I I ~number of fre open for ~as open for fi>ort, which I r afternoons ~when she ~to one of 1tin of sou,p. ~ion, should MouNTAIN WRoNGHOLDISM b glistening ly characters !Was nothing I sometimes thought that the worst thing that Marx and tl the middle Engels had written was that the destruction of capitalism I and the triumph of the working class was inevitable. If it was insington, or inevitable, this spread the subconscious message that really id 'Carnival'. Communists didn't have to do anything much because the Kl costumed world they wished for was going to come along anyway. They rn our street didn't have to adapt themselves in any way to how society was 10 I stayed in changing, so their ideas, the graphic style of their newspapers, the language they spoke remained locked in the nineteenth century, while they just sort of hung around waiting for capi talism to collapse. On the other hand if you didn't look too closely it was easy to imagine that the triumph of Communism was nearly upon us. The theory of Marxism-Leninism straddled the earth and appeared day by day to be growing. The two largest and most populous nations on the planet, the Soviet Union and the People's Republic of China, were ruled by competing Marxist philosophies. All of Eastern Europe formed part of the Soviet Empire. Communist North Vietnam was about to defeat the
6I world's
world Korea, the Miami, Other its ism rilla of kidnappings
and
Lenin Communist thought, There of its
reasons draw ary',
Road,
Revolutionary 'Leninist', Leninist League Maoist Front
Party
the
Left-wing
the
own
core
and
Middle
groups
pure
'front',
populace.
of exerted
Tufnell their and
Communist
was
countries
and
were biggest
back
Party.
for cell
Cuba
of
libertarianism
Britain the
Group,
interpretation
Stalin,
a
so
that
the
that
such
the
names East,
and
patio.
few notion
solidly Party,
organisations
'party',
In
each huge bravely
Park,
and
Party,
Workers'
resided
But
early
Liverpool
Communist
in
(Marxist-Leninist), robberies
hundred
was
as
later
the
Communist best
Party group
influence.
whose
South
London
of
from,
at
the
Marxist.
the
'Marxist',
on
challenged
still
being home Balkans
a
at
equipped
it
society
Front
Sendero
called
of
of
the
Revolutionary
having
was
I
had Asia,
with activists,
ideas
including
had
Britain
had
NW5,
the
at
in
Bellman
62
In
Ninety
Workers'
Socialist
a
the
itself
the
and
folded
led
the
Parties
originally 'Communist',
only
Cambodia,
permutation
were South
teachings
the
difficulty
military
Luminoso
forefront
UK
by
(Marxist-Leninist).
support
the
and
most
the
hegemony
becoming
about
'workers', miles a
based
Bookshop,
in
America into
despite
Revolutionary
national
democratic-centralist
Merseyside
one
Group
Front,
India,
complex,
been
other
breaking
of
of
of
Laos
the
off
twelve
daily
firmly
of
of
a
Marx,
ideas
contemporary
'socialist'
a
of
the large
Maoist Italy,
headquarters
its
the
the
parts
member
these
Communist Front
'revolution
r
and
conducted
the
55
Liverpool
the
words in
principal of Marxist
out
coast
Socialist
portion
France,
Engels,
League
Fortess
US
social
of
North
terms.
a
USA.
guer
Party
from
true
and
of
the
on
of
to
a
r
I
who
was
with
would were socially Party's a customers branch. a Marxism ishing know a
Soon instead
Surely, interest in, Party laughter and case. be tion groups If
young
number
member
In
there It
on
to
that
diligently
always
were
the
then
In
drawn
the
this?' they
had
act
hostility
headquarters,
the be
I
to
seriously,
np, angry inept,
fact
in
were
apprentice
When
world
a
and thought,
but
met
of few join
favoured
like they
lot
at
Marxism-Leninism
that central of
would
'Who
struck
the
to
intelligent
still
any
the
the
not
of
with
and the
the hours work
would I
radical
and
only
inquisitive
members
moved
with
told who police
Bellman
central
flee
draw
Liberal
me
committee.
if
rest or were
with
querulous
aggression.
people
and the
their
there
a
when
you
as
a
have
from
politics
medical
bought
of
but
few looking
suspicion
spies
to
the Bellman
odd,
resentful
London
Party.
them,
way
to
of
were
Bookshop
strangers
London
sincere
learnt
who
doubts,
it
the
role
63
ask that?'
the
in
this
replies:
because
Which
extinguished bothered
student
into
into
The
to
infiltrators
dark
our
truly
to
of
Party,
Bookshop.
beforehand obsession
branch
get
to
individuals,
questions,
manning
dress
which
a
I
our
problem
group
might
themselves,
and
were
automatically their
took 'Why
position
turned 'Are
came
they
particularly
fantasies
to
badly
which
dusty
they
you
own
us
then
met
in
had be as
open,
do members
in,
the
their with
little
out
how
our
they
the
a
of
expressed
police
you
interested and
back.
