Poll reveals almost half of Labour voters are clueless over party’s EU position as Corbyn relaxes on holiday
The Labour leader has been accused of failing to pull his weight on the campaign trail
ALMOST half of Labour supporters are in the dark over their party’s stance on the EU, a shock poll has revealed as Jeremy Corbyn takes a break from campaigning for a holiday.
Labour voters are seen as key to the Remain campaign’s bid to win the June 23 referendum. But research suggests more than a third don’t know which side the party is fighting for.
The survey for was released as the hard-left leader took a break from the campaign trail – a move which has proven deeply unpopular among Labour MPs.
Mr Corbyn is believed to be enjoying a shortbreak in the UK.
Labour MPs have previously called on Mr Corbyn to “step up his efforts” amid mounting concern the party is not pulling its weight in the EU debate.
Just last week former Chancellor and party grandee Lord Darling said: “I hope that he does more.”
Despite only a handful of Labour’s 229 MPs backing Brexit, 36 per cent of voters still claim they do not know the party’s position.
Labour has only managed to close the gap by seven per cent since early March – a blow to the Remain campaign as Mr Corbyn is a more trusted voice on the debate than either David Cameron or George Osborne.
When Mr Corbyn told the parliamentary Labour party of his holiday plans he was blasted by scores of MPs, including Neil Coyle who said: “Is he off to holiday in Europe while we still can without a visa?”
“Obviously his time would be much better spent campaigning to stay in the European Union and it is disappointing to hear that time off is taking priority over the UK’s future.”
The Islington MP’s break also coincides with the centenary anniversary of the Battle of Jutland. Former minister Kevan Jones blasted the Labour leader as a “part timer” who risked causing “huge offence” to voters and needed a reality check.
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According to research by , Mr Corbyn has enjoyed less press coverage than Brexiteer Tory backbencher Jacob Rees-Mogg with a paltry 1.2 per cent share of coverage.
While he is way behind Leave campaigners Michael Give, Nigel Farage, Iain Duncan Smith and Boris Johnson in media appearances.
He has only been marginally more visible than Gordon Brown on the campaign trail, the research reveals.
Scores of Labour MPs think Mr Corbyn is reluctant to campaign too fiercely as he has serious reservations about the EU.
In 1975 he voted against continued membership of the European Community when he was a councillor in Haringey.
It is not the first time Mr Corbyn has been blasted for taking a break. Last year the staunch republican missed a meeting with the Queen to take a walking holiday in the Scottish Highlands.
Today Glastonbury announced its festival line-up with Mr Corbyn taking to the Left Field stage alongside the likes of Billy Bragg on June 26 –just three days after the result of the EU referendum.
