The left case for Brexit: illogical and dangerous

Submitted by Matthew on 2 March, 2016 - 11:28 Author: Dan Katz

If you wanted to make a case that much of the British far left is irredeemably stupid, you don’t have to look further than the Socialist Party’s and Socialist Workers Party’s policies on Europe.

The Socialist Party’s newspaper headline (23 February) reads: “EU referendum: our chance to vote OUT the Tories”. They seem to be aiming for a world record for lack of sense in a single sentence. With some sort of vague idea that this is a referendum, not an election, they explain that a defeat for Cameron in the referendum will lead to a crisis for Cameron and will bring down the government. The problem, however, is that not all damage to capitalism benefits the working class, and not every political crisis for Cameron will help the left.

It is surely true that a vote to leave the EU will lead to a big headache for Cameron. Presumably he would resign as Tory leader. Then what? He would be replaced by, I suppose, Boris Johnson, or similar, from the Leave campaign. Would there be an election? Probably not (that would require a vote of no confidence or a very big majority of MPs to back it). The most likely outcome would be a worse, more right-wing and racist, unpleasant Tory government; a wave of nasty xenophobia; radically ramped up anti-migrant rhetoric and new rules against refugees and migrant workers; a wave of new deportations.

But let’s humour the SP and suppose there was an election in the aftermath of a right-wing victory to Leave the EU — amidst the flag waving, and vile chauvinist euphoria from the Express, Telegraph and the Mail. What then? The victory for the British right — UKIP, fascists and Tory right — would lead to the possibility of a left victory in an election called in its wake? The 800 SP members would be waiting to take advantage? That notion is delusional.

The right would win a new election, presumably with gains. The idea the left can chime in with the Leave campaign, which is dominated by much bigger reactionary forces, and a great deal of money, is absurd. The immediate effects of a Leave victory will be a very serious right-wing jolt in UK politics with foreign-born workers as the main victims.

Enter the SWP. Their new pamphlet "A left case for exit" by Joseph Choonara is a long-winded exposition full of non sequiturs. It manages to advocate a vote to Leave the EU in order to oppose the EU’s racist policies, even though that vote will immediately lead to a massive racist drive against migrants. Understand that? No, me neither. In fact the SWP’s pamphlet makes no sense even before they have even written a word. Even the graphic on the front cover is jibberish (a motorway sign with a left turn-off as an alternative to straight ahead.) There is no left turn possible here!

The choice is more reasonably presented as a sharp right turn, or straight ahead. Again: the idea that a victory for the Tory right and UKIP is, in fact, and against all indications to the contrary, a victory for us, is absurd. Perhaps the immediate and terrible political effects of leaving the EU might be overridden by some sort of general, strategic gain?

Here, in the realm of the strategic goals of Marxists, the SWP/SP break ranks again. For surely real Marxists are for European unity, for a united federal Europe, for free movement across Europe and against the re-erecting of barriers between UK workers and the rest of European labour? How to square the circle?

The SP is in favour of a Socialist United Europe! And the first step to get there, is, apparently, to leave Europe! Sure, and the first step to a greener world is to burn down recycling centres. Which brings me to the Spartacist League, also enthusiastic advocates of an Out vote. I had the good fortune to discuss with a French comrade last weekend. I suggested he better have his passport ready, because the first effect of an Out victory would be Boris Johnson telling him to get back to Paris. He declared that his deportation would be a minor matter set against an overall victory for the working class. Honestly, I’m not making this up.

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