Politics is not a spectator sport - it is up to us to defend democracy

Politics is not a spectator sport. The Government intend to obstruct Parliamentarians seeking to avert a “no deal” Brexit – for which no one voted.

The objective of the most reactionary Government of our lifetimes is to extract the UK economy from the European Union in order to find a new role, subordinate to Trump’s USA, as a low-tax, low-wage, low-regulation haven for global capital.

This presents all manner of challenges. Those MPs who have spent the last three years polishing their anti-Brexit credentials will need to decide whether to support a motion of no confidence before the Government can achieve its goal.

Liberals and Tory “rebels” will have to decide whether their opposition to a socialist-led interim Government is more important than their opposition to a “no deal” Brexit.

Labour MPs (and former Labour MPs) who – mistakenly – believe in “honouring the result” of the 2016 referendum will have to choose between petty nationalism and loyalty to the Party which made them.

However, this is not simply a matter for MPs. Parliamentary democracy does not exist because of things which were said or done in the Palace of Westminster.

Parliamentarians did not create our Parliamentary democracy, and cannot be relied upon to defend it.

Our ancestors fought for democracy, at Peterloo, and in the struggles of the Chartists and Suffragettes.

What we need from our Labour Party and movement (which is far far more than our representation in Parliament) is not simply a motion of no confidence in Johnson’s illegitimate Government, but a mass mobilisation – on the streets – in defence of democracy.

This is about much more than the UK’s membership of the EU – this is about defending democracy in order to be able to defend the interests of our people. If we haven’t heard a clear call from the top of the Party and the trade unions for a mass mobilisation within days it will fall to local Labour Parties and trade union branches to mobilise our members.

Politics is far too important to be left to politicians.