Keir Starmer, the shadow Brexit secretary, has accused the Liberal Democrat leader, Tim Farron, of “fanning the flames of division” in Britain by ignoring the needs of those who voted to leave the EU.

The senior Labour politician, who is leading the opposition response to Brexit, said Farron has “absolutely nothing to say to the 52%” who voted to leave the EU.

“I don’t think any party that wants to govern the UK can proceed on the basis that it will only speak to or seek to represent only half of the population,” he said, in comments that will heighten tensions between two parties that some had urged to work more closely together to oppose Theresa May.



It comes as Farron accused Labour’s leader, Jeremy Corbyn, of “lamely giving up” while Britain “drives off a cliff” towards Brexit, and said future generations would not forgive Labour for failing to stand up to May’s plans for leaving the EU.

Tim Farron in London. Photograph: Teri Pengilley/The Guardian

Corbyn’s decision to ask his MPs to vote for article 50, which triggers the Brexit process, has disappointed some within his party, which campaigned to remain in the EU. Dozens of MPs, including some Labour frontbenchers, are expected to vote against the legislation if the government loses its supreme court appeal and has to table a bill.

But speaking to the Guardian, Starmer said however difficult it was politically, his party should not seek to focus on either remain or leave voters when it speaks out.

“We have two-thirds of our MPs in heavily leave areas, and one-third in heavily remain areas, we have a foot in both camps and that is a good thing – it means we can speak to both,” he said.

“What all parties should be doing is bringing people [together], not fanning the flames of division. Forcing that divide ever wider by effectively a refusal to speak for either side is a big mistake.”



A spokesman for Starmer added: “Along with Labour, they [the Lib Dems] campaigned to stay in the EU. But the result was a vote to leave. Labour accepts the outcome of the referendum and is fighting for the best deal for jobs, the economy and workers’ rights.

“Triggering article 50 is the beginning of the process, not the end, and we will hold the government to account all the way.”

He accused Farron of failing to put forward an idea of what the Brexit deal should look like and instead “pretending he can turn the clock back to 22 June. That is opportunistic and divisive. The Lib Dems are engaging in playground politics when we need serious, grown up debate.”

The growing acrimony between the two parties will disappoint those within Labour who believe the idea of a so-called “progressive alliance” involving the Green party, some Lib Dems and SNP should be explored to defeat the Conservatives’ plans for Brexit.

Farron responded to Starmer’s comments by saying: “Labour are just failing, not speaking for leavers or remainers.

“Keir Starmer might attack me, but Labour are speaking for no one. They are doing nothing, saying nothing and just sitting there and offering to wave through article 50 for the Tories. Future generations will not forgive Keir Starmer and Jeremy Corbyn for what they are doing.

“There are plenty of people who voted leave who do not want an extreme hard Brexit where Britain is dragged out of the single market – I speak for these people, too. Labour’s frontbench right now is less use than a chocolate fireguard.”