Thread by @richardmarcj

In the 1980s, a majority of Labour MEPs were eurosceptic. 74% of them signed a document sent to the NEC in 1986 urging Labour to maintain its policy of EEC withdrawal.

It was written by Labour MEP leader Alf Lomas, who represented London in the European Parliament.

Excerpts:🧵

'The Labour Government that will be elected in Britain at the next election will be faced with tremendous problems…as well as the havoc created by the Tories, Labour will be confronted by obstacles imposed by our membership of the European Communities...'

'...essential measures like import planning, exchange controls, selective public investment in industry and services, reducing indirect taxation, continued support for nationalised industries...could be declared illegal because they conflict with the Treaty of Rome...'

'We believe in State aids to essential public services and special assistance to certain sectors of the economy in order to protect jobs, expand employment and improve living standards...'

'...Thus membership of the European Communities could prevent us taking the measures which are essential to restoring Britain’s economic health...Labour cannot allow Britain’s recovery to be hampered by such restrictions...'

'It is for that reason we question Britain’s membership of the EC and call for a return to the British Parliament of the powers we lost when we joined the EC...We believe in restoring to our national parliament the final say in all matters affecting the people of our country...'

'The British Labour Group in the European Parliament, like the Labour Party itself, are international socialists and we are committed to help the development of socialist policies in Britain, in Europe and throughout the world'

/end