A general election can break the Brexit deadlock and help overcome the country’s divisions
Jeremy Corbyn
In a speech in Wakefield tomorrow (10 Jan 2019), Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn will argue that a general election is the way to break the Brexit deadlock and will make a passionate call to unite both leave and remain voters, against the interests of the few.
Corbyn’s decision to deliver his speech in Wakefield – a city which voted overwhelmingly to leave the EU in the 2016 EU referendum – will be seen as strongly symbolic of his continued commitment to representing both leavers and remainers.
Corbyn will reaffirm that Labour will vote against Theresa May’s Brexit deal and will challenge the May to call a general election for the sake of the country, arguing that a government with a new mandate can “negotiate a better deal for Britain and secure support for it in Parliament and in the country.”
The Labour leader will lay out his Party’s approach to bring together leave and remain voters around their common interests and declare that “the real divide is between the many, who do the work, create the wealth and pay taxes, and the few, who set the rules, reap the rewards and so often dodge taxes”.
On the need for a general election, he is expected to say:
Let there be no doubt: Theresa May’s deal is a bad deal and Labour will vote against it next week in parliament.
If the government cannot pass its most important legislation, then there must be a general election at the earliest opportunity. A government that cannot get its business through the House of Commons is no government at all. So I say to Theresa May: if you are so confident in your deal, call that election, and let the people decide.
To break the deadlock an election is not only the most practical option, it is also the most democratic option. It would give the winning party a renewed mandate to negotiate a better deal for Britain and secure support for it in Parliament and across the country.
For both sides, the EU referendum was about so much more than our relationship with our biggest trading partner and its rules. It was about what’s happened to our people over decades and how to build a better future.
The need for a government with a clear purpose and direction for the country could not be more urgent. Labour stands ready to bring leave and remain voters together to rebuild Britain for the many, not the few.
On overcoming the country’s divisions, Jeremy Corbyn is expected to say:The real divide in our country is not between those who voted to remain in the EU and those who voted to leave. It is between the many, who do the work, create the wealth and pay taxes, and the few, who set the rules, reap the rewards and so often dodge taxes.
If you’re living in Tottenham, you may well have voted to Remain. You’ve got high bills, rising debts, you’re in insecure work, you struggle to make your wages stretch, and you may be on universal credit and accessing food banks. You’re up against it.
If you’re living in Mansfield, you are likely to have voted to Leave. You’ve got high bills, rising debts, you’re in insecure work, you struggle to make your wages stretch, and you may be on universal credit and accessing food banks. You’re up against it.
People across the country, whether they voted Leave or Remain, both know that the system isn’t working for them. Some see the European Union as a defence against insecurity and hostility. Others see the European Union as part of an establishment that plunged them into insecurity and hostility in the first place.
But it’s the failed system rigged against the many to protect the interests of the few that is the real cause of inequality and insecurity, whether in Tottenham or Mansfield. And the real solution is to transform Britain to work in the interests of the vast majority, by challenging the entrenched power of a privileged elite. That is how we can help to heal the referendum’s deep divisions.
Jeremy Corbyn
SKWAWKBOX comment:
The Establishment media and centrist politicians will not say it – of course – but Jeremy Corbyn is the only party leader trying to work for all the UK’s people, not only the 52% or the 48% and to find a solution that will bring the country together instead of inflaming tensions and divisions.
For that reason and many others, he is the Prime Minister the country needs to see in Downing Street rather than in waiting, at the earliest opportunity.
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So do you really expect people who want to remain in the EU will vote for Labour? The young will desert in droves- hopefully to the Green Party and not to permanent despair of politics and voting. No-one who voted Tory before and wants to stay in the EU will move to Labour- at best they might abstain.
” it’s the failed system rigged against the many to protect the interests of the few that is the real cause of inequality and insecurity,” – How true, but this is the failed UK system, not one imposed by the EU. How very very sad that Corbyn now also believes in unicorns to the disaster for all working / struggling people in the UK.
Rather missing the point. But then, your mind was made up before you even read the article, wasn’t it?
You sound just like a propagandist AliB! So what would you have JC do (and leave out the unicorn stuff, it’s exactly the kind of thing one would expect to find in the Sun or the Mail or Express).
