& Workers’ Liberty

SolFor siociadl ownershaip of the branks aind intdustry y No 474 4 July 2018 50p/£1 For jobs, homes, Inside:

No new runway free movement at Heathrow!

Will Sefton reports on the vote over a third runway at Heathrow, and argues Labour should have voted against it. See page 3

On 14 July the combined forces of the far right WORKEwill onceR again march in LonS don in support of the imprisoned far-right “journalist”, and for - mer leader of the English Defence League, Tommy Robinson. Labour and the On 9 June, this far right — the Democratic Foot - ball Lads Alliances, For Britain and other groups — managed to mobilise up to 15,000 people to a unions rally in Whitehall. There is no guarantee this loose Unison activist Ruth Cashman spoke alliance will be able get the same numbers this at Ideas for Freedom, 23-24 June, about time, but they should not be underestimated. The where next for Labour and the left, labour and anti-fascist movements need to relationship with the unions. pull out all the stops to build a strong opposing force on the streets of London on 14 July. See pages 6-7 UNITE! More page 5

Life and politics in Iraq Nadia Mahmood of the Worker- communist Party of Iraq spoke to Solidarity . See page 9 Join Labour! Ana Oppenheim of “Another Europe is Possible” on Labour and Brexit. See page 2 2 NEWS More online at www.workersliberty.org Comeback for Brexit and the “Jersey option”

By Rhodri Evans On 27-29 June the meeting of EU leaves the UK in a customs union super-bankers governments told the Tories that and in the Single Market for goods As the Tories stumble, grass - they “insist on the need for intensi - (not services) for a long period of By Gerry Bates corporations. roots opposition to Brexit is fied efforts” and demand “further time, while clamping down on Before 2007-8, in the USA partic - swelling. Some 100,000 marched clarity as well as realistic and work - workers entering Britain from the The thermometer-busting mo - ularly, they drew large incomes in London on 23 June to demand able proposals from the UK”. EU. ment of the 2008 economic from processing and packaging no Tory Brexit formula go Prime Minister Theresa May has The FT says that Michael Gove, a crash was the collapse on 15 mortgage debt into tradable securi - through without a referendum on called a special cabinet meeting for key leader of the Tory pro-Brex - September 2008 of Lehman ties. it — many times more than 6 July, and is due to publish a Brexit iters, “has emerged as a key figure Brothers, then the USA’s fourth- Their revival is an index of a gen - marched the next Saturday for “white paper” on 9 July. in a search for a cabinet compro - largest investment bank. It was eral recovery of profits and top in - the NHS. There are sure to be fumbles mise”, fobbing off the more obses - the biggest bankruptcy in US comes, which has been going on for The “Left Against Brexit” tour or - along the way, with the possibility sive Brexiters with “the possibility history. some years now. ganised by Another Europe is Pos - of the Tories lurching into a “hard that the exit terms might be ‘im - Overall employment figures sible starts on 4 July in Manchester. Brexit”. Informed comment in the proved’ once Britain has left the After it, it seemed doubtful for a have also recovered, though in the serious bourgeois press, however, EU”. while whether the other big invest - In many cities Workers’ Liberty USA (exceptionally) they remain people are helping to set up “Left suggests that strong and increasing The Labour leaders’ current tra - ment banks could survive without below 2007 rates. Wages have re - big-business pressure may well jectory suggests a stance of voting drastic reshaping. Against Brexit” committees, for the covered more slowly, or scarcely at tour meetings but also to continue push the Tories into a fairly “soft” against the final Tory formula in By 2017, so the Financial Times re - all in Britain. The proportion of Brexit. October (or whenever), followed ports (12 June 2018), “group-wide and grow after that, with debates, world trade to output, which had street stalls, motions and speakers Some on the left have made it by a shrug which says what’s done profits last year of $78.4 billion risen consistently since the late their pitch that the Tories will pro - is done and Labour will now accept across the top nine investment to labour movement bodies. 1940s, remains markedly lower Crucial here is to dig down to the duce a very “hard” Brexit. That it and move on. banks — excluding the much- than in 2007, with little sign of a may not be true. The argument In light of the “Jersey option” changed Bank of America — were rank and file. A layer of the Labour turnaround. left is resisting the push from against Brexit should be made on talk, that would be irresponsible. higher than the $75.4 billion The juicy figures for the invest - the positive and principled Even if the Tories get a deal recorded in 2007”. below. Usually that layer don’t pos - ment banks reflect a rise in finan - itively back Brexit, but they do grounds of free movement, lower through Parliament, there will re - Investment banks are distin - borders, social levelling-up, and a main much to campaign about . cial-asset prices much outstripping argue that Labour should continue A reversal of the curbs the To - guished from high street banks by fight to democratise the EU, not goods-and-services prices, a diver - to go along with the leadership’s ries put on free movement. Mak - the fact that they do not take de - just on the negative claim that the gence which is often the forerunner evasive policy of “accepting” ing permanent and extending posits. They operate solely as high- Tories will impose extreme Brexit. of a crash. Brexit, “accepting” free movement customs-union and Single-Mar - class gamblers in financial markets, The next crash will hit a world According to the Financial Times will end, and criticising the Tories ket ties. And then a reversal of padding the odds with large fee capitalist system shakier than in and the Economist, the Tories are revenues from giving advice to or 2007. while saying as little as possible Brexit. about Labour’s own alternatives. considering a “backstop arrange - organising sales of securities for ment”, the “Jersey option”, which Stop Brexit! “People’s Brexit” is an illusion

Ana Oppenheim of the states is not the answer. far right in response. What do you Another Europe is Possible The EU provides freedom of think of that? campaign spoke to Solidarity. movement and a framework for A: The Brexit vote has already uniting the left internationally. We empowered the far right. There has have to confront capital, sooner or been a surge in hate crimes and later. But building more national - larger far right marches. The labour Q: Labour’s current policy on ism, more borders, stands in the movement has to oppose the far Brexit is framed by Keir way of building the international right. Starmer’s “Six Tests”. These workers’ coalition we need. We are not saying: stop Brexit in tests, if applied, would almost pen any time soon, and a progres - such people on the left. parliament. We are saying: give certainly rule out Labour endors - Q: Some activists who disagree people a vote on the outcome. sive Brexit is simply impossible full The first is a group that says that Brexit means an increase in ing any Tory Brexit. Why aren’t with stopping Brexit or organising stop. We should campaign for a loyalty to Corbyn is the only major the forces of the right. Brexit will the six tests enough? a referendum on the deal argue that people’s Europe, not a people’s priority on the left. But that ignores hurt everyone, but also espe - A: We know that a Tory Brexit if Brexit is reversed, or if there is a Brexit. Corbyn’s support for party democ - cially marginalised groups. And deal will not meet those six tests or threat that Brexit might be re - racy, an empowered membership, we have to stand up against that. be compatible with socialist values Q: Won’t opposing Brexit cost standing up for principles, and so versed, there could be a rise in the like defending migrant rights or Labour the election? on. workers’ rights. So, what happens A: I don’t think so. For most peo - There is a second category who next is key. ple the priority is not Brexit itself. It believe that a socialist exit from the Unite members oppose Brexit That’s why we’re campaigning is concerns about jobs, houses and EU is possible. They talk about the for a people’s vote: a referendum wages, and Labour has answers on problems with the EU, its attacks By Gemma Short “people’s vote” fell in favour of on the deal, with the option of re - them. on refugees and so on. But you the Unite EC statement which in - maining in the EU. Because democ - We won’t win votes by triangu - can’t build socialism border by bor - A poll of Unite members con - cludes their support for access to racy is about people being able to lating. 2017 showed that we didn’t der. There aren’t local solutions to ducted by YouGov has shown a the Customs Union and member - change their minds — and that’s es - win millions of votes by moving to - global problems. We need an inter - majority in favour of remaining ship of the Single Market. It calls pecially important as it becomes wards the centre. Now is the time national movement for socialism in the single market, and in for the election of a Labour gov - clear what a disaster Brexit will be. to be a radical voice, defending mi - that goes across borders and takes favour of a referendum on the ernment as the best way to deal grants, defending principle, sup - on global capital. final deal. with the fiasco of a Tory Brexit, Q: So if Labour’s “six tests” al - porting internationalism, while but it is unclear as to what the most certainly means rejecting Q: The poll, released ahead of giving people solutions that they You talk about an interna - Labour Party should be proposing Brexit, why are we hearing so much Unite′s national policy conference can believe in. tional movement to defeat capital. about Brexit in such an election. talk of Labour delivering a “Peo - which happened in Brighton on 2- But how do you square that with 57% of members surveyed ple’s Brexit”? Q: 6 July, puts increased pressure on But while a majority of mem - advocating membership of the EU, thought that leaving the single A: Firstly, Labour is not in gov - the Labour leadership to stop try - bers appear to be anti-Brexit and in which is an emphatically neolib - market would be bad for jobs and ernment, and is unlikely to be in ing to fudge its Brexit policy and favour of a referendum on the deal, eral, pro-capitalist entity? 58% believed Britain would be government in the next year. So it A: come out in favour of a softer- many left wing activists and offi - What is the alternative? Brexit worse off outside of the single won’t be down to Labour to deliver Brexit or stopping Brexit all to - cers in Labour and some trade is a nationalist project that goes market in general. Brexit. I think the “People’s Brexit” unions strongly oppose a turn against the principles of interna - gether. 57% backed a ″people′s vote line is being adopted out of fear of against Brexit, even if they pri - tional co-operation. The EU is fun - A motion submitted to Unite on the final deal″, including scaring away Brexit voters. But it is vately disapprove of Brexit. Why? damentally flawed. But so is the policy conference by West Mid - 24% of those who voted leave an illusion. It is not going to hap - A: There are two categories of British state. Going back to nation lands car workers supporting a originally. Workers’ Liberty @workersliberty NEWS 3 Labour fails to stand up against Heathrow expansion