with
they
interior, police spy?' a
met
shop,
to
influence. of
to
grievance
enquiries organisa
sort
potential left-wing
the
to
the
resolved
want
became
distrust
quietly
seizing
be
would
If,
aston
at
of
blend
spies.
shop
were
ones
who
say,
the
the
the
via
all
in to power in the name of the proletariat, were the various arms The leader and founder of our party was Reg Birch, who of state security such as MI 5, Ml6 and the Metropolitan was also general secretary of the Engineers' Union. Reg was a Police Special Branch. little man, an angry, self-taught intellectual whose pronounce It transpired that not only was every one of the revolution ments were often gibberish, but which many in the Party ary parties riddled with undercover Special Branch, agents and the broader trade union movement treated as contain from the intelligence services and part-time police informers ing profound wisdom. So well was he thought of in left-wing (all of them unknown to each other), so were all the central circles that Reg became the first and last Maoist member of committees of the left-wing trade unions. These men and a the then immensely powerful general council of the Trades few women, in order to maintain their radical credentials, Union Congress- the TUC. to seem more revolutionary than their non-spy colleagues, In the 1950s, Reg had found Khrushchev's post-Stalin needed to pursue highly confrontational policies (though Soviet Union too easy-going and tolerant, so instead he often the people they were trying to impress were other police expressed strong pro-Chinese sympathies, and for these he spies). Therefore a lot of the militant trade union tactics was expelled from the Communist Party of Great Britain. and revolutionary nonsense, thought of as typical of the He sorted out that problem by founding his own party follow era - confrontational strikes, pointless occupations, massive ing the Maoist line. From then on, Reg was often either in and impractical wage demands, petulant walk-outs - were the Irish pub - the Boston - over the road from the Bellman in fact the work of the security services and Her Majesty's Bookshop, drinking with navvies, or in Tirana, the capital Constabulary. Maybe the Arts Council, the Royal Institute of of Albania, drinking with the President Enver Hoxha. Of all British Architects and the National Theatre were also riddled the many little Maoist parties in the UK that competed for with police agents, which would go a long way to explaining Communist China's favour and sponsorship we were definitely their avant-garde and seemingly incomprehensible output. their preferred choice. The journalist Terry Pattinson was on And the senior London members of the CPB (M-L) weren't a visit to Shanghai in I 979 when a Chinese building worker much nicer to actual members of the Party, especially if they asked him, 'Do you know Reg Birch of the Engineers' Union came from Liverpool. The people at the top were always in England? We are told he will be Prime Minister, after your suspicious of comrades from Merseyside. We were thought revolution.' to have too independent a spirit, to be unwilling to uncondi Reg was a typical revolutionary in that all he really cared tionally accept whatever message was handed down from the about was the revolution, which, he said with relish, would be central committee. The Mao-inspired term they used when 'ugly, protracted and bloody'. Like many in radical politics it referring to members of the Merseyside branch was 'mountain was chaos that he really wished for: unhappy with happiness, strongholdism'. he wished for havoc instead. He had only a vague idea of what
64 6s the subsequent workers' paradise would look like and indeed Indian Workers' Association, a Maoist group we were hoping I had the sneaking suspicion there was a good chance that if would merge with our party. somebody like Reg ever gained power in Britain then turmoil It was a weird experience for me, visiting an English suburb would be permanent. which was identical to every other- 1930s semis interspersed Not all the members were such misfits. The co-founder of with parades of local shops - apart from the fact that all the the Communist Party of Britain (Marxist-Leninist), Bill Ash, inhabitants were from the subcontinent oflndia and the shops was a much more interesting and sympathetic character. He overflowed with mangoes and bright red peppers, sacks of rice was a man who embodied the nobility, decency and bravery and two-gallon drums of clarified butter. We were crammed, of those who were attracted to left-wing ideas and practice in the four of us from the CPB (M-L) and about ten Indian the 1930s. He was cool too, tall and handsome with a languid men, into a front room already overflowing with ornate furni Texan charm, and it was said he was one of the models for ture, brass ornaments and red Rags adorned with hammers and Steve McQueen's character in the film lhe Great Escape. At sickles. I wasn't paying much attention to what was being said, the beginning of the Second World War Bill had walked over being more focused on all the exotic snacks laid out before us. the bridge to Canada and enlisted in the Royal Canadian Air I had never seen samosas, pakoras, mango chutney, raita and Force, something that cost him his US citizenship. Shot down bhajis before and was cramming as many of them as I could over the Channel in his Spitfire in I 942 and captured by the into my mouth when one of the Indian comrades, who resem Germans he was then imprisoned in Stalag Luft III from which bled an illustration of a 'wily Pathan' from one of the comics he constantly tried to escape. Bill was actually in 'the cooler', I used to read when I was a kid, asked Ranjana with a glint in being punished for a previous break-out, when his comrades his eye, 'Comrade Ranjana- you say that the Chinese govern made what came to be known as 'the Great Escape', and so he ment is the friend of the revolutionary working class.' avoided being shot on capture on the direct orders of Hider. 