AN expert on EU affairs has warned Scots to “save themselves” from the Union, describing the UK as “irrevocably politically f*****”.
Jon Worth, a journalist and visiting professor at the College of Europe, was prompted to make the intervention as “hopeless” Labour failed to back bringing in a proportionally representative voting system for general elections during their troubled conference.
The motion had been brought forward by more than 150 constituency Labour parties (CLP) with around 80% of CLP votes backing it on the conference floor. But affiliate votes, mainly unions, were 95% opposed, so it was defeated.
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A campaigner from Labour for a New Democracy, Laura Parker, expressed frustration over the result and argued Starmer should have shown more support for electoral reform.
“The truth is, if the leadership had engaged with this unifying policy as intensively as they pushed their own proposed rule changes, PR would now be Labour policy,” she told The Guardian.
Worth, originally from Newport but now living in Berlin, has been monitoring recent political developments in the UK and the consequences of Brexit – which have so far included a severe HGV driver shortage, empty supermarket shelves and issues with fuel supply.
Following last night’s Labour conference vote, the long-time blogger on European affairs took to social media to express his frustration with the lack of opposition to the UK Government.
He branded Starmer’s party a “pile of such moribund hopelessness I now don’t know what the hell to do to save it”.
A frustrated Worth went on: “Really, Scotland, go. Save yourselves because you can. And eventually Wales too. And Northern Ireland too, providing it doesn't end in bloodshed
“The UK is so irrevocably politically f**ked & Labour is no answer to Tory malevolence, and Greens and LibDems can't be under [First Past the Post].”
Labour members have expressed their disappointment with the result on PR – pointing out that during his leadership campaign, Starmer had promised to consult on electoral reform and include it in his constitutional convention, as well as promising a “radical devolution of power”.
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Polls do not show majority support for PR among the UK public (42% told YouGov they’d support changing from First Past the Post) but 62% of Labour voters do support the proposal.
A spokesperson for Labour for a New Democracy said they remain “determined” to push Labour into the next General Election with a pledge to support PR and replace the “rotten” electoral system.
Meanwhile, Scottish Greens co-leader Lorna Slater said Labour's decision demonstrated why she feels the UK won't change from the current set-up.
"The UK Labour Party, by rejecting proportional representation has reinforced my belief that the UK is fundamentally unreformable," she tweeted. "It is stuck with an unwritten constitution, unelected Lords and Tory majorities for the foreseeable. No ability to adapt or change."
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