Weekly Worker and at the Centre of the Crown’S ‘Coup of Appeasement’), Section 2: ‘The Wasted Years’ (Continued)

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Tony Greenstein explains n National Left Wing Movement workern Stand Up To Racism why the Jackie Walker n Turkey clampdown case is so important n US fall in profits No 1126 Thursday October 13 2016 Towards a Communist Party of the European Union £1/€1.10 Momentum or inertia? 2 weekly October 13 2016 1126 worker LETTERS

Letters may have been the region. shields, and we would all be expected to treacherous way. They have given has led to alienated discontent, which shortened because of We cannot grant any such critical swallow that they were responsible for ammunition to the right wing in the expresses itself in terms of support for space. Some names but unconditional support to the YPG/ the civilian casualties. As we will surely Labour Party and the mainstream media. nationalism. Thus the political situation  may have been changed Kurdish Democratic Union Party (PYD) be told shortly when the attack on Mosul By supporting and pushing for comrade is not as favourable as the economic and Rojava, whilst they remain clients of begins. And the million dead Iraqis from Walker’s demotion, they have given in relation to the tendencies for the Third-campism the USA, as Yassamine correctly points the 2003 invasion and the dead children credence to the ludicrous notion that realisation of socialism. Yassamine Mather’s article, ‘Syrian out. Inevitably they will come into more in west Aleppo and all the other Syrian the Labour Party is ‘overrun by anti- In other words, Ticktin’s perspective disaster’ (October 6), is very informative conflict with Assad and Russia. This cities under government control (at least Semites’. In effect, they are sabotaging relies on automatic impulses from on the conflicting forces in Syria and does not mean we abandon support for as many as under rebel control) get no Jeremy Corbyn and the Labour left. the economy in order to justify the the whole conflict in the region, but it the self-determination of Kurdistan, mention. We all know about the fog of And this is not the only scab possibility of change. His approach is is ultimately third-campist. but not on these terms. We must take war, but a simple Google search will get campaign they are involved in. They not based on the dynamics of the class This is exemplified by the view that the greater global class struggle as our you these statistics. are also pushing the open letter, entitled struggle, which is the primary basis for “The Russian intervention, which started chief guiding principle. These wars are all driven by the ‘Speak out on Syria’, that criticises understanding whether transformation a year ago, was a disaster from the Similarly, we should have opposed insatiable search for profits by the great Jeremy Corbyn on his “silence” on the to socialism can occur. Instead of beginning and is proving to be a major the US-sponsored coup against Erdoğan finance houses of Wall Street and their war in Syria and urges him to “condemn, any analysis of the relationship of factor in the escalation of the conflict”; on July 15 unconditionally but critically. associated transnational corporations. clearly and specifically, the actions of the class struggle to the prospect for and the final paragraph: “There is no No support for his use of the crackdown We should be absolutely certain on Assad and Russia in Syria, which have socialism, Ticktin contends the system is short cut to defeating all the region’s not only to arrest and imprison the coup this point and not vacillate on it by caused the overwhelming majority malfunctioning and is in a crisis: “And, reactionary forces - IS, Iran’s Islamic plotters (absolutely justified), but also attempting to find an equally culpable of civilian deaths and which present as I have argued, it is a crisis from which Republic, Assad, etc - nor to building to crack down on the trade unions, the ‘eastern imperialism’ operating in the the biggest obstacle to any workable there appears to be no end, except via a viable force to oppose Russian and left and the Kurds (100% opposition). Middle East, in Latin America, south- solution to the Syrian crisis” (https:// socialism.” American-led interventions. Yes, it Similarly, no support for the Turkish east Asia, Africa or anywhere else. speakoutonsyria.wordpress.com). Ticktin outlines his view that market will be long, hard struggle. The PYD’s invasion of Syria, using the bogus excuse Gerry Downing Again, they are playing right into socialism is impractical and unrealistic, actions have played into our enemies’ of attacking Islamic State - in reality to Socialist Fight the hands of the rightwing media, the but then has to admit: “… by 1921 the hands”. attack the YPG and the Kurdish struggle right in the Labour Party and even Bolsheviks retreated and reintroduced In the first place let us define third- for self-determination. This brought into Scab conference Boris Johnson, who seemed to have the market. It is quite obvious that you campism. It may be understood as conflict two USA-sponsored proxies: Should we call on members of the Labour been paying attention to the AWL in cannot make the jump in one go.” succumbing to the demands of Stalinism the Kurds sponsored by the Pentagon left to attend the forthcoming ‘National his speech in the House of Commons This is precisely the point. Actual and bourgeois nationalists that we and more Obama-preferred; and the conference to fight the purge’, organised this week: “There is no commensurate practice indicates that the perspective give them uncritical support against Free Syrian Army, more sponsored by by the campaign, ‘Stop the Labour horror, it seems to me, amongst some of a transition period aiming to realise imperialism and it is true that Trotsky the CIA and John Kerry. The audio that Purges’? It does sound like a good idea of those anti-war protest groups. I’d socialism cannot do without the market. used it in this sense in the mid-1930s. is now online of his meeting with FSA to do something to fight for the rights certainly like to see demonstrations The Bolsheviks realised this because In those circumstances the independent supporters at the United Nations is very of the thousands that have unjustly outside the Russian embassy. Where war communism was a terrible failure, stance of the working class globally for revealing of the difficulty faced by the been suspended, expelled or denied a is the Stop The War Coalition at the and the seizure of grain from the world revolution was third-campism. USA here: they have basically run out vote in the recent Labour leadership moment? Where are they?” (Daily Mail peasants without providing them But he rejected the term totally in the of options. election, surely? October 10). with incentives only led to unrest. late 1930s, because Max Shachtman Of course, Turkey and the FSA won Our answer in short: no. We urge all Labour Party members Hence it was necessary to retreat and was beginning to use the term to suggest on that one, because the priority now Stop the Labour Purge has been set and those purged to boycott the AWL’s allow freedom to trade. The crucial that that there was no fundamental is to stop Erdoğan leaving Nato for the up by members and supporters of the conference. Instead, we call on the problem, as Trotsky pointed out, was obligation on the international working Russia-China bloc. And the US project Alliance for Workers’ Liberty. For a Labour left to move motions in Labour to provide industrial goods at low class to defend the USSR on the basis of a client Rojava with US bases to long time, the campaign concentrated Party and Momentum branches and prices in exchange for agricultural that it was a degenerated workers’ surround Russia and China must be exclusively on those being suspended Labour organisations that condemn the goods. Furthermore, the attempt to state. So he began defining the USSR postponed for now to secure this more and/or expelled from the Labour Party purges, the demotion of Jackie Walker end the New Economic Policy with the as ‘bureaucratic collectivism’ - a non- pressing need in the preparation of for their association with the AWL. by Momentum and call for democratic introduction of forced collectivisation class designation short of actual state World War III. And Erdoğan plays that However, they show less solidarity when structures in our organisations. There are meant the justification of economic capitalism, which made it possible game of manoeuvre to his advantage. it comes to others experiencing the same a number of model motions available on adventurism, which was seriously initially to still defend the USSR, then In all this IS and al Qa’eda, al-Nusra/ fate - especially those painted with the the LPM website. criticised by Trotsky. to be equidistant from both ‘camps’. Jabhat Fateh al-sham and all the other scandalous ‘anti-Semitic’ brush. Carla Roberts We know that this attempt to abolish But this led via a series of adjustments jihadists (Yassamine is correct: there are Jackie Walker is the prime example Labour Party Marxists the role of the market was actually to support for US imperialism itself; no ‘moderates’ left) also manoeuvre. here, of course. When the pro-Zionist about strengthening the domination Shachtman abandoned Marxism by Israel is important here, as is Saudi Jewish Labour Movement leaked Pro-market of the bureaucracy over the control of initially defining the USSR itself as Arabia. Israel does not simply want the secretly taped contributions from A major aspect of Hillel Ticktin’s the surplus product. The point being imperialist then supporting the CIA- what the USA wants, but to maintain comrade Walker to the media and understanding of the possibility of socialism made is that any serious attempt to sponsored invasion of the Bay of Pigs conflicts, such that no serious power Labour’s unelected compliance unit a is that it already represents a process that introduce socialism should involve the in 1961. hegemonises the region to threaten few weeks ago, members and supporters is occurring within capitalism: “Socialism intention not to generate upheaval and The Alliance for Workers’ Liberty, its existence. Saudi Arabia wants to of the AWL went into witch-hunting comes into being because the basis of it uncertainty in the economic process. following their essential mentor, maintain and spread Wahhabism to ward overdrive. Although she had just been already exists within capitalism. In other The advance of popular control Shachtman, likes to exploit this off threats of revolution to its own brutal, suspended by the Labour Party - for the words, the socialisation of the means of over the economy will go together confusion - as do the CPGB frequently, semi-feudal rule. second time! - they made no efforts to production actually starts to exist within with the continuation of the market. but not to the degree that Matgamna does. Clearly the USA and Russia and defend her. capitalism” (‘The period of transition’, For example, supermarkets are an Although Jack Conrad’s designation of even Turkey are obliged to fight IS by Instead, they posted old articles October 6). excellent means to sell goods roughly the USSR between 1928 and 1991 as public pressure and self-interest to an about “left anti-Semitism” (which is a We may agree with this comment in in accordance with the role of supply of a non-class nature is clearly early to extent. No bourgeois democracy could title they stick on anybody who opposes general terms, and agree that aspects of and demand. Their importance will middle Shachtman, so, like the early be publicly seen to support so openly the state of Israel or Zionism), called her the existing economy are already based be continued, but on the basis that the Shachtman, he still defends the USSR ferociously reactionary forces. Russia comments “unacceptable” and argued on planning and rational allocation influence of labour over the productive against Nazism, but refused to identify it clearly began the serious assault on that she should be removed as vice-chair of resources. But the problem Ticktin process replaces the domination of as still containing the basic elements of a them, obliging the USA and Europe to of Momentum. refuses to address is the question of capital. This development will involve workers’ state in its mode of production. follow. But Russia’s chief concern was As is now well known, the two AWL how this potentiality is realised in terms wage increases in order to ensure a The grosser and more rightist later defence of Syrian national sovereignty supporters on Momentum’s steering of the actual creation of socialism. more efficient correspondence between error of Shachtman and the present - a correct and progressive political aim, committee, Jill Mountford and Michael Ticktin considers that we are in a supply and demand. Hence the aim AWL was and is to refuse all critical despite the cynical motives of Putin. Chessum, wholeheartedly supported transitional period between capitalism will be to increase the efficiency but unconditional support to the USSR Therefore, the attacks of the Russian the move by Momentum chair and and socialism, but this understanding of the market rather than engage in and all semi-colonial countries against air force on IS, on the FSA and al Qa’eda company owner Jon Lansman to remove does not explain how this prospect of adventurist actions to abolish it. imperialism then and now. The CPGB were and are progressive, because Jackie Walker from her position of advance is to be made effective. Hence The point being made is that it is not do not, so are more leftist third-campists their aims are progressive. We would national vice-chair - in fact, they proudly he seems to neglect two important the market that results in the inability than the AWL. critically support them, observing that reported it online. As an aside, Jackie things. to meet the consumption needs of a The above quotes fly in the face of it is very far from a real revolutionary Walker, on the other hand, has stuck to Firstly, given that capital is still population; rather what causes this this principled anti-imperialist stance. orientation, so desperately needed in the request of the steering committee dominant over labour within the relations problem is the importance of disparities Iran, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Turkey and the region. not to comment on her demotion and of production, this means the capitalist in economic power and inequality in even Egypt are semi-colonial countries No support for US or other imperialist simply pointed to its mealy-mouthed system will continue to be perpetuated. terms of the levels of material wealth. and so we must defend them against bombings of IS or anyone else here or statement (see LPM bulletin No3 on Consequently, any tendency expressing We have to tackle these issues if we imperialist attacks, regime-change anywhere else. We reject with contempt www.labourpartymarxists.org.uk). the decline of capitalism is contrasted are to establish a democratic socialist uprisings and coups sponsored by the the bleeding-heart reports, which present A mistake, in our view. Outrageous to the continued ability of the present society. Hence the aim of overcoming USA and its proxy regional agents. bloodied children victims of Russian or decisions like the one taken by the social formation to oppose the prospect the influence of capital within the The USA remains the global IS barbarism to cover the predatory aims steering committee should be openly of transformation of the economic relations of production is compatible hegemonic imperialist power; all other of imperialism - the real imperialism discussed and debated by Momentum system. The domination of capital within with the continuation of the role of imperialist powers are its more or less that ensures poverty, starvation and branches up and down the country. Her the economy represents the aspect that the market. The market becomes no willing allies. Neither China nor Russia unending wars for the profits of the view on the matter and on the process undermines any progressive generation longer an expression of the imperatives are imperialist on Lenin’s famous 1916 global hegemon and its allies. Hence the of her demotion would help. of change in terms of the impulse for of capital accumulation, and is instead criteria (Imperialism, the highest stage well coordinated propaganda offensive The organisers of the Stop the Labour socialisation. connected to the egalitarian aims of of capitalism). And the main issue in about the terrible death and destructions Purge conference have tried to cover Secondly, the prospect of change the socialist economy under workers’ Syria is the national rights of the Syrian being unleashed on east Aleppo by their backs by publishing a statement on to socialism requires successful class control. nation and that is primarily defended by Assad and Putin. And the glorification comrade Walker, in which they now ask struggle. But we know that this potential Ticktin does not endorse this the Assad-led Syrian government. of the White Helmets and the Syria that the Labour Party should “reinstate” is presently undermined by the weakness argument because he has been brought This does not mean uncritical support Campaign as another example of ‘soft her ... on October 7 - ie, more than and limitations of Marxist organisations, up on the dogma that socialism for Assad or the methods he uses imperialist’ power by mass-media full week after her suspension. This is and the influence of bourgeois ideology advances alongside the abolition of the in this conflict - those of a corrupt manipulation. too little and way too late to convince within the working class. Hence there is a market. If he really wants to incorporate bourgeois nationalist - but it does In another war and with other anybody. low level of class-consciousness because the progressive advances of capitalism demand unconditional support against combatants, these ‘defenders’ would In our view, members and supporters of the successful offensive of capital within socialism, he will recognise imperialism and their proxy clients in be using these civilians as human of the AWL have behaved in a truly over the past 40 years. This situation that one of these advances is the role BCM Box 928, London WC1N 3XX l 07704 903382 l www.weeklyworker.co.uk l [email protected] weekly 3 worker 1126 October 13 2016