By Keith Road owners, who unsurprisingly say port expansion in the south east: they can meet all the necessary tar - meeting the UK’s capacity de - With the support of 119 Labour gets on air quality, despite already mands; not breaching noise and air MPs the government got a pro - failing in the case of nitrogen levels pollution obligations; allowing the posed third runway at Heathrow to do so now! UK to meet its climate change tar - through the House of Commons Although figures are contested, gets in their entirety; and support - on 26 June. Heathrow is probably the single ing growth across the whole The government cites numerous greatest carbon emitter in the UK. country. benefits from expansion — to inter - Expansion can only mean this get - Expansion of Heathrow can not ting worse. meet all of Labour’s modest tests. national trade and new foreign di - neighbouring councils, and anti ex - having an environmental policy rect investment for example. Heathrow is owned and propped Labour’s decision to hold a free up by a huge amount of investment vote in the Commons, on an issue pansion campaigns will continue to that is in any way adequate do not Unite and the GMB, the largest delay the decision until a Labour bode well. The jobs-at-any-cost unions representing workers at by banks, hedge funds and other where official policy is to oppose, is private interests. The expansion of baffling. government can come to power view from some of the major Heathrow, are uncritical backers of and reverse the proposal. But why unions must be challenged. the project, citing only the prospect Heathrow is about providing in - John McDonnell, whose con - creased benefits for these backers stituency includes Heathrow, has not oppose it now? The labour movement including of new jobs as the key factor in as - The vote on Heathrow shows local parties should start to discuss sessing whether an infrastructure and about competing with other been a long-term and vocal oppo - major European hubs like Amster - nent of Heathrow expansion. Je - that political cowardice has crept the kind of just transition and sus - project is good or bad. into the thinking of even some of tainable carbon neutral jobs we The Transport Select Commit - dam Schipol. remy Corbyn has also long The TSC report also concluded opposed a third runway. Yet some - the most principled left wing MPs. want to see created by a Labour tee’s report on the proposal stated Shadow Cabinet members Angela government. that a further 325,000 people would how they were either unable or un - It would mean utilising the that the government were unclear Rayner and Jonathan Ashworth be newly impacted by significant willing to whip for a vote against skills of the hundreds of thou - on the environmental impact as voted in favour of expansion while noise pollution, an issue which the plans, and potentially stop the sands of workers currently in well as the health and community Ed Miliband, former leader and En - Heathrow has consistently failed to plans. harmful and polluting industry impacts on the area effected by the vironment Secretary under Gordon acknowledge. Current arrange - McDonnell would doubtless and providing skilled jobs that expansion. The government re - Brown, voted against. ments to deal with this issue have argue that the series of legal chal - will benefit rather than destroy sponse has been to push these re - The confused thinking on issues sponsibilities onto Heathrow’s been pitiful. lenges that will now be lodged by the planet. Labour set out four tests on air - various London boroughs and like this which are key to Labour Half stand against Erdoğan Like the old PRI By Pablo Velasco cially before its neoliberal turn in the 1980s. As Mexico City mayor By Marksist Tutum Left populist candidate Andrés he backed private construction in - Manuel López Obrador won the terests to gentrify the historic city The elections on June 24 have Mexican presidential election and rich neighbourhoods. unsurprisingly resulted in Er - on 1 July, but his victory offers Like the old PRI, López Obrador doğan being elected as presi - little for the beleaguered Mexi - brings together elements of the dent of the new political setup can working class. capitalist class with organised which was narrowly voted for in López Obrador, often known labour. He apparently intends to a constitutional referendum include Guillermo Ortiz, a former about a year ago… after his initials as AMLO, won over half (53%) of the vote, defeat - central bank chief and Santiago All state resources were em - ing Ricardo Anaya of the conser - Levy of the Inter-American Devel - ployed, 90% of the media have vative National Action Party opment Bank in his government to been turned into government bul - (PAN) and Jose Antonio Meade of reassure the markets. But he has letins, the image of Erdoğan ap - the ruling Institutional Revolu - also courted Napoleón Gómez Ur - peared like Big Brother on every tionary Party (PRI). Although rutia, the miners’ union leader ac - media outlet, while opposition can - López Obrador led in the polls for cused of embezzling millions of didates were largely kept away months, his victory was surpris - pesos. from public view in almost every ingly comfortable considering the The Partido Revolucionario de field. history of fraudulent elections in las Trabajadores (PRT, Revolution - The Erdoğan regime, composed Mexico. ary Workers’ Party), the main of the state, party, religious orders López Obrador belonged to the Mexican “Fourth International” and the media merged into an or - ruling PRI for the first decade and group, originally backed the cam - ganic whole, had a free hand in re - a half of his political life. In 1989 paign of María de Jesús Patricio Selahattin Demirtaş, the imprisoned candidate of the HDP sorting to all kinds of lies, he joined the Party of the Demo - Martínez (known as Marichuy), manipulation, and illegitimate cratic Revolution (PRD) and ran leader of the Indigenous Council means… such as that the foreign unsuccessfully for state governor of Government. However Mexi - low-morale state. doğan into a rage. powers are jealous of Turkey’s in Tabasco in 1994. There he or - can electoral law makes it ex - With the start of the election cam - Turkish capitalism is faced with growth, that the “headscarf will be ganised a campaign of civil resist - tremely difficult to gain the paigns the masses began to see the serious troubles. It is having a hard banned again”, and that “we will ance against rising electricity bills. required signatures needed to get election as a means through which time due also to its imperialistic be denied of the right to practice López Obrador was governor of on the ballot paper. they can express their discontent. policies in the Middle East. On the our religion” etc. Mexico City between 2000 and The PRT argued that the ques - The period of election campaigns other hand, as its level of capital ac - Such lies and falsifications made 2005, before unsuccessfully run - tion of whether or not to vote was created a political revival in the cumulation is not high compared to an impact on the masses that vote ning for president in a PRD-led secondary to the need to organise country in which political argu - imperialist countries, the Turkish the AKP in that they overrode the coalition in 2006 and 2012. the anti-capitalist left. This is eva - ment and criticism of government economy is highly prone to capital - sense of looming economic col - In 2014 López Obrador founded sive. acquired legitimacy. ist crisis. There are many signs of a lapse, the cost of which will be paid the Movement for National Re - The PRT was a mass party dur - Although Erdoğan won, thanks coming economic collapse. It is the by the working masses; increasing generation (Morena). The ing the 1980s, winning a handful to the state-party-order-media ap - task of class revolutionaries to living costs; and the anti-democra - acronym alludes to La Virgen of MPs and leading social strug - paratuses, he could not mobilise make use of every opportunity to tic character of the one-man Morena of Guadalupe, Mexico’s gles. It neutered itself by support - the masses as before. Throughout push forward the struggle of the regime. patron saint. It is also a term for ing the PRD in successive the campaign period the rallies working class. elections instead of fielding its However the regime has failed in Class revolutionaries will press dark-skinned, indigenous Mexi - held by AKP and Erdoğan were own candidates. achieving an overwhelming vote. ahead with their efforts to ex - cans. But López Obrador is so - generally weaker and lacking in en - The Mexican left will have to Half of society stand against this plain the truth to those inter - cially conservative, opposing both thusiasm. AKP and Erdoğan could organise itself independently regime, which is crucial. ested workers and youth and win legal abortion and gay rights. The not even enjoy the level of excite - and militantly against López Erdoğan made his move by de - them over to the ranks of organ - party has more than 300,000 mem - ment enjoyed by [HDP candidate] Obrador and the rest of the claring snap elections in the hope of ised struggle against capitalism. bers. Selahattin Demirtaş who had no bourgeois politicians that run catching the opposition unpre - He is very much within the tra - choice but to carry on his campaign the Mexican state. pared, lacking leadership, disor - dition of the old ruling PRI, espe - ganised, that is, in a weak and from prison, sending AKP and Er - 4 COMMENT Email your letters to [email protected] Morning Star at odds on antisemitism

THE LEFT “The shambling article by John Elder ‘Ris - ered collectively responsible. Therefore the can hardly be ‘apparent’. ing anti-semitism cannot be tackled without billionaire’s interest is no different from that “Many of these instances are not linked to addressing Israel’s crimes’ (June 18) betrays of an Israeli dockworker. Israel’s actions cast Israel and include conspiracy theories and By Jim Denham no understanding of the relationship of class a pale of guilt over this ‘Jewish diaspora’ and Holocaust denial. The Labour Party should to culture, religion and anti-racism and really all Jews have to denounce it before their con - be applauded for taking anti-semitism seri - We publish extracts from an article by two cannot be left to go unchallenged... cerns about what Elder calls ‘apparent’ anti- ously and dealing with it robustly.” leading members of the Communist Party “Its rationale, that Jews everywhere are re - semitism are dealt with. “To say anti-semitism isn’t an issue, is a of Britain, Mary Davis and Phil Katz, which sponsible for the actions of the Israeli govern - “This is collective guilt whatever way one conspiracy to bring down Jeremy Corbyn or appeared in the Morning Star of 20 June. ment, is by reverse exactly the argument put comes at it. We argue forcefully as a paper, that no British Jew can challenge anti-semi - It makes a refreshing change from the ab - forward by the Israeli government and right- that British Muslims should not be stigma - tism without being called an apologist for solute anti-Zionism and denial of anti - wing zionists.... tised for the actions of Saudi rulers, or Isis. genocide is a dangerous path. It is certain to semitism as a serious problem on the left that “But that cannot be acceptable in a daily But when it comes to Jews, other standards drive those genuinely concerned with anti- generally characterises that paper’s coverage paper of the left, which has anti-imperialism apply... semitism into the hands of Israeli propagan - at its heart and should be challenging all “As if anti-semitism didn’t exist across the dists, who can simply say: ‘We told you so’.” of the subject. A statement subsequently appeared on forms of racism, including anti-semitism.” world, before Israel was formed — when in It is also good to see the paper carrying the Morning Star website saying that the “Elder says: ‘Mainstream Jewish commu - fact, it was common before capitalism ap - such sharp criticism of an earlier article pub - original article “crossed a line in attribut - nities everywhere … appear unwilling to ac - peared... lished in the Star that clearly crossed the line ing anti-semitism to the policies of the Is - cept the connection between developing “What is alarming about current day anti- into outright antisemitism. However, the fact raeli government and made demands on international anti-semitism (or anti-Israel semitism is that it continues to use the same that the offending article (now removed from the ‘Jewish diaspora’ and ‘Jewish com - sentiment) and Israel’s decades long … acts themes that have been used to stigmatise and the Star’s website but webcached at munity’ as if these were responsible for Is - of barbarism.’... justify genocide of the Jews for centuries. bit.ly/ms18jun) was published in the first raeli policy or obliged to account for it”. place should be a lesson to all those who deny “Elder says this is true for the Jewish ‘dias - And where the Labour Party is forced to con - that antisemitism is a problem on the left. pora’. So Jews worldwide are to be consid - front hundreds of cases and act on them, it

