Forces within Britain sympathetic to the EU and backed by it are seeking to tear our country apart – just when Britain has liberated itself from Brussels to chart an independent course in the world. But a united Britain is a condition for progress, says the CPBML.
Because capitalism wants to break up the British working class
Workers created the nation of Britain and our democratic working class culture. It is our common legacy. Far more unites us than divides us. The workers of England, Scotland and Wales have been united for centuries. Governments come and go, while working class unity is fundamental and should be enduring.
Ireland has always been a separate nation, though one divided by a colonial history. We want the friendliest relations with the whole of Ireland. And we stand against EU attempts to use the Withdrawal Agreement to keep a toehold in the UK. Only the people of Ireland can decide the future of the island.
Because our unity is essential for the war against capitalism
Unity is strength. The world’s multinational corporations don’t want to deal with nation states that uphold their own sovereignty. Separation, devolution, federalism, regionalism, privatisation and deregulation all break up Britain in one way or another. All let multinational corporations operate more freely. A united Britain is our best defence against predatory global capital.
Because the break-up of nation states is bad for workers
We have a long history of Britain-wide organisation, trade and collaboration in science and culture. Separatists trade on divisiveness and disrespect. Even the prospect of separation weakens our bonds of solidarity, bringing political and economic uncertainty as well as social division and intolerance. Everybody in England, Scotland and Wales has the right to raise their voice on the issue of national unity, against the dismemberment of our country. Better to turn to a far more noble cause, that of building an independent Britain.
Because splitting Britain into separate states would hit the £ in everyone’s pockets
Clearly neither Wales nor Scotland could suddenly create their own currencies. In practice they would have to stay with sterling or join the euro. And since the euro would – rightly – be too unpopular (and bring dependence on Brussels) that would mean using sterling. But with the Bank of England’s control over public debt in Scotland or Wales removed, its ability to manage sterling would be undermined. Currently, currency risks are shared by all British taxpayers. Imagine if English taxpayers had to support the pound alone with the currency exposed to the wider use of two separate states. That would mirror the weakness of separate states using the euro, and lead to a weaker, less stable pound – bad news for every worker in Britain.
Because we are one nation with common interests. Unity works
Together, we can and must build on our long history of workers’ unity. Investment in our integrated transport and energy infrastructure strengthens that unity. Constitutional tinkering does not. Leaving the EU gives all of us the chance to make our union stronger by rebuilding our economy. Workers must now take charge in our industries and public services, our fisheries and our farms, and fight together to build the real economy in the interests of the whole of Britain.