of the market. This has encouraged Worker’s answer to these things and first minister, normally has the lion’s the development of relative consumer would be interested if you have a little share of the power. The prime minister prosperity within the advanced time to read your response, in the paper will decide how much of the secret London Communist Forum capitalist countries. Hence to end the or otherwise. negotiations are to be revealed to Sunday October 16: No forum. role of the market in the name of dogma Tim Vine parliament. But the crown is not having Sunday October 23, 5pm: Weekly political report from CPGB Provisional would be to introduce uncertainty and email its own way. There is a dispute with Central Committee, followed by open discussion and reading group. establish the possibility of a shortage parliament over who has the right to Calthorpe Arms, 252 Grays Inn Road, London WC1. Study of Ralph economy. History repeats trigger article 50. Miliband’s Parliamentary socialism. This meeting: chapter 8 (‘The challenge Phil Sharpe Great article in the Weekly Worker and At the centre of the crown’s ‘coup of appeasement’), section 2: ‘The wasted years’ (continued). email thanks for returning some sanity to the d’etat’ is the slogan that ‘Brexit means Organised by CPGB: www.cpgb.org.uk; debate on the Labour Party and the Brexit’. The Tories and Ukip never fail and Labour Party Marxists: www.labourpartymarxists.org.uk. Questions leadership of Jeremy Corbyn (‘Going to define what Brexit means: apparently Radical Anthropology Group I have only recently been reading Weekly into overdrive’, October 6). It’s odd everybody who voted for Brexit did Tuesday October 18, 6.45pm: Introduction to human origins, Daryll Forde seminar Worker online and have enjoyed the that the Communist Party of Britain so for racist reasons - they wanted to room, Anthropology Building, 14 Taviton Street, off Gordon Square, London WC1. in-depth articles and much of the ideas and their paper, the Morning Star, are keep out foreign immigrants. But this ‘An ancient African egalitarian civilisation’. Speaker: Jerome Lewis. coming from the paper. I share most of so pro-Corbyn, as in the past they hated is simply untrue. Many voted to leave Organised by Radical Anthropology Group: the positions Paul Demarty takes up the Labour Party, though with good for other reasons. A majority in England http://radicalanthropologygroup.org. in his article, ‘Opening shots of next reason. As for Michael Foot, you could and Wales for leaving the EU is not a election’ (October 6). I completely go back further to Harold Wilson. This majority to stop immigration or end free Marxism and nature agree with Paul’s view of the Socialist is what the Tribune newspaper had to movement. That is an idea which racist Saturday October 15, 10.30am to 5pm: Conference, Student Central, Malet Workers Party’s tactics, which are say about him: parties promote, but is not a democratic Street, London WC1. generally detached from the actually “He has not only qualities of political fact. It was not on the ballot paper and Organised by International Socialism: existing politics of the working class. acumen, political skill and survival we did not vote on it. Others voted to http://isj.org.uk/marxism-and-nature. The Morning Star, as he rightly indicates, power which no-one denies him. Other leave to restore full sovereignty to the Remembering the International Brigades offers no connection between Corbyn’s considerable qualities too for a Labour crown-in-parliament and some, such as Tuesday October 18, 7pm: Panel discussion, Marx Memorial Library, 37a politics as Labour leader and workplace leader - a coherence of ideas, a readiness the SWP, just to embarrass or damage Clerkenwell Green, London EC1. With professor Paul Preston and Dr Richard Baxell. and street movements. to follow unorthodox courses, a respect the ruling class. The Tory Brexiters Organised by Marx Memorial Library: However, I am unclear on how the for democracy ... above all a deep and claim the result means there must be free www.marx-memorial-library.org.uk. author sees your work inside the Labour genuine love of the Labour movement” trade and the free movement of capital, Blair’s war crimes and the Chilcot report Party. I understand that the paper does (February 22 1963). but not the free movement of workers. Tuesday October 18, 7pm: Public meeting, committee rooms 1, Council House, not support parliamentarianism as History tells us how that worked These important arguments were not on Victoria Square, Birmingham B1. Speakers: Peter Brierley (Military Families the road to socialism. But I have not out. Or, as Malcolm Caldwell put it in the ballot paper. Against the War), Chris Nineham (Stop the War). seen anything (possibly by my own Tribune, Socialists must totally and utterly Organised by Stop the War Coalition: failings) that explains how you link “Socialist principles have been tossed reject the idea of Brexit and all racist www.stopwar.org.uk. www.facebook.com/BStWC. revolutionary politics in your approach aside with almost indecent cynicism arguments supporting it. It is an attempt to the Labour membership other than and casualness. Racial discrimination to use chauvinist and racist ideas to Imperialism today the attempt to democratise it and to in Britain has been condoned and steal the EU referendum result and use Saturday October 22, 1pm to 4pm: Public meeting, Aberystwyth Arts polemicise. Offering your paper to read strengthened. American butchery in it in the interests of the financial and Centre, Aberystwyth University, Aberystwyth SY23 . ‘War is peace - the and having discussions with Labour Vietnam has been actively supported business class. It is anti-democratic. meaning of imperialism today’. Speakers: John Rees (Stop the War), Ken members is, of course, important, but and encouraged. Social welfare and The Brexiteers are fanning the flames Booth (Aberystwyth University). is dialectical only in the ideational economic development in Britain have of chauvinism to divert attention from Organised by Stop the War Coalition: www.stopwar.org.uk. sense. How do Labour Party Marxists been sacrificed to carry out a reactionary their secret negotiations and their plan Axe the Housing Act address the need for the experiential economic programme at the behest of to secure a result favourable to the City Saturday October 22, 11.30am: Summit, Hamilton House, Mabledon Place, development of the class and its allies international finance capital. What of the and business, whilst doing the maximum London WC1. No to the Housing and Planning Act. by going through with them their left leaders in parliament? Tell them off to divide the working class. Organised by Axe the Housing Act: www.axethehousingact.org.uk. experiences in class action? on your fingers, comrades, and think of Democratic Exit recognises all It is true that the SWP’s campaigns their words and deeds in recent months, the facts about who voted and who Defend free movement after Brexit are generally artificially engineered while the Labour movement has been did not. It recognises that minorities Saturday October 22, 1.30pm: Organising meeting, University College and in my experience usually designed sold down the river. It is a sad picture have rights, including the right to be London, Darwin Building, B40 LT, Gower Street, London WC1. to show that the SWP is at the centre and I can personally neither see nor offer heard. It recognises that Scotland and Organised by Free Movement of Labour: of the universe. Nevertheless, is it not any excuses. Are we finished, we of the Northern Ireland voted to stay in the https://freemovementlabour.wordpress.com. important to aim to build from within Labour left?” (August 20 1965). EU and must be allowed and enabled The meaning of imperialism today the Labour Party - or where this is In his letter of resignation from the to stay there (Denmark-Greenland Saturday October 22, 1pm: Public meeting, Arts Centre, Aberystwyth not yet feasible to point to the need to Labour Party on September 24 1965, option). All democrats in England and University, Penglais Campus, Aberystwyth SY23. build - a class-struggle left wing inside Alan Dawe, the paper’s education Wales must as a principle support the Speakers: John Rees and Ken Booth. the movement as a whole? correspondent, wrote in Tribune: “We right of the Scottish and Irish people Organised by Stop the War Coalition: http://stopwar.org.uk Isn’t it important to win widening are not right to view the Labour Party to self-determination, including their layers inside the movement to lead the and its latter-day works as having right to remain in the EU. Such a policy Labour Assembly Against Austerity class as a whole in class struggles that anything to do with socialism. They would minimise the economic damage Saturday October 22, 10am to 5pm: Annual conference, Student Central, reach beyond parliament and elections? don’t, they won’t and it is time we faced and make sure that leaving the EU Malet Street, London WC1. Speakers include: Diane Abbott MP, Catherine This need not be done in a sectarian up to it.” does not in itself cause the break-up of West MP, Manuel Cortes (TSSA), Steve Turner (Unite). way. The left can still be seen to support Yet 50 years later the left still haven’t the UK - the likely result of imposing Organised by Labour Assembly Against Austerity: radicalising Labour members and trade faced up to this. What was it that Marx exit against the will of the Scottish and http://labourassemblyagainstausterity.org.uk. unionists in voting Labour and getting wrote about history repeating itself? Irish people. Relevance of Third International behind their best initiatives. But failure Steven Johnston Steve Freeman Monday October 24, 5.30pm: Public meeting, room 304, Institute of to build, or pose the need to build, class email Left Unity and Rise Historical Research, Senate House, Malet Street, London WC1. Speaker: Ian action, it seems to me, is a failure to Birchall. advance in practice the development In and out Alarming Organised by London Socialist Historians Group: of the class. On October 8 protests against leaving We are writing to inform you about the http://londonsocialisthistorians.blogspot.co.uk. Do Marxists inside the Labour Party the European Union took place at a alarming situation in France pertaining then not advance a strategy in action to number of places along the border to the movement against the labour law Marxism in Scotland Day school, Renfield St Stephens march in step with the steelworkers’ between Northern Ireland and the Irish reform. While presidential candidates are Saturday October 29, 10am to 5pm: Centre, 260 Bath Street, Glasgow G2. fight for jobs in an active call for Republic. Meanwhile the demand for apparently selected on the grounds that Organised by Socialist Workers Party: www.swp.org.uk. nationalisation of the steel industry Irish passports continues to rise. they are crooks, activists assaulted by law (democratically, and all the rest of it), Referendum day, June 23 2016, enforcement are facing disproportionate Transforming our party and join those workers in the streets? was a ‘republican moment’, when charges. Saturday October 29, 10am to 4pm: Labour Representation Committee Is that not an example of pulling sovereignty - the power to decide Much to our anger and contempt, we annual conference. Student Central, Malet Street, London WC1. AGM: waged together the industrial with the political - passed temporally to the people. learned about the sentence meted out to £15, low-waged £10, unwaged or non-London £5. Renew membership: in a dialectically dynamic way? And Without forgetting those millions Martin Pontier, then federal secretary waged £14, unwaged £7. do we not recognise that - actually - of EU citizens and 16-18-year-olds of the French Communist Youth, for Organised by Labour Representation Committee: www.l-r-c.org.uk. movements and industrial struggles can excluded, the people voted to leave the defending himself against six armed Momentum East sometimes win and thereby improve European Union. However, the citizens police officers. Seven of them pressed Saturday October 29, 12.30pm to 5.30pm: Regional conference, Cherry the lives of workers and their potential of Northern Ireland and Scotland voted charges. Our comrade is now facing an Tree Club, St Matthews Street, Cambridge CB1. allies? Were the seven million women to stay, and those protesting on the Irish eight-month suspended prison sentence Organised by Momentum: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/ who went on strike in Poland and border are saying their votes have been and a €3,850 fine. eastern-region-momentum-conference-tickets-28082547656. then used the streets not successful stolen from them. Martin is the eighth activist in the in pushing back the most reactionary Of course, the UK is a constitutional Loire département brought to (in) Resisting together attempts to extend the anti-abortion monarchy, not a republic. This justice for opposing the labour law Saturday November 12, 10am to 5pm: National conference, Bloomsbury laws a week ago? And doesn’t that ‘republican moment’ is exactly that - reform. Three of us already owe the Central Baptist Church, 235 Shaftesbury Avenue, London WC2. give confidence to those women to only a moment. No sooner it was over courts more than €3,000 each. Three Organised by Unite the Resistance: http://uniteresist.org. move forward in struggle? We might than power returned immediately to others have been let off for now, but are Austerity sniff that there are only half a million the ‘crown-in-parliament’. As has been facing appeal. Monday November 14, 7pm: Performance, Manchester Academy, Labour members who alone cannot win pointed out before, the ‘crown’ is a And that is not the end of it. The University Of Manchester Students Union, Oxford Road, Manchester M13. elections. And there may not be seven political front for the City of London and day before the judge’s decision was With Frankie Boyle, Francesca Martinez, Attila the Stockbroker and many million women in this country engaged the number-one priority of government announced on September 6, four other more. Tickets £20 in advance. in a fight with the state right now. But is to plot a way around this which General Confederation of Labour Organised by People’s Assembly: there have been in recent times millions secures the interests of financial capital activists were summoned to the police www.thepeoplesassembly.org.uk/manc_14nov. of workers prepared to strike against and their corporate friends. The financial station on dubious charges. The law austerity and public-sector job losses. markets are assessing progress so far. routinely punishes people for their CPGB wills My questions are not written The pound is down and share prices up. opposition to power. Once again, the Remember the CPGB and keep the struggle going. Put our party’s name and rhetorically. I am not pushing the The crown and parliament are situation is alarming. address, together with the amount you wish to leave, in your will. If you need politics of some