Theresa May wants Labour's support for her ailing premiership. It's an interesting idea: a quasi-grand coalition. I can't think of any reason why Labour should agree, but if they were to make an offer what would the red lines be? I stress, I have no influence on the issue at all, and what follows is not meant to imply I have (in an attempt to avoid the torrent of abuse that might otherwise follow) but it's an interesting issue to muse upon. So, for the record, if I was around the Labour corridors of power I would be inclined to make an offer, but to make it a manifesto style demand. These might be my red lines:
1. To keep all the benefits of single market and customs union membership: to stay in both, in other words. Put a Norwegian style deal on the table in other words;
2. To agree a long transition for Brexit;
3. To compromise on ECJ oversight on agencies like Euaratom and medicines to retain the benefits;
4. To seek limited change on free movement;
5. To abandon all corporation tax changes and to instead steadily increase the rate towards a European norm to end tax competition with our neighbours and signal goodwill;
6. To impose transparency on the UK's tax havens to make clear that this is not the UK's direction of travel;
7. To increase capital gains tax rates and higher rates of income tax to make clear inequality will be tackled;
8. To abolish the bedroom tax and other such penal measures as part of a comprehensive reform of benefits and social care;
9. To radically change work assessments and related measures to end the injustice they have created;
10. To end the 1% pay cap: Britain needs a pay rise;
11. To launch new national savings accounts to direct saving to infrastructure investment and to require that saving in them be an option in all pension schemes;
12. To stop HS2 and replace it with a green new deal creating a carbon army in every constituency in the UK;
13. Stop parliamentary constituency reform measures and start a PR review and reform of the House of Lords;
14. Do not renegotiate the East Coast route franchise with Stagecoach but take it back into public control;
15. Impose an energy price cap and remove many of the differentials between tariffs: it should not be possible to sell 'bad deals';
16. Guarantee no unwinding of QE and no interest rate rises.
I am sure I have missed a few issues and I am aware a few are contentious. But that's the opportunity such an invitation offers. Why not take it?
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SHe knows Corbyn wants to be out of Europe and she is giving him the chance to be involved. In the end she knows that what ever the outcome, many wont be happy. So labour can now be involved as well.
I really can’t see Labour agreeing
All I am saying is that it is an opportunity for alternative ideas
Does the Norwegian deal give us our sovereignty back?
The concept is meaningless in the sense that it has been used to suggest we can have no consideration for any rules but our own which is obviously not true
I found this recent discussion James O’Brien (LBC) had with a Leave caller on sovereignty quite funny (it was either laugh or cry).
http://www.lbc.co.uk/radio/presenters/james-obrien/brexit-supporter-voted-to-take-back-control-but-ca/
The caller was repeatedly challenged to name a law he didn’t like or specify what ‘power we have given away’ over the decades since the EU was formed, and of course, could not. He was then tricked into saying that he would be much happier with EU membership if every EU member state were given a veto on EU legislation before O’Brien interjected that EU member states already have such a veto.
Unfortunately this kind of irrationality cannot be countered with logic and reason.
Very good!
To be clear, Norway is a member of the EEA. That means (i) being within the European Single Market, with free movement of persons, goods, services and capital (Norway is in the Schengen are); (ii) adopting most EU law without having any representation in Brussels to influence it (so-called “fax democracy”); (iii) being subject to the EFTA Court, which is a low-rent version of the ECJ; (iv) continuing to contribute to the EU budget.
Remaining in the Customs Union would mean we could no negotiate our own trade deals with other countries (however long that might take; typically many years rather than montht: but on the positive side, we would keep the deal that the EU has negotiated already). Norway is not in the Customs Union.
A Norway-style option may well be the best deal out of a bad lot, but it would be difficult to sell all that as “taking back control”.
I agree
But what does ‘taking back control’ mean?
It was not on the ballot paper
Leaving the EU was
For what it is worth, I agree. 52% of those voting opted to leave, but that represents a coalition of interests, and I strongly doubt there would be a majority for any particular Brexit deal.
However, it would need a politician with the chutzpah of Michael Fallon (and that is not a compliment) to present joining the EEA as implementing the vote to leave the EU while maintaining a straight face. Yes, technically is “leaving”, but it fails to hit the main points of the Leave campaign – ending free movement of persons, ending the primacy of EU law in general and the European courts in particular, ending financial contributions to the EU budget, “taking back control” of our destiny as an independent trading nation (cue waving of the Union Jack to the strains of “Land of Hope and Glory”, and patriotic appeals to the magnificent history of the British Empire).
You have amused me
If Labour are going to get in bed with the Tories then they do it at their own peril. They would have to set a trap for the Government to fall into.
Hence red lines, which in these terms Tories would never agree, I am sure
Those are good red lines, for good reasons, and I hope that some of them play a part in how Brexit plays out.
Some of those good reasons will be used as fig-leaves for bad ones: and the background to it all is a toxic agenda being implemented in near-total ignorance of how the EU works, and of trade in general.
