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Published by the International Committee of the Fourth International (ICFI)

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The UK Brexit Referendum

Britain’s Labour shadow chancellor seeks to appease anti-Corbyn coup plotters

By Julie Hyland, 2 July 2016

The highest echelons of the state have determined that a refashioned Labour Party may be the best means of reversing the vote for Britain to exit the EU.

China grapples with implications of Brexit vote

By Peter Symonds, 2 July 2016

The British vote to leave the EU has undermined China’s strategy of using the UK as a stepping stone to Europe and has broader geopolitical ramifications.

Brexit vote heightens tensions in Europe

By Peter Schwarz, 1 July 2016

Last week’s vote by the United Kingdom has been met by an intensified drive by Germany to exert dominance over the European continent.

Australian workers and students voice concerns on Brexit

By our reporters, 1 July 2016

Many of those interviewed expressed opposition to the whipping up of nationalism and xenophobia.

The anti-Corbyn coup and calls for a second referendum on Brexit

Statement of the Socialist Equality Party (Britain), 1 July 2016

The strategic interests of the ruling elite in Britain and the US—especially as regards NATO and its military provocations against Russia—require that the referendum result be rescinded.

EU maintains hard line toward UK over Brexit

By Johannes Stern, 30 June 2016

While officially expressing dismay over the result of the Brexit referendum, EU leaders now see it as an opportunity to turn the EU into an aggressive military power.

Candidates line up in UK Conservative leadership contest

By Julie Hyland, 30 June 2016

Former London Mayor Boris Johnson today quit the leadership race after it became clear that not only was he unacceptable to the Remain wing of the party, but he was considered unreliable by the euro-sceptics.

Brexit vote highlights deepening crisis in global economy

By Nick Beams, 30 June 2016

The Brexit outcome has revealed acute problems in the “quantitative easing” program that the world’s major central banks have used to sustain the global financial system over the past eight years.

UK Labour right wing mounts leadership challenge against Corbyn

By Chris Marsden, 30 June 2016

The coup against Corbyn is considered vital to the ability of the British ruling class to safeguard its interests globally.

Thousands turn up for cancelled “Remain in EU” rallies throughout the UK

By our reporters, 30 June 2016

The purpose of those addressing the rally was to exploit the frustration and anger of young people at the referendum result and its consequences.

Tensions erupt at Brussels summit on British exit from EU

By Johannes Stern and Alex Lantier, 29 June 2016

The European Union is aggressively pressing for Britain to speed up the process of withdrawal and renegotiation of treaties and trade relations with the 27-member bloc.

Brexit crisis poses disintegration of United Kingdom

By Steve James, 29 June 2016

The Scottish National Party is sounding out the EU and its member states to explore whether Scotland could retain EU membership if the UK leaves.

After Brexit: Berlin calls for German-European military union

By Johannes Stern, 29 June 2016

Following the initial shock over the result of the Brexit referendum, the German elite is attempting to exploit the crisis to exert their economic and political dominance within the EU.

EU leaders call for rapid British exit and European military buildup

By Alex Lantier, 28 June 2016

The European Union is making plans for increased austerity and an independent military policy, setting the stage for explosive international conflicts, including with the US.

Financial market turmoil continues in wake of Brexit vote

By Nick Beams, 28 June 2016

British government leaders have issued statements claiming they have the situation under control, but to no avail as financial markets continue to plummet.

Australian politicians appeal for “strong government” after Brexit vote

By Mike Head, 28 June 2016

Nervous pleas for a “stable” majority government have been accompanied by corporate media demands for harsh austerity measures.

Oppose the coup plot against Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn

By Statement of the Socialist Equality Party (Britain), 28 June 2016

With the ruling elite facing its deepest political crisis since World War 2, the highest echelons of the British state have concluded that no oppositional sentiment to austerity, militarism and war can be tolerated.

After Brexit, mounting warnings of global slump and financial panic

By Andre Damon, 27 June 2016

The ongoing sell-off in global financial markets comes amid a chorus of warnings by international institutions that the world economy faces a deepening crisis.

The way forward after the Brexit referendum

By Statement by the Socialist Equality Party (UK), 27 June 2016

The only certainty in the aftermath of the Leave vote is that the assault on the working class will be intensified, as the ruling elite demand greater sacrifices in the “national interest.”