other left group. I not equal partners. The crown, as Communist Youth of Loire further help, do not hesitate to contact us. genuinely don’t know the Weekly represented through her majesty’s email 4 weekly October 13 2016 1126 worker LABOUR LEFT Momentum or inertia? As long as it is treated as the private property of its most timid elements, Momentum is doomed, argues Jim Grant of Labour Party Marxists surely; or do Chessum and Mountford think that male chauvinism is best confronted not through open political combat, but by writing the correct numbers down in a constitution? Likewise, why do caucuses - ahem, sorry, “liberation campaigns” - need to be mandated in a constitution? Can people not - you know - just get on with it if they are so important? We are not waiting for a Marxists’ caucus to be formed from above to pursue our aims, and frankly we expect that, say, Jackie Walker - who insists against all reason that her misfortune is on account of her being black - will not wait either to pursue that particular line of argument. This still leaves the issue of trade union affiliates. It is our opinion that there is little point in Momentum being a smaller copy of the Labour Party, with affiliates and all; far better to focus on developing a political line of attack and alternative to the right. Nonetheless, there are already trade union affiliates, and it would be pedantry to spend weeks recalibrating that relationship. If Momentum is to have an affiliate structure, however, why should we stop at unions? Why should there not be ‘socialist societies’ too? We wonder, with genuine Jason DeCarrier-Taylor ‘Inertia’ - underwater sculpture curiosity, whether the AWL would be comfortable as an open affiliate. ver since Momentum was formed inevitable as death and taxes). As the “in the context of earlier comments”, Well, evidently something, Labour Party Marxists, naturally, out of the email lists left behind right cleaned up at Labour conference, which have “made Jackie a focus of media for we are still waiting. There are would welcome the opportunity. Eby Jeremy Corbyn’s first leader- Momentum herded itself away at a no attention especially on issues relating to vague mutterings of a conference in ship run, the question has hung over it doubt cheerful extended fringe event anti-Semitism, which should have led February - we note that there have Heads must roll as to what it is actually for. elsewhere, making exactly zero impact Jackie to consider carefully whether been mutterings before now, which If there is any luck, the February For its enemies, its purpose has and leaving a few of the more serious to intervene in such discussions and to have come to nought but further delays. conference will happen - or at least start to always been clear - to organise mobs (Max Shanly was quoted a lot) isolated show great care if she did so”. The wrong conference, according to loom threateningly enough that Lansman of Corbynite thugs for purposes of in their opposition to making a ‘peace I invite readers to recall to mind the someone or other powerful enough to and co will have to make serious excuses intimidation of moderates and seizure offering’ to the right. charge Lansman was trying to refute swing things, is a worse outcome than for it not happening - and a debate will of the commanding heights of the Finally, Momentum’s role in here - cowardice. Yet his explanation no conference at all. be had, in the interim, about what shape Labour Party; or else as the black the Jackie Walker fiasco is well more or less states directly that, given This is plainly not a universal Momentum ought to take. rat whose fur hides a multitude of documented. Comrade Walker was some confected media calumny, the opinion. A document reaches us written Yet there are matters which are Trotskyist parasites, as they infest booted out as vice chair, in a 7-3 vote, proper response for any Momentum by Jill Mountford of the AWL and necessarily not covered in discussions of the party at a scale unmatched since after she made comments that were member is craven silence (a stance Michael Chessum, who at this point organisational structure; for we must in the 1980s. Its methods are crude, its later fraudulently misrepresented by copied by the Labour Representation may as well be a member of the same such discussions leave out the names of motives questionable. It is riddled various species of bad actor as anti- Committee - it voted to condemn - the two voted alike, treacherously, those who will fill the structure. Thus, if with misogynists and anti-Semites. It Semitic. On this point, we turn to the Momentum over the Walker affair - but when Walker’s case was before them.1 there is an opportunity for Momentum to has no legitimacy, nor is its fanaticism Morning Star - while we have had cause then voted to keep its vote... secret). However ill-disposed we are to such democratically decide its leadership, it is constrained by moral scruple. to ridicule that paper in recent weeks, Certainly, if the media tells the right elements, now of all times, there are a baseline requirement that Jon Lansman This account of Momentum’s the October 5 editorial on l’affaire sort of lie about you, expect only reasons to welcome this document, not be on it. motivation is somewhat at variance Walker was really rather stirring stuff: backstabbing from the leadership. He for it is a proposed constitution (or at There is the obvious matter that he is with empirical reality, but that is always “Removing Jackie Walker from her invoked the anniversary of Cable Street, least the basis for one), to be debated one of seven current steering committee a secondary concern for the bourgeois position as Momentum vice-chair ... but Lansman’s piece would only be at this February conference - which members who, by their betrayal of media. is an act of political cowardice and in the spirit of the famous battle if it is definitely going to happen, honest. Jackie Walker, have placed themselves A more wide-ranging discussion was confusion,” it read. had consisted entirely of the Jews of It has good features and bad - on definitively outside the ranks of those had on the left on this point when the Atypically, the Star was even in the the East End conceding readily to the the plus side, conference is to be able to lead anything: they are cowards group first coalesced, which polarised mood to name names: fascists that there really were rather too sovereign, the executive (or ‘steering - or else they are politically committed on the question of what should be many Bolsheviks and traitors among committee’) is to be elected from Zionists and thus apologists for heinous Momentum’s attitude to Labour Party Vanquished challenger Owen Smith them after all, and then throwing a few among the leadership themselves crimes. (Thus also - whatever the fate activity. Many - especially among those paraded his political ignorance during scapegoats out to their fate. What an (‘national committee’), and there are of their constitution - we look forward non-Labour lefts who hoped Momentum the election campaign by accusing insult. relatively few layers involved. On to the political exile of Chessum and might become a vehicle for them to the Alliance for Workers’ Liberty ... Thus is the state of Momentum. It the other hand, the composition of Mountford.) reach the Corbynistas without having of “left anti-Semitism” - an absurd won’t turn a left-wing insurgency into the national committee as proposed But look also at the reasoning, to take out a Labour card - argued formulation comparable with left racism votes at conference; it won’t allow any is comically over-complicated; 25 whereby he defends his conduct in for Momentum to dedicate itself to or left Islamophobia. In reality, this action minutely at variance with the members to be elected at conference, relation to Walker - wielded like a cudgel ‘campaigning’, and look outwards: a supposed ex-party has well-attested attitude of the Labour leadership; the 25 in an atomised internet poll, two is Jeremy Corbyn’s determination to root prescription for movementism. At the pro-Zionist credentials. Meeting a self-appointed leadership clique won’t each for four “liberation campaigns” out anti-Semitism. When rank-and-file opposite end, there was Labour Party witch-hunt halfway is unprincipled even defend its own members against (we fear that comrade Chessum Corbynistas give rightwingers a piece Marxists: so far as I know, we were and doomed to failure. baseless slurs. So, indeed, what is is hung up on his glory days as of their mind, and get hauled up for the only organised force to call for Momentum for? Great Helmsman of the University of ‘harassment’, the word comes down Momentum to focus on dislodging the The line about left anti-Semitism being London Union red base, and thus uses about obeying “Jeremy’s call for a kinder right at all levels of the Labour Party an “absurd formulation” is unfortunate - it the NUS-ese for ‘caucus’), two more politics”, or whatever it happens to be; and strengthening the left institutionally. is not so easy, alas, to excise Mikhail Whither the from a youth and students group, and when the balance of power on the NEC Initial discussions ended, in substance, Bakunin, Pierre-Joseph Proudhon and conference? two more for each affiliated union. is gift-wrapped by the leadership for with a fudge on this point. Henry Hyndman from history. The It is traditional on the left to correct a Each of these groupings is to be the right, Lansman ensures that people thrust of the above statement is correct, mistaken course at a conference - of individually gender-balanced. This are safely elsewhere. Corbyn vacillates Fiasco however - and it has ruffled a few of members or delegates, as appropriate ticks the usual tokenism boxes, with and compromises, and so does John When we ask what Momentum is for the right feathers. Condemning “an - although perhaps the appropriate the (we’re sure) entirely unintentional McDonnell; they are, after all, Labour today, a year and a bit after its birth, it unwarranted attack on Momentum”, which nautical metaphor would be not course side-effect of giving any small group lefts of the old school. It is part of who is - alas - in an increasingly exasperated “failed to take seriously Jeremy Corbyn’s correction, but steadying a ship that 13 separate bites at the NC cherry, plus they are. Lansman’s role is to ensure that tone. What is it for? During the second determination to rooting [sic] out the evil is listing violently and in danger of two for each trade union. everyone else does as well. It is, after all, leadership campaign, its members of anti-Semitism”, Momentum chair (in following the Mary Rose into the drink. We will take such favours, of so terribly important to get the Tories out. were directed to the phone banks, as reality, proprietor) Jon Lansman replied If there are disputes, or problems, sort course; but we do not confuse them He has to go - along with the full-blooded members of Jeremy’s the following Saturday in ridiculous but them out democratically, before the for real headway. There is a perfectly other six l campaign; Momentum itself kept a revealing terms. Walker’s comments were whole membership, and beyond them decent way to elect a leadership - at low profile (despite periodic stupid “ill-informed, ill-judged and offensive, the whole movement, inasmuch as the conference. Conference itself shall be Notes accusations from Citizen Smith’s though not anti-Semitic” (our emphasis). whole movement takes an interest. sufficiently sovereign to decide the 1. www.facebook.com/MomentumTeesside/ Westminster Popular Front, quite as However, people would interpret them What’s not to love? gender composition of the leadership, posts/989609807852015. weekly 5 worker 1126 October 13 2016 WITCH-HUNT

Jackie Walker: don’t be silenced More than just cowardice Tony Greenstein explains why the case of Jackie Walker is so important

irst I was targeted, then it was Ken people. Jon thinks he is exceptionally to deprive Corbyn of a majority. Newmark has missed his vocation on the Truly it is amusing to observe the group’s Livingstone and now it is Jackie perceptive - and clever. Lansman reacted furiously to this stage, because “upset” is the last emotion gyrations and ideological contortions. FWalker. There is a pattern in what attack with a letter in the October 8-9 he is likely to have experienced. Indeed in a recent debate with me in is happening, but it is worse than simply The problem is that Lansman may indeed edition. In what was, even for him, Long before her suspension, I was Brighton, Daniel Randall of the AWL, a Zionist vendetta. The taking out of think he is perceptive and clever, but he a particularly confused and arrogant detailing the racist targeting of Jackie who has himself been expelled from figures on the left is more than just a is almost alone in this belief. statement, he wrote that the Star’s Walker by the JLM. On September 17, Labour, was forced to admit that anti- case of the Israel lobby making Labour His tactics mirror those of Corbyn editorial represented an “unwarranted I wrote: “Jackie was reinstated after Semitism had been “instrumentalised” safe for Israel. and his entourage. Now Corbyn has attack on Momentum, Britain’s largest an investigation, but the Zionists have in the Labour Party - without, of course, The right has used anti-Semitism for succeeded, despite the best efforts of grassroots organisation of the left, refused to accept her acquittal and have asking himself why this might be. the same reason as the British used the Labour Party general secretary Iain which underpinned the campaign that waged a campaign of vilification against Lansman is, unfortunately, taking Hindu custom of burning a widow on the McNicol, in increasing his majority, he so recently won an increased mandate her ever since.”2 When they invited his cue from Jeremy Corbyn. Whereas pyre of her husband as an excuse for the feels in a generous mood in reaching out for Jeremy Corbyn”. Lansman has with John McDonnell to speak to their rally Corbyn had appeared at virtually every colonisation of India. When the British to his opponents in the Parliamentary his hubris fallen into the same mode of against ‘anti-Semitism’ at Labour Party Palestine Solidarity conference over mercilessly robbed and deindustrialised Labour Party. The problem is that the thinking that so many before him have conference, Newmark was quoted in the previous 10 years, condemning the India, so as to remove competition political gulf between him and the embraced. He has mistaken himself for the Jewish Chronicle as saying that oppressive nature of the Israeli state, from Manchester and the Lancashire Blairite right in the PLP is as large Momentum, thus ignoring the fact that his McDonnell “must explain his defence since his election the word ‘Palestine’, cotton mills, they did it in the name of as ever. These differences may not position represents a distinctly minority of Walker, which is inconsistent with his let alone criticism of Israel, have not civilisation, not exploitation. always be spelt out, in particular over one within the organisation. call for zero tolerance. This raises serious passed his lips. Similarly, ‘anti-Semitism’ is a handy refugees and the economy, but they are Despite the fact that even Momentum’s questions. Our members expect him to As The Spectator asked, pretext to attack the left under the cover irreconcilable, whatever we may think steering committee accepted that Jackie explain himself.”3 of righteousness. After all, opposition of Corbyn’s reformism. No matter how Walker’s various comments have not The decision of the Momentum Has Jeremy Corbyn turned over a new to ‘anti-Semitism’ has become the safe many blandishments Corbyn offers, the been anti-Semitic, Lansman nonetheless steering committee to remove Jackie leaf? This time last year at the Labour and respectable anti-racism of the right. right is not going to accept him. Having argued that the editorial “failed to take Walker as vice-chair is more than just Friends of Israel reception, the Labour Not only conservatives, but fascists and failed with a direct challenge, they will seriously Jeremy Corbyn’s determination a case of political cowardice, although leader pointedly refused to say the word holocaust deniers too, are opposed to anti- continue their war of attrition. to rooting out the evil of anti-Semitism”. it is that too. It is a consequence of ‘Israel’. That stubbornness led to a Semitism - at least as long as it is means Of course, the obvious thing to do Since the purported pretext for removing Lansman’s strategy to neutralise the heckler yelling at Corbyn: ‘Say the word defence of the Israeli state! However, it is would be for Corbyn to make it clear that Jackie was a “loss of confidence” in her, JLM by accepting its definition of anti- Israel!’ It was clear he was determined widely perceived throughout the Labour any MP refusing to accept the legitimacy not anti-Semitism, it is difficult to grasp Semitism. Lansman imagines that the not to make the same blunder a year on. Party, not just amongst Momentum of his election and using the Tory press Lansman’s line of argument. JLM’s claims about the ‘anti-Semitism’ In fact, at tonight’s reception, he went members, that ‘anti-Semitism’ is an to continue the war would lose the whip. Lansman conceded: “It may be that of people like Jackie Walker has nothing five times better - mentioning Israel almost wholly media-created concoction. This would mean automatic deselection, some false allegations of anti-Semitism to do with Israel and Palestine. He puts repeatedly during his address. Corbyn When Owen Smith raised the issue in a but Corbyn refuses to go down this road. are made ... but there is anti-Semitism on out of his mind the affiliation of the JLM also affirmed a ‘two-state solution’.4 televised debate with Jeremy Corbyn, he But, without effective action against the left and we must root it out.” Since it to the World Zionist Organisation or that was met with jeers. the right, the polls will reflect Labour’s is accepted that Jackie is not anti-Semitic it is the British branch of the Israeli Labor Likewise Labour rightwinger Luke The attitude of the chair of disarray and sooner or later the Tory lead and since Lansman signed the Jewish Party. In Lansman’s fantasy world there Akehurst observed that Corbyn “surprised Momentum, Jon Lansman, in respect of will be used to fatally undermine Corbyn. letter to Labour’s national executive is no correlation between accusations of everyone with a carefully worded and the Jewish Labour Movement, which has protesting that I am not anti-Semitic anti-Semitism and Zionism, even though balanced speech on both Israel and been spearheading the ‘anti-Semitism’ Confusion either, it is difficult to know whom he Corbyn himself was the first victim. anti-Semitism - in sharp contrast to the campaign, is interesting. A close political Last week Brighton and Hove Momentum might be referring to. Indeed Lansman car crash last year where he would not colleague, who has requested anonymity, voted by 56-6 to condemn Lansman and has accepted that Ken Livingstone Gulf even say the word ‘Israel’”.5 told me: the Momentum steering committee for too is not anti-Semitic, so it seems we What the sacking of Jackie Walker has Palestine has become the sacrificial removing Jackie Walker as vice-chair. have an ‘anti-Semitism’ without any demonstrated is the gulf between ordinary lamb, as Corbyn vainly hopes that if he It is crucial to understand Lansman’s Camden Momentum voted by a similar anti-Semites! Momentum members, who wish to take feeds enough concessions to the Zionist motivation - yes, he wants to save majority. Up and down the country Even more cryptically, Lansman on the Labour right, and Lansman and lobby, they may tone down their criticism Jeremy, but there are important things Momentum supporters have been making tells us: “Unfortunately, the removal co, who see the road ahead as involving of him. Fat chance l going on for him personally - in their views heard and Lansman is very of Jackie Walker has revealed the anti- the appeasement of the right. particular how he sees himself as a aware that he has next to no support for Semitism that persists on the left.” In this situation members of the Notes Jew. Jon is on a mission - to bring the his cowardly betrayal. If there were an Apparently Lansman is now of the execrable Alliance for Workers’ Liberty 1. www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/ two sides together. He believes … election tomorrow between Jackie Walker opinion that the opposition to his decision are, on the one hand, victims of the purge. momentum-labour-jon-lansman-jeremy-corbyn- that the JLM and Newmark are well and Jon Lansman for chair of Momentum, to remove someone who is Jewish must But, on the other hand, they lend a helping leadership-challenge-a7339916.html. intentioned and the link with Israel to it would be no contest. be anti-Semitic! hand to the accusations of the right about 2. http://azvsas.blogspot.co.uk/2016/09/the- jewish-labour-movement-and-its.html. what’s happening is too much of the On October 5 the Morning Star carried How do we explain this? Well, ‘left anti-Semitism’. Even though the 3. www.thejc.com/news/uk-news/163275/anger- making of people like you and me. If an editorial that came out decisively Lansman himself in the course of an AWL was accused of ‘anti-Semitism’ jeremy-corbyn-supporters-invited-speak-jewish- only, he thinks, he can get the JLM to against the removal of Jackie Walker. interview with The Independent, reported by Owen Smith during the election labour-event. share more platforms with Momentum It described it as “an act of political that the chair of JLM, Jeremy Newmark, campaign, it sees no connection between 4. http://blogs.spectator.co.uk/2016/09/jeremy- corbyn-makes-impression-labour-friends-israel- (metaphorically at first), he can achieve cowardice and confusion”. The Star’s with whom he worked “very closely”, had false accusations of anti-Semitism against reception. 1 what others have failed to do and still own Charley Allan, who is Jewish, has been “very upset” by Jackie’s remarks. itself and equally false accusations of 5. http://blogs.timesofisrael.com/why-labour- remain a defender of the Palestinian also been suspended as part of the attempt One can only assume that the slippery anti-Semitism against others on the left. conference-was-good-and-bad. 6 weekly October 13 2016 1126 worker INTERVIEW Rattling the Labour right Lawrence Parker spoke at Communist University 2016 on the National Left Wing Movement - an organisation that was active in the Labour Party during the 1920s. Chris Hill of Labour Party Marxists spoke to him

abour Party Marxists has raised a flag in the Labour LParty - a modest start. The comrades who have taken this initiative have drawn a lot of inspiration from the National Left Wing Movement, promoted by the Communist Party of Great Britain in the 1920s. Today rightwingers from Tom Watson down are talking of a ‘Trot plot’ to swamp the party, and the associated return of entryism. Was the NLWM an ‘entryist’ initiative by the CPGB of that time, in the way we have later come to understand the term? The short answer is no. Obviously it did involve members of a specific Marxist organisation in the shape of the CPGB working in the Labour Party, although many of them would have been members prior to the NLWM’s formation in 1925, given the initial structure and culture of the party. That is about as far as the similarities go with the generalised Trotskyist understanding of work inside the Labour Party. To my mind, the tactics advocated by the old Militant Tendency - and smaller competitors to its left inside the party in the 1980s and earlier - were a debased form of the work of the NLWM. This can be usefully illustrated by considering a Militant article by Tony Aitman published in 1986, looking at the CPGB’s role in the Labour Party in the 1920s.1 It is very interesting, of course, that the Militant grouping was trying to draw parallels between its experience of attacks and purges in the Labour Party of the mid-1980s and the CPGB’s from an earlier period. The article Tottenham Labour Party, May Day 1928 is broadly supportive of the NLWM initiative. However, it portrays the that I have been familiar with from evidence warrants it). It seems to me NLWM was clearly facing by 1928. tedious shopping list of narrow economic Militant group merely as a trend inside my background in Trotskyism. Even that many on the left start from the These practical problems were distinct and minimal demands we have become Labour and suggests the problem with in the mode of ‘shallow entry’ that opposite dimension. They begin with from the trajectory a minority of CPGB used to from today’s left. Instead, it the CPGB was its distinctness and I was exposed to, this involved an a parallel they wish to draw and try to members around Harry Pollitt and had a highly focused set of principled, separateness from the Labour Party inability to tackle the thorny issues of find the evidence to support it. Rajani Palme Dutt were on - this group ‘high politics’ demands. These would of the time. Although Aitman’s article ‘high politics’ relating to how we are Yes, a lot has changed in 80 years, began to tack leftwards, away from the clearly delineate the Labour left from is pretty unsophisticated and cannot ruled. Instead, there was an emphasis but then a lot has not - the struggle NLWM and its perspective, at this time. the monarchist and pro-imperialist address the real historical dynamics of on lower-level campaigns, ‘struggles’ between left and right in the Labour Instead, Pearce seems to paint practice of the right. the NLWM, he did at least suggest the and actions - most with a set template Party keeps recurring, for example. I the NLWM white to set against the For example, the NLWM called for difference between the NLWM and a of desiccated ‘transitional’ demands suppose I am somewhat notorious in looming darkness of the third period. the abolition of the British empire and more debased ‘entryism’. thrown in. Another example of some circles for stubbornly chewing on Don’t misunderstand me: the NLWM support for the struggles of the colonial Militant felt it had to adapt itself to ‘revolutionaries’ adopting the politics historical curios, such as the CPGB’s was undoubtedly a healthier phase masses; opposition to capitalist war Labourism. This necessarily entailed of left Labourism, in other words. post-war anti-revisionist movement.2 of CPGB activity than the idiocies credits; nationalisation of the banking a denial of its own independent It is also worthwhile bearing in mind So the ‘curio’ charge does not really of the third period. However, this and credit system; full political rights existence as a specific formation with that the NLWM organised significant bother me! approach scarcely allows the historian for police officers and those in the a distinct ideological and structural forces in the Labour Party. At its formal In a sense, the NLWM does have to reach an informed assessment of armed forces; full adult suffrage for dynamic. The CPGB - although it national launch in September 1926, it the status of a relative ‘novelty item’ the real strengths and weaknesses of both sexes; and the abolition of the occasionally seemed to want to pretend had official delegates from 52 local in the history of the CPGB. If people the NLWM. Similarly, Aitman, in the House of Lords and monarchy. This that non-CPGBers were running the Labour parties, delegates from 40 are aware of anything about the CPGB previously mentioned Militant article, was clearly an attempt to politically NLWM show and was susceptible other leftwing minority groups inside in the 1920s, they know of Lenin’s suggests that some CPGB members embolden the left of the Labour Party, to some ‘rightist’ pressures - did not Labour and a weekly paper in the form ‘hanged-man’ advice on affiliation to were opposed to the NLWM in virulent, not the CPGB adapting itself to the deny its own distinct organisation. of the Sunday Worker, with a claimed the Labour Party;3 the party’s role in sectarian terms from the outset. I characteristic flakiness of Labour lefts. Indeed, that separateness was the circulation of 80,000. It severely rattled the General Strike of 1926;4 and its have not found any real evidence for Also bear in mind that these would not precondition for initiatives such as the the Labour right, which stepped up adoption of disastrous ‘third period’ this, although Dutt certainly tried to exactly have been easy politics to fight NLWM. That logic also expressed itself its persecution of leftwing activists, tactics in the late 1920s.5 Among put a strong CPGB ‘stamp’ on the for in the deferential and militaristic programmatically. particularly those willing to associate Trotskyists there will also be a general organisation from the start. This, in atmosphere of 1920s Britain. I have many criticisms of the with communists. narrative about ‘Stalinisation’ and the Aitman’s world at the time, would have Interestingly, I found a reference NLWM, but it was at least an attempt Why take on this project in the degeneration of the Comintern - some been ‘sectarian’, because independent just the other day to Dutt in early 1929 by the CPGB to bolster the Labour first place? You have looked of which I share. Compared to this, the Marxist organisation outside the Labour characterising the programme of the left and arm it with politics that cut in particular at the CPGB’s NLWM - and perhaps to a lesser extent Party was impermissible, according to NLWM as ‘centrist’. I had to laugh, against the grain of the militarism, relationship to the first Labour the CPGB’s reaction to the first Labour Militant orthodoxy in the mid-1980s. considering how many ostensible monarchism and imperialism that government in 1924 - over 90 government of 1924 - are relative blind Aitman seems, in fact, to have revolutionary socialists today would had infected Labour. It could also years ago now. Rather a lot has spots. been primarily concerned with guilt consider such a programme to be wildly be tough and uncompromising in changed in political terms. The I can understand this. On the surface, by association. He makes efforts to ultra-left! its rhetoric. At the NLWM’s 1928 CPGB as was does not even the General Strike and the debate inside associate the NLWM with third-period What impact did the Comintern conference, non-communist chairman exist any more. Is this project the party over the third period are very sectarian lunacies. So the NLWM have on the CPGB in this Will Crick promised: “We will purge anything more than a historical dramatic. But, even where the NLWM definitely has an element of curio, or period? the movement of every vestige of curio? does feature, it seems overshadowed the relative unknown, about it. I aim A fundamental one: I am not one of those capitalism … and those who spend That is a very difficult question to answer by the ‘grander’ events around it. The to fathom out the reason behind that. revisionist historians seeking to prise much of their time exploring the Sahara in some ways. Trotskyist, Brian Pearce - in many You mentioned the programme apart the CPGB from its links to the and cruising around the world, wining Direct parallels between then and ways a pioneer of this kind of writing of the NLWM. Could you expand Communist International and Moscow. and dining with the most pronounced today are mostly facile, and I am not - authored The British Communist on what the movement stood If you do that, the history of the CPGB enemies of our class …” very interested in that as a general Party and the Labour left, 1925-1929 in for? becomes largely inexplicable; it very To that end, it was very different method (although it is fine to draw 1957.6 In it, Pearce does not really deal The NLWM adopted a programme in obviously kept in broad step with shifts to the type of Labour Party operation certain limited parallels if the historical with any of the practical difficulties the 1926 that was not limited to the sort of in the Comintern. weekly 7 worker 1126 October 13 2016

