news analysis: no to euro gets regional boost
WORKERS, APRIL 2003 ISSUE
ADVERTISED AS GROUNDBREAKING, the gathering in Exeter in late February of regional opponents of the euro was businesslike and progressive. It sought to bring together representatives of all political persuasions to give them the chance to exchange views and prepare the ground for an effective coalition during a euro referendum campaign this year, in 2004 or beyond.
The introduction stressed that although already a ‘people’s movement’, the NO campaign needed to maintain this status. It was definitely regarded as a ‘cross party’ coalition.
The Green Party, Liberal Democrat Party, Campaign Against a Federal Europe, New Europe, Business for Sterling, the Communist Party of Britain (M-L) , and numerous trade unions and local councillors were present. One Labour MP gave his apologies, confirming the breadth of potential.
A screening of the NO campaign advertisement currently showing in cinemas throughout the country preceded the main contribution made by the Liberal Democrat MP for Torridge John Burnett.
Burnett emphasised that Britain is one nation within a Europe of independent states and that any referendum debate could involve many topics the vote would be won or lost on the economic issues.
He continued by exposing the unelected, unaccountable European Central Bank, gave examples of the ERM and ‘Snake fiasco’ of the 1970s as evidence that the Eurozone is not flexible in fiscal policy. He said that monetary union could only work if embedded in political union.
Contributions from the floor of the meeting were thoughtful. A member of the Fire Brigades Union said that constitutional and cultural issues were important and must be focused on during the campaign. The control of capitalism overshadowed any debate in his view, and went on to pre-suppose that membership of the euro could be more palatable than membership of the United states of America on the grounds that the EU in small instances exerts control over capital. He might have said control on behalf of capital!
The second speaker was Alan Laing (National NO Campaign/New Europe), who gave a briefing on the position of the trade unions, the Labour Party and the NO Campaign on the Referendum subject.
Forty Labour MPs could put their name to the NO Campaign, and despite attempts by the BBC to bias the debate during interviews, the pro-single currency machine is not working.
He methodically listed the trade unions and their positions. There is a website of ‘manufacturing against the euro’ to counteract the Amicus leadership’s slavish subservience to Blair. The successor to Bill Morris at the T&G could help to place this union firmly in the NO camp.
The tabloid press, apart from the Daily Mirror, are allying with the NO camp, and despite questions from the floor of this meeting regarding the role of the press Laing assured the meeting that they would not hinder the NO Campaign.
Current polls put the no vote as high as 60%.
This successful first gathering could lead on to sustainable building of the ‘people’s movement’ for Britain on Europe.