Support services Leave voters cannot be ignored are vital

I have been a victim of both rape and LETTERS domestic violence so I read the letter about Greer’s latest opinions with inter - Martin Thomas ( Solidarity 473) appeared est. to, perhaps inadvertently, equate the Eu - ropean Economic Area (EEA) with the Having spent a great deal of time in countries of Norway, Iceland, Liechten - court and in contact with the police I have stein, Switzerland and Croatia. come to appreciate the fact that often there is just not enough evidence to prosecute. The EEA is more or less the whole of both These crimes are often committed in pri - the European Union (EU) and the European vate and by manipulative people who take Free Trade Association (EFTA) — an enor - care to avoid leaving evidence. mous European single market across which I think what most victims want is to be there is free movement of persons, goods, safe. If there is little chance of conviction services and capital including the right to then many victims will not want to go seek residence in any member country. through the trauma of a court case, indeed The UK, as a member of the EEA, would be the process may increase risks. part of a free trade zone covering the vast ma - While I agree that court processes needs jority of the European continent. to be more accessible and supportive of vic - Both the Conservative and Labour posi - tims, I think there also needs to be wider tions are riven with similar irreconcilable acceptance that the lack of conviction does - contradictions. n’t mean the crime didn’t happen and that It is perfectly clear that most people who choosing not to report these crimes is, for voted Leave wanted “control over laws, bor - many victims, by far the best choice. ders and money”. That has to mean leaving I do not agree with Greer that sentences the customs union and the single market as straight talking and authenticity. least two more years. Plus an “ultimate” gov - should be lowered to increase conviction well as the EU. You are either in the Customs I think Theresa May is an “emotional” Lit - ernment and opposition aim to be “as close rates, as it suggests the crime of rape is not Union and/or Single Market or you are out - tle Englander Leaver but a rational Remainer. to the Single Market and Customs Union as so bad. It is. Rape is not “bad sex”. The ef - side. At the start of her premiership, she talked possible”. fects of rape often leave permanent psycho - I was not surprised by the 2016 Referen - very clearly that the UK was leaving the EU This seething, anger and frustration may logical scars, and it can take years to dum result although I was by the sheer scale and that included the single market and cus - yet explode, and not in a good way for those overcome the initial trauma. PTSD can be of the Leave vote in areas like mine. If a sec - toms union. Since then economic reality has of us on the progressive and socialist left. devastating — flashbacks and dissociative ond vote was held, I think it could be as started to kick in, and she has had to retreat We see hard right reactionary politicians episodes can be as powerful as other delu - much as 55+% now voting to Leave, having at an absolute rate of knots. such as Jacob Rees-Mogg, Nigel Farage and sions and render victims utterly disorien - dared to defy the establishment and the sky Anne-Marie Waters, waiting in the wings, tated. not having yet fallen in. DISASTER stirring, provoking, and maybe attempting I very much agree with the author that I agree with your comments ( Solidarity 469) The rational Remainers know a hard or a seizures of power, if the Conservative Party refuges and counselling provision needs to that Labour’s official “evolving” line of soft-hard Brexit will be an economic dis - finally splits open. be increased. The counselling needs of vic - “wanting the benefits of the Single Market” aster, with dreadful consequences for the The 2016 Referendum can only really be re - tims are specialist. In my area, the Improv - without being in the Single Market and “a” public finances, including public invest - versed by a similar vote of the people, per - ing Access to Psychological Therapies customs union but not “the” customs union ment and spending. They are desperately haps and probably on whether to accept or (IAPT) service will not take me on. Char - with the EU is sheer sophistry. They are, of trying to be “as close as possible” to the reject the terms of any agreement to with - ity-run counselling that is highly effective course, advocating de-facto membership of Single Market and Customs Union but still draw and any agreement on the future rela - is also under resourced. In my area waiting both, but still pretending “we are going to claiming to leave the EU. This is Labour tionship between the EU and UK. lists are closed. leave the EU.” Yes, those very bits which policy also. That surely would have to include options Conviction rates are not everything, but support services are essential. might have given us democratic, sovereign We still have a majority of the population of leaving without an agreement or remain - influence. ing in on current terms. These allow women to escape abuse, to who feel angry, frustrated and resentful, who We need clear minded, principled, recover and find ways for her and her Playing not very clever word games and voted Leave for very clear reasons, and two manoeuvres is frankly not going to wash strategic and progressive politics to start children to be safe. years later see bugger all progress or govern - to take command. with the 52-55+% who just want us out of the ment coherence. The actual-in-practice-leav - EU. This is dangerous for Labour as Corbyn’s ing of the EU kicked down the road for at Anonymous main (only?) political selling point was Andrew Northall, Kettering Workers’ Liberty @workersliberty WHAT WE SAY 5

Far right demonstrators fought police in Whitehall on 9 June Stop the far right on 14 July

On 14 July the combined forces of the far has outsourced “anti-racist” activity to people onto the streets — and in numbers. to establish a secure foothold for their ideas right will once again march in London in groups like Unite Against Fascism, and more The Labour Party has over 500,000 members, in the UK. Some have chosen UKIP as a ve - support of the imprisoned far-right “jour - recently Stand Up To Racism, and conse - a huge potential force. Local branches and hicle. nalist”, and former leader of the English quently has forgotten the necessity of inde - constituency Labour Parties could turn them - The rise of far-right populism cannot be Defence League, Tommy Robinson. pendent mobilisations and campaigning. selves into hubs of activity to oppose the far disentangled from the rise of Trump and On 9 June, this far right — the Democratic In addition, the Socialist Workers Party, right. This would involve mobilising for the Brexit. Trump’s election, the early promi - Football Lads Alliances, For Britain and other who run SUTR and UAF, no longer have the demonstrations and also campaigning for nence of alt-right figure Steve Bannon and groups — managed to mobilise up to 15,000 capacity to bring out the numbers they once positive alternatives to the social discontent the apparent neutrality of the White House people to a rally in Whitehall. There is no did. the far right feed on. Trade union branches on the fascist and white-nationalist demon - guarantee this loose alliance will be able get The mobilisations on 6 May and 9 June led can do the same. strations in Charlottesville, have emboldened the same numbers this time, but they should by these groups were very weak in compari - Unlike the BNP and EDL the new far right, the far-right across the US and Europe. son to the thousands that were brought out not be underestimated. The left, labour and in focussing on Tommy Robinson’s imprison - US Republican senators have raised the against the EDL at their height in Leeds, anti-fascist movements need to pull out all ment for contempt of court, is using the ban - “Free Tommy” campaign in the Senate; there Bradford and Bolton. This new movement the stops to build a strong opposing force on ner of free speech, railing against the have been demonstrations in support of him the streets of London on 14 July. has deliberately chosen to gather in White - establishment for colluding to destroy British across Europe from France to Hungary. In previous periods of intense far right ac - hall in central London, away from local com - and western values. For example UKIP While Brexit is not the main point of these tivity, which never brought such numbers munities and town centres. That also makes leader and MEP Gerard Batten has spoken of demonstrations, the far right’s new confi - onto the streets, the opposition managed to mobilisation against them more difficult. wealthy foreign financiers who are trying to dence is certainly linked to the Brexit vote. bring out thousands to oppose them. How - It is the responsibility of the left and labour undermine these values. This new far right For some Leave voters the vote represented ever, over recent years the labour movement movement to make its own efforts to bring openly embraces conspiracy theories and fake news. The antisemitic undertone of the a kick back against multiculturalism and free - propaganda is becoming more prominent, dom of movement. It is no coincidence that alongside anti-Muslim bigotry. hate crimes have risen since Brexit. While the UKIP are trying to position themselves as targets of much of far right rhetoric are Mus - a political expression of this movement. lims (only a small proportion of whom Under Nigel Farage, the Party dissociated it - would be affected by changes to freedom of self from the organised far-right, banning movement from the EU), the aspiration to a membership for anyone who had previously less diverse Britain is quite clear. been in the EDL or BNP. That would have ex - The labour movement must oppose the far cluded Tommy Robinson, but UKIP are now right politically and not just with force. In the very keen to support him. first place we must undermine the roots of racism and xenophobia by taking on people’s UKIP “concerns” about migration and proposing Now that Brexit has officially been “won” instead working-class unity and a labour and apparently (if not in reality) is about to movement that fights to win. be delivered by the political establish - The labour movement needs positive de - ment, UKIP have struggled to find their mands. We should be unashamedly for free - political place. Electorally they are in dom of movement and for stopping Brexit. steep decline. Under Batten UKIP have In place of austerity and cuts we pro - taken a sharp turn to the right. pose a mass campaign of council house building by a Labour government, maxi - Since 9 June UKIP have had an influx of mum rents in the private sector, and sub - alt-right members who want to consolidate stantial rises in funding for schools, the the right wing turn. YouTube figures like NHS and other local services, all of which Count Dankula (Mark Meechan) and Sargon of Akkad (Carl Benjamin), as well as Milo have been decimated by coalition and Yiannopoulos and Paul Joseph Watson, want Tory cuts since 2010. More online at www.workersliberty.org Workers’ Liberty @workersliberty