Clinton seizes on Brexit vote to tout her credentials as defender of Washington’s global interests

By Patrick Martin, 27 June 2016

Clinton responded to the British vote to leave the EU by reaffirming her claim to be the most qualified commander-in-chief for American imperialism in a crisis situation.

Brexit vote intensifies conflicts within European Union

By Alex Lantier, 25 June 2016

The process of European integration begun just after World War II, intended to build political institutions that would make a new world war impossible, is unraveling.

UK vote to Leave the European Union triggers economic and political crisis

By Chris Marsden and Julie Hyland, 25 June 2016

The result of the UK referendum has sent a seismic shock not only through Britain, but also through Europe and the world.

UK “leave” vote batters financial markets

By Andre Damon, 25 June 2016

The British pound plunged to a 31-year low, European stock markets crashed and US markets erased their gains for the year following the Brexit vote.

UK vote to leave the European Union triggers economic and political crisis

By Chris Marsden and Julie Hyland, 24 June 2016

The result of the UK referendum has sent a seismic shock, not only through Britain but Europe and the world.

Fascist killer of Labour MP Jo Cox to stand trial for murder

By Robert Stevens, 24 June 2016

Cox was due to present a report in parliament warning of the dangers posed by “nationalist radicals” before she was killed by a fascist sympathiser last week.

The Brexit referendum: A turning point in European politics

By Chris Marsden, 23 June 2016

To conceal both camps’ policies of class war, trade war and military war, and to sow divisions within the working class, the referendum has increasingly focused on whipping up nationalism and xenophobia.

South Asian ruling elites rattled by Brexit campaign

By Wasantha Rupasinghe, 23 June 2016

Commentators have generally backed the “Remain” campaign and expressed dismay about the damaging economic consequences of a British exit from the EU.

Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition make nationalist case for Brexit

By Robert Stevens, 23 June 2016

The Socialist Party and Socialist Workers Party serve to blind the working class to the dangers posed by the strengthening of the most right-wing sections of the bourgeoisie through the referendum campaign.

Galloway and pseudo-left defend alliance with UKIP and Tory right at Brexit referendum meeting

By a reporter, 22 June 2016

The meeting organized by the "Left Leave" campaign exposed the line-up of the pseudo-left with right-wing nationalist and fascistic forces.

Chris Marsden speaks at the Humboldt University in Berlin

The Brexit referendum and the struggle for socialism

22 June 2016

Chris Marsden, the national secretary of the Socialist Equality Party (UK) explained why the party is calling for an active boycott of Thursday’s referendum.

Ahead of vote on UK membership in EU

Corbyn and Cameron use killing of Cox to cement their alliance against Brexit

By Robert Stevens, 21 June 2016

Since Jo Cox’s death, Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has said nothing about the evidence of the killer’s association with far-right groups tied to sections of the Tory party.

MP’s murder exposes role of neo-fascists in British Leave campaign

By Robert Stevens, 20 June 2016

The murder of British Labour MP Jo Cox underscores the frenzy of nationalism and xenophobia being whipped up around Thursday’s referendum on EU membership.

The EU referendum and the murder of British MP Jo Cox

By Julie Hyland, 18 June 2016

The murder of Cox has starkly revealed the fascistic character of the forces being whipped up around this week’s referendum on British membership in the EU, particularly by the Leave campaign.

The significance of the Brexit referendum for the European working class

By Peter Schwarz, 18 June 2016

Peter Schwarz, secretary of the International Committee of the Fourth International, delivered the following speech in London to a June 14 public meeting sponsored by the SEP (UK).

UK Labour MP Jo Cox murdered in midst of Brexit referendum campaign

By Chris Marsden, 17 June 2016

The brutal murder of a Labour parliamentarian by a man who allegedly yelled “Britain first” takes place amid a hysterical campaign of right-wing nationalism and xenophobia.

Fears of UK exit from the EU fuel global panic

By Robert Stevens, 17 June 2016

The release of polls showing a likely “leave” result in the referendum on membership in the EU has fueled a stock sell-off and prompted worried statements by central banks.

ICFI Secretary Peter Schwarz speaks in London on Brexit referendum

By our reporter, 16 June 2016

Schwarz’s remarks, which were live-streamed over the internet, drew online listeners from India, Sri Lanka, America, Poland, Germany and France.

For an active boycott of the Brexit referendum!

