Leave: Elaine Smith, MSP for Central Scotland

One of the worst aspects of the current EU debate is the extent to which it has been dominated by right-wing politicians debating immigration with frequently racist undertones.

At times it has seemed to be more about a fight in the Tory ranks than a proper debate on the UK’s future.

There’s always been a legitimate left wing case for leaving the EU based on the fact it’s a capitalist trade agreement and undemocratic with unelected commissioners making decisions.

A key argument of Remain seems to be that things may get worse if we leave, ignoring of course the role that the EU has played in intensifying austerity and reactionary politics across the

EU. Just look to the Greek tragedy and the 5 0 pe r cent youth unemployment in Spain to see what the EU has done to those countries. In Britain, advances in society were built by Labour governments on public ownership of key utilities and industries, the creation of welfare states, redistributive taxation and management by the state of the economy to ensure full employment. Some concessions to workers’ rights were of course made over the years but these tended to be individual as opposed to collective rights. For example, TUPE was a small concession to limit resistance to the far harsher EUimposed privatisation and competitive tendering processes.

It’s important to be aware of the limited nature of any concessions: key areas in relation to the class struggle – like pay and the right to strike – are not included.

It is the non- EU- based European Court of Human Rights, the ECHR, which has occasionally delivered progressive judgements in these areas and we would remain a part of that. By contrast the EU Court of Justice, which we would leave behind, has directly limited trade union rights.

The reality is that most of the key rights we still enjoy, like paid holidays and equal pay, stem not from the EU but from struggles undertaken collectively by trade unions in this country.

In terms of the EU’s privatisation agenda, the Scottish government claims it was EU legislation that enforced the retendering of CalMac with the threat of privatisation. This is one of the reasons the RMT union are keen for members to vote Leave.

The EU is not Europe: it’s a political construct which undermines democratic national governments.

Within the Labour Party, there has always been mixed views. Dennis Skinner MP, intends to vote Leave whereas many of my Labour colleagues will vote Remain. Despite this, the debate within Labour has been good natured and comradely.

In contrast, the SNP do not seem to be allowed to dissent on the matter, and the Tories are in full out civil war with a bitter leadership battle being fought out through it by proxy.

I believe whatever way people vote they should be aware of the true nature of the EU.

As the late Tony Benn said: “When I saw how the EU was developing, it was very obvious what they had in mind was not democratic.”

He went on to say “…. I am in favour of democracy.”

Well so am I, and for that reason I will be voting Leave.