A Social Democratic Push Back

"In the real world across the channel, far from British craziness, vital issues are debated that our voters never hear about.

In Spain, protesters were out in force last weekend demanding a swing away from President Barroso's austerity politics.

Europe's neo-liberal leaning needs a social democratic push back.

TTIP, the US-EU trade deal under negotiation, puts at risk much of the hard-earned regulation that keeps EU food safe, water clean, cattle free of hormones, and working conditions fair.

At risk is a levelling down of standards for a single market with America, instead of an evening up."

The rest of Polly Toynbee's article has no relationship to what, until that naive final clause, are those wise words.

But SDP members (and Liberal Party members) who never joined the Liberal Democrats have long been notable for their lack of affection for the EU, on very much the grounds that Toynbee describes.

The people whom she specifically left behind in the Labour Party and to its left have, of course, always seen this reality entirely clearly.

She's getting there.