‘Marxist’ economists who came out to back Corbyn
A GROUP of economists who lined up to back Jeremy Corbyn’s tax-and-spend manifesto included prominent Marxist theorists, it emerged yesterday.
More than 120 academics wrote to the Guardian newspaper this week to claim that Labour’s economic proposals are ‘fiscally responsible and based on sound estimations’.
In contrast, they warned that Theresa May’s ‘calls for continued austerity’ would ‘slow the economy’ at the ‘crucial juncture’ of Brexit.
But an analysis by the Tories found many of the signatories are Marxist theorists. Shadow chancellor John McDonnell has previously described himself as a Marxist, and has cited Marx’s Das Kapital as a source of inspiration.
Among the hard-left economists are Professor Ben Fine, from the University of London’s SOAS, who wrote a book called Marx’s Capital. He also edited The Elgar Companion to Marxist Economics. Signatory Alfredo Saad Filho has written the books The Value of Marx: Political Economy for Contemporary Capitalism, and AntiCapitalism: a Marxist Introduction.
Other signatories who have spoken at Marxist conferences or contributed to books about Marxism include Dr Deborah Johnson of SOAS – who was published in The Elgar Companion to Marxist Economics – and Dr Elisa Van Waeyenberge.
The list also includes Oxford University geography professor Danny Dorling, who wrote a report in February accusing the Tories of killing 30,000 people thanks to their efficiency programme.
Treasury minister Simon Kirby said: ‘This is proof that Jeremy Corbyn and John McDonnell’s dangerous plans for Britain’s economy are the stuff of dreams for Marxists. But they would be a nightmare for ordinary working families who will be hit with higher taxes and see their jobs destroyed.’