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Do Labour have the wrong policy on Brexit?

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has said that he wants Britain to leave the EU Single Market and the Customs union and I am not sure that this is the way to go. In fact I think it will lead to an economic disaster for my country. I say all of this as a classic 'Corbynista' who has become an active member of the Labour Party since he became leader. Naturally I agree with him on most things but here I think he is making a big mistake.

Partly, Labour's confusing Brexit position is about triangulation and keeping pro-Leave working class voters on board. Hence we have what I find to be an annoying sight of an internationalist socialist telling the Andrew Marr show that he is against immigration. You could say that this is to keep his often difficult MPs on board and they actually fully agree with him on this, mostly because most Labour seats voted to leave the EU.

This takes us worryingly into the territory of accepting the Conservative Brexit fantasy though. The decline in living standards for working class people is not primary due to immigration (if at all). In addition, over half of immigrants come from non-EU countries anyway. The May Conservative Government - with their tub-thumpingly ridiculous 'no deal is better than a bad deal' stance - are still operating under the pretense that we can have our cake and eat it. That we can reduce immigration and still trade with the EU on terms which we dictate. This won't happen because the EU have no incentive to give us a special deal and every reason to see Brexit fail because they do not want to see other members of their club follow us out the door. They have over five times our economic strength and the idea that we can reduce immigration and have a trading deal which will not badly hurt our economy is impossible. In fact its [i]far [/i]more likely that an EU deal will put tariffs on our exports and fail to reduce immigration to the UK. This is just political reality, though unfortunately most of UK public are still on the denial/fantasy spectrum about this.

Labour's position is [i]slightly [/i]better than the Conservatives because they will priortise jobs in working class industries over the financial sector and because ultimately they would have to concede the immigration point. Corbyn has always been against the EU; though because of his leftist critique of a capitalist institution, not because of crude Tory nationalism. However, we are still have to tackle the problem that the position is not practical and does not have achievable aims; which is like the Conservatives.

How do you deal with a populist myth which is riding high in the here and now but set to be exposed as a sham in the near future. For me, you tell the truth and stick to your guns. This would mean an electoral hit in the short term but will give you credibility eventually. When the Brexit deal happens, people will feel cheated and will be a huge credibility problem for the British political class. This could open a further window for the Corbynite left, but not if we are seen as culpable in the disaster. In addition, a post Brexit recession will make it easier for Labour to come to power, but much harder for us to implement Corbyn's ambitious progressive manifesto. In addition - right wing nationalists who are themselves culpable on Brexit - will blame the politicians who negotiated the deal for 'not going far enough' and 'selling out'. This will be fertile ground for xenophobia.

Sorry that was so long. Thanks for reading it all if you did.
Firespirit · 22-25, M
Many problems but I say lets take them one at a time when a country can elect its own leader and have a say over its borders and laws without some shadow figure ruling over them. That would be a good step in the direction of self sustainability. and as disaster goes the economy might do that but they could just renegotiate those contracts and continue business they are in a prime spot for trade so I don't see that changing.
SW-User
Europe and Brexit has never really been a party issue. It would have been interesting if they'd distanced their policy from the Tory policy at the last election. I think their policy now is irrelevant, I can't see another election before it's all done and dusted, unless it drags on for much longer than the supposed time frame.
Burnley123 · 41-45, M
@SW-User I don't think soft Brexit is even possible without a transition period. I also think that Britain will still have things left unresolved in five years.
SW-User
@Burnley123 It seems unlikely that anything other than a hard Brexit clean break can be done in 18 months. I was given an interesting alternative theory for the last election. Once an electronic going is called all government departments and civil service go into purda, when only a skeleton essential service is performed. If the last government had gone to full term thus would have coincided with completion of Brexit negotiations and would have severely hampered things logistically. I'm not sure if there's anything in that, but either way it back fired spectacularly.
sogdianrock · 61-69, M
hi Burnley123
Yes.
Sorry that was so short.
Best wishes
:)
Burnley123 · 41-45, M
@sogdianrock LOL.

Best wishes to you.

Best wishes.
😜
Cierzo · M
Is it true he said that 'wholesale EU immigration has destroyed condition for British workers'? Is he opening his eyes?

 
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