The Communist party (CPGB-ML) attended this year’s Durham miners’ gala, which was addressed in the afternoon by Jeremy Corbyn, leader of the opposition. Whilst the assembled press wanted to report on the ludicrous allegations of rife antisemitism within Labour’s ranks, working-class men and women in Durham were more interested to hear Labour’s position on Brexit.
Earlier this month, Labour finally announced that it would back remain in any vote on a Conservative party deal. The Guardian reported that Jeremy Corbyn had “made clear that if a referendum was called on the Brexit deal negotiated by the incoming Conservative prime minister – or on whether to go ahead with a no-deal Brexit – Labour would support remain”.
Corbyn wrote: “Whoever becomes the new prime minister should have the confidence to put their deal, or no-deal, back to the people in a public vote. In those circumstances, I want to make it clear that Labour would campaign for remain against either no-deal or a Tory deal that does not protect the economy and jobs.”
According to the Guardian: “Differences in the shadow cabinet over Brexit policy have repeatedly been played out in public in recent months, with the shadow chancellor, John McDonnell, joining calls for his party to adopt a remain stance …
“Corbyn’s deputy, Tom Watson, has publicly urged party members to make their disquiet about Labour’s position known by signing up to a remain ‘declaration’.”
Sham democracy
At every turn, we see Britain’s sham democracy being exposed.
The people voted for Brexit, but after three years we are as far as ever from seeing it delivered.
Meanwhile, despite all the pressing problems working people face in Britain – unemployment, underemployment, poverty wages, below-poverty-line benefits, homelessness, overcrowding, privatisation of healthcare and education, destruction of all our rights and services – no other issue can be addressed while Brexit dominates the agenda and soaks up all the government’s resources (a sure indication of our rulers’ true priorities).
Our party is in favour of Brexit not because we believe it will solve all workers’ problems (that can only be done by the workers themselves taking power and reorganising society in a way that serves their interests), but because we see that Brexit is weakening our class enemies and their institutions of rule: British capitalist democracy, the EU bosses’ club and the warmongering Nato alliance.
Meanwhile, as the ruling class fights it out, its splits are reflected in both preferred parties of rule, which are paralysed and unable to act. These divisions are getting deeper as the crisis gets worse and our rulers more desperate to win the battle of competition and survival.
As a result, we are witnessing the slow-motion demise of stable two-party politics in Britain as the main parties tear themselves apart – a development that is greatly to be welcomed.
Weakness and disunity in the ranks of our enemies creates opportunities for workers. But it is not enough just to sit back and enjoy the sight of their discomfort; we must organise our class so it can take advantage of this weakness and build up our forces for socialism.
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This article was updated with minor changes and a new headline on 29 July 2019.