“It’s exactly the kind of thing one would expect to find in the Sun or the Mail or Express.”
I’m intrigued at the linking a Remain viewpoint with the core Leave liar press! Now that is mental gymnastics of a high order!
I’d say AliB’s comment sounds more like the sort of thing you’d find Fraudian’s Black Crow Of Death, Polly Toynbee saying.
Hi, Do you know where we can watch the speech, is it being transmitted anywhere? Regards
Trying to find out
They have just announced on Sky News that they will be broadcasting JC’s speech live
Many thx, do we know what time?
You’ve missed it. It was on between 11:15 to 11:45
Andrew Heenan. I’m with you on that.
Thank you very much Swawkbox.
“For that reason and many others, he is the Prime Minister the country needs to see in Downing Street rather than in waiting, at the earliest opportunity.”
Jeremy Corbyn – The Man For All Reasons.
To hold on to all of the Remain young voters and pro EU voters at a GE, he needs to stress that he, Emily and Kier would attempt to negotiate a better deal, and that deal would be put to the public in a referendum that would have the option to reject it and remain.
JC. A man for all reasons.
By constitutionalising the capitalist system the EU is exactly part of the “failed system rigged against the many in favour of the few”. After all its existence – and the evolution of its single market nurtured by Margaret Thatcher and Tony Blair – has been part and parcel of our neoliberal construct for the past 40 years. It is a pretty ropey affair, which is why comment-makers and trolls on this site actually tend to avoid defending it. See the excellent points made here by Costas Lapavitsas.
The Roosevelt Doctrine decreed that there are 3 ways in which USA will ‘take over’ the world; Economically Militarily & Culturally. Germany is too big for Europe & too small to ‘take over’ the world, but US ‘Dollar’ dominates economics in conjunction with IMF & World/European Banks. US military, via NATO, has dominated the entire world since WW2, but it is American culture that dominates MSM. Soft power.
Germany cannot hope for world domination in the same way, particularly not via German culture, but there are signs that there is unfinished business from WW2 in Western Europe. Old German allies; Croatia & Ukraine are actively supported by Germany in the break up of Yugoslavia & separation from Russia. Why does a Trade Federation need an army? The EU marches ever further eastwards towards Russia via the Balkans; more cheap labour & markets for German exports.
In 1975 we were told that we were joining a trading area, not a political federation.
Yes, strange isn’t it, in umpteen hundred posts demanding Remain and attacking ANY form of Brexit, by the small claque of (probably paid – and/or Tories, Lib Dems or Blairites) trolls on here, as Danny says, they have never ever attempted to explain what is so great about this neoliberalism enforcement machine – or answered our constantly explained Left critiques of the EU. Because to admit that the reason the trolls are demanding a second referendum is to split the Labour Party, just as much as to remain in an EU gravy train that has rewarded the UK political class and upper middle classes (with its cronyism-based EU machine job opportunities and endless other perks) so lavishly for 40 years, would just be a bit too honest. Better to just stick constantly to their empty mantra that the EU is fab, and Brexit, even under a Labour Government , is intrinsically “a bad thing”. Go on , pro EU trolls, try to critique the Costas Lapavitsas analysis Danny has attached !
0/10 for analysis. 20/10 for imagination.
” the small claque of (probably paid – and/or Tories, Lib Dems or Blairites) trolls”
Well – that’s a new take on the majority of the membership of the Labour Party plus voters!
Leftory electoral strategy :
Buy a can of paint (red, but with a strong tinge of blue) . Find a small, soundproof room, Lock it. Paint everything except a small corner. Sit in the corner. Shout. Listen to the echo.
jpenney 10/01/2019 at 3:43 pm
…. but you voted to support a second referendum!
