The referendum result represents a huge blow potentially to the ruling capitalist class in Britain, its hired politicians and its imperialist allies in the EU, the US, IMF and Nato.

The response from the pro-EU right has been to attempt a double coup against democracy — against the democratic will of the people of Britain to leave the EU and against the democratic election of Jeremy Corbyn as Labour Party leader. In response, the Left must now defend the principle of democracy and turn this referendum result into a wide­scale defeat for the whole EU-IMF-Nato axis.

The EU exit vote was primarily an expression of working-class anger and frustration that government, political parties and politicians do not represent them in matters of employment, education, housing, public services, living standards and the quality of life generally. Other concerns included the erosion of sovereignty and self-government and the real or perceived consequences of mass immigration.