Boris Johnson. Photo: Flickr/Number10
Boris Johnson’s undemocratic manoeuvres must be stopped by mass opposition on the streets, argues Lindsey German
Predictable but terrible news about Johnson proroguing Parliament. As I wrote in my briefing the last person who did this lost his head. That was back in the 1640s. This move is almost unprecedented, especially from a minority government with a prime minister who has not put himself to the electorate.
There can be little doubt Johnson made this move now because of the decision yesterday not to go for a Vote of No Confidence but to try ‘parliamentary opposition’ with a ragbag of Lib Dems, ChangeUK and others who don’t want a change of government. He has now cut dramatically short their chance of doing so.
The only response to this has to be from outside parliament – in the unions, on the streets, in Constituency Labour Parties – where we need to stand up against a Tory coup, for that is what it is.
There is no serious and reliable parliamentary opposition from those who talk Remain but prefer a no-deal Brexit to a Corbyn government.
Those on the left who have been taken in by the Lib Dems have been played by them and by Johnson. Perhaps now we’ll hear less of supporting demos led by them and Alastair Campbell, and more of highlighting the class issues which affect the vast majority of us, whether Brexit happens or not. Only by moving decisively in this direction can we break the impasse around parliament and defeat Johnson.
Lindsey German
As national convenor of the Stop the War Coalition, Lindsey was a key organiser of the largest demonstration, and one of the largest mass movements, in British history.
Her books include ‘Material Girls: Women, Men and Work’, ‘Sex, Class and Socialism’, ‘A People’s History of London’ (with John Rees) and ‘How a Century of War Changed the Lives of Women’.