The EU referendum discussions we should have had

Monday’s Sky TV Q&A with Jeremy Corbyn shows that there is a desire for a serious discussion on the EU referendum that has been generally unmet in the establishment media coverage.

Here was the Labour leader being asked questions by an audience of under-35s which took the debate to a far higher level than the normal ‘Boris and Dave’ show. ‘How would you fulfil your pledge to renationalise the railways if EU competition laws prohibit it?’ ‘What is the case to remain in an organisation which promotes policies like TTIP which will sustain inequalities?’ ‘Wouldn’t voting to Remain lead to the privatisation of the NHS?’ were just some of the issues he had to address.

These are exactly the issues that the Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition (TUSC) has been raising in making the socialist case for exit – not, unfortunately, in a 40-minute show on a major broadcast channel, but in the snatched opportunities that have come our way.

Below are links to some recent examples of TUSC representatives arguing the socialist case against the EU.

An interview with the TUSC national chair Dave Nellist, on Warwick University Radio (click on https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=STLsPjCc75A)

The TUSC national election agent, Clive Heemskerk, taking part in a three-way debate with a Remain supporter from the Green Party and a socialist arguing for an Abstain position, under the title ‘Socialists debate the EU referendum’ (at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7d4A6N6YJPc)

And Carlisle TUSC secretary Brent Kennedy, who was invited as a panellist onto a BBC Radio Cumbria EU debate (at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0zYThKPNE5Q).

Glimpses of the EU referendum discussions we should have had…