The APRIL/MAY PAGE 6 2016 Nationalise steel ISSUE RED SUPPLEMENT 004 History: Labour in WW1 PRICE PAGE 15 £1 FLAG Lambeth libraries lead way KICK THE TORIES Firstly, the Britain Stronger in Eu- shore tax havens. Eighteen refused to Indeed Osborne’s budget blew up in EDITORIAL rope campaign is in deep trouble, with reply. his face with Iain Duncan Smith’s res- OUthe anti-TEuropean right, both Tory and Panama cruelly exposes the private ignation. IDS delivered a withering at- avid Cameron and George UKIP, advancing in the opinion polls. life of the super-rich, and just when tack on the Chancellor for Osborne are facing a per- Secondly, there is the Panama tax Osborne is trying to impose an extra slashing Capital Gains Tax for the few, fect storm. And much of it dodging scandal that has dragged in harsh austerity programme on the poor. while announcing a cut in disability comes from their col- Cameron himself. Channel 4 News has It raises once again the fact that they support for 300,000 people. Osborne Dleagues in the Tory Party and the right asked 21 Cabinet members to state pay proportionately far less tax and use had to make a clumsy U-turn, claim- wing press. whether they have investments in off- tax havens to hide their wealth. cont. page 2 ftREDFLAGONLINE @REDFLAGLABOUR w REDFLAGONLINE.ORG e [email protected] 02 EDITORIAL the voice of Labour’s revolutionary change Where we stand cont. from p1 RED FLAG is a revolutionary socialist initiative cam- Internationalism not imperialism ing the benefit cut was meant for “consultation”. paigning in the Labour Party, in the trade unions and Cancel Trident Thirdly there is Tata’s exit, taking the future of the county’s steel among young people for: Britain out of NATO industry with them. When Osborne and Sajid Javid expressed their a revived Labour Party with socialist policies, under the Welcome refugees and migrants. Yes to freedom of total surprise it made them look like mugs. And their refusal to do democratic control of its new mass membership movement, no to immigration controls anything to save steelworkers’ jobs made them look nasty. 100% opposition to Tory austerity. No cuts to welfare, No more imperialist wars. Troops out of Afghanistan, Fourthly while Cameron won the general election a year ago, Eastern Europe, Ireland and all overseas postings services, jobs or pay claiming austerity had worked, Britain’s economic recovery is now Don’t bomb Syria – no to British wars. Solidarity with in doubt, as sector after sector of the world economy goes into re- A planned economy for the workers Syrians and Kurds fighting ISIS and Assad cession. Take over the banks and financial institutions without Stop backing Israel, its occupations and wars. Boycott compensation Israel and support Palestinian self-determination and the Last but not least is the fact that the Tory and the liberal media’s return of Palestinian refugees Merge the banks into a single state-owned investment attempts to discredit Jeremy Corbyn have failed. On the contrary, bank under direct democratic control of the working Not a penny or a person for the defence of the billion- Corbyn has boldly led the assault on Cameron over Panama and class majority aires’ system. Not a standing army loyal to the estab- Tata. lishment, but a defence force of the working class Jobs for all. For a massive programme of investment to majority In sum the Tories are as weak as any recently elected government create socially useful, sustainable jobs. End precarious No to the undemocratic institutions of the EU. No to a in history. working – make casual contracts permanent, including British nationalist walkout – for a United Socialist States apprenticeships of Europe Promote a planned shift to sustainable energy Labour and the unions Strengthen the Labour movement Fight exploitation End the bans on socialists and the purge of new mem- So what should be the response of the Labour Party and the unions? Nationalise the top monopolies under workers control bers. Restore the right of local Labour Parties to select The answer is obvious: attack them with everything we’ve got. All and without compensation. and if necessary deselect their local and parliamentary Together — Tous ensemble! — as the French say. Draw up a socialist economic plan through mass direct candidates Starting with the magnificent demonstrations outside Downing democracy, matching production and distribution to Labour councils should refuse to carry out Tory cuts Street calling for Cameron to go and the People’s Assembly march popular need not private greed and rally nationwide resistance including coordinated strike action against undemocratic Tory disqualifications in London on 16 April, we should build up a head of steam for mas- Public services, not private rip-offs and any attempted imposition of commissioners sive May Day celebrations. We need