A Remain protestor holds a sign at a pro-EU demonstration in June 2016. Flickr/Ed Everett. Some rights reserved. During the EU referendum, one campaign group provided a counterpoint to the uninspiring cadre of centrist politicians and bankers heading Stronger In. Another Europe is Possible, with links to Momentum and to Varoufakis’ Democracy in Europe Movement (DiEM25), tried to provide the radical argument for an ‘in’ vote. Hosting events headed by figures like Owen Jones, Caroline Lucas, and Varoufakis himself, the campaign drew large crowds - but failed to take back the anti-establishment ground from the right-wing Leave movement.
Part of the problem, perhaps, was that the ultra-simplistic and shouty debate prompted by the referendum permitted no nuance or complexity. To argue for membership of an institution which you readily admit is deeply flawed is difficult. It requires saying several things at once: We should remain because it will benefit us - but only if we reform Europe - to do so we must remain. This kind of complexity was largely drowned out by rich men shouting ‘CONTROL’ and lying on buses.
There were of course many other factors at play on 23 June last year. The triumph of right-wing narratives about the economy and immigration, about power and control, has not been a purely British phenomenon. Many, many words have been printed on failure to engage, or convince, or succeed; all the while much of the English left has been busy fighting for, or over, Corbyn.