Just under 200 people attended Ideas for Freedom 2018, a weekend socialist summer school organised by Workers’ Liberty on 23-24 June in London. The title of the school this year was “Socialism Makes Sense”, and sessions aimed to make the basic case for a revolutionary socialist transformation of capitalist society. Another main theme was “challenges of a Labour government”, looking at the difficulties likely to be faced by a left-Labour government, for example in confronting the state, and the challenges for class-struggle socialists in relating to such a government and attempting to radicalise and extend its programme. Other session streams included “revolutionary history”, “global solidarity”, and “revolutionary socialism 101”. Speakers included Amrit Wilson of the South Asia Solidarity Group, who spoke about women’s struggles against the Modi government in Make L India; Iranian film-maker and activist Kaveh Abbassian, who spoke about students’ and workers’ struggles in Iran; UCU rank- and-file activist Rhian Keyse; Labour left activists including Dave Osland and Simon Hannah; and Workers’ Liberty supporters including Janine Booth, Ruth Cashman, Jill Mountford, and others. The event also featured a walking tour of radical East London, focusing particularly on sites connected to the working-class suffrage movement led by Sylvia Pankhurst, and a set-piece debate on “socialism versus capitalism” with Kristian Niemitz from CHALLENGES OF A the free-market think tank Institute of Economic Affairs. LABOUR GOVERNMENT Ruth Cashman speaking at Ideas for Freedom

There are many who think that trade Rebuilding a culture of socialism unions have had their day. While new and powerful labour movements are emerging around the world, on the whole the labour Jill Mountford gave the closing speech gram of building council houses, re - movement in Britain is very much on the of Ideas for Freedom. We print an building the NHS and the welfare defensive. excerpt. state, creating jobs and services; for I was born at the end of the miners’ strike, decent living wages for all workers. and I am in no doubt that trade unionists are We stand out from the rest of the left on And we say boldly and clearly how on the back foot. The trade union movement our consistent internationalism; we don’t that will be paid for: by taxing the is now half the size that it was at its 1979 fall in line with the left that mourns the rich and big business! peak, with vastly fewer elected workplace death of Castro and hails Cuba as some We argue for a Workers’ Govern - reps and shop stewards. Strike numbers are kind of socialist society. ment acting with same determination at an all-time low. to fight for working-class interests as We critically examine the nature of that Around Momentum’s foundation, many the Tory government fights for the in - society, the rights of the working class and debates fluttered around about post-class terests of the boss class. oppressed groups to organise within it; we politics, with a big push to foreground digital So bad, so lost, is the culture of so - ask is this self-emancipation of the working Jill Mountford leading our Walking with activism and nebulous ideas of social move - cialism in Britain today that we have class? And conclude it is not. Suffragettes tour on Thursday 21 June ments, against the “old language” and forms a Shadow Chancellor who describes To praise the remnants of the catastrophe of organisation of the “old” labour move - himself as Marxist but who cannot that was Stalinism claiming it be some sort ment. say we’ll tax the rich and big business to pay for humanity — to create a world based on of socialism is political idiocy. But until the answer to the question for the kind of society we want to create, human need not on private profit, armed This principle guides us in all interna - “where is new value created under capital - who cannot say we’ll bring the banks into with our culture, our tradition and our ideas tional assessments; we don’t collapse into ism?” is something other than “human public ownership as the bosses did in their — we have the potential to do extraordinary the crude positions of supporting the labour”, organised labour will always have own way to bail them out of the crisis in things. smaller imperialist nations against the larger unique potential, no matter how weak, how 2008. We each became socialists through our imperialist nations. We don’t choose to side beaten down, or how misled our organisa - Forty years ago we had a right wing own experience, through the objective cir - with one reactionary regime against another. tions are at any moment. Labour Chancellor who had no problem in cumstances around us, because we wanted We ask what’s in the best interests of the John McDonnell has said that Labour saying “we’ll squeeze the rich till the pips a better world than the one we find our - working class to build an independent should become the “party of strikes”. The squeak”. Then, the labour movement and selves in. We became revolutionary social - movement that can fight for their own leadership of Momentum and the Labour class struggle was a strong counter pressure ists because we engaged with some big emancipation. Party should throw themselves into support - even on the right in the Labour party. ideas and theories. Our approach to Brexit it is not deter - ing strikes, publicly and clearly. Corbyn Comrades, the job of the revolutionary so - The AWL has a unique approach, fuelled mined by groups of disillusioned members should be speaking on Picturehouse picket cialists is to seize the opportunities around by unique ideas. If we don’t fill that space of our class who can see no better solution lines, writing articles about the Driver-Only us, to be clear and resolute in the ideas and with our ideas or other ideas will, and they than to scapegoat and blame other working Operation dispute, and why it’s important. demands we take into the broader move - won’t be better ideas. class people just because they’re migrant He should be asking questions about the Mc - ment. Not to temper them, dilute them or re - Now we must do the best by our tradi - workers. Strike at PMQs. mould them under pressure from the tion, every one of us, reminding ourselves Our attitude to Brexit is to stand ab - I’m not saying the party hasn’t supported right-wing culture around us. and each other what we stand for, what our solutely firm on migrant rights and the free strikes; but the support should be proud and Looking around the room we give the im - ideas represent. movement of people, arguing for an end to That means seizing every opportunity it should be foregrounded. pression of pretty ordinary bunch of indi - austerity, arguing that we make the bosses that comes our way to make the case for The reason it’s not foregrounded is because viduals. But collectively, driven by our pay for the crisis they created and not the socialism. Socialism makes sense. they’re worried they’re going to get shit in ambition for our class, the highest ambition working class, arguing for a positive pro - the press for it. And they will do. And they

Debates about Brexit are lamentably few. No political position can gather conviction Bastani: time for an answer and momentum until it is tempered in the fires of confrontation with opposing argu - ments. We want our anti-Brexit supporters and By Rhodri Evans sages. On his Twitter page he boasts that he Corbyn, and insinuate that left-wingers who readers to hear the case for left-wing support has a “PhD in political communications” back free movement are really at one with (or semi-support, or quarter-support, what - Aaron Bastani of Novara Media had — (presumably, at that university, “giving those right-wingers. But they are about ever) for Brexit. Bastani, if he’s serious, after much to-ing and fro-ing — agreed to straight answers to questions” is considered Brexit. This turnaround is worse than the last should want his position tested in debate too. debate Brexit with us at Ideas for Free - so advanced that it kicks in only at post-doc - time Bastani bailed out of a debate with us on dom 2018, our summer school on 23-24 toral level). Brexit, at a fringe meeting at the NUT teach - CHALLENGE June. ers’ union conference in 2016 shortly before So we renew the challenge we threw TWEETS the referendum. Then, at least, he told us (a down in Solidarity of 30 May: “Bastani, He didn’t show. The session proceeded It can’t be that he thinks Brexit too unim - why won’t you debate Brexit?” with only an anti-Brexit, pro-free-movement few hours) in advance that he was bailing portant to debate. His Twitter page is full out, and gave an explanation. The best place for a debate now would be platform speaker. of tweets about Brexit. Bastani has not responded to our queries He had changed his mind, no longer on a Novara Media broadcast. about the no-show. The tweets do not tackle the question di - backed Leave, and would now vote Remain. Or some Labour left groups in London are rectly, but instead attack Labour right- Since then his position has changed several discussing plans for live debates. Or both. It can’t be that he is too fumble-handed to Time for an answer! cope with email and other electronic mes - wingers who use Brexit as a stick to beat times, but bafflingly. FEATURE 6-7 abour the “party of strikes”