Also, there is clearly a process fragmentation and constant left/right was the CPGB’s practice in this CPGB, as far as I can see, attempted to a vice-chair of a disaffiliated Labour of Stalinisation going on from the flip-flopping. Plus endless bouts of period? draw up a balance sheet of its activities branch in Maesteg and CPGB South mid-1920s. However, I do not have corrective intervention from the CPGB I have talked about the negative in the Labour Party and the NLWM. Wales organiser, called it, negatively, a much patience with the idea - which leadership and the Comintern. consequences of the militaristic, top-down When it did so it was obviously kind of “special lane” and preparatory has become a kind of unconscious How did this flip-flopping model of organisation in the Comintern confronting a radically different terrain school for the CPGB - clearly implying common sense for many activists on the concretely manifest itself in and its affiliate parties. However, there from, say, 1923. The right had been on that it was actually an impediment. Cox left - that things instantly went to pot the ranks of the NLWM? was another trend operating in the the offensive since the mid-1920s. This was arguing at the CPGB’s January after Lenin’s death in 1924. ‘Socialism While the CPGB’s leadership was still CPGB - a relative openness towards meant, concretely, that CPGB members 1929 congress and his words do have in one country’ was a defining moment arguing for the NLWM’s continued the broader workers’ movement in could not run as Labour election a leftist taint - but he had a point in for the revolutionary potential of the existence before its 10th congress terms of its ideological divisions. Of candidates without the sanction of the relation to the circumstances of the Comintern; however, it took time for in early 1929, it admitted that it had course, this could never be presented in national Labour leadership - which was NLWM at that time. this degeneration to work itself through. been difficult to counter the reformist terms of factional differences after the very unlikely; they could not enter the By early 1928, the CPGB clearly So, as I have written before, it is a illusions of non-CPGB members. In a banning of factions in Soviet party in Labour Party openly as communists; saw the NLWM as a problematic positive thing that Zinoviev and the similar vein, a huge debate in the Sunday 1921, but rather as a matter of individual CPGB trade unionists could not sit on formation. If you read between the lines Comintern took the CPGB to task for its Worker before and after the liquidation disagreements or those of small episodic the executive of a divisional or local of a thesis from the central committee rightist and conciliatory attitude to the of the NLWM in 1929 shows that, while groupings. Labour organisation; and no communist called ‘Ourselves and the Labour minority Labour government in 1924. many Labourites had been prepared I am unsure as to the precise source trade unionist could go to conference Party’ from February 1928, you can This is true even if that advice may to work with the CPGB, some were of this healthier strain, although I as a delegate from a local Labour Party. see the CPGB essentially conceding have been the result of other factors less actually quite prejudiced against the was struck in this regard by Mike However, CPGB members could that the NLWM was an organisation directly related to keeping the CPGB CPGB party organisation. Macnair’s observation in his book go to the national conference as of communist sympathisers and, in on the straight and narrow, and more The original secretary of the Revolutionary strategy7 that much delegates from their trade unions - some ways, a ‘shadow party’. However to do with factional manoeuvring in NLWM, Tom Colyer, resigned with of what the Russians attempted to Harry Pollitt went to the 1928 Labour it might be defined, it certainly was the Soviet party - eg, Moscow’s own five others from the national committee teach the Comintern in the 1920-23 Party conference under the aegis of the not thought of as a genuine mass disappointment with the MacDonald at the end of 1926. They opposed period was orthodox Kautskyism. boilermakers’ union; and CPGB trade organisation in the Labour movement. government; the fact that Trotsky the NLWM being tied to a CPGB- Also there were, of course, plenty of unionists could attend general council JR Campbell also wrote that, in relation had apparently been guilty of a right dominated Sunday Worker; so there healthy examples from the history of meetings and conferences to select to the 1927 Labour Party conference, deviation in the Communist Party of were clear rightist pressures. When the Bolshevism to draw upon in this regard. parliamentary candidates. the NLWM was not strong enough the Soviet Union and so on. NLWM was a fledgling movement in What this meant was that you This was a much more difficult to get its own resolutions onto the In a similar vein, I have found November 1925, a London meeting of could often read about the CPGB’s terrain for the CPGB to be working conference floor; rather it was mostly material in the Russian archives from Labour Party reps met to “discuss ways internal differences in its various in to expand its influence. Also in the fighting and reacting against the the minutes of what it called the English of bringing the Labour Party back to open journals and, although this was CPGB’s literature of the time appears resolutions of the right. Commission, where you can find the idealism and fighting spirit of Keir less present in weekly papers such as the complaint that those local Labour So how did the end of the Bukharin, as late as 1928, giving CPGB Hardie”. Workers’ Weekly and Workers’ Life, organisations prepared to implement NLWM come about? comrades reasonably sound advice on Now, clearly that could mean you can occasionally see reports there the decisions of its 1925 conference The NLWM looked to be a dead duck their relations with the Labour Party different things to different strands of inner-party meetings and political and exclude communists were having by 1928, with the rider that its paper, the and the broader movement. I think this in the Labour Party. CPGB members differences being referred to. This trouble mobilising their most active Sunday Worker, was still an effective underlines a point about figures such could remember Keir Hardie primarily was the case throughout the period of members due to demoralisation after means of engaging a bigger Labour as Zinoviev and Bukharin. Whatever as an apostle of independent working the 1920s. The broader, although still the removal of the ‘best fighters’ (ie, audience. disastrous choices they had made class politics, while non-communist clearly communist, Sunday Worker also the CPGB). However, the struggle to reaffiliate in the CPSU inner-party struggle Labour members could read it as a more had major open debates, not least on When I first came across this I was the branches would have felt like of the 1920s, they were more than fundamental statement of identity. An the future of the NLWM in 1928-29, sceptical, but the complaint recurs on a banging your head against the wall. It mere bureaucrats. Both had serious instruction from the party’s London and had a genuinely lively letters page. number of occasions. I think that what was not plausible to simply carry on and careers as revolutionaries. And, as Trades Council and Labour Department This was not just filled with anecdotal it really suggests is that the CPGB was loyally support and vote for all the scab far as I understand it, Zinoviev was a in January 1926 told members working observations to back up whatever the having problems mobilising its closer Labour candidates in the circumstances theoretical opponent of ‘socialism in in the NLWM that they should be CPGB’s line was - in vivid contrast sympathisers in Labour. Witch-hunts of the Labour right’s offensive against one country’. However, this obscures prepared to give and take on detailed to the deathly dull letters pages in are strange phenomena though - the the left. As JT Murphy rightly pointed a broader point. matters of policy with non-communists. publications such as The Socialist and examples I have personally experienced out at the time, to carry on in an The CPGB’s most disastrous Also, that it was better for non-CPGB Socialist Worker, which one would only seem sometimes to have had a deflating impassive, business-as-usual manner inheritance from the Comintern in leftwingers to take the lead and that read out of mild desperation. and demoralising effect on the people in those particular circumstances was terms of its work in broader formations the communists should make them, the So, a rank-and-file CPGB member, doing the actual witch-hunting; and not any sort of true united front - not such as the NLWM actually came leftwingers, feel that they were running or an interested reader in, say, the often the only thing uniting witch- that the CPGB would have been able to prior to Stalinisation. Specifically, the whole show. So there was a certain Labour Party, could fairly easily hunters is hatred of witches. So after take part in any principled united front, the militarised and hyper-centralised tendency to soft-pedal CPGB politics understand, with a little close reading, the witches are burned … of course. Rather, it just amounted to conceptions of the party regime in the and remain ‘hidden in plain sight’ so the political differences in the What specific impact did the the subjection of the left and the CPGB infamous ‘21 conditions’ agreed at the to speak. organisation and in the leadership at right’s drive to disaffiliate to the right’s offensive. Comintern’s Second Congress in 1920. The report in Workers’ Life - a particular junctures. A few years ago, those local Labour Party The CPGB needed to continue its How did this impact upon the CPGB weekly paper - of the NLWM’s I think it was Ian Birchall, during organisations that refused to work in the Labour Party in 1929 in my NLWM? September 1927 conference was keen his debate with the leadership of the expel communists have on the estimation, but the NLWM as it existed Well, such martial conceptions of a to emphasise how few of the delegates Socialist Workers Party in the aftermath NLWM? by then had become a partial block to political party are highly unlikely to were communists, which is actually of the Martin Smith imbroglio, who A very profound one, I think. By such activity. However, at the party’s breed organisations with a critical quite delusional. There were also a raised the point that the CPGB had September 1927, the great bulk of the January 1929 congress the CPGB’s culture. Thus, when a party such as number of complaints from inside allowed open debate in its publications membership of the NLWM came from executive committee recommended the CPGB interacted with the broader the CPGB that its NLWM work was in its year of big crisis in 1956. If the precisely those disaffiliated Labour locals that the NLWM should continue as workers’ movement under the aegis of somewhat haphazard, and opposition Stalinist CPGB could allow this, why who were unwilling to countenance an organisation, but the rank and file the united front in the 1920s, it was not to the right in the Labour Party was couldn’t the SWP? the removal of communists from their defeated the resolution by 55 votes able to sustain a consistent critical culture effectively being left to chance. Again, However, this obscures the fact ranks. There is a rider to this though, in to 52. This was mainly, according to of ‘unity in diversity’ in relation to its this kind of behaviour led to a leftist that the CPGB hosted open debates that the NLWM, by its September 1928 reports, on the grounds that the NLWM prospective alliance partners. Attempts reaction from Dutt, in particular. in its publications not just in 1956, conference, still represented, on paper, was thought of as redundant and the to do so would perforce destabilise its Rather than sparing the NLWM the but throughout the 1920s and in the 21 official Labour parties, as against idea that it did nothing the CPGB could own party regime. nuances and details of the CPGB, in post-World War II period. It was 15 disaffiliated parties, and 45 leftwing not do itself. Therefore, early opportunist 1925 he called for a far more ruthless something normal for the CPGB, groups presumably existing as minorities The national committee of the adaptation to the 1924 Labour approach to the left of the Labour Party albeit such debate was hosted on the in local Labour parties. Although the NLWM formally wound the body up government led to an ultra-leftist and was obviously much more keen leadership’s terms and within its terms CPGB and thus the NLWM were formally in March 1929. There was, however, a reaction from some members. to emphasise a specific communist of reference. Either comrade Birchall determined to support the disaffiliated significant coda to this outcome in the Close proximity to the Labour Party identity. was genuinely unaware of this or he groups in remaining active and organised form of a major debate in the Sunday disorientated CPGB members - By October 1927, in a book entitled wanted to save the SWP tradition from - in some cases they stood against scab Worker, with many letters of complaint spinning them in both rightist and Socialism and the living wage, Dutt was being even more compromised than it candidates of the Labour right in London being printed against the NLWM leftist directions. predicting the imminent collapse of any already was. Certainly, the CPGB in its elections, for example - they were not liquidation. What this reflected was Unsurprisingly, this culture was basis for social democratic reforms and ‘Leninist’ mode was much more open internally gung-ho about this. that there had been a significant number transposed into the NLWM. For leadership. This posed, as he no doubt than the ‘Leninist’ SWP has been since Evidence from the London district of left Labour activists who had been example, the minutes of the CPGB’s intended, questions for the future of the late 1980s. sees the CPGB talking about the prepared to cooperate with the CPGB to Holborn Labour Party fraction from the CPGB’s work in the NLWM. Also, Moving back to the NLWM, you disastrous consequences for certain fight the right. Although they were not February 1926 stress that CPGB I have found fragments of evidence talked at Communist University branches caused by disaffiliation. likely to join the party, these comrades members must maintain unanimity in that suggest some CPGB members about how the orientation Also there was a clear impatience had been defined by their struggle Labour Party discussions. There were did not bother themselves with the became something of a trap shown with those in the Labour Party alongside the NLWM. The CPGB was even arguments suggesting it was NLWM - a passive boycott. It is easy for the CPGB. How did the who seemed unprepared to do some now effectively marooning this group, a problem if there was any disunity to imagine that these activists had the movement develop? basic manoeuvring to stay inside the and confusing it at the same time. So among the broader left wing at Labour leftist sentiments of earlier unofficial As I have suggested already, you did official Labour structures. CPGB one should not run away with the idea Party meetings. tendencies in the CPGB, which reacted have various leadership figures such members also seem to have drifted that the NLWM was merely the CPGB Keep in mind that in both cases to rightwing deviations by disparaging as Dutt reading smoke signals from away from disaffiliated leftwing groups in another guise. It was more than that l we are probably only talking about work in the Labour Party. So there is a Moscow and tacking left. But even if on occasion. These disaffiliated branches discussions. Also that there would certain amount of evidence to suggest that pressure had not been there, I am were refused readmission to the Labour Notes 1. ‘Labour’s purge of the 1920s’ Militant April 18 definitely have been political this classic right/left dichotomy. extremely doubtful that the CPGB’s line Party proper. 1986. differences between CPGB members To what extent would these on Labour Party work would have been So inevitably the NLWM had 2. See L Parker The kick inside: revolutionary and other leftwingers in the NLWM. political differences have unchallenged or unchecked, although become something of a political trap opposition in the CPGB, 1945-1991 London 2012. So we can see how problematic the been the common property I suspect it would not have taken the for the CPGB, meaning a large section 3. www.marxists.org/archive/paul-william/ articles/1920/12/02.htm. CPGB found the practice of ‘unity in of the movement as a whole? eventual absurd form of calling Labour of its militants were siloed off from 4. See http://weeklyworker.co.uk/worker/623/80- diversity’. The whole tendency was, LPM believes in transparency members ‘social fascists’. the Labour Party proper. Because years-since-the-general-strike-from-world-war-t. ideologically at least, towards abstract and openness on political The NLWM, in particular, was of this, it came to be seen by CPGB 5. http://weeklyworker.co.uk/worker/748/third- unity, both internally and externally. Of disagreements - it plays a turning into a partial trap for the members on the left of the party as a period-pains. 6. www.marxists.org/archive/pearce/1957/04/ course, the major dialectical irony was role in the self-education of CPGB. Conditions inside the Labour kind of ‘shadow’ Communist Party, cpgb-labour-left.htm. that these ultra-centralised concepts a working class that we want Party itself were pushing the CPGB to with its own leadership, structures 7. http://cpgb.org.uk/pages/books/30/ of party organisation engendered to see running society. What the left. At the beginning of 1928, the and organisation. Idris Cox, himself revolutionary-strategy-2008. 8 weekly October 13 2016 1126 worker SUTR Hitting the jackpot? Stand Up To Racism looks set to be a big success in SWP terms, writes Peter Manson. But will it advance the cause of the working class?