Peter Schwarz, secretary of the ICFI, at June 14 London public meeting to be live streamed

13 June 2016

Peter Schwarz will speak on the historical experience of German workers, who paid a terrible price for the subordination of the Communist Party of Germany to nationalism in the 1930s.

For an active boycott of the Brexit referendum: Socialist internationalism versus left nationalism

By Chris Marsden, 13 June 2016

The following is a speech by Chris Marsden, national secretary of the Socialist Equality Party (UK), on the party’s campaign for an active boycott of the June 23 referendum on Britain’s membership in the European Union.

The Brexit referendum from a European perspective

By Peter Schwarz, 13 June 2016

Reading the commentary in the international press concerning the referendum on a British exit from the European Union, one gets a sense of a ruling class that has lost its bearings.

UK trade union federation calls for Britain to remain in EU

By Robert Stevens, 11 June 2016

The Trades Union Congress is backing the Remain campaign on the cynical basis that it is necessary to protect workers from the attacks of the Conservative government.

Cameron/Farage debate on EU dominated by anti-immigrant rhetoric

By Robert Stevens, 9 June 2016

Tuesday night’s TV debate between Prime Minister David Cameron and UK Independence Party leader Nigel Farage centred on who could more aggressively scapegoat migrants.

UK: Why are the Socialist Workers Party and the Greens debating the merits of the European Union?

By Robert Stevens, 8 June 2016

The stated defence by the Green Party and the Socialist Workers Party of “open borders” and the rights of migrants is a charade.

The case for an active boycott of the Brexit referendum

By Chris Marsden, 7 June 2016

The struggle for a socialist Britain within a United Socialist States of Europe is a burning necessity for workers who, in every country, face the same class enemy and the same problems of austerity and war.

UK: The political fraud of the Another Europe is Possible campaign

By Julie Hyland, 7 June 2016

The campaign makes no mention of the Cameron government’s austerity agenda that has seen millions of jobs destroyed, wages cut, welfare slashed to the bone and migrants denied entry to the UK.

UK Labour leader Corbyn stakes his future on vote to remain in EU

By Chris Marsden, 6 June 2016

Corbyn is towing the line dictated by the dominant sections of British imperialism, which see membership of the EU as essential for securing Britain’s economic interests.

Anti-migrant propaganda dominates UK Brexit referendum

By Chris Marsden, 3 June 2016

Both the Remain and Leave campaigns for the June 23 referendum on UK membership of the European Union are pushing anti-migrant measures.

Divisions over Europe tear through UK Conservative Party

By Robert Stevens, 31 May 2016

Several leading Tory euro-sceptics made unprecedented attacks on Prime Minister David Cameron over the weekend.

Anti-migrant rhetoric dominates debate on UK membership in the EU

By Robert Stevens, 28 May 2016

The Leave campaign is focusing on whipping up hysteria over immigration.

Military and security figures take opposing sides in UK referendum on European Union

By Chris Marsden, 26 May 2016

The various military officials and spy chiefs backing either side in the Brexit campaign are all committed to defending British and US imperialism, particularly in the conflict with Russia.

The Brexit referendum, socialism and the European working class

By Julie Hyland, 26 May 2016

The following is a speech delivered to public meetings by Julie Hyland, assistant national secretary of the SEP, on the Party’s campaign for an active boycott of the referendum on the UK’s membership in the European Union.

Meeting in Sheffield on June 7

For an active boycott of the Brexit referendum!—Socialism versus left nationalism

26 May 2016

The Socialist Equality Party is holding a series of public meetings in cities across the UK in May and June as part of its campaign for an active boycott of the June 23 referendum.

UK: Left Leave campaign lays out its nationalist agenda in Brexit referendum

By Chris Marsden, 25 May 2016

In speech after speech at a recent Left Leave meeting, the national division of the working class was portrayed as the sole means of opposing imperialism.

George Galloway backs “Left Leave” and urges alliance with UK Independence Party

By Chris Marsden, 23 May 2016

”Left Leave” is a mechanism for transmitting the most degraded and right-wing nationalist sentiments into the working class.

IMF warns against British exit from EU

By Julie Hyland, 14 May 2016

IMF head Christine Lagarde warned that in the event of a vote to leave the European Union, the UK could enter into recession.

UK Brexit referendum campaign dominated by xenophobia and war rhetoric

By Chris Marsden, 12 May 2016

The referendum campaign has exposed the dangers confronting the working class as a result of the growing conflict between the imperialist powers.

