The sands shift on Brexit

The sands are shifting on Brexit. As the Mandelson scandal shows, even Starmer now sees that the “alternative” of a special deal with Trump’s USA is unworkable.

A recent survey found that by 2025 Brexit had reduced UK GDP by 6% to 8%; investment by between 12% and 18%; jobs, 3% to 4%; productivity 3% to 4%.

That hasn’t stopped the top 100 bosses (FTSE 100 CEOs) getting an 18% pay rise in the last year. But it has hit workers.

Workers also lose out because of:

•  the loss of free movement across Europe

•  increased barriers to cross-border solidarity

•  the sharpening of communal divides in Northern Ireland by successive “fudges” to avoid Brexit creating a hard border within Ireland

•  the threat of the UK dropping out of “levelled-up” EU environmental, safety, and worker-protection regulations.

The Starmer government is still paralysed by its desire to appease possible Reform voters and pro-Brexit business people. At recent Labour Party conferences, the issue has not even got to the agenda. The first “Rejoin the EU” march, in October 2022, was sizeable, but the most recent ( September 2024) was tiny and dispirited.

But basic realities are pushing the issue back up again. Reverse Brexit! Rejoin the EU!

• With thanks to Labour Left Internationalists for background.