The EU Referendum: less than a month to go.

The relationship between Britain and Europe has been an area of great contention within British politics for decades. Unlike other European countries where membership is an almost impregnable consensus, Britain has always been somewhat “an awkward partner”, partly due to the fact we were late in joining the European Economic Community in the 1970s, but mostly due to the fact Britain has this idea that it is above and beyond being regulated by an external body.

One of the main arguments of the Leave Campaign is “Take Control”. The question I would like to ask is this: “take control of what, exactly?” Is it taking control of immigration levels, taking control of the laws that are delegated to us from Brussels, or is it taking control of our ego? I only hope it is the latter. The argument from Eurosceptic nationalists - “make Britain Great again” is apparently going to be achieved by taking control. I won’t even apologise here when I say that Britain was never actually that great. Throughout history, what has been so great about us? We conquered the world once. Spreading disease and death, committing rape and torture, and we even established the use of concentration camps as a method of warfare (yes, believe it or not it wasn’t the Nazis that were the only ones to use them, they got the idea from us). Historical atrocities were caused either directly or indirectly by the actions of Britain. The legacy of Britain isn’t looking so great now, is it?

Our membership of the European Union has brought us economic prosperity – even if we factor in the Eurozone Crisis. Our economy before joining the EEC was in the toilet. Our industries were failing, the empire had fallen, yet we still had the nerve to complain that Europe was helping us prosper. The Leave Campaign seems to think that we should prioritise trade with the Commonwealth and the rest of the world, yet they don’t seem to acknowledge the fact that we don’t really have anything to trade with them. The nearest thing to a national industry Britain has now is the finance sector, which is something that cannot really be traded with the outside world. So what will happen? Well, the prices of things will inevitably increase, everything from food to cheap holidays to Spain. That’s right, guys – cheap holidays won’t be a thing anymore! Not only this, but the commonwealth, the US, and the rest of the world won’t prioritise trade deals with Britain when they could establish trade deals with the largest single market in the world. We’re not looking so great anymore, are we?

Immigration. Yes, that’s something to get the nationalists vexed. All of those Eastern Europeans coming over here to do the jobs we think we’re too good to do, contributing to our economy – how very dare they! Immigration pushes our economy forward, and is something that we should be proud of. The European Union’s free movement policy is something that facilitates economic growth for Britain – why would we actively give that up? Further, this policy allows us to go there. There would be an absolute uproar from Britain if the old people that have retired to Spain were subject to racial abuse, so what makes it okay for British to do the same to Europeans? We go on holiday to Europe, we go to work in Europe, and go to study in Europe. The opportunities being a member of the EU provides us are not worth giving up for the sake of some ridiculous right-wing nationalist narrative.

But of course, none of these things are worth it, given that Brussels dictates to us every aspect of our lives. News flash! They don’t. The policy the European Commission puts forward counts for less than 15% of our own policy, and is policy that provides you, ordinary people, with the opportunity to hold the UK government to account when they breach your rights. Whether they are work rights, human rights, or whatever else, it prevents your own government from causing further detriment to your opportunities. I didn’t realise that your right to holiday and maternity pay was such a bad thing! Granted, the policy that is made by the European Commission isn’t particularly democratic, given that commissioners aren’t elected. However, the policy they provide goes through a long research process, consulting with businesses, trade unions, NGOs, and lawyers. Can we say that about our elected officials that hold office right now? I’m not so sure we can. Just look at the mess Jeremy Hunt is making of the NHS, demonising junior doctors in an attempt to quietly push private health care though the back door. It seems a little bizarre to me that people find a problem with public policy based on whether or not the maker is elected, as opposed to acting as a consultant that bridges the gap between policy and the ones said policy directly affects.

I do apologise for this blog post being bias and pushing my own political agenda. But I cannot sit back and not say anything when the narratives that are being pushed by the Brexit campaigners are appealing to the hearts of people and deluding their minds with false ideas of “Great” Britain. As a country, as a nation, as individuals, we are better in Europe. And the prospect of leaving the supranational community that has helped us prosper just seems absurd. When you go to vote in this referendum, I urge you to vote with your head. We’re not a great nation by ourselves; we’re not a great country if we close the door on people that actively contribute to our economy. Being a great country does not come from appeasing the nationalistic narratives from Eurosceptics, it comes from being able to contribute something positive to the world - something that has become increasingly more likely from our membership with the European Union.

An Almost Forgotten Legacy: The Miner's Strikes of the 80s.

In the 1980s, pretty much the entirety of the coal mining work force in the north of England went on strike as an act of solidarity against the closure of their industry. They wanted job security, like we all do. The narrative of Thatcher’s government made them out to be villains of the nation; “the enemy within” was what she called them. Thatcher’s false conviction left many areas of the country in a state of disrepair, and the evidence of which can still be seen today.

I know what you’re thinking – “this happened over 30 years ago, why should we care?” Well, I’m not writing this blog post to tell you why you should care, I’m writing this to tell you why I do. Granted, I have an emotional attachment to the struggles the miners faced all those decades ago. Those struggles are a fundamental and integral part of my political affiliation and my identity. Watching the news this evening, I saw that the main solicitor, and chief investigators that investigated the police brutality during the strike were the same people that covered evidence of the Hillsborough disaster, and the worst part was that I wasn’t even surprised. My question I would like to ask is this – “why has it taken over 30 years for justice?”

My grandparents would tell me stories about those dark times, stories that will stay with me forever. I suppose that without the emotional attachment, a lot of people don’t care. It’s one of those things, isn’t it? It’s never really an issue unless it happens to you or someone you love. My grandfather was responsible for his entire family. By that, I don’t just mean my grandmother, uncle, and mother, but also his brothers and sisters whose professions and husband’s professions were in the coalmine. He was responsible for the safety of his colleagues… “The man with the lamp”. But what happened to the miners that simply couldn’t afford to strike? The ones whose savings weren’t enough to feed the hungry mouths of their children? The ones that prioritised paying the soaring energy bills over solidarity with their fellow workers? Scabs. They were run out of communities, they were abused; their children were bullied at school; their friends turned to enemies. The miner’s strike not only entrenched the narrative of the north/south divide, but divided communities, families, and friends.

I understand that there were faults on both sides. The leaders of both sides had the highest degree of false conviction that modern British history has seen. Neither side sought resolution; the only goal was what they wanted. The war that raged between Thatcher and Scargill in the 80s left people broken, in a state of poverty, and stripped them of their dignity. There is no dignity in being on the losing side, there is certainly no dignity in betraying a sector of a country and leaving them in the dirt, and there is certainly no dignity in a false conviction that left people and communities in ruin.

I will never forget the stories. I will never forget my grandfather telling me stories of children no older than my eight-year-old brother being sent out into the dark hours of the morning to rummage for coal on the abandoned fields to heat their homes and cook their breakfast. No matter how successful I may or not be in my future, I will never forget the struggles that have shaped my identity, and I will be damned if the children I may have will grow to be unsympathetic, cold-hearted robots with a false conviction. I will forever be proud of my grandfather, and I will forever be proud to be the granddaughter of a miner. The north never forgets, and nor do I.