t has to be said that the Socialist anti-Semitism, Islamophobia and movement”. In the same session the next year. Gloria Mills, a black I mentioned earlier: “Refugees are Workers Party’s latest front, Stand anti-immigrant policy”. first speaker was another SWPer, Brian member of the TUC executive and welcome here”, which was also the IUp To Racism, looks set to be a big At this stage we heard from Labour Richardson, who addressed us in his general council, thought we should be title of one of the “workshops”. And success as these things go. At what was councillor Michelline Ngongo, who capacity as assistant secretary of Unite grateful to SUTR for “doing what the for the SWP the opposition to migrants, effectively a launch event, the October in an earlier session had moved the Against Fascism. He insisted that the Commission for Racial Equality used including refugees, is synonymous 8 London rally/conference attracted audience in recounting how she had event “is, and should be, a working to do”. She demanded “prosecution for with racism - clearly nonsense. Such large numbers, and the expansive main been forced to flee the Congo and conference”, in that the “workshops” racism and racist crime”. opposition is part of the mainstream hall in Friends Meeting House was eventually managed to settle in Britain would allow the expression of views And the majority of speakers were nationalist narrative that holds that we, filled to capacity, with every seat taken. despite attempts to remove her. Now from the floor. The important thing was far to the right of the SWP - in the the British, must put ‘our own people Of course, it would not be the SWP she revealed that Corbyn had been the to decide how to build an organisation ‘Refugees welcome here’ “workshop”, first’ - and ‘our own people’ includes if these things were not exaggerated only one who fought for her rights at capable of defeating racism. for instance, there was no speaker white and black, Christian, Muslim and a little, and its internal Party Notes the time - that was how she came to join Later, in the afternoon plenary, at all from the socialist left. It is true Jew, provided they are prepared to sing claimed that “over 1,500” attended. Labour: “Jeremy stood behind me,” she chair Sabby Dhalu - who, like that in the final plenary Labour’s Lord ‘God save the queen’! Which is strange, since the hall in said, and “I’m proud to be a councillor Weyman Bennett, has switched from Alf Dubs - who last week moved Similarly, for the SWP Islamophobia question - known as ‘The Light’, in Jeremy’s constituency”. We should the leadership of UAF to join him as an amendment in the upper house is simply and straightforwardly a form where both plenary sessions were now all work to “make sure he’s the co-convenor of SUTR - said: “Today calling on the government to accept of racism, just as the ‘Prevent strategy’ held - “has a capacity of up to 1,000”.1 next prime minister”. is the birth of a new movement against unaccompanied children from the Calais is a racist attack on Muslims. It is true Nevertheless, the event’s success - in That speech also received huge racism in Britain”. Then there was ‘jungle’ - addressed us as “Comrades!” that Muslims usually, although not the SWP’s own terms - should not be applause, but it could not match the Nahella Ashraf of the SWP (speaking (the only time the word was used, to necessarily, have dark skins and are downplayed, with large numbers of ovation greeting the man himself, as SUTR Manchester): “Today is just my knowledge). But he advised us on the descendants of immigrants. But non-SWPers, including Labour Party when he came to the rostrum. With the start.” For her, when the British how we should campaign for refugees Prevent - while its effect is to increase members, participating enthusiastically. everyone still on their feet, SWPers in National Party’s Nick Griffin lost his as though we were all non-political Islamophobia, since it clearly targets According to Party Notes, “Saturday the audience began chanting: “Say it seat in the European parliament in 2014 do-gooders: “Everyone is going to do Muslims - is in reality a bureaucratic, was a great day for the anti-racist loud, say it clear: refugees are welcome (thanks to UAF, of course!) it was “the something - I am and so are you!” undemocratic and pathetically movement.” That is because “It shows her!” And, of course, Jeremy joined best moment ever”. For her part, Clare Moseley from flawed attempt to combat Islamist the potential to roll back the vicious, in - just what the SWP was hoping! And in the morning plenary that Care for Calais complained that the ‘radicalisation’ - Dr Siema Iqbal, a GP, nasty assault from the Tories, as they He said modestly that “people like followed we had Weyman Bennett UK was unwilling to take its “fair confessed in one session: “I make sure seek to scapegoat refugees, migrants Michelline are the real heroes” in the himself - having effortlessly made the share” of the refugees and demanded my child doesn’t read the newspapers” and foreign workers ... There was a real struggle for equality. He referred to the switch from UAF. “This is a conference that there should be “no demolition” - he might read about ‘radicalisation’, sense that people want to get organised 1936 battle of Cable Street as a “turning not just to talk, but to organise,” he said, of the ‘jungle’ without a “proper plan” after all. against the racist offensive.” And, of point” - “that demo sealed the fate of echoing what comrade Richardson had and a “long-term solution”, while What about anti-Semitism? Edie course, the SWP leadership urges its Mosley”. He also mentioned “those of told us earlier. But, of course, that was Maurice Wren of the Refugee Council Friedman of the Jewish Council for comrades: “It is now absolutely crucial us who tried to stop the National Front not true at all - there were no motions, talked about the “victories” we had Racial Equality mentioned the “row to build on the momentum of the Stand marching” in the 1970s, to illustrate the no decisions taken - just exhortations already won because of “cross-country, about anti-Semitism in the Labour Up To Racism conference.”2 fact that we need to keep on mobilising, for everyone to join the new SWP cross-community and cross-class Party” - without really saying what It goes without saying that the SWP as the SWP never tires of pointing front: “We have to have SUTR in every movements”. He also thought we she thought about it. She said we was delighted that Jeremy Corbyn out, ‘on the streets’. But we must also town,” said comrade Bennett. And, in should “back Yvette Cooper’s call” for should “stop the infighting” and “look turned up to speak, as advertised, even “confront this by legal means, by all our case we had forgotten, he reminded the government to “help hundreds of at the Chakrabarti report”, although though there had been some confusion communities coming together”. us: “We buried the BNP. We buried children” in Calais. she added: “Stop the competition for about this, with the Labour leader He stated there were two things the EDL” (when we were UAF, the victimhood.” Did she mean by this that apparently also due in Scotland on the we needed to do more than anything SWP’s previous ‘united front’, he Broad definition Jews today are not really victims and same day. At least, according to The to combat the current anti-migrant forgot to add). Then there was Labour MEP Claude that accusations of anti-Semitism in Guardian, that is what groups including chauvinism: first, “seek a political But, judging by the attendance, the Moraes - not exactly a leftwinger. He said: the Labour Party are largely spurious? Black Lives Matter, Southall Black solution in Syria”; and, secondly, SWP does seem to have hit the jackpot “I was there when Stand Up To Racism Overall, there were many interesting Sisters and Sisters Uncut were told slightly bizarrely, “don’t be fooled by with Stand Up To Racism. After all, began and I’m still on the committee.” contributions. For example, former when they protested to Labour HQ that Nigel Farage”. Corbyn also looked everyone from the far left to the Tories But then he seemed to have second Guantanamo detainee Moazzem Begg Corbyn should boycott SUTR because forward to a “proper distribution of and even Ukip is opposed to racism, thoughts about that and added, “Am I?” recounted how he had become friendly of its association with the SWP.3 People wealth in this country” and ended by aren’t they? Which is why the Trades But he was relieved to be informed by with one of the guards - in fact “Albert” from the same milieu were outside reminding us that “Diversity is not a Union Congress seems to have come the session chair, Steve Hart, that he was had subsequently come to stay with him holding up a banner, which urged, “No problem - it’s a strength!” on board - it was announced towards indeed a committee member. But Moraes in London. Begg - dubbed one of “the platform for the SWP”. And with that Corbyn and Abbott the end of the day that the TUC is to was among those who made what were, most dangerous men in the world” by Their leaflet read: “We’re asking marched out again, their job well done! sponsor a SUTR in my view, rather exaggerated claims the US - used this to illustrate that, after people not to lend support to the conference about the spread and extent of racism. all, we are all human beings. Socialist Workers Party - either Opportunity in March He proclaimed: “We have seen nothing For her part, Salma Yaqoob spoke directly or indirectly through its front It was clear from the way the whole less than the mainstreaming of racism wittily: “I’m to blame for the state of organisations, including Unite Against thing was presented that the SWP in our country and globally.” the NHS and low wages - sorry about Fascism and Stand Up To Racism” - views SUTR as a big opportunity For her part, the TUC’s Gloria that.” And: “This scarf is so confusing because of the “rape culture” that the - for the SWP. So, for example, Mills said you know what racism is if to people - I really must stop wearing SWP has failed to tackle. Apparently in the opening “workshop” I “you’re black and spat at every day”, it.” She summed up the gist of the the SWP is among those groups that attended, the chair, Jan Nielsen of while councillor Ngongo stated that anti-migrant propaganda by continuing, “actively facilitate rape, sexual assault the SWP (presented as National she had been “attacked three times” in the same ironic vein, “It’s all the fault and subsequent cover-ups”. Actively Union of Teachers), said that since the Brexit vote. Those, of course, of the foreigner” - even though she facilitate? the event was “the biggest are allegations of serious racist abuse, thought that “actually they need more While it is true that the ‘comrade anti-racist conference in British but it has to be said that for the SWP immigrants, not less, for the economy”. Delta’ affair in 2012-13 was not exactly history”. She stressed that the the definition of racism is rather broad. In other words, there was also lots one of the SWP’s high points, I cannot aim of SUTR was to “emulate Its publicity for the event was of confusion, particularly over the help feeling that this protest, and the the Anti-Nazi League” and headed: “Confronting the rise political approach needed to defeat publicity it generated, was at least in “build a mass in racism”, with the anti-migrant chauvinism, Islamophobia part driven by the desire on the part strap, “Stamp out and, yes, racism. How could it be of the media and the Labour right to Islamophobia and otherwise? After all, the SWP never discredit Corbyn. anti-Semitism”. attempts to win its ‘united fronts’ to When he, together with Diane This was linked adopt a radical working class outlook. Abbott, made their appearance late in to the by-line No, it deliberately attempts to keep the afternoon, they received a rapturous from the chant them ‘broad’, preferring to recruit from standing ovation. The final plenary was among them in ones and twos. interrupted for a few minutes, while No doubt SUTR will be successful those who had already spoken left from that point of view, but, as for the stage. Abbott - who had originally taking forward the fight for Marxism been scheduled to speak in the morning, and working class political organisation was introduced by the chair as “the - I’m afraid not l best qualified person in Britain to be home secretary”! She spoke [email protected] first and stressed that she wanted to give a “clear message” - “We are Notes 1. www.friendshouse.co.uk/our-rooms. going to stand up to racism, anti- 2. SWP Party Notes October 10. It should be Semitism and Islamophobia”. pointed out, by the way, that this weekly internal Yes, as home secretary, “I bulletin is no longer available on the SWP will work to keep Britain website, as it had been for the last couple of years until about a month ago. safe,” she said. “But I’ll 3. www.theguardian.com/politics/2016/oct/10/ also work to uphold our Weyman Bennett: a new hat to wear corbyn-under-fire-speaking-anti-racism-rally- rights, and against racism, links-swp-socialist-workers-party. weekly 9 worker 1126 October 13 2016 STWC Boris Johnson’s useful idiots The Stop the War conference was marked by a pro-imperialist stunt, reports Simon Wells hands in support of the charter. It was overwhelmingly passed with only a few abstentions. The final two speakers were Diane Abbott and Jeremy Corbyn, who had hot-footed it over from the SUTR conference. Abbott stated the obvious by saying that when we end these wars the world will be a safer place. She made no mention of imperialism or the class interests involved, of course. Having finished her contribution, she was about to sit down when the hecklers started up again. Now, I do not object in principle to heckling, but things were by now getting a bit too much and what we were witnessing was an attempt to disrupt the conference. However, the press, seeing an opportunity, surrounded the hecklers and focused their lenses on Corbyn too. Most people decided they had had enough and drowned out the heckles with chants of “No more war!” When things quietened down, the chair was eventually able to introduce the final speaker, Jeremy Corbyn, with the conference rising in unison and applauding. With Seamus Milne looking on, Corbyn gave a smooth and well drilled speech. He said we have to learn the lessons of Chilcot about the decision to go to war and we have to deal with the cause of the refugee crisis: stop the bombing - there has to be a peace process, a political solution. More than that, foreign policy should be based on internationalism, human rights and peace, and arms sales to Saudi Arabia should be “suspended”. Carrying on from where he left off Demanding liberation by UK, France and US over in Friends Meeting House, he said that multicultural societies are better n October 8 the Stop the War The opening contributions to Essentially the SSC are Boris Johnson’s similar to the previous sessions, in than those based on suspicion and the Coalition held what it described the morning workshop on ‘War and useful idiots. The SSC calls for a that it featured many of the same sort registering of foreign-born workers. Oas an “international confer- internationalism’ were essentially a no-fly zone to be enforced by the US, of messages. Lindsey German asked Another standing ovation. ence” marking “15 years of the war repeat of the sentiments expressed France and Britain, plus the removal why we are spending 2% of GDP on the The chair thanked everyone and on terror” at the TUC headquarters in during the opening plenary. However, of president Bashar al-Assad and the armed forces, when we could be using rather abruptly ended the conference, London. The STWC was, of course, the contributions from the floor gave a installation of a democratically elected it for schools, housing and the NHS. allowing numerous heated exchanges founded in September 2001 after hint of things to come in the afternoon government. Amazingly, the closely Referring to the future of Stop the War, between the Syrian Solidarity George W Bush announced the “war session. One person said that he had associated ‘Speak out on Syria’, open she said we must redouble our efforts. Campaigners and the majority, who on terror” following 9/11. been in contact with people in Aleppo letter, which criticises Corbyn over his At this point the chair referred were not too pleased at all with this Included in the line-up of speakers and they do not buy into the STWC “silence”, is not only backed by the to the charter that Chris Nineham pro-imperialist attempted sabotage l were three of Stop the War’s founders: position of opposing all military action. usual suspects - eg, Sacha Ismail of had announced at the beginning of Chris Nineham, John Rees and Lindsey How exactly, he asked angrily, does the Alliance for Workers’ Liberty. We the day. The STWC had received Notes German, all three then prominent Stop the War demonstrate its solidarity also find names such as Roland Rance no representations about this, said 1. See www.stopwar.org.uk/index.php/news- members