It's the (whatever it happens to be in this case), stupid!
Kier Starmer has rejected an increased Labour vote share in the general election (now looking pretty likely) as a step forward for Labour, saying “The vote share has to be compared with the vote share of a rival party and therefore establishing a reasonable vote share if your rival gets much more of a vote share just doesn’t do it.”. Starmer made his view of political success very clear when he said “Winning elections is all I’m here for, that’s why I came into it”. In reject
Optimism and pessimism
Douglas Carswell has made a You Tube film which argues that the most important political difference that divides people is ultimately between optimists and pessimists. While this may seem to be a reference to a Brexit leaver-remainer distinction, it in fact refers to a larger issue. Carswell is an advocate of the almost complete elimination of the powers of states; he is a true believer in the power of free markets to bring about the best of all possible worlds. Carswell
Obama gives Left-wing eurosceptics cause for celebration
In an astonishing turn of events, President Obama has clearly felt it necessary to give strength to the Leave campaign, particularly those Left-wing among their number. By saying that the UK would go to the "back of the queue" in any trade deal, Obama is signalling that Brexit could mean companies aren't given the power to sue foreign governments (including our own) if we should decide to halt the onslaught of privatisation on our vital services. Of course what Obama really t
#LEXIT The left-wing argument for leaving the EU burns with passion
June 23rd and the issue of #LEXIT (a left exit from the EU straight jacket) is an issue of democracy not just of politics or financial responsibility. At present, a vote for the EU is vote for surrendering your democratic rights to a group of unelected financiers hell bent on securing a fiscal discipline that will ruin many countries but ensure German exports remain competitive. Every day more and more powers are transferred to Brussels, whilst the Great British Public are le
Leftwing and tempted by Brexit? Then vote with your principles
An article by the Guardian’s Toby Moses appears today taking on the issue of left-wing arguments for or against Brexit. It features a very pointed first line: “What self-respecting lefty wants to line up alongside Boris Johnson, Nigel Farage and Iain Duncan Smith?” It would be too easy simply to dismiss this as pure folly (for example, I could say what self-respecting lefty wants to line up alongside David Cameron, George Osborne, the CBI, JPMorgan AND Jeremy Clarkson), but g
Leaving the EU is a left-wing move; we cannot let the Right dominate it
An interesting blog appears on the website of the Scottish Socialist Party addressing the possibility of a socialist case for leaving the European Union. In sum, the piece notes reasons for why a Socialist case can be made, particularly with regards to the issue of TTIP (Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership), the way the deal has been made in secret, and the extent to which it will have bearing on core socialist principles such as keeping unaccountable corporations
