Brexit

Letters

The response of the US left to Congresswoman Ilhan Omar’s recent comments about the influence in American politics of pro-Israel lobby groups have been debated by US leftists Barry Finger and David Finkel in these pages in recent weeks. I write this letter not to respond directly to either of their comments, but to bring to Solidarity readers’ notice two subsequent statements of Omar’s. Those statements deserve attention and, I believe, praise from socialists concerned to articulate a broadly “third camp” perspective. First, on 16 March, the anniversary of the start of the pro-democracy...

For a Labour government which stops Brexit

As we write, it’s three days since the huge anti-Brexit protest on 23 March, the biggest demonstration in Britain since the 2003 march against the invasion of Iraq. It is the day after Parliament rebelled against the government (Monday 25th) to mandate, 329 to 302, “indicative” votes on different Brexit formulas. It’s the day before those “indicative” votes are held, on Wednesday 27th. And 17 days before Britain “automatically” crashes out of the EU with “no deal”, unless before 12 April Parliament approves the Withdrawal Agreement negotiated by the Tories with the EU. The Tory government...

Why we joined the anti-Brexit march

In the run-up to the huge anti-Brexit protest on 23 March Young Labour member Alex Fernandes replied to NEC youth rep Lara McNeill’s article “I’m Labour’s NEC [National Executive] youth rep – and I won’t be at the People’s Vote march”. In her latest article on LabourList, Lara McNeill recycles the right-wing lie that Remain sentiment belongs to the “liberal middle classes”. I’m sure that will come as news to the working-class residents of Merseyside, Manchester, Glasgow, London and other Remain-voting areas. I’m a member of Young Labour, and as such McNeill claims to speak for me, at least on...

Socialists Oppose Brexit: Workers’ unity! Bring down borders!

We don’t know what will happen over Brexit in the next weeks or months. Neither does anyone else. The ruling class is divided several ways on the issue. That creates an opportunity for the left and the labour movement to change outcomes. Unlike many issues on which the ruling class divides, this is one where the labour movement and socialists have much to win or lose. We can win or lose the free movement within Europe which has brought 3.8 million citizens of the EU27 countries to enrich our culture and our labour movement. We can win or lose the economic integration across outdated borders...

On the streets 23 March!

Get a copy of our new pamphlet, Remain and Rebel here. Goldman Sachs is reported to be calculating on the basis of a 90% probability of Brexit being delayed or not happening at all. As we go to press on Thursday 7 March, the Tory-supporting Daily Telegraph says that Cabinet ministers now expect another defeat on 12 March. In the Tories’ drive to • end free movement between Britain and Europe • risk a new “hard border” in Ireland • raise new barriers between Britain and Europe • reverse decades of economic and social integration across frontiers. In that drive, almost their only asset now is...

Labour goes for new public vote

On Monday 25 February, the Labour Party leadership came out for a new public vote on Brexit. Shadow Brexit minister Keir Starmer and shadow foreign secretary Emily Thornberry have said they would vote Remain in that referendum. This is a great victory for the anti-Brexit left. We should clinch it: • By mobilising on the streets to add pressure on Parliament. Labour should sponsor a big bloc on the 23 March “People’s Vote” demonstration. Labour for a Socialist Europe, the anti-Brexit left group in Labour, has already started organising for that. • By making it clear that Labour will vote Remain...

Macron, Salvini, and the left

On 7 February, France recalled its ambassador from Italy, the first time this had happened since Italy’s fascist leader Benito Mussolini declared war in 1940. The recall was the latest act in a growing row between French President Emmanuel Macron and Italy’s coalition government, formed of the populist Five Star Movement and the far-right National League. Macron had criticised the coalition for promoting the “leprosy” of nationalism, and Italy’s new policy of turning away migrant boats from its shores. The Italian government accuses Macron of hypocrisy for returning migrants in France to Italy...

Honda: don’t mention Brexit!

Rumours that Honda was about to announce the closure of its Swindon plant, with a loss of 3,500 jobs (up to 10,000, including the supply chain), began circulating on Monday 18 February. The next day it was all over the front pages of the serious bourgeois press. Strangely, though, Britain’s self-styled socialist daily, with close links to the trade unions, the Morning Star, didn’t put the news on its front page. Tuesday’s Morning Star (19 February) carried one short piece, tucked away on an inside page and quoting the local Tory MP Justin Tomlinson saying the closure decision is “based on...

Stop the Immigration Bill Day of action 1 March

The Tories’ Brexit Immigration Bill is set to exclude workers from the EU unless they have a job in advance at over £30,000, or come for a specific job only for twelve months. In the second case, workers will be banned from reapplying until another year has passed. In other words, obstacles will be built to those migrant workers settling, integrating, and organising in the labour movement. This Brexit Bill is an anti-migrant charter, and a cheap labour, union-busting charter. Despite all the conflicts over the Brexit deal, there is almost no Tory revolt over this Immigration Bill. And, last...

Morning Star still in knots over Brexit

After a still unexplained period of silence on Brexit following the 29 January parliamentary votes on the subject, the Morning Star has found its pro-Brexit voice again. Mind you, there’s been no repetition of its editorial support for no deal and the attractions of trading on WTO terms. Presumably that policy is just a little embarrassing for a publication that prides itself upon its unwavering support for Jeremy Corbyn, whose only consistent policy on Brexit is opposition to no deal. No, rather than tell us what it’s for (i.e. no deal), the Star prefers to tell us what it’s against. And it’s...

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