2016-06-25 17:36:45 +0100
To: Jeremy Corbyn and the Labour Party
General Election Before Brexit
The Conservative government has forsaken its electoral mandate and therefore we demand a general election to be held before Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty is invoked and the process of Brexit begun.
As Leader of the Opposition, you can stand on behalf of all those who voted Remain as well as those who will suffer the worst consequences of Brexit.
The fall-out from this referendum, which includes the resignation of the Prime Minister and the possible break up of the United Kingdom, must no be allowed to proceed without a General Election. The Conservative government does not have a mandate to proceed alone with such seismic changes.
We call on the Labour Party, Scottish National Party, Green Party and Liberal Democrats to unite around this issue and campaign in a General Election against the Conservative Party on the basis of continued membership of the European Union and removal of a government that has jeopardised our long-term future, therefore invalidating its mandate to govern.
As Leader of the Opposition, you can stand on behalf of all those who voted Remain as well as those who will suffer the worst consequences of Brexit.
The fall-out from this referendum, which includes the resignation of the Prime Minister and the possible break up of the United Kingdom, must no be allowed to proceed without a General Election. The Conservative government does not have a mandate to proceed alone with such seismic changes.
We call on the Labour Party, Scottish National Party, Green Party and Liberal Democrats to unite around this issue and campaign in a General Election against the Conservative Party on the basis of continued membership of the European Union and removal of a government that has jeopardised our long-term future, therefore invalidating its mandate to govern.
Why is this important?
Following Britain's vote to leave the European Union, we have seen a factional dispute within the Conservative Party metastasize into a referendum the results of which will do untold damage to the country and the rest of the continent.
Over the course of campaigning, we have seen xenophobic forces groomed, flattered and amplified. An MP was murdered in a febrile atmosphere where disinformation, deceit and naked power-hunger were all given a platform and disseminated by a press enthralled to false equivalence and who is loudest or most controversial.
In the middle of this, working class and impoverished voters who have long felt unrepresented even by the party founded to advance their interests, were enlisted by the parties of right-wing populism that are on the rise across Europe. Brexit has now become the first rallying point for these reactionary forces - the first staging post in their attempted takeover of European politics.
This must be resisted at all costs and regardless of the current failures within the European Union.
In view of the fact that so many voted for Leave on the basis of misinformation, propaganda or outright deception, in light of this new reality, where Britain's interests will be negotiated by the most right-wing faction of a Conservative Party with a slim parliamentary majority and which received less than 40% of the votes, we demand a united front to represent the interests of all those who have been deceived or who did not want this day to come.
This is not the time to repeat the economic arguments for Remain. They have been heard already, over and over again, while the needs of those who have faced more than 5 years of crushing austerity, the deaf ears of their Westminster representatives, have been trampled on.
We wake up to the reality that as things stand decisions will be made in the coming months that will affect us for decades. The richest will insulate themselves from harm and therefore the worst of them will fall on those least able to cope - again. The Conservative government, in its current state of paralysis, does not have the democratic legitimacy required to make such decisions or to negotiate alone on behalf of us all.
Following the Fixed Term Parliament Act 2011, a General Election can only be called if two-thirds of MPs that there shall be an early election or a vote of no confidence in the sitting government is passed. We urge our MPs to begin this process.
Only a General Election is the right forum to decide who governs us during this new and dangerous set of circumstances.
Over the course of campaigning, we have seen xenophobic forces groomed, flattered and amplified. An MP was murdered in a febrile atmosphere where disinformation, deceit and naked power-hunger were all given a platform and disseminated by a press enthralled to false equivalence and who is loudest or most controversial.
In the middle of this, working class and impoverished voters who have long felt unrepresented even by the party founded to advance their interests, were enlisted by the parties of right-wing populism that are on the rise across Europe. Brexit has now become the first rallying point for these reactionary forces - the first staging post in their attempted takeover of European politics.
This must be resisted at all costs and regardless of the current failures within the European Union.
In view of the fact that so many voted for Leave on the basis of misinformation, propaganda or outright deception, in light of this new reality, where Britain's interests will be negotiated by the most right-wing faction of a Conservative Party with a slim parliamentary majority and which received less than 40% of the votes, we demand a united front to represent the interests of all those who have been deceived or who did not want this day to come.
This is not the time to repeat the economic arguments for Remain. They have been heard already, over and over again, while the needs of those who have faced more than 5 years of crushing austerity, the deaf ears of their Westminster representatives, have been trampled on.
We wake up to the reality that as things stand decisions will be made in the coming months that will affect us for decades. The richest will insulate themselves from harm and therefore the worst of them will fall on those least able to cope - again. The Conservative government, in its current state of paralysis, does not have the democratic legitimacy required to make such decisions or to negotiate alone on behalf of us all.
Following the Fixed Term Parliament Act 2011, a General Election can only be called if two-thirds of MPs that there shall be an early election or a vote of no confidence in the sitting government is passed. We urge our MPs to begin this process.
Only a General Election is the right forum to decide who governs us during this new and dangerous set of circumstances.
