Students in the Bristol seat that returned the referendum’s second largest remain vote speak of their sense being betrayed by the Labour party

‘Corbyn has let us down on Brexit, the defining issue of my generation’

At the grand entrance of the Wills Memorial Building, crafted from Bath stone around a century ago and dominated by a 60-metre neo-Gothic tower, George Smith pulls out his earbuds and says: “Funny you should ask, I was just thinking about Brexit.”

Although the 18-year-old Bristol university student was too young to vote in the 2016 referendum, he is a firm Remain supporter. But now, he says, there was no political party that represents his stance, leaving him feeling disenfranchised.

“The only person who comes close is Vince Cable, and he doesn’t hold a lot of power,” says Smith, a computer science student. “Jeremy Corbyn has provided no leadership on Brexit – he’s been absolutely awful. He needs to stop putting the needs of his own party before the interests of the country.” If there were to be a general election while the UK’s withdrawal from the European Union was still in play, Brexit would be the key factor – “100%” – in deciding which party to vote for, he adds.

The university’s Wills Memorial Building lies at the heart of Bristol West, the constituency that recorded the referendum’s highest pro-Remain vote – 79.7% – outside London. The following year voters in the student-heavy constituency swung behind Corbyn’s Labour party, increasing Thangam Debbonaire’s majority from 5,673 to more than 37,000.

Now, less than 50 days before the UK is scheduled to leave the EU, it is hard to find young people in the area whose enthusiasm is not dimmed. Many feel betrayed by a leader who seemed to promise them so much such a short time ago.

Some saw Corbyn’s letter to the prime minister last week, in which he offered his party’s support for a deal if five demands are met, as confirmation that their hopes for a chance to reverse Brexit via a second referendum are not going to be realised.

Harry Wyle, 23, says he would still “love to have Corbyn round for a meal, but he’s been terrible on Brexit”. Wyle was at Glastonbury in June 2017 when Corbyn told hundreds of thousands of people chanting his name that “another world was possible” and that people had been “brought back into politics because they believed there was something on offer for them”.

In an election today, Wyle says, he’d be tempted to vote Green. “Corbyn has lost his momentum. He’s still a good guy, but he could have been so much better. He’s always said he hates politicians who don’t talk straight and say what they believe – but he’s turned out to be one of those people.”

Corbyn has always said he hates politicians who don’t talk straight – but he’s turned out to be one of those people Harry Wyle

Many young people are disillusioned by Labour’s refusal to take a strong stand against Brexit, according to Sam Hickmott, 20, who chairs Bristol for Europe. The group, which claims 8,000 to 10,000 supporters, runs street stalls, holds speaker events and encourages the public to write to MPs about Brexit. “I’m not a Labour member, but I liked Corbyn. But I wouldn’t vote for him now,” says Hickmott, a self-employed gardener.

“He’s still got diehard fans, but a lot of people have gone off him. I thought his election meant a move away from the status quo and Labour would be a leftwing party again. But it turns out he’s a Brexiter although he dares not say that. And he used to say he would always listen to party members – but they’ve been ignored on this,” he says.

“Brexit is the defining issue of our generation. And it’s going to go on for years, sucking the energy out of issues like climate change and poverty.”

In an election, Hickmott says he would vote for Debbonaire, “despite Corbyn, not because of him”.

Others say simply they are sick of Brexit and politicians. “I just tune out now. I don’t understand why they can’t sort it out,” says Ellie Fairweather. “I have no idea what’s going to happen; I just know it’s going to be bad.”