UK: Corbyn launches Labour’s effort to cover for right-wing Remain campaign

By Chris Marsden, 11 May 2016

With the Conservatives divided, the Labour Party’s ability to deliver its 9 million voters is considered essential for the sections of the ruling class supporting a Remain vote on Brexit.

UK prime minister invokes militarism and war to argue for EU membership

By Julie Hyland, 10 May 2016

Cameron made clear that he was speaking not only on behalf of the UK, but for all the major imperialist powers

UK Leave and Remain campaigns seek to exploit fears over future of National Health Service

By Tony Robson, 21 April 2016

The Remain and Leave campaigns are led by parties that have cut NHS and opened up public health care for privatisation.

Rail unions declare support for UK exit from the EU

By Michael Barnes and Julie Hyland, 19 April 2016

The Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers union and the train drivers union ASLEF claim EU membership is “bad for Britain in general and bad for the railway in particular.”

The political significance of the campaign for an active boycott of the Brexit referendum

By Chris Marsden, 18 April 2016

The SEP urges a rejection of both the defenders of the European Union and the advocates of a British exit from the EU in the official Remain and Leave campaigns.

Labour’s Corbyn pledges to lead pro-EU referendum campaign in UK

By Chris Marsden, 15 April 2016

The intervention by Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn in favour of Britain remaining in the EU is vital for the ruling elite amid growing popular hatred of the Cameron government.

Socialist Party’s TUSC electoral front seeks official “Leave” status in UK Brexit Referendum

By Julie Hyland, 9 April 2016

The Trade Union and Socialist Coalition and the Socialist Party are promoting “left nationalism” in the service of a faction of the British bourgeoisie.

The class issues in the Brexit referendum

By Chris Marsden, 7 April 2016

The following is an amended version of a report delivered March 26 by Chris Marsden, the national secretary of the Socialist Equality Party (UK), to a party aggregate in Sheffield.

The pseudo-left’s nationalist Leave campaign in the UK Brexit referendum

Part Two

By Chris Marsden, 19 March 2016

Against the pseudo-left, the Socialist Equality Party intervenes in the referendum campaign in order to clarify the fundamental historical and programmatic issues raised by the struggle against austerity, militarism and war.

The pseudo-left’s nationalist “Leave” campaign in the UK Brexit referendum

Part one

By Chris Marsden, 18 March 2016

The Socialist Party has played the central role in glossing over the nationalist opposition to immigration on the part of Trade Unionists Against the European Union and its predecessors.

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn deletes criticisms of EU from his web site

By Robert Stevens, 14 March 2016

There is nothing that Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn once proclaimed as an issue of political principle that he will not jettison.

Brexit referendum: Remain camp backs European Union of austerity and militarism

By Robert Stevens and Chris Marsden, 10 March 2016

The support of the dominant sections of Britain’s financial and business elite for remaining in the European Union is based on maintaining trade links within the world’s largest single market.

Campaign for UK exit from the EU dominated by nationalism and big business interests

By Robert Stevens, 8 March 2016

The “Leave” campaign speaks for a layer of the British ruling elite that regards the EU as a constraint on the pursuit of Britain’s national interests.

Brexit vote sparks crisis for Scottish National Party

By Steve James, 7 March 2016

SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon has come forward as the most craven booster of the political bona-fides of the European Union.

Cameron and Hollande beat anti-immigrant drum to oppose Brexit

By Robert Stevens, 5 March 2016

French officials threatened that a British exit from the European Union could lead France to stop blocking refugees from traveling via Calais to Britain.

An exchange on the SEP’s call for an active boycott of the Brexit referendum

By Chris Marsden, 2 March 2016

We are posting here replies to two comments from readers on the statement published this week by the Socialist Equality Party.

For an active boycott of the Brexit referendum!

Statement of the Socialist Equality Party, British section of the International Committee of the Fourth International

29 February 2016

UK generals intervene to oppose Brexit

By Robert Stevens, 27 February 2016

The letter by 13 military officials is testament to the role of the European Union in the militarist agenda of the main European powers.

Nationalism and “Brexit”

By Chris Marsden, 23 February 2016

The first responsibility of a socialist in the referendum on “Brexit” is to reject all appeals for working people to fall in behind one or another faction of the bourgeoisie fighting over which strategy best upholds the interests of British imperialism.