of the Socialist Workers with the people in Aleppo? Someone (Jews Against Zionism), Pete Firmin the chair, who asked for a show of comment/2207-anti-war-charter. Party, but now leaders of the SWP else wondered if there was merit in (Labour Representation Committee), splinter, Counterfire. Other speakers building dialogue with Assad and Putin. Susan Pashkoff (Left Unity) and Fred included another founder-member, Another contributor said that if Clinton Leplat (Socialist Resistance). Shame Andrew Murray of the Morning Star’s wins the US presidency there would be on them all. Fighting fund Communist Party of Britain, Salma genuine fear of a nuclear war - in which A lot of animosity was directed at Yaqoob and the main draw, Labour case we should surely be speaking to one of the guest speakers, John Hilary, leader Jeremy Corbyn. Russia and Syria now. outgoing executive director of War on First off was comrade Murray, his There was certainly a diversity of Want - how, the SSC wanted to know, is Big ask main message to the establishment opinions expressed. For example, a a call for more anti-imperialism going being, ‘We were right, you were Scottish comrade said that the elected to achieve anything? It was claimed that know it’s not much,” writes figures - they are probably a gross wrong’. Not without reason he claimed representatives north of the border the Syrian and Russian governments “ITY, “but I hope it helps.” underestimation given ad-blockers, that the current Labour leader is part of generally support the aims of the are actually committing genocide, In fact your £50 cheque is very etc). Anyway, don’t any of you like the Stop the War legacy - there was now STWC and suggested that Scottish and are responsible for 95% of the generous indeed, comrade, and what you read enough to get out the possibility of having an anti-war independence could therefore only collateral damage the country has seen. very much appreciated. And even your debit card? party in government, he said. advance the fight against imperialism. Obviously a no-fly zone, to be overseen more generous - in fact precisely But I suppose there are good Unfortunately the Stand Up to John Rees, in response to this and by imperialist military powers, would twice more (!) - was the other weeks and bad, and I have to say Racism conference was being held other comments, said that Stop the actually be a prelude to a wider and far cheque received this week from that the £260 received over the last on the same day at a venue only 15 War cannot do everything - we are more dangerous conflict. After all, it KL for £100. But KL is a man of seven days is a little lower than I minutes’ walk away. Given that the a campaign, not a political party. would have to involve the threat, and few words who doesn’t bother with was hoping for. It takes our October STWC had announced its conference Answering the criticism about Aleppo, maybe the reality, of bringing down a covering letter - it’s the cash we fighting fund up to £590, but that’s just after SUTR had called its event he said that the dictators of the Middle not only Syrian but Russian aircraft. need, after all. way below where we ought to be back in July, there must have been East should not receive one iota of In the case of Russia that would bring On top of those two cheques there with two weeks of the month gone some considerable gnashing of teeth. support. He said that personally he had tit-for-tat retaliation. were five standing orders - from RK and a target of £1,750 to reach. That But that was not for public display. been in Tahrir Square, Cairo, alongside A speaker attempting to talk about and GD (£25 each), DV (£20), SM means we need to raise another Instead diplomacy triumphed. The thousands of protestors in 2011, and the history of imperialism was also and AN (£10) - plus £17 raised at a £1,190 in the remaining 17 days. chair of the opening plenary read out he had told them, “What I am doing is heckled, and was actually accused collection in London. Oh, and the A big ask! a message of support from SUTR and trying to stop my government bombing of supporting genocide. It all got extra £5 in SJ’s resubscription postal But our readers and supporters I hear that was reciprocated over at yours.” At this point he was heckled a bit fraught, with the chair, Judith order was also gratefully received. always know when they are needed Friends Meeting House. by a Syrian who stood up, pointed Orr, appearing to lose control of the But I have to say that not and I’m confident that this month Chris Nineham was next up with the at Rees and said, “Will you join us proceedings. Chris Nineham appeared one of our 3,152 online readers will be no exception l announcement of the coalition’s new outside the Russian embassy?” Rees at the back of the room with two clicked on the PayPal ‘Donate’ Robbie Rix ‘Anti-war Charter’, which was to be did not answer. stewards, looking as though they button this week, which is very found in our conference packs.1 He said However, by the afternoon, some might intervene physically, and the disappointing - especially since the Fill in a standing order form its aims were popular and achievable, contributions from the floor were atmosphere seemed to calm down number of internet readers seems (back page), donate via our but it had not been circulated in advance becoming more aggressive. Heckling enough for the rest of the contributors to be gradually creeping up week website, or send cheques, and had come as a surprise to the 500 from the Syrian Solidarity Campaign, to have their say. after week (not that we trust the payable to Weekly Worker or so people in the room. a pro-imperialist front, intensified. The final plenary was pretty 10 weekly October 13 2016 1126 worker TURKEY

Peoples’ Democratic Party election rally Internal and external onslaught Esen Uslu reports on the Erdoğan regime’s ongoing oppression, its Kurdish war and involvement in Syria n the aftermath of the unsuccessful was quickly supplemented with a new, to form a bloc called the Coalition though the military consensus had been captured by the coalition forces centred military coup of July 15, the crack- all-encompassing narrative depicting for Labour and Democracy, and first that it was just not a winnable war. around the Syrian Kurds - armed by Idown on the Turkish media has been the Gülen movement, Islamic State demonstrations were scheduled for Since the Gülen movement is renowned the US - the direct route from Turkey ruthless and ongoing. There are many and the Kurdistan Workers Party International Peace Day. Their nine- for its opposition to a settlement with to the IS-controlled Raqqa was cut off. highly vocal international campaigns (PKK) as a single terrorist entity. point programme did not even touch on the Kurds, Erdoğan had to act with After a frantic last-ditch diplomatic for the release of this or that media Immediately after the collapse of the ‘Kurdish problem’, however, and particular brutality to get the support effort to get the acquiescence of Russia, personality, for press freedom and the attempted coup, TV channels and even before the government stepped in of the nationalist-racist-fascist forces. Iran, Israel and Saudi Arabia, Turkey journalists’ rights. Even the European newspapers associated with the Gülen with a ban, cracks began to appear in A no-holds-barred war effort has jumped into the fray. Turkish armoured, Union, together with several member- movement were closed down, and some the bloc. Some organisations withdrew been mounted over the last year against artillery and special forces have been states, have raised concerns. of their journalists and editors were from the coalition. Kurdish cities and towns. One by one, in action, while the main bulk of Many thousands are still detained detained. The state-owned channels and districts and towns were bombarded the ‘boots on the ground’ has been in Turkish jails on the pretext that they the so-called mainstream media, which Fateful by artillery and air attacks. Thousands provided by the Turkish-trained Sunni are members or supporters of Fethullah has been under the direct influence of The period spanning most of 2015 have been killed. Cross-border air raids Arab and Turkmen forces of the Free Gülen and the secretive politico- the AKP government, propagated the and 2016 has been defined by the war into Iraqi territory against actual and Syrian Army. religious racketeer organisation government line. News reports and in Kurdistan after Erdoğan and his imaginary PKK targets were launched A likely Mosul operation in Iraq, allegedly formed around him. Numbers commentary were closely monitored government decided to end the peace almost every night. plans to attack IS-controlled Raqqa, are so large that an early release and it was the state which determined process after three years of truce. That The publications of the Kurdish nationalist sentiment, as well as programme has been introduced in what stories were to be buried and what fateful decision was what actually freedom movement were closed down, enmity towards Kurds - all are factors order to free up space for those who could be aired. provoked the crisis within the ruling bloc. and local journalists were killed, creating an uneasy balance in Turkey. have yet to be convicted. And there However, the crackdown on the The two main components of the detained or forced into exile. Turkish Erdoğan and co have been using ‘anti- is no end in sight for the campaign of media did not end there. Leaning on the Islamist AKP government - Erdoğan supporters of the peace movement were imperialist’ rhetoric, emphasising the arrests and imprisonments under the Yenikapı consensus, the government and his political organisation and the object of violent campaigns, in relationship of the US administration state of emergency. Every day Turkey soon made its move against the usual the Gülen movement with its highly which we now know that state security with the Gülen movement. The EU is wakes up to news of yet more people suspects: that is, the Kurdish press, trained cadre entrenched within the forces worked hand-in-glove with IS. also coming in for its share of scorn detained. as well as the liberal and left-leaning state machinery - were on a collision The elected local municipal councils with accusations of unfulfilled promises Changes in just about every aspect media. Independent TV channels and course. The Gülen movement forced of towns and cities deemed too close to relating to the refugee repatriation of life have come about because of radio stations were closed down, while Erdoğan’s hand by revealing the graft the Kurdish freedom movement were agreement. emergency decrees - the government state-controlled satellite companies and corruption endemic among his closed down by executive order, and The ongoing war propaganda and has been granted extraordinary powers stopped broadcasting - their offices key people. caretaker administrators appointed from anti-Gülen rhetoric, accompanied by by parliament for a period of three were sealed off and their internet sites The nationalist-racist-fascist cadres Ankara. Just like state of emergency the most widespread and intensive months (renewable as long as the blocked. Amongst the channels closed within the bureaucracy and army, decrees, the caretakers’ terms of office wave of oppression, has produced current emergency lasts). and banned were a Kurdish children’s which had previously been pushed seem indefinite. The last vestiges of a large body of people who hate All this is supported by the ‘Grand TV station and a radio station dedicated back and sidelined, not least through democracy in Kurdistan have been the regime. However, a substantial National Coalition’ which is made up to folk music. the ‘Ergenekon trials’ of oppositionists removed. Just a couple of days ago, an section of finance capital is prepared of all parties represented in parliament Prominent journalists, columnists beginning in 2008, now found armoured vehicle allegedly opened fire to support the government. There is with the sole exception of the HDP and editors, as well as novelists, other themselves wooed by both sections of without provocation, killing four. One no realistic alternative if stability is (People’s Democratic Party). Standing authors and TV personalities, were the Islamists. In the months before the of them was a nephew of a prominent to be maintained - at least in the short at the pinnacle is, of course, president among those detained on the flimsiest coup attempt, Erdoğan seemed better MP of the Peoples’ Democratic Party term. Behind the scenes finance capital Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. The coalition of pretexts. Most are opponents of the placed to win their support when he (HDP). is seeking to moderate the ‘excesses’ kept together by what has been dubbed Erdoğan regime and associated with the quashed many of the convictions, ended of the Erdoğan regime. The hope is to ‘the spirit of Yenikapı’ - a reference Kurdish cause. And the academic world, the prosecutions and released almost all US-armed restore the ‘rule of law’ based on EU to the massive demonstration together with the teaching profession, of the Ergenekon detainees. The Gülen Added to the complications is the accession negotiations. staged by the state at the Yenikapı has had its share of detentions and movement was only able to garner the participation of Turkish armed forces The Islamists have been licking fields of Istanbul in August, which sackings. This repression also acts to support of a very small section of the in the war in Syria, where they have their wounds, while the nationalists brought together large sections of freeze independent thinking, not to state machine. attempted to prevent the formation are keen to extend their newly the anti-junta population, especially mention the ability to organise. The price paid by Erdoğan in order of a continuous Kurdish zone along acquired gains. The parliamentary those committed to nationalism However, in September, after to win their support was the reversal of the border separating Turkey from the opposition has evaporated except for and Islamism. Leaders of all the the long summer holidays, public his policy of peace negotiations with the Sunni Arabs and Turkmens. After the the HDP. In this situation, freedom, mainstream reactionary parties shared opposition seemed to have regrouped. Kurds and a return to the well-trodden town of Manbij, an important crossroads democracy and a secular state seem the platform. The anti-junta sentiment Some left organisations attempted path of seeking a military victory - even on the west bank of the Euphrates, was like a faraway dream l weekly 11 worker 1126 October 13 2016 What we ECONOMY fight for