Lying yet again, Steve H.. The politically necessary fudge composite Conference motion we all voted for, only voted to “leave all other options on the table… should Labour fail to secure a General election”. “Options on the table” for consideration. This does not mean I think Labour should actually adopt that particular option. That future , which option to go for, debate would be one for the ShadowCabinet/NEC and possibly a special Conference, If we fail to get a General Election. It’s basic English Steve – but your determination to make this clear language fit your own wishes requires you to constantly lie about what Conference actually decided. Sad boy.
jpenney 14/01/2019 at 8:50 pm
It really doesn’t say much for the veracity of your assertions when you have to resort to misquoting just a few carefully selected words and then felt the need to alter the order of those carefully chosen words
What you say above is disingenuous, what you actually voted for was a Composite Motion that contained (amongst others) the following motions.You will note that, unlike you, I have quoted the relevant Motions in full. You didn’t just vote for your 15 carefully selected words you voted for all the 570 words contained within the Composite)
“Conference notes that when trade unions have a mandate to negotiate a deal for their members, the final deal is accepted or rejected by the membership. ”
“Conference does not believe that such important negotiations should be left to government ministers who are more concerned with self-preservation and ideology than household bills and wages.
Stagnant wages, crumbling services and the housing crisis are being exacerbated by the government and employers making the rich richer at working people’s expense, and not immigration.”
“Should Parliament vote down a Tory Brexit deal or the talks end in no-deal, Conference believes this would constitute a loss of confidence in the Government. In these circumstances, the best outcome for the country is an immediate General Election that can sweep the Tories from power. If we cannot get a general election Labour must support all options remaining on the table, including campaigning for a public vote. If the Government is confident in negotiating a deal that working people, our economy and communities will benefit from they should not be afraid to put that deal to the public.”
I have highlighted the section that you have misquoted. I guess others will draw their own conclusions as to why you felt the need to misquote.
You also talk a lot about all the options on the table, what options as far as I can see there is only one option. Perhaps for all our benefits you could detail these missing options and explain why they weren’t listed alongside the one option that was.
Dear jpenny,
No I am not a paid troll or member of the Tories, Lib Dems and I am not a huge supporter of Blairitism – I like most of Corbyn’s policies and have spent months defending him. Neither do I think the EU is wonderful. HOWEVER, I’ve looked at the people who want us to Leave the EU – not as in jo public, but the people leading the Leave campaigns; the Murdoch’s of this world, the Liam Fox’s Rees- Moggs etc, backed by money from extremely dubious sources eg https://www.opendemocracy.net/uk/brexitinc/peter-geoghegan/revealed-dirty-secrets-of-dup-s-dark-money-brexit-donor
I appreciate that it is hoped that if Corbyn led a Government then they would want to implement a form of leaving the Eu which does not mirror those on the hard right- but just who do they think they are going to be doing trade deals with? What is the point of laving the EU if we then stay in the customs union and the single market but lose our place at the table unable to influence and participate in new regulations / way forward?
Its the Eu who has been wanting to take actions against tax havens and bankers and it is the Tory UK Government that has been trying to block it.
Yes there are some very concerning right wing political parties gaining power across the EU- and by leaving we help them We should stay in the EU and fight- there are lots of Green MEPs and other left wing MEPs who we can join with.
UK plc on its own will not be able to stand up and influence large blocks such as USA / China / India / the EU.
Perhaps you would like to tell me what is going to be so wonderful about leaving the EU – and please don’t say “take back control” regain sovereignty” or any of the other fatuous slogans form the Vote Leave campaign.
Continuing to support Leave is just as likely to split the Labour party- its about 68% of Labour voters who voted to Remain.I put it to you that continuing to support Leave is going to have a very negative effect on the Labour party.
Thank you for this, another brilliant intellectual that spells out why Britain is best out of Europe and why we need to get rid of all Neo-Liberal politicians of all colours out of the political system.
Germany is mobilising under ‘Aufstehen’ and is a genuine grass roots movement that is following the same ideas as ‘Momentum’ here although is slightly more associated to Die Linke and some of it’s policies such as the Basic Income Termed in German as the “Grund Einkommen”..
European workers are beginning to mobilise and Britain leaving under a Labour government could blaze the way forward.
Bernie Sanders said….. “that the 1% were at war with it’s own people” this is not a myth but what is really happening and people everywhere need to understand that.
We with our own sovereign currency are not trapped like the rest of those European country’s, we can spend directly into our economy without having to raise taxation. All that is standing in our way is the Tory establishment and Neo-Liberal politicians of all colours.
Agreed, but there are consequences for coming off the gold standard & constantly printing Fiat money. The capitalist system could not function if ‘money’ has no value whatsoever, as the bond market collapses; the equities markets collapse etc. Try Bitcoin? We live in interesting Times.
