It is not altogether surprising that Corbyn’s intention to hold a conference of socialist and progressive parties to discuss Brexit, in London announced in February in October and December last year, has been met with little comment. He made the announcement to the PES which is the Party of European Socialists, an umbrella group of […]
Posts under ‘Europe’
Why was a fascist on the Andrew Marr Show?
Nov 15th, 2016 by Phil Burton-Cartledge.When it comes to fascists and the far right, giving them air time is a decision that should not be made lightly. If they are to appear, they should be rigorously challenged and forced to defend themselves. Anything less just gives them an opportunity to push their propaganda. When I learned that Andrew Marr was […]
Share:
A left approach to Brexit
Oct 26th, 2016 by Peter Rowlands.Paul Mason and Chuka Umunna would normally be expected to come up with radically different proposals with regard to Labour’s policies, yet they are putting forward more or less the same solutions to the most pressing problem underlying Brexit, that of Free Movement of Labour (FML), Mason in an article in the New Statesman, Umunna in […]
Share:
Corbyn sets out opposition to immigration controls
Oct 11th, 2016 by Newsdesk.Jeremy Corbyn has made further comments in support of immigration, in particular support for refugees, contrasting those in the party who want to end freedom of movement after Brexit.
Share:
Policy issues that Labour must resolve
Sep 13th, 2016 by Peter Rowlands.For the purpose of what follows I am assuming that Jeremy Corbyn (JC) will win the leadership contest, which now appears very likely, and that Labour does not split or collapse into a state of civil war, which is somewhat less likely but will hopefully be the case. Given the division within the party it […]
Share:
We need a new agenda for a better and more constructive Europe
Jun 25th, 2016 by Bryan Gould.For over 45 years, and based on my early involvement with the issue in the Foreign Office, I have contested the issue of Britain’s membership of what was the Common Market and then grew into the EU, and I have always been on the losing side. It could be argued that my own political career, […]
Share:
Staring into the abyss
Jun 17th, 2016 by Andy Newman.Sometimes the rush of the commenentariat to express opinions about contemporary events can seem cynical and ill considered. But I was impressed by two articles which must have been written as almost instant reactions to the tragic murder of Jo Cox, one by Alex Massie in the Spectator and one by Polly Toynbee in the […]
Share:
EC referendum: socialists should stay in and fight!
Jun 15th, 2016 by Barry Ewart.An excellent article in New Left Review a while back pointed out that the then Common Market was originally set up to counter the then perceived threat of the USSR, to promote capitalism in Europe, and to give Europe a greater say on the World Stage against the hegemony of the US. In fact it […]
Share:
The EU referendum – nine days to go
Jun 14th, 2016 by Peter Rowlands.Is there anything new that can be said about the EU referendum? Probably not, but it is perhaps worth reflecting on a number of aspects of the campaign and its possible different outcomes, given that it is now apparent that there is a serious likelihood that either Brexit or Bremain win, but by a small […]
Share:
Why I shall vote to remain in the EU
May 1st, 2016 by Ann Pettifor.Back in 1975 I did not just oppose membership of the EU, I actively campaigned against it. In the 1990s I strongly opposed Britain’s membership of the Exchange Rate Mechanism (ERM). My opposition to the Labour leadership’s support for ERM helped ensure that I did not get chosen as Parliamentary candidate at the time. I […]
