Denis MacShane is a former Minister of Europe and was a Labour MP for 18 years.
In a major breakthrough for a People’s Vote, the steel and textile workers’ trade union, Community, has come out strongly in favour of a new vote on any Brexit deal. There are 20 Labour MPs sponsored by Community, representing heartland working class constituencies in the North of England, the industrial Midlands and South Wales.
Roy Rickhuss, the general secretary of Community and a member of the TUC General Council, is one of the most respected UK industrial union leaders, with 40 years’ experience negotiating for steelworkers since beginning life as a union official in the West Midlands in the 1970s.
He is not a headline hunter, but the union was one of the founding members of the Labour Party at the beginning of the 20th century. It combines members from textiles, footwear, carpet-making and white-goods manufacturers with the steelworkers who formed its original core.
For the London leadership of the Labour party who decide Brexit policy, but who have very little contact with the core working class Labour traditions north of the M25, the decision of Community and its general secretary to come out for a People’s Vote is a significant move.
Rickhuss argues: “Theresa May told us she would go in and negotiate a deal that is in the best interests of British workers and their families. It now seems that such a deal is unachievable or may not exist. That is why my trade union, Community, is backing the campaign to secure a people’s vote on the final deal.”
Demand a vote on the Brexit deal
Click here to find out moreThe chair of the 20-strong Community group of MPs in the Commons is Caroline Flint, one of Doncaster’s three Labour MPs. She has attracted attention for her view that the Brexit vote must be accepted despite the clear evidence it was improperly won, since the Electoral Commission referred Leave campaign organisers to the police for a criminal investigation, and fined the campaign the maximum amount for breaking its referendum spending cap.
A key pro-Brexit Labour MP who is sponsored by Community is John Mann, MP for Bassetlaw, who has been vocal in arguing that Brexit has to be accepted, although on different terms from those proposed by the Government. Another leading figure is John Healey, the shadow Housing Minister, and a respected senior Labour MP from South Yorkshire, who campaigned for Remain but now argues that Brexit should be delivered.
It does not follow that because a Labour MP is linked to a trade union he or she has to follow every policy the union puts forward. But Community-sponsored MPs also include strong voices critical of Brexit such as Angela Smith from South Yorkshire, Redcar’s Anna Turley, Wolverhampton’s Pat McFadden and Stephen Kinnock in South Wales.
Community’s initiative has broken the logjam of core Labour movement support for a People’s Vote and Labour MPs will look seriously at the trade union’s argument.
Rickhuss argues that there is no upside from Brexit for British manufacturing workers.
“Many Community members work in the UK’s manufacturing sector, which sends half its exports into the EU. Any deal that makes this trade more difficult will surely see those exports decline,” he writes. “Meanwhile, the sluggish economy will hit sectors such as construction particularly hard, which in turn will hurt foundation industries such as steel. Those workers working in light manufacturing and consumer goods are also set to lose out, with estimates suggesting that textiles, clothing and footwear production will see the largest decline post-Brexit.”
Rickhuss has set out his arguments in the Independent. The question now is how many other union leaders follow him and how many industrial region Labour MPs accept his argument.
Edited by Quentin Peel
Great to see common sense breaking out amongst the unions…who are realising that they have been sold a pup by a bunch of politicians who do not have their members best interests at heart. When clowns like Grease-Mogg have said ” Regulations that were “good enough for India” could be good enough for the UK – arguing that the UK could go “a very long way” to rolling back high EU standards.” you do have to wonder what took the unions so long. The threat to their members is so obvious. Now, all we need are some politicians to start thinking about their place in history, or indeed, their pensions and the People’s Vote should be assured.
All good stuff. I noticed that there is another petition iniated by the Independent, running alongside the People’s Vote. The former has 600k+ names, the latter has 360k+ names. We need to be coordinated… this could be a total of 1million names or 600k if signed by the same people. Beyond my belt size to sort this out; I would hate to see another campaign lost through a weak message.
People’s vote is actually 267k …my mistake. Same point applies about having two petitions.
I wonder if this union has actually consulted its members about this decision? Doubt it.
Strange Mr Rickhauss backs a people’s vote as the vast majority of his membership based mainly in Scunthorpe and Wales voted leave and even members of his NEC voted leave .
On this issue he does not represent his Steelworkers membership .