Why do Banksters need to have their assets recapitalised? Banks are the problem, especially the Central European Bank that dominates European finance. Zero interest rates means ‘free’ money for banks, but not for people.
For all those who say Corbyn should do what I want and if he doesn’t I won’t vote for him, perhaps you should vote Tory (perhaps you already do?). After all the tories have put 4.5 million children in poverty, sold of our utilities to the highest bidders (as long as they get a cut) have destroyed a welfare state that supports people in need, are privatising the NHS and of course 1 million people using food banks! But of course the People’s Vote should be the only thing that matters! Meanwhile many millions of people get up every day and have to decide whether to have heat or eat, but of course the EU will sort that, won’t they?
We need a General Election not a People’s Vote!
“We need a General Election not a People’s Vote!”
No argument about a GE (but unlikely) … but … one get’s called. Then … what?
You vote Labour!
It is a legitimate question. It would be difficult to put forward a credible argument to the contrary.
Agree we need a GE but we certainly won’t win if we have any form of Brexit in our manifesto.
Blair was right? The Class War is Over. If voting could change anything it would be made illegal or the results ignored. Now be a good little boy & vote again until you get it right!
and of course it will be ignored by the media as usual. Despite the fat that half the voters in the country are voting for him and his party.
Right now I couldn’t care less about Brexit. I’m worried instead about a close friend who’s gone into a depression because he’s been called into yet another Work Capability Assessment.
Because of his condition, stress could literally kill him, but the DWP insists on punishing him. He’s a decent, kind man. I could cry.
Your personal priorities are absolutely right.
But, beyond that, the whole Brexit thing has immense implications for the future that will affect those with minimal resources.
Nothing new here in this speech. It just gave the can another boot down the road. Which may be the thing to do at this point. But it resolves none of the questions asked.
Yes I attended his next talk and he was very good and not setting Remain working people in Tottenham against Leave working people in Mansfield is a good line.
About 30 of us afterwards went out canvassing in the area – we had the difficult ones – don’t knows, against, one Labour/one against etc. and we had a good discussion where possible – I was saying how we had just been to a meeting with Jeremy and were out talking to people on behalf of Labour’s Parliamentary Candidate and Council candidate and said we wanted to try to address poverty, homelessness, the housing crisis etc. etc. but just to emphasise the point another canvasser had one person saying they would not vote Labour because they wanted to Remain then another saying they would not vote Labour because they wanted to Leave!
But we did our best to engage people in discussions and met some solid Labour voters -not bad for a Thursday afternoon in January and I gave a young woman (who was not aware of our policies) our last GE manifesto.
I think if there is an election we should hit people with reality.
With Austerity the firsf thing the Tories/Lib Dems did was to give tax cuts to millionaires. Corporations, hedge funds (£145m in tax cuts who then gave the Tories £50m) private landlords with multiple properties etc. – so don’t worry rich and powerful this austerity stuff will not effect you – it is only for working people I.e. YOU!
As I said to an old bloke whose home I was invited into (who had no faith in anyone) but Labour is working people who have got together to try to make things better for working people.
A good day overall and vote labour for a JC transformative Govt!
Yes and politics can be heartbreaking, all we are, are diverse working people getting together to try to make life better for all diverse working people (and hopefully in other countries too) and the clue is in the name – The Labour Party.
But tragically some just don’t get it and (because of the media etc.) and all they need to do is put an X against Labour and for example we could then end poverty for 4m kids in the UK – but you have move on to the next door, people are perhaps conditioned by the current Neo-Liberal capitalist society they live in and perhapx not everyone can see through Right Wing Propaganda and all we can do is to soldier on!
Perhaps we need a booklet ‘What has Labour Ever Done For Me?’ With our greatest hits – the NHS, minimum wage, free pensioner bus travel etc. etc. etc.
We all need to get out leafleting and canvassing and talk to people with JC to get out direct on the doorstep and engage in a political discussions with our co-citizens.
Remember everyone you meet had to or still has to sell their labour to live!
We create the wealth (the 1% legally nick it facilitated by the Right Wing Tory Neo-Liberal Barbarians) and we make society work but as diverse working people we should have the democratic power!
JC4PM!