Home>“Brexit was not a nasty accident”
13.10.2016
“Brexit was not a nasty accident”
On 7 October 2016, former Labour Party leader Ed Miliband was at Sciences Po to speak at a MaxPo-sponsored event about "Brexit", the UK’s exit from the European Union (EU) following the referendum held in June 2016.
Miliband spoke to a packed and engaged audience of students about three main points: Why Brexit? What should the Labour Party do now? What are Brexit’s wider implications?
Brexit: A highly unexpected outcome
Miliband began his talk by commenting on "the enormity of the vote in terms of Britain’s place in the world". He noted that the whole of the establishment—politicians, economists, business, trade unions, the international community, scientists, etc.—supported the Remain vote, which was, in fact, the anticipated outcome. The overall result of 51.9 percent to leave the EU vs. 48.1 percent to remain, with a 72 percent turnout that far exceeded expectations, was therefore a highly unexpected outcome.
"A deep, profound vote"
Miliband stated that the result of the referendum was a "deep, profound vote […] not a nasty accident". According to the politician, the gloomy public sentiment would have manifested itself in another form even if a referendum had not been called. He said the vote was mainly an expression of two core things—class and identity. The leave vote was about defying the establishment and the political elite; it was a disgruntled expression of economic disenchantment.
Winners vs. losers of globalisation
In fact, many people felt that they had nothing to lose. Miliband cited one woman who had voted to leave the EU because she wanted a new beginning for her grandchildren. In other words, those who voted Leave thought that their quality of life had deteriorated over time, whereas Remain voters did not. The Leave camp's lasting refrain was "take back control". Miliband maintained that the "winners" of globalisation voted to keep things as they were but the "losers" voted to take a risk and deviate sharply from the status quo.
The vote must be accepted
Miliband offered his vision of "where to go from here". He said that the result of the referendum must be accepted since a refusal to do so would only make matters worse. It would exacerbate negative public sentiment if the political elite did not heed the result, when the original critique reflected by the vote was that the elite does not listen to the people.
"A fair Brexit"
Miliband advocated a "fair Brexit", which should avoid "doing serious damage to the economy". He stated that "the UK is more powerful because of the European Union" and that the extent to which the UK will work with Europe remains an "open question". He went on to say that "Europe will be much stronger if Britain can still be a part of its orbit" due to shared values and trade with the continent.
Message of optimism
Miliband ended his talk on a positive note, offering an optimistic vision for the future: "The task of progressive politics today is to not succumb to gloom!"
We are now in "uncharted territory", which he said is "not a great divorce" but rather reason for hope. There is now a greater chance for a "multi-speed Europe" and there are key issues that unite, rather than divide, the Remain and Leave voters, such as "quality of work, housing, and children’s chances in life".
Text by Allison Rovny, Administrative Director of MaxPo.
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