Socialists must offer a real alternative on EU

PM David Cameron's pledge to hold a referendum if the Tories win the 2015 general election may be doomed like his discredited party. However, Labour's rejection of a referendum creates a political vacuum at a critical time.

By the end of this year average real wages in Britain will have fallen by 24 per cent from their 2009 levels.

When the effect of structural changes and cuts to welfare benefits is added it is clear that austerity in line with EU policies and spending limits is accomplishing the biggest transfer of wealth to private banks and the super-rich in human history.

While the Bank of Japan and the US Federal Reserve prescribe massive reflation to kickstart the world economy and even leading IMF economists argued last October to abandon austerity, the EU remains a neoliberal bastion of "supply-side" economics.

A ComRes opinion poll published last week shows 27 per cent of respondents were more likely to vote Labour if Ed Miliband promised a referendum on Britain's EU membership after the next election.

The concerted attempt by Britain's political elite to close down public debate about the impact of the neoliberal European Union at a time of the greatest threat to our NHS, welfare state and living standards is dangerous, shameful and should be opposed by democrats and supporters of workers' rights.

Unless socialists shatter this cosy Establishment consensus, European parliamentary elections in 2014 will be a Hobson's choice between six varieties of neoliberal parties.

If Labour won't pledge an "in-out" EU referendum, we should ensure that at the 2014 European elections British voters are offered an electoral alternative to endless EU neoliberalism and austerity.

Trades unionists and socialists should start to prepare now for a No2EU - Yes to Democracy challenge.

Alex Gordon

Bristol