follow them when that person starts to act against their interests. The majority of Labour MPs do not support Corbyn. If he decides to support Brexit rather than fence sit he will loose Momentum support. Then the Labour MPS can call a leadership election which he will loose because he will not be backed by Momentum. His only hope is to fence sit so that he does not loose the pro leave voters or his foot soldiers.
From Independent
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/...ndum-deal-corbyn-theresa-may-eu-a8621431.html
yes
Fence D-Day is near.
Considering the developed mood of Momentum, I think committing to a Brexit deal by Corbyn is only possible when attaching the confirmatory referendum to it.
Officially the Labour party had in its 2017 Manifesto "to accept the referendum result" and decided officially at the Labour conference in September 2018 that confirmatory referendum as "an option" (under high pressure of Momentum to commit unconditionally to a confirmatory referendum).
Here BTW the Brexit text of the Manifesto:
NEGOTIATING BREXIT Labour accepts the referendum result and a Labour government will put the national interest first. We will prioritise jobs and living standards, build a close new relationship with the EU, protect workers’ rights and environmental standards, provide certainty to EU nationals and give a meaningful role to Parliament throughout negotiations. We will end Theresa May’s reckless approach to Brexit, and seek to unite the country around a Brexit deal that works for every community in Britain. We will scrap the Conservatives’ Brexit White Paper and replace it with fresh negotiating priorities that have a strong emphasis on retaining the benefits of the Single 0arket and the Customs Union – which are essential for maintaining industries, jobs and businesses in Britain. Labour will always put jobs and the economy first. A Labour government will immediately guarantee existing rights for all EU nationals living in Britain and secure reciprocal rights for UK citizens who have chosen to make their lives in EU countries. EU nationals do not just contribute to our society: they are part of our society. And they should not be used as bargaining chips. It is shameful that the Prime Minister rejected repeated attempts by Labour to resolve this issue before Article 50 was triggered. As a result three million EU nationals have suffered unnecessary uncertainty, as have the 1.2 million UK citizens living in the EU. A Conservative Brexit will weaken workers’ rights, deregulate the economy, slash corporate taxes, sideline Parliament and democratic accountability, and cut Britain off from our closest allies and most important trading partners. Labour recognises that leaving the EU with ‘no deal’ is the worst possible deal for Britain and that it would do damage to our economy and trade. We will reject ‘no deal’ as a viable option and if needs be negotiate transitional arrangements to avoid a Ȇcliff-edge’ for the 8. economy. The issues that affect our continent now will continue to do so in the future – and Labour will continue to work constructively with the EU and other European nations on issues such as climate change, refugee crises and counter-terrorism. :e will build a close co-operative future relationship with the EU, not as members but as partners.
https://labour.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/labour-manifesto-2017.pdf
The Brexit secretary Stephen Barclay commented on the situation of Corbyn:
"I think [Labour leader] Jeremy Corbyn is someone who poses serious risks as to his economic policy, but his manifesto on Brexit said he wanted to respect the [Leave] votes of many of his own voters, so we need to test that because the numbers in the House of Commons dictate that that is the only way at present we can find a way forward."
https://www.politico.eu/article/stephen-barclay-remorseless-logic-pushing-uk-to-softer-brexit/
If Corbyn now came out for brexit, putting himself up as the person with the one different plan for post-brexit UK, he would split Labour, lose a lot of votes to the LD. But he'd also split the tories, their members already fuming at "betrayal of brexit" and moving to deselect MPs.
yes
I think both May as Corbyn want to avoid a no-deal and want to avoid being blamed for an accidental no-deal. By lack of other choices both need an extension and "something" that can justify that (whether they state that in those words or not)
And both May as Corbyn seek the best comparative position for a future election of their party, to the benefit of their faction as well. Damaging the other party more than your own party to some or more degree viable.
Complex