Labour’s new EU policy

3rd September 2017 Socialist Action 0

By Jane West

Labour’s announcement of its new policy for the Brexit negotiations – that the UK should stay within the Single Market and the customs union for a prolonged ‘transition period’ after formally leaving the EU – is both necessary and welcome. This approach puts the preservation of jobs and living standards rather than the anti-EU ideological shibboleths of the Tory right at the centre of the Brexit discussion.

Britain can be poor and racist – or better off and non-racist

13th June 2017 Socialist Action 0

By Robin Jackson

Labour achieved a huge success at the election because it stuck firmly to focusing on how to improve people’s living standards – as was analysed here before the election in Why the Corbyn campaign is so effective. This follows the fundamental rule of elections that the party which sets the agenda advances. By focusing the campaign on opposition to austerity, by an explicit pledge on the triple lock for pensioners, on re-nationalisation of the railways, on abolition of tuition fees and numerous other progressive measures Labour focused the agenda clearly on defence of living standards. It was this which produced the sharp increase in turnout at this election – the cornerstone of Labour’s success.

There is no ‘People’s Brexit’

10th March 2017 Socialist Action 0

By Tom O’Leary

The certainty that Brexit will push living standards lower is not really a forecast- it is already happening. Immediately following the referendum the pound fell sharply and has more or less stayed at that lower level since. The 13 per cent decline means that CPI inflation is moving remorselessly higher and will continue to do so. Higher inflation means lower wages and incomes in real terms.