Tagged with Europe Referendum

EC referendum: socialists should stay in and fight!

EU_map2An 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 is argued De Gaulle of France was originally against the UK joining because he believed it would act as a Trojan Horse for the US (which eventually happened) and the dollar was soon to dominate which I would add may explain the enthusiasm of some for the Euro. Continue reading →

In or out – Labour’s voice must be heard on Europe

EU migrationReferendums can be defining moments in a country’s political culture, as the Scottish Independence referendum showed. They offer a unique opportunity for a national debate on a single issue. There is no escaping the fact that the referendum on EU membership could have huge implications on the political landscape of the UK. It is, therefore, vital that the Labour Party leads the debate and ensures that the issues of social justice, democracy, workers’ rights and TTIP are at the centre of the debate.

Unsurprisingly, Labour has committed to campaigning to remain in the EU. A majority of Labour members clearly seem to support continued EU membership, and most polling has shown that the “remain” campaign has a small but steady lead in the UK as a whole.

Continue reading →