As the Star editorial rightly said on Thursday, the
"humiliation heaped on Hammond and May as a result of their U-turn emphasises
that their government is vulnerable" (Morning Star,16/03/17). May`s weak
leadership, with many of her apparent wishes outvoted in cabinet, adds to the
Tories` problems, as does her inept handling of the Scottish Nationalists`
desire for their second referendum.
The trouble is that May will head the Brexit
negotiations, and anyone who thinks a good deal for British trade and workers is
on the cards needs to re-consider. Britain cannot be seen to emerge from the
talks with a beneficial deal, as this would encourage all would-be Leavers in
each of the 27 EU member states, to copy Britain. With no acceptable deal
available, May and Hammond have both threatened that the UK`s response would be
to lower taxes and decrease regulations even further, matching Ireland`s 12%
corporate tax levels, for instance, to "encourage investment", and to "free up
employers" from EU red tape, like the rules which limit hours in their workers`
days.
As the low tax, less regulation regime has
been the stated aim of Tories since getting into power in 2010, and the real
objective behind the austerity policies, which May and her cronies still support
and enact, the Brexit vote has now fuelled the Tories with another excuse to
carry out the policy of "shrinking the state" back to levels last seen in the
1930s.
The Tories may well be "wobbling" at the
moment, but Brexit has played into their hands!
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