n Without organisation the working class is nothing; with the highest form of organisation Rate of profit continues to fall it is everything. n There exists no real Communist Michael Roberts looks at the US data from 1948 to 2015 Party today. There are many so-called ‘parties’ on the left. In reality they are confessional sects. Members who disagree with the prescribed ‘line’ are expected to gag themselves in public. Either that or face expulsion. n Communists operate according to the principles of democratic centralism. Through ongoing debate we seek to achieve unity in action and a common world outlook. As long as they support agreed actions, members should have the right to speak openly and form temporary or permanent factions. n Communists oppose all imperialist wars and occupations but constantly strive to bring to the fore the fundamental question - ending war is bound up with ending capitalism. n Communists are internationalists. Everywhere we strive for the closest unity and agreement of working class and progressive parties of all countries. We oppose every manifestation of national sectionalism. It is an internationalist duty to uphold the principle, ‘One state, one party’. n The working class must be organised globally. Without a global Communist Party, a Communist International, the struggle against capital is weakened and lacks coordination. Youngstown Ohio: Rustbelt USA n Communists have no interest he US department of commerce’s corporate rate of profit look like this historic cost measure differs from the divided by employee compensation) apart from the working class Bureau of Economic Analysis (Fig 1). current cost measure, in that the trough and the rate of surplus value (profits as a whole. They differ only in (BEA) has just updated its esti- In Andrew Kliman’s measure the in profitability is actually at the end of divided by employee compensation). I recognising the importance of T Marxism as a guide to practice. mates of net fixed capital stock in US corporate rate of profit falls from the 1980s, as in Kliman’s measure. And did this again for 2015 and it confirms the US economy. This gives us the the late 1970s to a trough in 2001 and the current cost measure always shows Marx’s law of profitability: namely, That theory is no dogma, but opportunity to measure the US rate of then it appears to make a recovery. But much greater upward or downward when the organic composition of must be constantly added to and profit à la Marx up to 2015. it could be said that the US rate of profit movement. capital rises faster than the rate of enriched. Last year I made such measurements was more or less stable from the late What is interesting about the update surplus value, the rate of profit will fall n Capitalism in its ceaseless up to 2014, summing up the conclusions 1980s. My slightly revised measure of data to 2015 is it reveals that, and vice versa. search for profit puts the future from the data in this way: reveals a very steady decline until a whatever measure is used, the rate of Over the whole period, 1946-2015, of humanity at risk. Capitalism is stabilisation from the 1980s - or the profit in 2015 is lower than in 2012; the rate of profit fell 30% (historic synonymous with war, pollution, First, the secular decline in the US traditional ‘neoliberal period’. Both lower than in 2006 (the peak of the cost measure), while the organic exploitation and crisis. As a global rate of profit since 1945 is confirmed measures suggest that the US corporate last cycle); and lower than in 1997, composition of capital rose 46% and system capitalism can only be and indeed, on most measures, rate of profit has been at least static when most measures peaked. So there the rate of exploitation rose 2%. superseded globally. profitability is close to post-war (with cyclical fluctuations) since 1997. is currently a downward phase in the The US Federal Reserve also n The capitalist class will never lows. Second, the main cause of the Either way, the US corporate rate of rate of profit. Given the fall in the provides data from which we can willingly allow their wealth and secular fall is clearly a rise in the profit is some 30% below where it mass of profit during this year, we can glean an estimate of the US rate of power to be taken away by a organic composition of capital, so was after World War II and 20% below expect to see a further decline in 2016. profit and on an even more up-to-date parliamentary vote. Marx’s explanation of the law of the basis (to mid-2016). However, the Fed n We will use the most militant tendency of the rate of profit to fall Fig.1: measure only covers the non-financial is also confirmed.Third , profitability corporate sector and only goes back to methods objective circumstances on most measures peaked in the late 1960. The Fed measure, à la Marx, is allow to achieve a federal republic 1990s after the ‘neoliberal’ recovery. the net operating surplus (profit) over of England, Scotland and Wales, Since then, the US rate of profit has non-financial assets and employee a united, federal Ireland and a been static or falling. And, fourth, compensation. It broadly confirms the United States of Europe. since about 2010-12, profitability long-term trends revealed in the whole n Communists favour industrial has started to fall again. Finally, the economy measure. More interestingly, unions. Bureaucracy and class fall in the rate of profit in the US has it shows that the rate of profit for compromise must be fought and now given way to a fall in the mass non-financial companies has fallen the trade unions transformed into of profits.1 since 2012 and particularly since 2014. schools for communism. So, as I said at the start, the main n Communists are champions of Now that we have all the 2015 data, I conclusions from last year remain. What the oppressed. Women’s oppression, have revised the results with the help the 2015 data adds is that the US rate of combating racism and chauvinism, of Anders Axelsson from Sweden, who profit (on any measure) fell in 2015 and and the struggle for peace and has produced a very handy manual for is now down about 3% from 2012. US ecological sustainability are just anybody to use to work out and replicate corporate profits are falling in absolute as much working class questions the results. Anders has also checked the terms and have been since early 2015. as pay, trade union rights and 2015 data as well.2 The US rate of profit is likely to demands for high-quality health, The conclusions reached last year have fallen again this year and that fall housing and education. are pretty much unchanged. In last is accelerating, according to the more n l Socialism represents victory year’s post, I updated the rate of profit the 1960s. I shall return to this point later, when high-frequency Fed data in the battle for democracy. It is as measured using the assumptions However, I prefer as a better guide we look at the measures of profitability the rule of the working class. and methods of Andrew Kliman in to the health of a capitalist economy to provided by the US Federal Reserve. Michael Roberts blogs at Socialism is either democratic or, his book, The failure of capitalist look at the total surplus value created So between 1948 and 2015 the US https://thenextrecession. 3 as with Stalin’s Soviet Union, it production. AK measures the rate in an economy against the capital rate of profit declined between 25% wordpress.com. turns into its opposite. of profit for the corporate sector only employed, thus following Marx’s basic and 33%, depending on whether you and uses the historic cost of net fixed formula, s/c+v. So I have a ‘whole measure fixed assets in historic (HC) Notes n Socialism is the first stage assets as the denominator. I also used economy’ measure, using total national or current costs (CC). Between 1965 1. https://thenextrecession.wordpress. of the worldwide transition to a slightly different variation of AK’s output, fixed assets and employee and 1982, the rate fell 21%-36%; from com/2015/12/20/the-us-rate-of-profit-revisited. communism - a system which approach in depreciating profits by compensation for variable capital. 1982 to 1997 it rose 10%-30%; but 2. See https://thenextrecession.files.wordpress. knows neither wars, exploitation, com/2016/10/short-manual-for-downloading-rop- money, classes, states nor nations. current costs, while maintaining a This shows that the overall US rate since 1997 it is down 3% and 4%-7% data-from-bureau-of-economic-analysis-1.pdf. historic cost measure of fixed assets. of profit has four phases: the post-war from 2006. 3. https://thenextrecession.wordpress. Communism is general freedom If all this sounds technical, it is and I golden age of high profitability, peaking And each economic recession in com/2011/12/08/andrew-kliman-and-the-failure- and the real beginning of human refer you to the already cited papers in 1965; next the profitability crisis of the US, starting from the first large of-capitalist-production. history. 4 5 4. https://thenextrecession.wordpress. and posts for an explanation. See the 1970s, troughing in the slump of one in 1974-75, has been preceded by com/2011/10/26/the-debate-on-the-rate-of-profit- The Weekly Worker is licensed by Anders’ manual too. And there is a 1980-82; then the neoliberal period a fall in the rate of profit at least one yet-again. November Publications under a Creative special appendix in my new book, The of recovery, or at least stabilisation in year and often up to three years before. 5. https://thenextrecession.wordpress. Commons Attribution-NonCommercial com/2011/11/20/measuring-the-us-rate-of-profit- 4.0 International Licence: http:// long depression, on measuring the rate profitability, peaking more or less in Last year, I compared the change in the up-or-down. creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ 6 legalcode. ISSN 1351-0150. of profit. 1997; and finally the current period rate of profit to changes in the organic 6. www.haymarketbooks.org/pb/The-Long- Anyway, the results for the US of volatility and slight decline. The composition of capital (fixed assets Depression. No 1126 October 13 2016 Owen Jones weekly dreams of an outbreak of worker peace Labour’s perpetual war zone Corbyn is right to keep the power to hire and fire, writesEddie Ford ith civil war still raging, the right he has travelled, Owen Jones Jeremy Corbyn’s shadow is hoping for an outbreak of peace in Wcabinet reshuffle last week the Labour Party. In the pages of The consisted of a series of deft moves. The Guardian (September 29) he tells us most obvious thing to say is that Diane that what “appeared impossible just Abbott was promoted from health to weeks ago” - ie, uniting the party - shadow home secretary and John now “seems far more achievable”. McDonnell retained his position as Thus in the “afterglow” of Corbyn’s shadow chancellor - meaning that the “well-delivered” conference speech, left dominate the top three positions. “there can and should be compromise” Perhaps the most newsworthy from “all sides”, as apparently “the decision, however, was the sacking of ideological divisions are less profound dame Rosie Winterton as chief whip - the than they were in the 1980s” - the press was full of pictures of her rubbing “bigger concerns, MPs will tell you, her eye as if in tears at the callousness are competence, priorities and effective of the Labour leader. Winterton, who communication”. presumably was offered another job, Jones seems to have no problem was one of those heavily pressurising in rewriting history or retreating into Corbyn to support a rule change, so fantasy politics: the political divisions that the Parliamentary Labour Party and schisms within today’s Labour Party could partly or fully elect the shadow are just as deep and profound as in the cabinet. As Corbyn knows only too 1980s. Tony Benn, after all, was the well, the PLP’s enthusiasm for such a Jeremy Corbyn of his day. But now the reform was not motivated by a love of right’s nightmare has come true, with the democracy, but rather to limit his room Bennite left controlling the leadership. for manoeuvre and generally undermine Jeremy Corbyn: some clever moves Jones also gets enthusiastic about his authority. Thankfully, Corbyn has how Corbyn’s speech was “infused not accepted this particular ‘peace offer’ goes without saying. The NEC is now with Corbyn over immigration - calling started to cry foul. with patriotism” - which is “not a from the right, otherwise Abbott and finely balanced between left and right, for a “reduction” in numbers not long Hence John Cryer - chair of concept that many metropolitan leftists McDonnell would be languishing on the Osamor’s appointment encouragingly after the Labour leader, quite correctly, the PLP - sent an “angry letter” to are terribly comfortable with”. But back benches. Never in a million years showing Corbyn’s determination to refused to bow to pressure from MPs MPs complaining that he and Rosie for millions of working class English would the PLP, as currently constituted, secure a left majority on the NEC. to do the same at the party conference. Winterton had been kept in the dark people it “matters a lot” (apparently vote for such leftwingers. Anyhow, there are other What this reshuffle shows above all about the reshuffle. In his letter, Cryer “Scotland and Wales are well served Interestingly, Winterton was appointments not without significance. is the importance of Corbyn keeping mentions how in early September by their respective patriotisms”). There replaced by Newcastle MP, Nick The soft-left MP for Llanelli, Nia the power to hire and fire - otherwise, the PLP voted “overwhelmingly” for was also “calibration”, Jones writes, Brown - who had the same job under Griffith, has replaced Clive Lewis as he would not have been be able the return of elections to the shadow meaning a “passionate defence of the Labour leader of the same surname defence secretary. What is significant to ‘bribe’ the returnees and other cabinet - which led to “negotiations migrants” that was “balanced with an between 2008 and 2010, during which about Griffith, apart from her historic reluctants to come on board. Or, as involving myself and the then chief acknowledgement that concerns over he earned a reputation as a ruthless support for unilateral disarmament, Rafael Behr puts it in The Guardian, whip, Rosie Winterton, and people immigration must be acknowledged”. Brownite enforcer. It is hard to believe is that she is one of the 10 who have “the details of who Jeremy Corbyn from the leadership team”. Cryer said it In the opinion of Jones, Labour’s that Brown has had an ideological returned to frontline politics after the chooses to place in any particular became clear last week that a reshuffle woes are not all the product of the conversion to Corbynism or anything orchestrated resignation campaign that front-bench job matter less than the was under way, which “had not been machinations of the mainstream media remotely like it. Rather, he has just saw 63 fly the nest. fact that it is the leader who gets to discussed or mentioned” during the or the PLP - rather, the leadership team accepted the facts on the ground: Lady Shami Chakrabarti, former choose” (October 7). Being on the talks. In response, a Corbyn spokesman “made mistakes in communication and Corbyn is currently secure in his head of Liberty, found herself with a back benches is a pretty boring life, said: “Shadow cabinet elections will strategy that cut through and caused position and therefore the only thing new job as shadow attorney general. constituency work is just what you be considered by Labour’s national damage”, and that damage “must be to do at this time is to discipline the Inevitably, Chakrabarti’s appointment have to do to stay in the race - whilst executive committee as part of a wider undone if Labour is not to suffer the sort troops and attempt to keep the party was immediately condemned by the waiting for the good times. Of course, party democratisation at a special of election rout that would discredit the from falling apart at the seams. Board of Deputies of British Jews. Its only a cynic would suggest that the meeting next month.” left for a generation”. Allegedly “shocked and angered” vice-president, Marie van der Zyl, said extra money which comes with such an Sorry, Owen, but you are never by the decision to chop Winterton, she was “disappointed” by the move, appointment would motivate a career Fantasy politics going to see peace in our time - or the two Labour whips resigned in protest - as Chakrabarti had “sold out the Jewish politician to accept a shadow cabinet The sacking of Winterton and elevation right learning to love the left. Forget Conor McGinn, MP for St Helens, and community” with her report - it “now post - though it certainly helps. More of key Corbyn allies like Abbott and it. The right will not be happy until Holly Lynch, MP for Halifax. Officially, looks increasingly like the whitewash importantly still, albeit related, such a Chakrabarti to high-profile posts has Corbyn has finally been deposed as Lynch has stepped down because was a job application”. position increases your public profile prompted the right to talk about a leader, or at the very least sacrifices she wants “time to focus” on her Stepping into the role of shadow by a significant magnitude, opening “revenge reshuffle”. Bermondsey MP John McDonnell, Diane Abbott and constituency work defending a slender Brexit secretary and David Davis’s up all sorts of possibilities (noble or Neil Coyle complained about “the anybody else associated with the left, majority of 428 votes - whilst McGinn, sparring partner is Sir Keir Starmer, otherwise). As the rules stand now, this facade of discussions and negotiations and becomes a permanent hostage to the naturally, wants to “spend more time” former director of public prosecutions. is something that a Labour leader can going on about shadow PLP elections, right. Whatever the rosy dreams of Owen with his family. We hear from a widely In a near masterful display of capitalise on - as Corbyn did. which were a complete farce when the Jones, the right are absolutely determined reported Labour source that McGinn understatement, Starmer remarked Given his impossible remit of leader’s team had already planned what to reverse the disastrous mistakes of “the was “going to be sacked anyway” on the BBC’s Andrew Marr show presenting a united front of all the they would do instead”. Similarly Tom morons” and put the left back to where for “disloyalty”, as he had helped to that there are “unresolved issues” political forces in the party, Corbyn Blenkinsop, a former whip, said that it was pre-Corbyn - totally scattered and organise the rolling shadow cabinet in the PLP - saying “we need to be did a pretty good job. Indeed, you Corbyn “wants submission, not unity”, utterly ineffective, afraid to raise their resignations during the attempted coup an outward-looking, confident party could say that the reshuffle was a very while another MP muttered, “So much heads above the parapets ever again l back in June. rather than an inward, divided party”. skilful effort. But, of course, the right for wiping the slate clean.” Quid pro quo However, he appeared to be at odds will never be satisfied and immediately Meanwhile, showing how far to [email protected] Another noteworthy appointment was Subscribe Name:______Standing order Jonathan Ashworth, former advisor to 6m 1yr Inst. 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