If you are looking to the current Labour Party to seek solutions for this country following the decision to depart the European Union, then I suggest you don’t bother. Unless you believe that Diane Abbott, the loosest of all loose cannons, is in possession of the magic formula. Labour, lest we forget (and boy, I wish we could), is led by Jeremy Corbyn, whose commitment to his own party’s pro EU campaign was at best negligible and at worst woeful. Abbott suggests that Corbyn represents the “new politics of the new left”. Allow me to provide just one example.
Like it or not, the Leave side of the campaign was almost solely about the issue of immigration. Let us put to one side whether or not the Leave campaign told lies to scare people because many people are concerned about what they perceive to be the changing nature of our society. Again, try to put one side whether you believe that immigration is changing Britain and focus on this: people are worried. And when people are worried about something they talk about it and, in this instance, vote about it. But Diane Abbott, in a tortuous, turgid piece in the newspaper skirts around the issue as if it doesn’t matter. The only reference she makes to people’s concerns is this: “The idea that migrants or politicians in Brussels are the problem with modern, unequal Britain was the canard at the core of the referendum debate. Britain’s problems come from a place much closer to home.” And that, my friends, is all she wrote. This is not good enough.
Abbott’s comments come from the Gillian “that bigoted woman” Duffy school of politics. It reads: “I am right about this. There is nothing to worry about. Shut up.” I know I have said all this before so if you have had enough, then look away now but Abbott’s brazen dismissal of people’s concerns is an illustration of how so many politicians tell us what to think rather than ask us what we think.
You may have noticed that I have little time for the grammar school educated Abbott, who was so committed to socialism and equality that she sent her son to an expensive private school. In fact, every time she opens her mouth, you can almost see still more voters inching away from ever voting Labour again. She represents not the “new politics of the new left”, but the old politics of the old left from 30 years ago. The sneering, patronising chattering middle classes who always know best, the very same people who took Labour to years of fruitless, desperate opposition when they were young and clueless. Yes, Corbyn, Abbott and McDonnell were all there back in the 1980s, making the same speeches, spouting the same vacuous slogans. There is nothing new about the old Labour that has returned with a vengeance.
Immigration does matter to people. It is not good enough to dismiss and, like Abbott, ignore their concerns. Indeed, it does not help matters when Jeremy Corbyn says there should be no limit on immigration when millions of his erstwhile supporters fear the effects on their lives and communities.
Rather than pretend there is no issue with immigration, Labour should be proactive, to open a national debate on the subject. By all means explain the merits and indeed financial necessity of immigration, but let the great unwashed have their say. Then argue, sensibly, maturely, with facts, not anecdotes.
As well as Labour, there needs to be a national debate too. The country’s likely new leaders Boris Johnson, Michael Gove, Liam Fox and Priti Patel need to be part of it because the huge cuts in immigration will not just happen and when they don’t, some people will be very angry.
The people have spoken and they need to be listened to, including those of us who have a more liberal outlook on immigration. I fear the future is grim enough for this country as it is. By engaging the public, it might just make things less difficult and unpleasant.