Does Number 1 (retaining membership of the single market) essentially commit Labour to supporting the unrestricted free movement of capital in perpetuity?
No
Because I think the EU knows that is undesirable now
Well, that’s one of the four freedoms down – and three to stay!
If the free movement of capital isn’t sacrosanct then that effectively destroys the only robust reason to leave.
I think it is one of the easiest arguments to win
Many countries do not like it
Wow! Impressive. And early in the morning, too.
I would only add a chance to vote on the new deal with Europe or remain in the EU.
At least three coffees and fifty miles in though…
This is a publicity stunt and possibly an attempt to grab one or two popular Labour policies! How is it in Labour’s interests to support Theresa May?
It isn;t
Hence laying out their own terms to take the headlines
May’s intention is not to improve the lot of the country, merely her own party, by trying to steal Corbyn and Labour’s thunder, in a vain attempt to make herself appear reasonable and patriotic, and Corbyn unreasonable and unpatriotic, in the face of his inevitable rejection of this pathetic and manipulative offer.
Why help your ideological and political enemies survive their self-inflicted difficulties, whilst the people get only watered down versions of full-blooded socialist and anti-austerity policies?
We’d be getting after-its-sell-by-date, horse-meat adulterated, frozen burger instead of the 100% organic fillet steak!
(Besides which, although your proposals are reasonable enough, no Tory party worthy of the name would ever adopt them!)
She could not say yes to this – I’m not daft!
> 7. To increase capital gains tax…
Taxes on capital are often claimed to be depress the level of investment. Do you think that they don’t, or that less private investment is desirable?
> 11. To launch new national savings accounts to direct saving to infrastructure investment and to require that saving in them be an option in all pension schemes;
Could you get the same effect by issuing more gilts? They’re in high demand right now, so private pension firms are probably already trying to invest in the state.
> 16. Guarantee no unwinding of QE and no interest rate rises.
Could you sketch out your reasoning for this?
Thanks for an interesting blog!
a) I have never known an entrepreneur who has refused a profit because of tax. If an investment only happens because it has a tax subsidy is it the right use of scarce resources?
b) I want people to realise gilts are savings and they can deliver good things/ Sure they’re only gilts, but gilts for a purpose to change the narrative. What’s wrong with that?
c) To stop money being sucked from the economy, to prevent a liquidity crisis in markets and a solvency crisis for households and so banks
She has offered a poison chalice and Liarbour should demand the implementation of its manifesto as the price for supping from it, unlike the provincial boobies from Nireland who let themselves get short-changed.
How do you like them apples, Theresa?
As they say in Star Wars “ITS A TRAP!”.
As if Labour should trust a single word May says. She wants them involved so that when (not if) this completely screws up our economy, she can then either say it was a joint screw-up or she can attempt to lay ALL the blame on something Labour requested.
Tories created this mess (that they seem make worse every day that passes) so let them own it. Let them wallow in it. Let it destroy them.
Obviously the concern is what will be left of the country after the Brexiteers royally screws things up, but the aftermath of WW2 didn’t stop Attlee turning this ship around.
Completely agree. Labour, or any other progressive party for that matter, should ignore this completely. This is the Tories trying to wriggle out of taking the blame for the increasingly disastrous state they’ve got the country into.
Don’t they make you sick? The party of ‘stand on your own two feet’, that opposes the ‘nanny state’, is now trying to con others into taking the flak when Brexit turns out to be the disaster sane people always knew it would. I suppose if Labour rightly ignore this, they’ll be called ‘unpatriotic’ by all the usual suspects; pretty good coming from the party that always puts its own interests above those of the country as a whole.
I hope Brexit does destroy the Tories. They deserve it. If May had any integrity she’d resign now.
Surely the ‘Gramsci moment’ if true would involve not participating in the current paradigm of setting the price of your vote …
An intriguing turn of events. I understand your logic in suggesting Corbyn offers an agenda that would be impossible for May to accept. At the same time Mr Shigemitsu is right to underscore the political danger of entering into any dialogue with the duplicitous Tories. On balance I think Corbyn should politely reject her offer and use the opportunity to offer the country a fresh strategic manifesto that he could say has the support of all the other progressive parties. Nevertheless, a difficult choice for him and maybe quite a clever move by May. But she’s taking another political gamble which is a sure sign of her collapsing power base. Desperate measures. However, she is a tough cookie and I wouldn’t underestimate her determination to hang on. As is so often the case her own party is probbaly more of a threat than the opposition.
Not directly related but of some general relevance is this series from Steve Richards, that I happened upon yesterday and watched all 6 videos. I found his assessments both balanced and informative. There are certainly lessons to be learned for any future political leaders. Seen through an historical lens, Theresa May is a zombie PM. Only Harold Wilson managed to come back from what at the time seemed to be his political death. I recommend to anyone who hasn’t seen them – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AGnJ7pjWcIQ&list=PLNkOamJfdIj-yxlkJMfOh92NyaXMFSAvF.
