The atmosphere of confusion, uncertainty and outright division which has long marked the UK Brexit campaign is now fated to become still more confused, uncertain and divisive. The Parliamentary deadlock following the prime minister, Theresa May’s ill-fated decision to call an unnecessary general election, will make it even more difficult for the UK’s EU partners […]
Do We Know What Kind Of Brexit Theresa May Really Wants?
The first contacts between the lead European Commission Brexit negotiators and the UK prime minister Theresa May appear to have got off to a disastrous start. There is some speculation that the entire Brexit negotiations could break down before they have really begun. On this scenario, the UK could be heading for the kind of […]
Northern Ireland Elections: Warning Light For May’s Brexit Plans
The British prime minister, Theresa May, does not take time off from her responsibilities in London to travel to Scotland – even to address the conference of the Scottish Conservative party – without good reason. Of course, she has every reason since, unless she treads very carefully indeed, the United Kingdom’s threatened departure from the […]
Is Wolfgang Schäuble As Dangerous To The EU As Donald Trump?
President Donald Trump is widely seen by allies of the United States as posing a potentially serious threat to the cohesion of the NATO alliance and – more broadly – to the post-Second World War global economic, political and security system. The European Union, fearful of the rise of right-wing populism and nationalism across the […]
Ireland Faces Heavy Costs For UK’s Brexit Folly
In the complex and sometimes arcane debate about the British government’s Brexit crusade, little attention has been paid to the consequences it will have for its neighbouring island, Ireland. In government circles there appears to date to be only limited awareness of the future implications the UK’s departure from the EU could have on future […]
Brexit: Final Judgement Is Key, Comrade Corbyn
Dear Jeremy, When I last wrote to you – courtesy of “Social Europe” – 15 months ago no one thought that, because of continuing dissent in the Parliamentary Labour Party, you would soon have to fight a second leadership election. But you emerged victorious and with an even bigger majority. The challenges of rebuilding the […]
A Second Referendum – But What About?
Since the “Brexit” referendum in June, there has been a series of demonstrations demanding a second referendum on Britain’s EU membership. The call for a replay of the vote echoes the widespread shock at the outcome on June 24. The clamour for a second vote in this form has been impressive in scale but, although […]
Jeremy Corbyn Can Stop The March Of The Anti-European Right
The latest UK wide opinion polls warn of a real danger that the Leave campaign will win a small but decisive majority in the referendum to be held on June 23. This would not only represent a triumph for the Tory hard right and for their far right anti-immigrant allies in UKIP, it would also […]
Programme For A Good, More Social And Sustainable Europe
As the pro-European, left wing British think tank, Compass, has rightly insisted, any serious project for a “Good Europe” must first confront the multiple crises facing the European Union. Mindless austerity, the retreat by EU governments from the goals of social justice and sustainable growth together with foreign and security entanglements with the cauldron of […]
Open Letter On Europe To Jeremy Corbyn
Dear Jeremy, First, let me join the legion of people throughout Britain – and far beyond – who congratulate you on your astounding success in the election for leader of the Labour Party. The stand you have taken on so many of the important challenges facing our society – poverty, inequality, injustice, bigotry and prejudice […]
We Must Stand With Greece For The Sake Of Europe
The emergency meeting of Euro-area heads of government in Luxembourg today may be the last chance to prevent a potentially catastrophic series of events in the Euro-area. In spite of the chorus of condemnation of the Greek government’s stand, it is the major Euro-area governments who are primarily responsible for a crisis which could lead […]
Greece And The Euro
Few expressions are more abused among commentators than the description of a pending meeting of European Union heads of government as “a make or break summit.” But given the Greek-Euro area turmoil and the deepening military conflict in eastern Ukraine, the European Council meeting which begins today in Brussels was always likely to be seen […]
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