Author Archives: Tony Harms

Tony Harms is a member in Hackney.

Towards a Referendum Programme for Remain

By Tony Harms | Mon 21st January 2019 - 11:00 am

The original remain campaign was negative and defensive. Nigel Farage, in his debate with Nick Clegg, has been described as “pushing on an open door”. Is all we can offer negatives – there is no European Army – there is no federal state – Turkey is not going to become a member – when all of these things are partly untrue?

Our opponents will say that “remain in the EU as we were before” would be to ignore the previous result; to betray the people’s vote, to disillusion the country and cast doubt on democracy itself.

The Remain …

Posted in Op-eds | Tagged brexit, europe and reform | 35 Comments

Opinion: Towards a Strategic Narrative

By Tony Harms | Tue 26th May 2015 - 4:20 pm

What good luck to experience an event which illustrates the complete futility of a course of behaviour. Could our party be more lucky? Yet many still ascribe the defeat to the SNP , the media, whatever; despite the decline happening across the period of this parliament.

Our defeat is due to the lack of a strategic narrative The regular voter prefers a party with a clear programme which they stick to. They have been offered a party which explains its position only in relation to other parties and with unconnected policies diluted by the compromises of coalition. …

Posted in Op-eds | 29 Comments