EU loyalist politicians have been left seething after Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn told the German press it was too late to stop Brexit.
Speaking to Der Spiegel, the ageing socialist answered in the negative when his interviewer asked, “If you could stop Brexit, would you?”
“We can’t stop it. The referendum took place. Article 50 has been triggered. What we can do is recognize the reasons why people voted Leave,” he said, adding that “a lot of people have been totally angered by the way in which their communities have been left behind.”
Corbyn campaigned for a Remain vote during the 2016 referendum on Britain’s membership of the European Union, but has admitted voting to leave the European Economic Area (EEC) which preceded it in the 1970s and was a passionate Brexiteer throughout his parliamentary career before becoming Labour leader.
Many left-liberal Remainers believe his sincerity and enthusiasm for the EU cause during the referendum was not what it might have been, and some even accused his inner circle of deliberately sabotaging the Labour party’s contribution to ‘in’ campaign.
Asked if his advancing years could push him into retirement before the next election, Corbyn told Der Spiegel he was still fighting fit.
“I’m very young,” insisted the 69-year-old. “I’m very healthy. I run. I’m a vegetarian. I eat porridge every morning. I don’t smoke. I don’t drink. I don’t do anything bad. I am sorry if that makes me sound boring.”