should use that as an opportunity to explain why Labour supports workers in struggle. They should point to the link between the demands of strikers and Labour Party policy. They should say to striking rail workers, Pic - turehouse workers, and McDonald’s work - ers: “We are the political expression of the demands of your strike. If we’re in govern - ment, we will legislate to secure your de - mands”. Momentum has run workshops with the Bakers’ Union on organising unorganised workplaces. That is brilliant, probably one of the best things Momentum has done. It’s training people to go as external organ - isers to other people’s workplaces, which is not the same as convincing people about or - ganising in their own work, but still, very useful. I have heard about those workshops only in the pub. I am in Momentum, I pay atten - tion to what Momentum says; I know who to vote for in NEC elections; I know when there’s canvassing; I have seen the videos about how much we love police and how much we hate foreign governments owning the railways… But I haven’t seen much about that kind of activist training. A significant push could reverse the de - pressing statistics I started with. At the Jeremy Corbyn speaking at Unison national delegate conference in 2017 height, the great 1984-1985 miners’ strike in - volved fewer than 150,000 strikers. Around 20 times that number, close to three million, which is a ballot about whether you want a Why hasn’t there been a massive campaign in a position where it would be possible to work in the supermarket industry. Collec - ballot. And that’s not in the anti-union legis - from Labour to scrap all the anti-union laws? transform the Labour Party. And I suspect tively, their labour is of huge strategic signif - lation, but it is the kind of psychological Part of it is that the unions, or more specif - that they don’t want this movement to con - icance. adaptation to the anti-union legislation that I ically, the union leadership, don’t want to see tinue. mentioned. the old anti-union laws scrapped. Why is However, they know that many trade IMPACT That takes two weeks, and then we have a that? Because they have an interest in damp - union activists and members are among Imagine a union organised across the re - ballot. It’s a postal ballot, and so that takes ening the struggle. They have an interest in those who voted for Corbyn. And they know tail and logistics sector, organising shop two weeks. I spend two weeks with people legislation that means that nothing can hap - that for them to stay in their positions of workers, warehouse workers, distribution in my workplace saying that they’ve already pen that is decided at the workplace, and in - power, and get re-elected, they need the sup - workers, drivers. A strike by such a union voted but they haven’t, or saying that they’ve stead everything must go through them. port of those members. That’s why Prentis is would have an immense economic and lost their ballot paper… There are some on the Labour left who see now a Corbynista. social impact. And then there’s another two weeks, and unions as important, but not because of their if the ballot comes back positively, you might role in the workplace, instead on the basis of SUPPORT The Labour left has a few hundred thou - have to give another two weeks’ notice be - their size and power within the party. Trade The Labour left would be stupid to dis - sand people. It has resources. We can take on fore you can go on strike. And so you’ve had unions have power in the party on the NEC miss the importance of union support. tasks like that. a two-month period between the thing that and at conference, and in leadership elec - A Labour left government should repeal all But they shouldn’t shore it up by encour - made you want to go on strike, and being tions. And they have not-inconsiderable the anti-union laws and ensure the right of aging backroom deals between Labour lead - able to take that action. funding, so unions must be kept on side. workers to organise, and to strike. That ers and union leaders, but instead by If you had a 30-day consultation because At Unison conference this year, Dave Pren - should be their bottom line. They should cut bringing about a renewed trade union move - everyone’s losing their jobs, it is very possible tis declared that Unison would always be the the shackles on the union movement. ment. that the bureaucracy of the anti-union laws first to fight Blair, and always the first to sup - John McDonnell told a fringe at a union A confident, democratic union movement means that everyone would have already port Corbyn. conference last week that repealing all trade that will protect Corbyn from Blairite coups; been sacked before you could take a single It’s not unimportant that Prentis felt that he union laws was one of his “first hundred it will build the extraparliamentary move - day of action. had to say this, but it is also total nonsense. ment needed to push through Corbyn’s pro - days” pledges. At Labour Party conference, Labour’s 2017 manifesto doesn’t just leave gramme. It would ask more of the Corbyn delegates voted unanimously for a motion to BUREAUCRACy that in. It would keep the ban on solidarity leadership, not limit it, as the unions have so repeal, not just the 2016 laws, but all of the For many decades it was the trade union action, whereby more powerful workers can far on the union laws. If necessary it would laws introduced by the Tories in the 1980s bureaucracy that kept the Labour right in fight for ones with less strategic power. Soli - fight the Labour government to make it im - and 1990s, and to introduce positive, legal power. darity action allows workers to take action on plement its own programme. workers’ rights. The Labour left can encourage this, by behalf of others, such as for example nurses They backed rightwing candidates, and The 2017 manifesto had a lot of good things encouraging the momentum for renewal and firefighters, who, because of the nature they supported the right as they removed in it, but it did not commit to repealing all the and democratic change to flow from the of their work, are reluctant to take full and democratic structures in the Labour Party. anti-union laws. Instead, it committed to re - party into the unions. Just as under Blair, sustained action. They did that in the name of anti-Toryism. pealing the Trade Union Act, and rolling out the wings of the party controlled by the And solidarity action allows us to fight for They failed to push the Labour Party to cam - sectional collective bargaining. That commit - right held each other back, we can see things that are not narrow industrial disputes paign for even the most basic demands in the ment would keep the ban on workplace bal - how that process could move forward: the about our own work, but big political issues. interests of trade union members, such as the lots, which are used to suck momentum out industrial and political wings of the move - As the NHS was dismantled by the Tories repeal of the anti-trade union laws. of industrial disputes. ment encouraging renewal in each other. privatising it bit by bit, the unions sat on their Before 2015, the leadership of the trade The last time I went on strike, my union hands and did nothing. unions had no idea that soon they would be made me have a consultative ballot first, 8 FEATURE More online at www.workersliberty.org Nationalising money? By Martin Thomas was no good to control inflation, but it was The crash of 2008, perceived as coming tion. The banks have to keep something in “a very, very good way to raise unemploy - from loose credit, has revived proposals for the vaults — it used to be a “reserve require - At the session on nationalising the banks ment, and raising unemployment was an ex - more rigid public control of the stock of ment”, today more usually a “capital require - at the AWL’s Ideas for Freedom event (21- tremely desirable way of reducing the money, and on the left too. Switzerland had ment” — to be able to pay out when one 24 June), we had, alongside Patrick Mur - strength of the working classes... what was a referendum on 10 June on a proposal to person or another decides to cash out her phy speaking for that policy, a speaker engineered there in Marxist terms was a crisis limit money, effectively, to notes, coin, and whole bank balance. But that stash in the from the campaign group Positive Money. of capitalism which re-created a reserve army balances at the central bank: it got 24% sup - vaults need only be a small proportion of the The Positive Money speaker told us that of labour and has allowed the capitalists to port. Martin Wolf, the liberal-leftish chief eco - total stock of money in circulation. their policy is for “nationalising money ” make high profits ever since”. nomics writer of the Financial Times , backed The system allows for an elastic response rather than nationalising banks . He presented In 1982 Thatcher abandoned monetarism the proposal as a worthwhile experiment. In of money circulation to economic demands. it as a left-wing policy, similar in drift to but and switched to more free-form class-war the USA, the leftish Democrat Dennis That elasticity is also, however, a driver of different in detail from public ownership and policies. Kucinich and the Green Party have backed speculation and crises. Thus the proposal to control of banks. In fact the proposal for “na - similar proposals. rigidify the system, by requiring banks to MONETARISM At first hearing, “nationalising money” hold “100% reserves”, is attractive both to tionalising money” has a right-wing pedigree The technical-seeming monetarist policy and logic. It originates in the Chicago Plan of sounds like rounding circles. Isn’t money free-marketeers wanting market discipline to had the effects it did because the efforts “nationalised” already? It’s pounds, dollars, bite hard and quickly, and to left-minded 1933, written by economists who were all to control the stock of money brought strong (though sometimes quirky) support - euros, and those are issued and controlled by people wanting to quell crises. high rates of interest and thus a credit public bodies, no? According to Marxist analyses, an elastic ers of ultra-free-market capitalism. squeeze. Milton Friedman, the most famous ultra- Today, however, only a small proportion of money and credit system is indispensable for free-market economist of the late 20th cen - The rate at which the Bank of England money, about 3% in Britain, is notes and coins a developed capitalist system. It will proba - tury, was trained in and later led the Chicago lends to commercial banks, which had hov - created by public authorities. The other 97% bly be indispensable even in the earlier eras University economics department. After sup - ered around 4% since 1800 or so, was kept of so is balances with banks, effectively trad - of working-class rule. Rigid rules are likely to porting the Chicago Plan when young, he above 12% for years, and was 17% at one able debt. That 97% is created by banks. produce similar results to monetarism in later modified it into the “monetarist” policy point. (It is now 0.5%). Imagine Iris has £1000 in cash. She will 1980s Britain: the system slips round them, — keep the growth of the stock of money in Ironically, the credit squeeze also failed to keep only £10 on her, and put the rest in the but meanwhile is disrupted by the attempt to bank. The bank does not just sit on the £990. rigidify. the economy to a fixed percentage each year. control the stock of money well. The stock of Public ownership and control of the While Iris still has £990, Mya will also have That monetarist policy became notorious money measured as the total in bank ac - banks is a different proposition. It is about £990 when the bank gives her a mortgage to when adopted by the Thatcher government counts is, as we’ll see, very different from the getting public control of the large chunks buy a house from Helen, and that £990 then in 1980-2. It led to huge unemployment and stock measured as notes and coins; there are of money currently distributed by the reappears as new bank-balance money held (though controlling inflation was advertised yet other measures; and they can often move banks as profits, and the even larger by Helen. as its main virtue) increased inflation. in different directions. Economists summed chunks currently allocated for productive The bank then gives out £900-odd again as Monetarism, however, served its purpose up the experience as “Goodhart’s Law”: any investment through short-sighted, greed- an overdraft to Aniqa. Aniqa banks or spends as doctrinal stiffening for an assault on the measure of money stock well controlled in - focused, profit-first mechanisms. working class. As Alan Budd, then a Tory stantly becomes less important in substantive that money, and then a bank uses it to make economic adviser, later put it, monetarism economics. a loan to Lara... Already there is almost £4000 in circula - • More: bit.ly/monetarist; bit.ly/ann-p The pitfalls of “everything is getting worse” In Defence of The Bolsheviks: new