Thanks
I don’t know if it is a trap or not, but I would humbly suggest that giving Theresa May a few ideas on where they want the country to go, would not be a terrible idea. It does not mean they have to agree with everything, but the parts they do like and support could be fast tracked.
Either that or we head into a political atmosphere much like the Americans – the democrats get in and the republicans attempt to veto everything, the republicans get in and the democrats try to veto everything. I don’t really want my politics that radicalised here in the UK. Even though a part of me realises, with the extreme ideas that some of the tories want it is already that way.
A real move from Theresa May back into the centre ground would certainly be welcomed by me, if that means some of the drastic cuts she has done would be reversed.
Does that mean Corbyn is then tarnished? I don’t think so…I like to think it shows he wants change, not just power. It is that or we wait for another election where the outcome is no more certain.
Yes I am aware of how badly power sharing turned out for lib dems, but if Labour can cherry pick the things they want, why not.
I am not suggesting compromises
But any party asked to produce policies should do so, in my oipinion
There is more to add no doubt – for example:
1) I would like any back room negotiations about trade and the opening up of our markets with America to stop right now.
2) To extend electrification of the rail network (‘would create jobs and wealth plus make the railways more sustainable in the long term).
3) But you know what – I can’t be bothered because what Labour should say is:
Theresa – you and your party’s time is up – please just go and (as Thom Yorke said at Glastonbury) close the door behind you on the way out.
I don’t argue with the sentiment
Well, sentiment aside – I think that you are right – Labour should respond even if it is just a restatement of their proposals at the election.
And they should also talk about Green QE and the printing of money for other projects. It might be a good idea to plant some of these more heterodox ideas because orthodoxy is killing this country at the moment.
To not respond may leave them open to being accused of not caring about the country.
Also, you could argue that the Leave proponents in the Labour party should also help to sort out the mess they helped to create.
My worry is that the only person who will benefit is May.
But who have the Tory plotters got up their sleeve I wonder for the autumn ‘Night of the Long Knives’?
It’s great being an armchair pundit (or referee) because one doesn’t have to take responsibility for one’s recommendations – other than risking peer-group criticism. But even that doesn’t stop us. In this spirit I offer Jeremy Corbyn my advice which is not to press too hard for another GE. Just keep prodding away to inflame further Theresa May’s wound. He needs to exercise self-control and patience. On their current trajectory the Torys will implode. It’s tempting to put the boot in thinking it will be a killer blow, but it’s rarely that simple. Besides the Labour Party is in no fit state to win a significant (100+) majority. He should keep feeding her enough rope to hang herself – and then the same for whoever replaces her. All the while working over-time to repair the cracks within his own party.
If the neo-liberal agenda is to be permanently trashed – at least here in the UK – it must be done from a position of unassailable (in-depth) strength. The Conservatives will take care of their own demise. In recent history ‘Europe’ has always been their chosen weapon of self destruction, as it will be again. So, I say: leave them to it because there is simply too much at stake for a premature election (lol).
It’s looking like the election result was the worst possible outcome for May (worse even than a Labour victory) The reason she called the election was because she knew just how bad the next few years would be. Had she won big, she’d be unassailable no matter what. (Had she lost, it would be someone else’s problem) As it is, she & her party will cop all the flack while sliding ever backwards in the polls.
So this is an attempt at a manoeuvre to deflect blame, while rebranding Product May. It has zero chance of success. It shows just how cringeingly divorced from reality she must now be. She’s moving into an alternative reality. In that spirit, might I suggest some policies for her that might garner cross-party support.
. Hunting with ducks. Only hunting foxes with dogs was actually banned. Hunting with ducks would be just as ridiculous, but less stress on the fox.
. Fruition Trees. Scrap Tuition Fees & replace them with apple/pear/plum trees, planted next to every food bank for people to help themselves.
Hope that’s helpful.
Obviously Labour should steer well clear. The risks far outweigh the potential upside in getting a little too cosy with this failing Govt. Plus, the chances of getting what they want would be completely unacceptable to the Tory backbenchers.
What intrigue’s me is just why May has made the announcement. It’s plain they are in a fix and very vulnerable, but why advertise the fact and make it appear you are even more feeble than you are?
Seems a very odd strategy to me. It makes you look needy and weak, while asking opponents who you rubbished just a month ago for input seems hypocritical in the extreme. Whoever has been running the Conservative party over the last couple of months is really doing one helluva job.
Add Corbyn dept PM and certain post in cabinet,one to replace Hunt?
1. and 4. are incompatible unless . . . you want to bring in some free-market controls on immigration.
Such as ending the subsidies that destroy jobs in other countries, and taking on the medical unions in order to abolish the restrictions on the number of home-trained doctors
Note: a friend just posted to Facebook that she can no longer find any links to this news via the BBC website …. I just did a search with no results …. anyone find this … are the links you read for above still live … #curious Thoughts?!
No idea