'That is correct, comrade,' said Ranjana. After the war Bill got an MBE, was awarded British citizen 'Well then can you please tell us in that case why the ship and read PPE at Oxford. He then joined the BBC. Fuck Chinese government is selling guns to the Indian government knows what he was doing in our party. He was brave, hand and the Indian government then uses these guns to kill the some and didn't seem mad at all. Naxalites [an Indian Maoist armed group]?' Bill's wife, an Indian woman called Ranjana, was much closer Of course the truth was that China had its own pragmatic to the model of a proper Marxist-Leninist: humourless and foreign policy objectives, which sometimes included support steely-eyed, she was our foreign affairs expert. One Saturday a ing troublesome guerrilla groups on the territory of their rivals group of four of us, including Ranjana, who was dressed in a and sometimes didn't, but Ranjana couldn't say anything so sari, went to Southall in west London for a meeting with the nuanced, since Communism only ever entertained a narrative
66 67
rear rear
me me
weekly weekly
near near
Bookshop Bookshop
gratitude. gratitude.
and and
pick pick
every every
pass pass
handsome handsome
as as
here here
attention attention
these these
revere revere
your your
you you
would would
Reg's Reg's students students
Apart Apart
of of
Naxalites Naxalites
the the
tricky tricky
that that
Apart Apart
The The
if if
noticed, noticed,
on on
the the
deliver deliver
the the
Chinese Chinese
for for
up up
were were
in in
was was
he'd he'd
own own
Friday Friday
young young
tortured, tortured,
branch branch
the the
you. you.
one one
question question
from from
look look
Party Party
the the
the the
the the
door. door.
from from
simple simple
or or
to to
and and
been been
a a
outer outer
are are
party party
lead lead
sphere sphere
thing thing
them them
printing printing
In In
gnarly gnarly
tube tube
carried carried
somebody somebody professionals professionals
night night
enviously enviously
sell sell
and and
a a
members members
meetings meetings
able able
that that
would would
Unfortunately Unfortunately
the the
singer singer
few few
a a
and and
fringes fringes
was was
mangled mangled
for for
the the
that that
pretty pretty
I I
fashionable fashionable
to to
to to
to to
of of
normal normal
old old
I I
did did
a a
a a
heroic. heroic.
engineers engineers
guns guns
a a
tried tried
plates plates
the the
always always
a a
steal steal
radical radical
minute minute
of of
certain certain I I
really really
at at
lithograph lithograph
of of
bloke bloke
of of
as as
got got
were were
for for
twenty-five-year-olds twenty-five-year-olds
a a
bookshop. bookshop.
to to
the the
the the
pronouncements pronouncements
weird weird
the the
in in
pop pop
them!' them!'
to to
world world
for for
Instead Instead
as as the the
the the
position position
good good
68 68
politics politics
teaching teaching
CPB CPB
arrive arrive
young young
this this
then then who who
meeting meeting
nubile nubile
amount amount
Cockney Cockney
the the
group. group.
Reg Reg
the the
Party Party
Indian Indian
and and
there there
tactic, tactic,
way way
place place
son son
(M-L) (M-L)
finally finally
smelt smelt
Party's Party's
Ranjana Ranjana
as as
brought brought
They They
men men
creepy creepy
his his females females
myself myself
was was
I I
or or
of of
late late
to to
of of
government government
was was
would would
in in
photographer photographer
fans fans
designed designed
of of
the the
get get
she she
a a
held held
risk. risk.
and and
terrible terrible
never never
Walthamstow Walthamstow
use use
as as
railwayman railwayman
as as fags fags
thought thought
and and
no no
right right
young young
with with
listening listening
were were
said, said,
social social
possible possible
would would
at at
Reg Reg
suddenly suddenly
my my
women, women,
Seated Seated
way way
then then
think think
the the
showed showed
at at
newspaper newspaper
to to
'Comrades, 'Comrades,
as as
free free
him, him,
Birch, Birch,
so so
services. services.
people people
the the
about about
Bellman Bellman
in in
devoted devoted not not
pay pay
starting starting
that that
at at
rapt rapt
at at
or or
that that
which which
travel travel
to to
back back
either either
hear hear
a a
and and
any any
the the
get get
the the
any any
but but
the the
this this
go go
the the
lot lot
to to
to to
if if
I I
in in
aims aims
ing ing
was was
had had
was was
to to
trying trying
ing ing
having having
some some
8 8
meetings meetings
I'd I'd
become become
branch branch
returned returned
saying saying
my my
using using
on on
style, style,
Everybody Everybody ignoring ignoring
or or
Done? Done?
somebody somebody
the the
so so
for. for.