Chris Reynolds reviews Hans Rosling’s Factfulness book coming soon

Max Shachtman’s response to Ernest Until the late 1950s, with decreasing con - Erber in 1949, deserves to be consid - viction, the official Communist Parties in ered one of the classic polemics of the western Europe promoted as a dogma the Marxist movement. idea that working-class living-standards were falling because an iron law of capi - It summarises and vindicates the Bolshe - talism made it so, and of course were viks’ work to build a revolutionary party and lead a revolution. worse than workers’ living standards in It makes the case for continuing so - the USSR. cialist efforts in times both of high and CP writers were commissioned to select of low political temperature. and shape statistics to “prove” that claim. In Absolute poverty means having to walk “The social principles of Christianity preach France, critical Marxists denounced this atti - every day to get (unsafe) water and gather cowardice, self-contempt, abasement, sub - • See www.workersliberty.org/books for tude as “misérabilisme”. wood for cooking; eating much the same missiveness and humbleness, in short, all the more information about our books. Workers whose households had for the thing every day; having little or no access to qualities of the rabble, and the proletariat, first time fridges, washing machines, TVs, health care and education. which will not permit itself to be treated as central heating could not fail to conclude that Rosling distinguishes four broad levels of rabble, needs its courage, its self-confidence, the trade-union and political activists who living standards in the world, with two be - its pride and its sense of independence even told them everything was getting worse were tween absolute poverty and “level 4”, which more than its bread”. exaggerating and hyping, so other things is an individual on £9,000 a year or more in We should also learn from Marx’s later they said should be taken with a pinch of salt Britain. writings, in which he analyses how capital, too. The combination of capital’s drive to ex - while it exploits workers, also has to educate And encouraging workers to wallow in pansion, and the work of labour movements and train them, assemble them in large seeing themselves as victims is not revolu - across the world, has brought the majority to groups, increase their “cultural” needs (if tionary. Experienced organisers know that the point where they have some access to ed - only to sell stuff to them), concede that they the people in the workplace who complain ucation, health care, and reading. At the same are not entirely property-less but own their most are usually not the best trade-unionists. time capital drives the environment towards labour-power. Labour movements can ex - They are too taken up with complaining disaster, sharpens inequalities, and promotes pand and have expanded what Marx calls about their workmates, and with self-pity. insecurity and destructive competition. “the civilising moment of capital”. “The worker’s participation in the Hans Rosling’s Factfulness may appear at Capitalism generates the need for social - higher, even cultural satisfactions, the ag - first to be a book whitewashing capitalism. ism, but also the productive and human basis itation for his own interests, newspaper Rosling was (he died in 2017) a reformist for it. subscriptions, attending lectures, educat - mixed-economy guy. But his facts are impor - In some of Marx’s earliest writings, the ing his children, developing his taste etc., tant. working class appears as the revolutionary [is his] share of civilisation which distin - He shows soberly that until 1966 over 50% agency only via philosophical construction, guishes him from the slave...” of humanity lived in absolute poverty. By as the absolute negation of existing society. 2017 that was down to 9%. Even then Marx wrote against misérabilisme: Workers’ Liberty @workersliberty FEATURE 9 Life and politics in Iraq

Nadia Mahmood of the Worker- scope for state employment (the main two communist Party of Iraq spoke to sectors are health and internal security, and Solidarity b) the private sector is not active or dominant in Iraq. Thus the job opportunities are very We boycotted the [Iraqi] elections [of May limited. 2018] with a very active campaign. Now Every year there are more people graduat - many political parties and candidates in ing from universities without jobs. Although particular those who did no won seats there is a lack of accurate statistics, surveys complain that there was corruption. show that in 2017, about 56 percent of young females were unemployed, compared to 29 The Prime Minister says that the vote count percent for young males. was so corrupt that all the votes need to be In the informal sector, people work in serv - recounted. ices, in restaurants, in construction, as market It has been agreed that votes need to be re - traders. Their number is more than four mil - counted. A new commission formed by nine lion, and they constitute 53% of the total judges took the responsibility for the recount - number of workers, 55% of the total number ing, instead of the election commission. Then of male workers and 48% of female workers. a storage site housing half of Baghdad’s bal - Although the workers and state employed lot boxes caught fire, and the government organised many sit ins and strikes, the unions said they had arrested those behind it. in general are weak. This an be attributed to Again, in Kirkuk city, a suicide car bomb a number of reasons. went off near a storage site housing ballot The trade unions are not allowed to work boxes two days before a manual recount was in the public sector in line with law number due to begin. 52 issued in 1987. That law issued by the Sad - The old parliament has ended its term, but dam Hussain regime remains untouched. a new parliament has not been elected. It is a Trade unions have few roots in the work - chaotic situation. ing class. They have become bureaucratic Iraqi women shop for books on Mutanabbi Street, a major cultural hub in Baghdad, Opposing political Islam is a big issue. and isolated. They care about their relation - Supporting economic and social demands is ships with the outside world, their invita - a big issue, like the right to electricity, espe - tions to workshops, their payments for travel. electricity or jobs. Al-Sadr is trying to posi - parts of the government itself. cially in July when it gets very hot. They look as if they are more accountable to tion himself as a representative of the oppo - There is still terrorism. An activist was kid - All these things build towards our strategic international organisations than to Iraqi sition. napped in Nasiriya because he called pub - aim: getting people organised to end the cur - workers. Al-Sistani [the foremost ayatollah of Iraq’s licly for a boycott of the elections. We know rent political system. They compete with each other, and some - Shias] spoke in a way that would encourage who did it: an Iran-backed militia. times they mushroom and split from each people who follow him not to vote for the in - Solidarity: What are the conditions of other. We have about six trade union federa - cumbents. But Sadr has had ministers, too. So S: The Shia-Sunni sectarian conflict: is it everyday life like in Baghdad now? tions. They have come together under a new he is not really new. sharpening or weakening? network called a “Conference of the Iraqi Nadia: Now there is the crisis with Turkey, Unions and Trade Unions”, but still there is S: I don’t see a good case for boycotting Nadia: The Shia political parties, seeing the percentage of water that comes to Iraq competition between them and other trade these elections. Often in history, especially in how people are upset and angry at them, has fallen. Electricity we still have on and off. unions such as those linked to the govern - the 19th century, socialist parties built them - have started to change their names. For ex - The electricity supply is much better than it ment. selves by contesting elections, even though ample, Amar al-Hakim used to lead the was ten years ago, or even three years ago, The government wants to introduce a new these elections were extremely undemocra - Supreme Council for the Islamic Revolution but we still have power cuts. Even in some law in line with international norms regard - tic. in Iraq. Now he has established a new party areas of privatised electricity supply, there called the Wisdom Party or al-Hikmah. isn’t 24-hour electricity. ing freedom of forming trade unions and their operation in the public sector. This is Nadia: We don’t see our boycott of the elec - On the Sunni side, the speaker of the Iraqi tion as a passive action. We wanted an active Parliament split from the Muslim Brother - S: What about schools and hospitals? under discussion now between the govern - ment and trade unions. boycott to spread the word, expose the ruling hood and set up a new Civil Reform Party. parties, and demand a different system. We These parties have changed their religious Nadia : Conditions are horrible. No im - They will observe whether or not a union has members within a given company. If they used every method to expose them. We acted names to civil ones, but not their affiliations. provement. Families teach their kids because in order to make our voice heard. People are so upset with religious parties that kids can’t learn in schools, unless the parents do have members and they can prove that, the government will register the union for - The election was not just undemocratic. It they want to appear as civil parties. Now can afford private schools. Even when the was corrupt, violent, full of bribes. People everyone speaks against sectarianism, government puts money into schools, the mally. We have to wait and see the first draft of this new law. bought ballot boxes. There were no normal against corruption — they say, “we are all corruption is so high and so widespread, that conditions for elections. As we have seen Iraqis, there is no difference between Sunni the schools do not really get built. One change that has taken place is the so - cial insurance law. This allows for workers in later on the site of ballot boxes were burned and Shia”, and so on. People can’t use the Hospitals suffer from lack of medicines ones the government decided to recount the same discourse they used before 2010. the private sector to be insured. Previously and equipment… People go to private hospi - votes. But when Maliki speaks about the “politi - only public sector workers had the right to tals, they don’t rely on government hospitals. cal majority” and needing a government of have social insurance. Public hospitals are not clean, they lack S: What are the conditions for open politi - the “political majority”, he means Shia. And The achievements of the trade unions everything. cal activity? I hear that Mutanabbi Street, the apart from sectarianism, what do the parties seems to be their ability to shape some new Even in periods like 2011-2013, when the central bookselling street of Baghdad, has represent? Not Arab nationalism: they have laws regarding social insurance, and so on. oil price was quite high, no-one benefits here. been rebuilt after being bombed in 2007. Is it no ideology or identity. The Kurdish party, They appear active on things to do with gov - It goes to people in government, in power, still lively, offering books and pamphlets? it’s clear, it’s about their Kurdish nationality. ernment and laws, but their role and impact people who have access to money. So although they denounce their previous on the daily lives and demands of the work - Unemployment is very high, especially Nadia: Yes. And not only Baghdad. The discourse, in fact they act in line with the ers looks very limited. among young people. In general there is no culture of Mutanabbi Street has started to same sectarian and nationalist base. recruitment to the public sector, in line with spread to other towns as well, like Basra, S: The election result, according to Euro - World Bank and IMF policies. They want where they have a similar street, and S: Has segregation in Baghdad eased? pean experts, was unexpected, with the high people to go and work in the private sector, Nasiriya. There is space for open political ac - and we don’t have a strong private sector in vote for the coalition of the Sadr movement tivities. Nadia: It might not be like sectarian con - Iraq. and the Communist Party. What is your as - But also there are activists who have been flict in 2006, but still there are Shia groups When there are any jobs in the public sec - sessment? kidnapped, with their whereabouts un - who claim control of some areas in Baghdad. tor, they are allocated by political parties to known. Faraj al-Badri, Jalal Al-Shehmani, The al-Sadr trend controls Sadr city. Recently Nadia: win the loyalty of the people they recruit. The turnout for the election was and others were kidnapped and released Hezbollah in Iraq claimed to control Palestine The majority work in the informal private very low. The Sadr movement and the Com - through the intervention of the government Street in Baghdad and their militia has sector. Some young people find no solution munist Party, as parties that rely on their itself, as it appears those who kidnapped clashed with other government militia but to go into the militias. The percentage of membership, mobilised their membership. them were known to the government. groups. The conflict is still there... but it’s differ - unemployed women is very high. Other parties do not have such influence, and It has been repeatedly said the militias now ent now. The unemployment level is increasing for neither do the other mainstream parties. kidnap the activists, not the government. Yet two reasons: a) because there is very limited People are upset with Abadi and his allies, these militias and their political parties are saying that they haven’t provided security or Where we stand More online at www.workersliberty.org Workers’ Liberty @workersliberty Today one class, the working class, lives by selling its labour power to another, the capitalist class, which owns the means of production. Sheffield Labour debates The capitalists’ control over the economy and their relentless drive to increase their wealth causes poverty, unemployment, the blighting of lives by overwork, imperialism, the destruction Spearmint Rhino of the environment and much else. Against the accumulated wealth and power of the capitalists, the working class must unite to struggle against capitalist LABOUR city and its identity power in the workplace and in wider society. and history, white washing and destroy - The Alliance for Workers’ Liberty wants socialist revolution: By Geoff Wolf, Sheffield ing communities. collective ownership of industry and services, workers’ control, Labour Party, p.c. Each year the city and a democracy much fuller than the present system, with council reviews the elected representatives recallable at any time and an end to On Tuesday 19 June Sheffield selective licencing for bureaucrats’ and managers’ privileges. City Council Licencing commit - SEV throughout Sheffield. There are We fight for trade unions and the Labour Party to break with tee held a public meeting to dis - cuss the continuation of the only two venues in “social partnership” with the bosses and to militantly assert Sexual Entertainment Venue and around the city working-class interests. (SEV) licence, which allows the that still hold such li - adult entertainment venue cences. Businesses In workplaces, trade unions, and Labour organisations; Spearmint Rhino to operate in like these have been in decline in ciety, these conversations were not among students; in local campaigns; on the left and in the city. the last five years, with up to a had with the workers, or many third of them no longer trading. women that engage in such forms wider political alliances we stand for: Throughout the day there were • In the opinion of some city coun - of employment as lap dancing. Independent working-class representation in politics. eloquent arguments presented, in - The disagreements were formu - • cillors, and Sheffield Labour stu - A workers’ government, based on and accountable to the cluding a testimony from a worker dents and other groups, taking lated from no knowledge of the ex - labour movement. and her positive experiences of away any woman’s choice of legal, perience of workers at the venue in • A workers’ charter of trade union rights — to organise, to working in the sexual entertain - and safe employment is not a mod - Sheffield, but just a theoretical idea ment industry. Many of the opposi - strike, to picket effectively, and to take solidarity action. ern feminist stance. To be against of what the work would be like tion arguments were formulated from a middle-class liberal feminist • Taxation of the rich to fund decent public services, homes, the licence is aiding with the repro - around “the fact that the premises duction of patriarchal attitudes to - perspective. education and jobs for all. are sited in a residential area” and wards women. On the other hand the people • A workers’ movement that fights all forms of oppression. the Public Sector Equality Duty and There was many groups in - who supported the protest outside Full equality for women, and social provision to free women gender equality (PSED). volved in the opposition to the the City Hall, such as the Labour The PSED means that the Coun - from domestic labour. For reproductive justice: free abortion on venue, such as Niki Bond (Sheffield Students group, had been in con - cil must thoroughly consider the versation with the workers for a demand; the right to choose when and whether to have Central Constituency Women’s Of - implications in the context of li - ficer) and other groups such as Not number of weeks leading up to the children. Full equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual and cencing, of effects on equality on its Buying It Sheffield and the event, to ensure that the voices and transgender people. Black and white workers’ unity against citizens. Women’s Equality Party. concerns of workers were heard in racism. Most of the opposition to the lo - When providing her stance on the process of the public hearing. cation of the venue was spear - • Open borders. the issue to the panel, Niki Bond Sheffield City Council Licensing headed by Sheffield Hallam Sub Committee has given establish - • Global solidarity against global capital — workers suggested that dancers provide ex - University, as Spearmint Rhino tras to the people that attend the ment leave to continue trading in everywhere have more in common with each other than with “doesn’t fit” with the surround - the city. premises. She said she was in gen - Since the council decided to their capitalist or Stalinist rulers. ings, or with the University’s mas - eral agreement with Sheffield Hal - • ter plan for the vicinity. Likely we extend the licence by a year, an Democracy at every level of society, from the smallest lam University’s argument on application for judicial review will see a form of gentrification, as location. workplace or community to global social at University of Arts London and has been submitted to Leeds organisation. While many of the arguments High Court, to overturn a deci - the Elephant and Castle develop - made by the opposition were in - • Equal rights for all nations, against ment, as the conglomerate neo-lib - sion to remove the cap on two sightful and representative of some strip clubs in the city. imperialists and predators big and small. eral University monster eats up the oppressions towards women in so - • Maximum left unity in action, and openness in debate. If you agree with us, please take some Labour: dump militarism! copies of Solidarity to sell — and join us!

