Remainers are going to be disappointed in Labour

Labour’s election manifesto has been criticised by many commentators for being too vague; like a ‘choose your own adventure’ book which would allow the party to do almost whatever it likes in government. This was highlighted today by Rachel Reeve’s remarks on Brexit. In an interview with the Financial Times, the shadow chancellor pointed out the need to improve elements of the UK’s trade deal with the EU and ‘reset’ Britain’s global image. This is said to mark a shift in tone (if not substance) from a party which previously did not want to focus on these issues. 

Yet, if you look more closely at the manifesto, that is not entirely fair. On questions of Brexit and trade, once you get beyond the waffle about Labour’s ‘mission in government’, there is actually a fair bit of detail in the document, and much of it amounts to business as usual.