European Union

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...

Brexit's never-ending nonsense

Let's get the bad news out of the way first. Whatever happens, Brexit is going to dominate parliamentary politics for at least another year, maybe more. No matter how bored you are by it, no matter how tempted by the thought, "Oh, sod it, let's just jump and get it over with", the nightmare still has years to run. Why? Because Britain is nowhere near prepared for anything. The legislation for leaving hasn't been prepared or passed. No post-Brexit trade deals are in place (though we're told that one with the Faroe Islands is looking hopeful !!). And no 'frictionless trade', ongoing relationship...

Labour: stop Brexit! New public vote!

After the Parliamentary votes on 29 January, which gave Theresa May a mandate to try to tear up commitments to an “invisible” border in Ireland, Jeremy Corbyn said he would meet her to discuss Brexit terms. Not a good move after previously refusing, since Parliament had just voted to seek an “alternative” to the “backstop” which protects Ireland. On Monday 28 January the Labour front bench said it would abstain on Tory legislation to enable the Tories to write restrictive new immigration laws which would bar many workers and make others insecure with temporary visas. After an outcry, they...

"No deal" Brexit and the Irish border

In response to Theresa May’s defeat in her EU Withdrawal Agreement in the House of Commons on 15 January, and the looming prospect of a “no deal” Brexit, Irish transport minister Shane Ross told reporters at a press conference that he “would anticipate that there would be checks” on lorries coming from Scotland to the Republic of Ireland via Northern Ireland. Afterwards, speaking “privately” to Foreign Minister Simon Coveney (so Ross thought, but his words were caught on microphone), he asked whether or not he should have revealed that fact. Coveney responded: “Yes, but we can’t get into where...

For a Labour special conference on Brexit!

Transport Salaried Staffs’ Association (TSSA) General Secretary Manuel Cortes, a prominent supporter of Jeremy Corbyn, explains “Why I’m calling for a special Labour conference on Brexit” in an interview on The Clarion website . "My confidence is rooted in the fact that the overwhelming majority of Labour members want [Remain and reform]. No party can survive long term without giving its members the ability to influence its policies. More importantly still, perhaps, Jeremy and John have a strong record of seeking to involve ordinary members in decision-making. That’s why I’m calling for a...

"No deal" Brexit means trade disruption with the whole world

According to the Financial Times (18 January), "Britain has failed to finalise most trade deals needed to replace the EU’s 40 existing agreements with leading global economies and will not be close to doing so when Brexit occurs on March 29, according to an internal Whitehall memorandum... "Almost none of them are ready to go now and none will be ready to go by March,” said one government official who has seen the internal analysis of the Department of International Trade’s progress". "No deal" Brexit doesn't just mean the UK losing its arrangements for quick and easy trade flows with the EU...

Call Labour's pro-Brexit wreckers to account!

Talk, fed to the media, of "mass resignations" by junior shadow ministers if Jeremy Corbyn activates Labour Party conference policy and goes for a new public vote on Brexit (Guardian, 18 January 2019) - this is treachery similar to June 2016, only worse. Worse because the talk of resignations is being used to block explicit Labour conference policy, and because it's being done when an early general election is on the cards, or at least Euro-elections held in May after all. Worse again, because the word is that some factions in the Leader's Office are playing a part in feeding this talk to the...

Students should fight Brexit

Justine Canady is running as the left candidate for NUS President, challenging current President Shakira Martin’s move to suspend all NUS officer elections this year and shut down NUS democracy and campaigning, on the pretext of a financial crisis. NUS official policy is anti¬Brexit, but the NUS leadership has made no campaign on campuses on the issue. Brexit means higher borders, more xenophobia and racism in public life, and a victory for the far right around Europe. It is bad news for our movement, and all the oppressed: just look at the spike in hate crimes against women, disabled and LGBT...

The roots of Lexitism

The Brexit crisis at Westminster is also rippling across the left in Britain. Although the Socialist Workers Party (SWP) remains committed to its pro¬Brexit position, its report of its conference on 29¬30 December show that at least some of its members are uneasy. The SWP oppose calls for a second referendum. However, they now concede that if a referendum is organised, they would be in difficulties: the leadership would have to call a meeting to decide on the SWP’s position. If it is a choice between Remain and May’s Brexit, a possible option may be “active abstention” – a campaign to reject...

Labour must get off the fence!

labourforasocialisteurope.org facebook.com/labourvsbrexit twitter.com/labourvsbrexit info@labourforasocialisteurope.org Petition form, for hand-to-hand activity Draft motions, for use in Labour Party and trade unions "Fight for free movement" placard "Labour oppose Brexit" placard "Socialist Europe" placard Eventbrite booking link for Labour for a Socialist Europe conference, Saturday 9 March 2019, 11:30 to 5 at Camden School for Girls, Sandall Road, London NW5 2DB 90 Labour activists attended the 12 January public event to launch Labour for a Socialist Europe, the left-wing, Labour-focused...

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