By Michael Elms tlee’s war in Malaysia to Blair’s in - Griffith quoted Corbyn: “There is vasion of Iraq. no contradiction between working On 25 June, Labour Shadow De - Griffith actually reiterated for peace across the world and Events fence Secretary Nia Griffith Labour’s 2017 manifesto pledge to doing what is necessary to keep us made a speech to the Royal keep Trident; said that “the Oppo - safe.” Translation: “don’t worry United Services Institute, a sition would warmly welcome any about Corbyn’s peacenik speechify - Saturday 7 July Friday 13 July think-tank made up of retired rise” in military spending; de - ing, we will continue the favoured generals and military-industrial- nounced the “deep cuts” that have foreign policy of the British bour - London Pride parade Protest Trump’s visit complex grandees with well-paid been made to the Ministry of De - geoisie, propping up NATO and 11am, route TBC 2pm, Portland Place, London, jobs in “strategic intelligence fence budget; and proudly re - supporting US military “police ac - bit.ly/2JNzKIQ W1A 1AA consulting firms” and the like. minded the RUSI mandarins that it tions” around the world. And we bit.ly/2iUocaK Wednesday 11 July You might have hoped that a was Attlee and Bevin who set up won’t touch war profiteers’ busi - NATO in the first place. ness interests.” London Left Against Brexit Saturday 14 July leader of a radically left-wing Labour Party would have had Griffith accompanied this drum- Like Thornberry, whose aim was meeting Durham Miners’ Gala some hard words for the masters of banging for more weapons of mass to make it clear that one can wear 7pm, Central Hall Westminster, Various times, Durham war. Maybe something about destruction with the announce - an MLK T-shirt while subsidising London SW1H 9NH www.durhamminers.org/gala scrapping Trident, nationalising ment that “Labour is — and has al - sales of UK fighter jets, the current bit.ly/2lPbtDP British arms manufacturers, and re - ways been — a proudly Labour policy on defence is about Sunday 15 July internationalist party.” sitting between two stools: trying 12-13 July purposing the shipyards and facto - Momentum national conference ries for socially-useful ends. Maybe This kind of eye-popping dou - to reconcile a lefty leadership with People, Pits & Politics Festival 10am, Durham Town Hall, Mar - something about taking the 2% of ble-think has been seen before, a continuation of Blair-era foreign when Emily Thornberry unveiled policy. Durham Town Hall, Market Place, ket Place, Durham DH1 3NE GDP spent on the military (as per Labour should not wave at the Labour foreign policy at the Durham DH1 3NE NATO rules) and spending it on anti-imperialism with one hand bit.ly/2ta1tJt 2017 conference, quoting Martin fighting climate change or helping and slip cash to the masters of bit.ly/2JZI33E Luther King’s call for “a revolution people displaced by wars? She war on the other. Ditch militarism in values” to introduce a policy of might even have repudiated previ - — end arms exports — scrap Tri - continuing arms sales but with ous Labour governments’ records dent, and spend the money on Have an event you want listing? Email: slightly tighter restrictions on brib - of imperial adventures, from At - human need! [email protected] ing the British arms salesmen. REPORTS 10-11 HE pay ballot new test for UCU RMT AGM shows long