Of Of
Chelsea, Chelsea,
But But
still still
and and
Molly Molly
after after his his
also also
ever ever
direction, direction,
in in
our our
of of door door
all all
of of
The The
two-hour-long two-hour-long
to to
me me
as as
many many
the the
been been
to to
This This
if if
mind, mind,
and and
undermining undermining
house house
a a
better better
been. been.
the the
eavesdrop eavesdrop
the the
at at
some some
our our
to to
the the
those those
crashing crashing
as as
travel travel
would would
Maoist Maoist
leader leader
organisation organisation
my my
knocking knocking
our our
would would
that that
weird weird
in in
a a would would
Liverpool Liverpool
members members
agenda, agenda,
leader's leader's
ways ways
pulpit. pulpit.
I I
leaning leaning
Not Not
in in
at at
Liverpool Liverpool
mother mother
house house
trade trade
had had
meetings meetings
to to
too too
lurk lurk
Anfield Anfield
of of
being being
and and
things things
open open
turn turn
on on
the the
in in
the the
be be
to to
the the
was was
spit spit
All All
over over
declamatory declamatory
that that
would would
union union
outside outside
in in
the the
joined joined
our our
on on
appear appear
Reg Reg
in in
south south crossed crossed
to to
oddest oddest
a a
but but
towards towards
Merseyside Merseyside
Valley Valley
behind behind
problematic problematic
we'd we'd
the the
was was
Molly Molly
member member
rained rained
the the
sense sense
people people the the
in in
a a
see see
secrets. secrets.
returning returning
rather rather
dusty dusty
69 69
while, while,
meeting meeting
then then
London London
to to the the
midway. midway.
the the
north north
to to
begun begun
back back
Linda Linda
the the
Road. Road.
though though
of of
our our
me, me, had had
gently gently
be be
the the
Party. Party. in in
door door
pile pile
Once Once
launch launch
speech speech in in
bringing bringing
of of
threshold. threshold.
fascinated fascinated
as as
of of
branch branch
that that
end end
leader's leader's
followed followed
noise noise
done done
holding holding
the the
I I
because because
a a I I
drunk drunk
or or
the the
of of
were were
Throughout Throughout
my my
would would
think think
with with
down down
it it
political political
In In
I I
day-to-day day-to-day
kind kind
of of
Lenin's Lenin's
back back
left left
into into about about
has has
members members
over over
chair chair
and and
the the
about about
was was
the the
difficult, difficult,
a a
flat flat
from from
this this
the the
Liverpool Liverpool
my my
on on
by by
tray tray
to to
of of
by by
attend attend
a a
last last
from from
our our
the the
city city
whatever whatever
a a
party party Fidel Fidel
in in
and and
group group
What What
CPB CPB
my my
was was
the the what what
be be
mother mother
guy guy
any any
of of
the the
year year
Liverpool Liverpool
years years
the the
chairman, chairman,
looked looked
conspir
said said
resented resented
head. head.
sound sound
in in
Albania. Albania.
biscuits biscuits
because because
my my
when when
Castro
than than
(M-L) (M-L)
of of
called called
Boston Boston
he he
Is Is
meet
went went
when when
to to
effect effect
to to
this this
the the she she had had
was was
was was
old old
go go
in in Be Be
I I
of of I I Ian Williams, a tall redhead who had once been a Liverpool University student but had been expelled for political activity and now worked on the buses with Harry Jackson. Ian abso lutely hated my mother and was driven almost as crazy by her as I was. The feeling was mutual but Molly, being adept at manipulation, proved very good at making alliances with others in the branch who also didn't like Ian - those such as his very bitter ex-girlfriend who he'd left for the rich girl with the bourgeois-guilt issues. The leadership in London were also wary of Ian Williams because of his suspected mountain WETSHEDJ strongholdism and pretty soon Reg Birch was hearing my mother's name spoken of with approval though he still didn't When I was about twelv know who I was even though he'd been using me as a pulpit fading slowly but inexo for over a year. was known about Alzhc been that in fact Joe h: either way our GP coult be easy to date my mo1 decline but the truth ~ restraining influence on My mother was not l The anxiety all this genCJ rather than focusing on Jc ing about the state ofBri All through my teens cars versus foreign cars rootling behind machine machines to study the lit they had been manufactl a poorly qualified, badl) ance technician.
70