The labour movement and the population of Britain now faces the biggest attack on it since 1979 and the election of Thatcher. This is organised around the Tory project of ‘hard Brexit’ – more precisely withdrawal from the European Single Market. This provides the context of the Stoke and Copeland by-elections and explains their outcome.
Notes from the front of 4-2-2017
The Tories are on a course to force the Article 50 Bill through parliament at break-neck speed. The framework the government has set out is to take the country out of the Single Market, without any limits on the negotiated outcome.
By Andrew Williams
Jeremy Corbyn is heading up the campaign in Parliament for the proposed state visit of US President Trump to be postponed. Yesterday (1 February) Corbyn raised the issue at Prime Minister’s Questions, having previously written to Theresa May urging her to withdraw the invitation.
By Pat Tanner
It is clear, and becoming increasingly publicly evident, that in the coming period the living standards of the British population and British workers cannot be maintained without membership of the European Single Market. The inflation that will be created by the plunging pound will significantly cut living standards, while refusal of companies to invest without free access to a European market which is many times bigger than any UK one will lead to heavy job losses. The significantly lower economic growth that will result will put further pressure on social spending.
By Pat Tanner
The Corbyn leadership of the Labour party is the most important development on the left in Britain for generations and should be wholeheartedly supported by all socialists and the left. However, due to the cavalier behaviour of the previous Tory leadership under Cameron, this Labour leadership is faced with grappling with an equally momentous and complex political crisis resulting from the vote in favour of Brexit.
By Pat Tanner
Theresa May’s Lancaster House speech explicitly declared that the UK will not only be leaving the European Union but will also be leaving the Single Market and the institutions of the European Union, including the European Court of Justice. The effect will be to create new tariff barriers and non-tariff barriers on trade, which will raise prices, depress trade and lower investment thereby lowering living standards and losing jobs.
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