By a Cambridge UCU way to go on equalities Member

On 29 June, UCU confirmed that, By an RMT member committees, which are currently between August and October only “advisory” bodies. Rule this year, it will ballot HE mem - The Annual General Meeting of changes aimed to give the com - bers for industrial action over the Rail, Maritime, and Trans - mittees more scope to determine pay. port union (RMT) took place the agendas for their own meet - from 24-29 June in Edinburgh. ings and conferences. This follows a consultative mem - It was preceded by a Special National officers opposed the bers’ ballot on whether to accept changes, claiming they sought to the 2% pay rise offered by the Uni - General Meeting, on 30 May, which debated the question of disempower the union’s National versities and Colleges’ Employers Executive Committee (even Association (UCEA). On a 47.7% whether RMT should reaffiliate to the Labour Party, voting by a nar - though the changes would have turnout, 82% of UCU members re - had no impact on the NEC’s role jected the offer and 65% said they row margin not to reaffiliate. The AGM passed radical policy or powers). The rule changes were would be prepared to take indus - also broken up and presented to in UCU. As covered in Solidarity to “condemn the disruption to the on issues like nationalisation of trial action. the AGM in parts, with no prior 472, UCU officials repeatedly dis - democratic process of Congress”. the banks, meaning RMT now Additionally, a Special Higher discussion or consultation with rupted the proceedings at the The second motion, which carried joins the Fire Brigades Union in Education Sector Conference the proposing branches, despite union’s Congress on 30 May-1 29-4, reaffirmed UCU members’ advocating public ownership of (SHESC) was held on 21 June, fol - having been submitted as single June, preventing discussion of mo - right to dissent. It described the the banks and finance. The mo - lowing requests from at least 20 proposals. They were defeated by tions criticising Sally Hunt, the leadership’s disruptions as ‘a threat tion, submitted by the union’s UCU HE branches to discuss the margins of around three votes. General Secretary. This disruption to democracy in the Union and a Bakerloo Line branch, commits United Superannuation Scheme Other rule changes, on allowing included three walkouts by Hunt denial of the will of its members’, RMT to campaigning for any fu - (USS) dispute. Conference passed branches to submit items for the and other senior UCU staff mem - and demanded a recall of Congress. ture Corbyn-led Labour govern - numerous motions on the Joint Ex - AGM via email rather than just via bers. Represented by a branch of Other UCU branches, including ment to implement this policy. pect Panel (JEP) into the valuation post, and extending the deadline Unite, these staffers claimed that those at Warwick and UCL, have Motions were also passed commit - of the USS, including motions relat - for amendments to the AGM, the offending motions would vio - since passed similar motions. ting the union to mobilise for the ing to the workings and scrutiny of passed. late their employment rights and The HE pay strike ballot presents demonstrations against Donald the JEP, as well as pension provi - In more positive news for equal - declared a trade dispute. The ma - a chance to test UCU members’ Trump’s visit on 13 July, and the sion, reporting, and mechanisms ities issues within the union, the jority of Congress delegates signed newfound combativeness, but protests against the far-right on 14 for re-opening the USS dispute. AGM passed a motion on union a joint statement as “Our UCU”, judging by the consultative ballot’s July. This latter is particularly sig - Congress also passed motions on guidance for reps representing which resolved to continue dis - 47.7% turnout, we must work dili - nificant, as statements from some democracy and transparency dur - members accused of breaches of cussing the disputed motions at a gently to meet the 50% threshold RMT leaders around the 9 June ing ongoing industrial action, equalities principles (e.g., sexual recall conference, and to urge a de - for industrial action. anti-fascist demonstrations had called for the resignation of USS While the UCU leadership will harassment, bigoted language of bate in all UCU branches and bod - played down the threat from the CEO Bill Galvin, and called upon almost certainly try to stifle dis - behaviour, discriminations, etc.), ies to discuss union democracy. far-right. the UCU Higher Education Com - sent through calls for unity in this which aim to ensure reps avoid ar - On Tuesday 12 June, Cambridge mittee to identify USS members in latest industrial dispute, we must guments which “defend” the ac - UCU passed two motions challeng - MOTIONS post-92 universities so that they continue to build a rank-and-file tions themselves or downplay the ing the national leadership over the Motions were also passed have a consultative voice in USS movement to transform UCU importance of equalities principles events at Congress. The first mo - which aimed to bolster the matters and the opportunity to en - into a militant, member-led or policies. tion, which carried 23-9, called on union’s campaigns against “Dri - Equalities activists within gage in campaigning work. union. All this should be taken in con - Hunt to affirm “that she respects ver Only Operation”, including RMT plan to continue cam - text of the broader political picture the sovereignty of Congress” and ones which sought to widen the paigning for the union to put scope for using union funds to equality at the heart of its work, support sustained industrial ac - and ensure that black, women, tion. LGBT+, and disabled members’ The AGM was also notable for voices are consistently heard Tube strikes during Trump visit within the union. discussion and activity around equalities issues. Some LGBT+ delegates and supporters led a Michelle Rodgers for By Tubeworker bulletin an increasingly disciplinarian and visit to the UK of US President walk out when Elaine Smith MSP, authoritarian approach, including Donald Trump. We don’t imagine who had campaigned and voted RMT President! RMT has named dates for a obstructing union reps from carry - Trump was planning on using the against equal marriage, addressed forthcoming drivers’ strike on ing out basic trade union duties. Picc too much, but if the strike dis - the AGM. So scandalised was at Workers’ Liberty supporters the London Underground Pic - Piccadilly Line management has rupts his visit in any way then least one other delegate that they within RMT are supporting cadilly Line. also failed to honour agreements that’s an added bonus! Northern Rail worker Michelle Train maintainers at Ruislip abstained on policy submitted by made in previous disputes. Rodgers in the forthcoming The strike begins at 21:00 on depot will also strike from 07:00 the RMT’s LGBT+ conference, on This will see four days of impact election for the union’s presi - Wednesday 11 July, and finishes at hours on 12 July to 07:00 hours opposing “gay cure” therapies, in on the service, with two full strike dency. 01:00 on Saturday 14 July. on 13 July, 19:00 hours on 13 July “retaliation” for the way the walk - days, and will also involve Night The dispute has been prompted to 07:00 hours 14 July, and 07:00 out had allegedly “embarrassed” Michelle is standing on a plat - Tube drivers as it covers their Fri - by what the union calls a complete hours 15 July to 19:00 hours on the union. This shows the signifi - form of “Democracy, Equality, day night-Saturday morning turns. “breakdown in industrial rela - 15 July in a dispute over pay par - cant work that still needs to be Solidarity”, seeking to ensure The strike also coincides with the tions”, with management adopting ity and train preparation time. done in the labour movement that rank-and-file participation around equalities issues. and control, and equality are This was also demonstrated by central to the union. the fate of proposed amendments See future issues of Soli - Strikes at John Roan school PCS pay ballot to RMT’s rule book that sought to darity for more information on opens empower the union’s equalities the campaign. By Gemma Short forced academisation. Parents have PCS members are being bal - joined picket lines, organised joint loted for national strikes over National Education Union mem - meetings and launched a legal chal - pay. Sheffield tram strikes bers at John Roan school in lenge alongside NEU members. PCS members in all areas of the south east London struck on 20, Non-teaching staff, who are mem - By Charlotte Zalens per hour pay rise for both this year 26, 27 June, and 3, 5, 11 and 12 bers of GMB, are also balloting for civil service are being balloted for strikes in order to get the govern - and next year, which they have re - July against academisation. strikes. Unite members working on the jected. Follow the dispute and send ment to lift the 1% pay cap. PCS Over 200 tram drivers and con - An Ofsted inspection in March Supertram network in Sheffield messages of support at: has submitted a 5% pay claim to ductors, employed by Stage - rated the school ″inadequate″, will strike on 9 and 12 July in a www.thejohnroannut.org/ or on the government. coach, took part in the ballot and which both school workers and Twitter at twitter.com/JohnRoan - The ballot opened on 18 dispute over pay. June and closes on 23 July. 91.7% voted for strikes. parents are challenging, and the Resists Workers had been offered a 26p school was handed an order for SolidaFor a workers’ giovertnment y No 474 4 July 2018 50p/£1 Against Trump, Brexit, new EU border policing For free movement and migrant rights! EU fences off refugees

By Hugh Edwards grants, Roma, Sinti” and the European Union, so he says, of its bureaucrats and As the leaders of the EU countries on elites. 27-29 June put their names to their “uni - He and his government leader Giuseppe versal accord” on immigration policy, Conte got little further than being permit - news arrived of another horrific tragedy ted to rhetorically claim one victory after off the coast of Libya. another. Under the weasel words of the EU A hundred men, women, and children text, none of the other countries is under drowned as their rubber boat exploded and any further obligation in matters of migrant they drifted helplessly in waters where reception or redistribution. But Germany, NGO rescue ships are now banned by the butt of Salvini’s anti-Europe rant, has Marco Minniti, Italy’s Minister of the Inte - reserved the right to send back to Italy rior, not in the current right-wing Italian those originally disembarking there. government, but in the previous centre-left French president Macron, having saved one. the Dublin Treaty, has put the ball firmly Their deaths bring the total in the last back in Salvini’s court. months to their highest rate for a long time, The EU meeting, behind a curtain of despite a significant drop in the numbers hypocrisy, mystification, and contradic - attempting to escape. tions, agreed on a militarisation of the EU’s That the assembled dignitaries couldn’t external frontiers, with 10,000 more armed US socialists challenge Trump even be bothered to utter their usual plati - police. Turkey’s tyrant leader was re - tudes of pious sympathy underlined that warded with another €3 billion to copper - By Ira Berkovic out the country. The Metro DC DSA branch the principal purpose of their meeting was fasten the Balkans’ maritime frontiers. organised a protest outside the home of for - for each participant to find a way of saving Another €500 million was allocated to ce - America’s largest socialist organisation, mer ICE director Tom Homan, and DSA face before her or his nation’s rising tide of ment Africa’s sub-Saharan borders, while the Democratic Socialists of America groups have led protests in Hawaii, Sacra - populist racism. plans underway for detention centres in (DSA), has taken a lead in organising rad - mento, Los Angeles, and elsewhere. The nub of the solution amounted to little Africa will probably come with additional ical action in solidarity with migrants and Many locally-produced DSA materials more than each being able to reassure pub - bribes. in opposition to the policies of the Trump display an admirable, if somewhat discon - lic opinion at home that it will be their The Libyan coastguard, furnished anew administration, calling for the abolition of nected, radicalism, combining demands to neighbour, not their own country, which by Salvini with even more sophisticated motor boats are accorded full power in the Immigration and Customs Enforcement abolish ICE with the slogan “abolish profit”. will open doors to migrants. Situating its calls for the abolition of Mediterranean, and the NGO ships are de - (ICE). The most nauseating spectacle in this ICE within its wider programme, includ - nied rights. grotesquerie was offered by the “govern - As Gino Strada, founder of the NGO DSA activists hounded Homeland Secu - ing its campaigns for universal health - ment of change” in Italy. Its Minister of the “Emergency”, summed up this “criminal rity Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen out of a Mex - care, can contribute to the building of a Interior, Matteo Salvini, has made the bat - Pact”, nothing has changed except for ican restaurant with chants of “if kids don’t movement that is not merely negatively tle-cry “Italy for Italians” the launchpad of the worse. eat in peace, you don’t eat in peace”, and its anti-Trump but a positive movement for his campaign to “rid the country of immi - local branches have been organising and pro-working-class policies. supporting “abolish ICE” protests through - Or subscribe with a standing order Contact us Subscribe to Solidarity Pay £5 a month to subscribe to Solidarity or pay us more to make an ongoing contribution to our work 020 7394 8923 Trial sub (6 issues) £7 o To: ...... (your bank) ...... (address) Six months (22 issues) £22 waged o, £11 unwaged o solidarity@ One year (44 issues) £44 waged o, £22 unwaged o Account name ...... 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