Labour members should be allowed a proper debate on the EU referendum

The Labour Party is a democratic party that has always encouraged debate. Under our new Leader, almost every area of policy is being discussed in meetings up and down the land. But, as a leaked email revealed on Newsnight yesterday showed, the Labour machine is trying to stop any debate on our EU membership. It is very unfortunate that this approach is being taken in this age of new politics.

Every Constituency Labour Party knows that Labour is leaking votes to UKIP. In countless Labour constituencies UKIP is now the second party and many good Labour councillors are facing a real challenge in May’s local elections. To stand idly by and ignore this political threat is an irresponsible act.  Up to 40% of Labour voters oppose our EU membership and around 50% of our working class vote are set to vote to leave the EU. We cannot simply ignore these political realities.

Labour Leave spokespersons have been turned away from meetings, which they have been invited to. The Labour Leave campaign has faced attacks from Labour MEPs and members of the Labour Movement for Europe. Labour Leave will not respond to these attacks, as we believe debate should always take place in a comradely fashion; we are democrats after all.

Labour MPs and party figures will not determine this referendum, if that were the case then Labour Leave would be overwhelmingly defeated. The referendum will be determined by millions of voters, including Labour voters up and down the country. In this referendum campaign it is irrelevant as to how many MP’s have signed up to whatever campaign they support, as they only have one vote.

Current polls and forecasts are showing that despite the fact a majority of the Parliamentary Labour Party support EU membership, the Labour vote is much more evenly split.  This is also the case among ordinary trade union members too. The Labour Party has always been a broad church; surely this very significant minority must be respected and listened to?

Following a rushed debate at Conference the Labour Party voted to stay in the EU before even knowing the terms of the renegotiation. Labour members up and down the country have not yet made up their minds as to how they will vote, not least because they haven’t seen the terms of membership.  Why is the Labour Party machine trying to stifle debate and prevent our members from engaging in political discussion on this issue?

If the Labour ‘Remain’ campaign are so confident of their arguments and convictions then there should be no issue in advocating them against Labour ‘Leave’ campaigners. We have our beliefs and our convictions and we have very happy to engage in debate with those who disagree with us. We are all Labour members and we should be strong enough and capable enough to discuss our differences.

Labour Leave will be making the democratic socialist case for leaving the European Union. In the coming weeks we will be expanding our campaign team and campaign resource. If invited, we will always attend Labour meetings to make the case for leaving the European Union. We hope, in our democratic tradition that the political apparatus of the party will not attempt to silence us.

Cllr Brendan Chilton is General Secretary of Labour Leave