Commie Corbyn: Better for UK’s EU Remainers?

Comrade Corbyn is the opposition leader, yet he's reluctant to call for the second referendum other Labourites desire. Why?

Since we are starting a new academic semester, I am beginning with the basic theoretical perspectives grounding the study of international political economy--liberalism, mercantilism (economic realism) and Marxism. Arguably, few IPE topics loom larger nowadays than the United Kingdom's impending exit from the European Union: Why would such a wealthy country even think of leaving the world's most vaunted economic integration project? Alas, it seems even in the UK in 2019, us pro-European integration voices must deal with straight-up Marxists in the so-called "opposition" to Teresa May's Brexit plans. 

Recent ructions in British politics show how not much has changed from 2016. Hardline Brexiteers remain so, while Remainers have hardly changed their stripes. Most in the opposition party, Labour, are of the latter sort. Unfortunately for their lot, nobody has really stepped up to challenge the mantle of party leadership from Jeremy Corbyn. If Tony Blair represented New Labour's business-friendly liberal turn, I am afraid there is not much to be said about Corbyn. He is Ye Old[e] Labour--prehistoric almost--a remnant from a time when the party used to sing "The Red Flag" at the end of party conferences:

While a large majority of party members, according to polling, want Corbyn to actively seek a new referendum, the Labour leader has previously said it is more likely he would push to take the UK out of Europe with a different deal.

I am pretty sure Corbyn also knows lyrics to "The Internationale" by heart, but I digress...

Asked what he would want to deliver on Brexit if there were an election and he became prime minister, Corbyn said: ”At the very minimum, a customs arrangement with the European Union that gives us a say of what goes on but also avoids the whole issue of the problems of Northern Ireland, which this deal does.”

Corbyn said: “What I’m saying is we’re campaigning for a country that is brought together by investment,” adding that people were “very, very angry about the way they’ve been treated in their different communities around the country”. Pressed on whether he was campaigning to leave, Corbyn added: “We’re campaigning for a customs union.”

Asked later whether Labour would push for a second referendum in the absence of a general election, Corbyn said: “We’re then into that consideration at that point. My own view is that I would rather get a negotiated deal now if we can, to stop the danger of a no-deal exit from the EU on 29 March which would be catastrophic for industry, catastrophic for trade.”

My belief is that Corbyn makes some of the expected noises about jobs, investment and so on to at least appear mainstream That is, it's not really Brexit per se he's concerned about but its form in rhetoric. In his heart of hearts, though, I wouldn't be surprised if he's an orthodox Marxist: the EU is a neoliberal project usurping the sovereignty of European nations, not for the benefit of faceless Eurocrats like Brexiteers believe, but rather the interests of global capital.

There is only one real way to end this EU exploitation of the British for true Marxists, and so Corbyn is decidedly out of touch with his Labour colleagues pressing for a second referendum that would likely result in the UK remaining in the EU (which a true Communist would abhor). Ultimately, there is no better explanation for the evasions Corbyn makes as to why he isn't on board with calling for a second referendum like so many in Labour. Although his rationale may differ, like the Brexiteers he really does prefer the UK to be out of the EU.

How to work around the opposition leader being a barely concealed Brexiteer is no small problem for Remainers to solve.