Britain Divided?

“See EU later David”, is about the only bit of humour that I can muster this morning after what is probably the most seismic shift in British politics that I have witnessed in my lifetime, and no doubt there will be many of our members who share that view.

Given the size of the vote and the fact that the result reflected a range of opinion from across the political spectrum, it’s probably worth saying that there will be many trade unionists who took the Brexit line on the basis that they believed that  once we are out of the European Union we can get on with the essential business of rebuilding Britain’s manufacturing base, nationalising our railways, postal services, utilities and energy companies and making much needed investment in public services and the people who provide them. Taking this further, those comrades I have spoken to have passionately explained how we can protect our NHS from the dreaded TTIP or equivalent trade agreements, how we can better develop our schools under public control, and start to provide workplace security and decent wages and pensions for all.

I don’t suppose any of us would disagree with those objectives; but, as I have been reminded by those who told me why they were voting to remain: it’s not the agenda that we were ever going to get under this current government. Indeed, today’s news of David Cameron’s intended resignation and the prospect of a new prime minister being installed with a mandate to push on even harder with an already devastating austerity programme can only fill everyone who believes in a progressive socialist agenda with total dread.

Napo united

Aside from the fact that it will take some time yet to see what, if any, implications there may be on the work undertaken by our members, there’s been another side to the pre-referendum campaign which has clearly had an impact on the result, and that’s the racism and anti-immigration rhetoric and blatant lies in some cases that have been peddled by individuals and some sections of the media.

Expect now to see a lengthening queue of nationalist parties in other countries start to use Brexit as their motivation (along with what they will see as a winning formula of xenophobia), to support their demands for their own referendum and it’s not too hard to see the eventual implosion of an institution that rose up from the ashes of post war Europe. One which, for all its undoubted profligacy and waste, has nevertheless helped to provide relative peace across the continent in comparison to the conditions which were the catalyst for the world’s two greatest conflagrations. The debate may be over, but it’s left a pall over all of us.

So Napo and all trade unions have a duty not to allow the shameful toxicity of the referendum debate to spill over and divide us. We have already had some enquiries from EU workers in some of the 24 employers we are engaged with, and it is clear that they are worried about their future and concerned about the racist backlash that may develop within the communities they serve.

In terms of why the referendum result makes it even more imperative that working people join a trade union, I will simply say that the systemic assault on public services, and the threats this brings to your jobs and livelihoods will not simply go away as a result of leaving Europe. Remember that trade unions have always stood for common decency and showing respect to everyone and are also agents of social change, so if we care about what happens in our communities and to our clients and their victims in wider society, then by being a TU member you can help drive that agenda.

I was heartened to see a great response by Hope not Hate this morning and I am happy to publish the link below about the importance of standing together. #StandTogether