Peter Kellner: did Labour’s Europe policy help or hinder it in the election?

One of the most significant decisions that Keir Starmer and Rachel Reeves have taken is to rule out a deal with the EU that would restore frictionless trade, writes Peter Kellner on Substack.

They  want to stick to the more limited policy that they believe won them back the Red Wall seats from the Tories in this year's election. Peter’s post for Substack explores evidence that challenges this belief.

He concludes that Labour’s Brexit policy this time did little to help it in the Red Wall and may even have hindered it. There is copious polling evidence that he and others have reported (not least Mark Pack in his weekly Substack posts) that public opinion has moved on.

• Most voters, including a significant minority of Leave voters, now think Brexit was a mistake

• Most voters want closer links with the EU. The single market is no longer anathema to them.

• Most voters would be happy to admit EU citizens to work in Britain, as long as we keep out those who don’t come to work.

Read more on Peter’s Substack.