Brexit - Owen Jones roasted by BBC host for Labour’s EU withdrawal position
Joanna Gosling blasted Mr Jones as he tried to take the high ground on the UK’s withdrawal from the European Union and asked what Labour’s contribution had been. Speaking on Victoria Derbyshire, presenter Miss Gosling quizzed Mr Jones on former Labour foreign secretary David Miliband’s attack on the Conservative party’s decision making. She said: “The Labour position is all over the place too, isn’t it? But Mr Jones tried to defend his corner and said Labour would try and “clean up” the Tory “mess”.
BBC Joanna Gosling hit out at Owen Jones for Labour's position on Brexit
The Labour position is all over the place too, isn’t it? BBC host Joanna Gosling
He said: “Well Labour’s position is that it has to find a way of cleaning up the mess caused by the Conservative party. “There was a decision by the Conservative Prime Minister David Cameron for partisan advancement to have a referendum. “They waged a disastrous campaign and they lost, now the country’s in a bit of a mess.” Cutting in, Miss Gosling added Labour’s stance was unclear.
Brexit transition phase: Cabinet splits three ways Thu, August 10, 2017 Who is pushing for the most gradual departure possible from the EU? And who favours a cleaner break? Play slideshow AFP/Getty Images 1 of 15 HARD BREXIT: Andrea Leadsom
She said: “But we are where we are, so what should Labour’s policy be?” Mr Jones replied he took onboard the EU referendum result and would contribute to the debate on the type of Brexit the country should push for. “I campaigned for Remain but I accept that we lost the referendum and now the debate is what sort of Brexit you have.” One the same programme, David Miliband’s demands for a second Brexit vote were ridiculed and likened to a politician calling for a re-run of the General Election because they narrowly lost.