to get out on the picket lines: Build and improve publicly owned social housing all over All Labour and union officials to be subject to regular re- with the junior doctors, with the steel workers, with the teachers. Britain, cutting rents, guaranteeing tenancies, stopping election and to the right of the members to recall them, As the Referendum campaign hots up we need to fight against the sell-off of estates and to be paid the average wage of the workers they the anti-immigrant propaganda of the Vote Leave right. It is a scan- A National Education Service from cradle to grave, free represent dal that the Tories have blocked all but a handful of Syrian refugees at the point of delivery. Bring all schools and nurseries For Councils of Resistance, with delegates from local under public ownership under control of parents, teach- union branches and workplaces, from tenants’ cam- seeking asylum here and sent British warships to help deport ers and pupils paigns, antiracist and women’s initiatives, student and refugees in the Mediterranean. youth groups and Labour Party branches Extend democracy But this year we can vote for a party whose leader has pledged to Workers of all countries, unite - build an international fight austerity, to renationalise services and to expand the National Abolish anti-trade union laws. Employment protection union of revolutionary socialist parties from day 1 Health Service. Although many of Labour candidates at council, Votes at 16 For revolution mayoral, Scottish or Welsh level are far from being Corbyn sup- Nationalise the media, guarantee right to reply, launch A left-wing Labour government should not accept the porters, we need to get as many of them elected as possible. new mass media under democratic control of the sabotage of the rich, but should be a workers’ govern- Even though many Labour Councils are still implementing Tory labour movement ment and take power out of the hands of the unelected cuts, we should be out on the streets canvassing for Labour wins in Abolish the Monarchy, the House of Lords, the Privy civil servants, CEOs, security chiefs and generals every poll. A strong Labour showing will strengthen Corbyn’s hand. Council We need a mass party committed to revolution, which A Labour victory will keep out the Tories. Against discrimination and oppression will mean the forcible dispossession of the ruling class The big battle today is against the Tories, to weaken and bring through direct action from below, breaking up their un- No to racism in all its forms, to Islamophobia, anti-Semi- elected apparatus of coercion, taking power into the them down on every front. Next to this, the key task is to strengthen tism and national chauvinism hands of workers’ councils and a working class defence the hold of the left in the Labour Party, so that we can complete its No to sexism, complete equality for women, equal pay force transformation into a militant and democratic party fighting auster- now Today hundreds of thousands of people are changing ity. No to oppression and discrimination against lesbian, British politics. Soon millions can change Britain. All to- On the streets, in the workplaces, at the ballot box, we say: Kick gay, bisexual and transgender people gether, we can bring down the Tories and open the road Free abortion on demand to a working class government and a social revolution out the Tories! WHO WE ARE DONATE OR NAME Red Flag is produced by Labour Party members who ADDRESS want to see the creation of a socialist party with a pro- SUPPORT RED gramme for revolutionary change in society. Red Flag believes that to complete the revolution we FLAG TODAY began in 2015 we have to change Labour’s official poli- Become part of Labour’s revolution cies to bold socialist ones, and restore the rights of the and help us work for revolutionary POSTCODE members to select the MPs who will fight for them. change in Britain and internationally It is true that protest is not enough; we need power. EMAIL That is why Red Flag wants the next government to be I would like to make a a working class government accountable to mass or- one-off cash donation £ PHONE ganisations of working class people, not the ruling class If you agree then help us spread the voice of Labour’s I would like more information revolutionary change; take copies of Red Flag to dis- Please send to Red Flag, BCM 7750, London, WC1N 3XX tribute, write for the newspaper and website and con- or contact us online at redflagonline.org I would like to support Red Flag tact us to organise together. ISSUE 4 BRITAIN 03 Labour leadership: no time for concessions Instead of accomodating the right, we should organise the left To hand over this area to those who Tory cuts, laying the ground for no cuts denouncing Corbyn and his policies, we EDITORIAL wanted to abstain on the Tories’ Welfare platforms in the future.