In September 2015, we were pleased to accept the invitation to serve on an Economic Advisory Council (EAC). We felt strongly that it represented an opportunity to develop a vision of a progressive economic policy for Britain that departed from the destructive austerity narrative. Our collective view is that the EAC, and its various policy review groups, has indeed had a positive influence on the development of Labour’s economic policy, and we hope it continues whatever the result of current divisions.
We have always seen this body as providing advice to the Labour party as a whole, and not as an endorsement of particular individuals within it. For example we all share the view that the EU referendum result is a major disaster for the UK, and we have felt unhappy that the Labour leadership has not campaigned more strongly to avoid this outcome. We believe it is now crucial to find a way to resolve the economic and political impasse with the EU in a way that brings the least damage possible to the UK economy and those of our neighbours. We will be honoured to advise the Labour Party in the future, should our advice be sought once the current situation is resolved.
Diane Elson
Mariana Mazzucato
Anastasia Nesvetailova
Ann Pettifor
Simon Wren-Lewis
I think it is a great pity that such people as yourselves have been mislead. I quote here from a referendum blog from the Guardian, wherein Angela Eagle states the following:
“Jeremy [Corbyn] is up and down the country, pursuing an itinerary that would make a 25-year-old tired, he has not stopped. We are doing our best, but if we are not reported, it is very difficult. This whole thing is about Tory big beasts having a battle like rutting stags, but it’s far more important, this vote, than any of that.”
The link to the article is here. http://www.theguardian.com/politics/live/2016/jun/13/eu-referendum-live-labour-remain-campaign-final-10-days-vote?page=with:block-575ed486e4b0aa348f1cc33f
I feel that as professionals you should distance yourselves quickly from the demonisation of Jeremy. He and John McDonnell have done more than any other politicians to open the discussion with economists and the general public in my life time, I have attended some of the events.
It would be a great pity to have professionals being mislead like this. Labour needs ideas to be aired in public and we should not stop, most of the right wing politicians would never engage in the discourse that is happening now.
What does this mean? That the five of you quit until after Brexit is resolved?