CHARTIST For democratic #282 September/October 2016 £2 Labour: self-harming

John Palmer Europe post Brexit Leonie Cooper AM Kahn’s 100 days Peter Kenyon Labour’s uncivil war Wendy Pettifer Calais jungle Stuart White Citizen’s Convention Julie Ward MEP Youth in Europe plus Greenwatch, Points and Crossings, Youth View, film and book reviews

ISSN - 0968 7866 ISSUE

www.chartist.org.uk CONTENTS

FEATURES Contributions and letters deadline for Editorial Policy CHARTIST #283 The editorial policy of CHARTIST is to promote debate amongst people active in 7 October 2 LABOUR: SELF-HARMING 016 Peter Kenyon suggests some radical politics about the contemporary Chartist welcomes articles of 800 or 1500 words, and relevance of across letters in electronic format only to: [email protected] remedies the spectrum of politics, economics, science, philosophy, art, interpersonal Receive Chartist’s online newsletter: send your email address to 8 LABOUR POLICYMAKING relations – in short, the whole realm of [email protected] social life. Duncan Bowie calls for an end to Our concern is with both democracy and personality politics socialism. The history of the last century Chartist Advert Rates: has made it abundantly clear that the Inside Full page £200; 1/2 page £125; 1/4 page £75; 1/8 page £40; 1/16 page £25; small box 10 mass of the population of the advanced 5x2cm £15 single sheet insert £50 TORIES UNDER MAY capitalist countries will have no interest We are also interested in advert swaps with other publications. To place an advert, please David Lister analyses Labour’s in any form of socialism which is not email: [email protected] thoroughly democratic in its principles, challenge its practices, its morality and its ideals. Yet the consequences of this deep attach - prepares - page 8-9 11 LABOUR CHOICES ment to democracy – one of the greatest Trevor Fisher explores the scope Cover by Martin Rowson advances of our epoch – are seldom www.CHARTIST.org.uk reflected in the discussion and debates for peaceful co-existence amongst active socialists. CHARTIST is not a party publication. It 12 LABOUR MAYOR CHARTIST brings together people who are interested in socialism, some of whom are active the Leonie Cooper AM sees hope FOR DEMOCRATIC SOCIALISM Labour Party and the move - after his first 100 days Number 282 September/October 2016 ment. It is concerned to deepen and extend a dialogue with all other socialists 13 and with activists from other movements TAX HAVEN UK REGULARS involved in the struggle to find democrat - Prem Sikka exposes the Tories’ ic alternatives to the oppression, exploita - economic and financial ambition tion and injustices of capitalism and class society 14 OUR HISTORY - 68 BREXIT AND THE YOUNG Julie Ward MEP ponders their 4 Clifford Allen - Socialism and the Editorial Board future Next Labour Government (1925) CHARTIST is published six times a year EDITORIAL 15 BREXIT OPTIONS by the Chartist Collective. This issue was 5 John Palmer sets out some goals Chartist sticks with Corbyn produced by an Editorial Board consisting for best chance of success of Duncan Bowie (Reviews), Peter Chalk, for the European left against Tories Mike Davis (Editor), Nigel Doggett, David Floyd, Don Flynn, Roger Gillham, Tories new leader - page 11 16 BANKERS OPERATING BLIND P O I N TS AND CROSSINGS Tehmina Kazi, Peter Kenyon (Treasurer), Frank Lee challenges the 6 Paul Salveson on the Northern Frank Lee, Dave Lister, Andy Morton financial elite and wonders Powerhouse Tory style (Website Editor), Mary Southcott, James Grayson, Patricia d’Ardenne, Sheila GREENWATCH 18 RACISM POST-BREXIT Osmanovic and Patrick Mulcahy. 7 Dave Toke on possible Brexit Production: Peter Kenyon and Andy Andy Gregg reports on rising environmental gains for the EU Morton intolerance FILM REVIEW Signed articles do not necessarily represent the views of 19 JUNGLE BEHAVIOUR 25 Patrick Mulcahy on The the EB Wendy Pettifer reports from Infiltrator Calais BOOK REVIEWS Contacts 26 Frank Lee on Europe, Duncan 20 CITIZEN’S CONVENTION Bowie on Libya, socialists and Published by Chartist Publications Stuart White says it’’s time has nationalists and Russian Civil PO Box 52751 London EC2P 2XF come Wars, James Grayson on peace, tel: 0845 456 4977 Nigel Watt on African democracy, 22 Mike Davis on Louise Michel and US PRESIDENTIALS Printed by People For Print Ltd, Unit 10, Riverside Park, Paul Garver on Clinton and the Soviet children’s books, John Sheaf Gardens, S2 4BB – Tel 0114 272 0915. Sunderland on Debt or Email: [email protected] Sanders’ aftershock democracy, and Brian O’Leary on 24 Podemos Website: www.chartist.org.uk Email: [email protected] YOUTH VIEW Twitter: @Chartist48 Chartist opportunity - pages 22-23 32 Harry Hayball on Labour’s future Newsletter online: to join, email [email protected] September/October 2016 CHARTIST 3 OUR HISTORY EDITORIAL

OUR HISTORY - 68 For Corbyn and unity s the gloss of Olympic success for Team GB Duncan Bowie echoes comments by Owen Jones Clifford Allen - Socialism And The Next Labour Government (1925) wears off the reality of Britain as a deeply that Corbyn needs to open up the policy making pro - divided nation will begin to show through. cess to party members and specialists in the fields of The EU referendum revealed the divide. public policy and on the international front, especial - lifford Allen was leader of the Marwick in 1964. In the following year, a collection Fundamentally it is a division of wealth ly Europe, in the way John McDonnell has begun . A Fabian at of his writings and correspondence was published and power. Huge and damaging inequalities between with economic policy. In our last issue and this Cambridge University, in 1912 he became under the title Plough my Own Furrow by Martin tAhe rich 1% and the many, between north and south, Peter Kenyon explains why building bridges and President of the University Socialist Gilbert: young and old, women and men are being deepened conciliation has to be the route to rebuilding unity Federation. Allen was general manager “It is quite legitimate to assert that mankind is too by this government. within the PLP. A united shadow cabinet is a key and then editor of the Labour Party’s Daily Citizen. selfish, too foolish, too cruel, too cynical for any The Brexit result was more about the ‘left behinds’ part of the strategy for winning. And yes, the build - CIn 1914, he took an anti-war position speedy attempt to change its manner of using the vote to register a protest against a Tory ing of a strong social movement, linked to Labour, and helped to form the No-Conscription life, or to replace suffering with happiness. government in cahoots with the establishment than that can reach out to alienated communities, rebuild Fellowship, of which he became For all I know that may be true, but we at about the EU. It was a vote against Cameron and co trust in politics and nurture hope in the transforma - President. A conscientious objector, he least, cannot succumb to the council of who span a negative narrative of economic doom if tive power of a Labour party and government that was imprisoned several times and his despair. Is it entirely false or foolish to we didn’t back the EU. Many voted out because they puts people before profit. health never fully recovered. After the suggest that we happen by some favoured were conned by the Brexiter’s promise that £millions Theresa May is cynically playing on the fears of war he was active in the guild socialist chance to be living at the moment when would flow into the NHS, a fear of immigration or the disaffected working class, many of whom have movement and appointed ILP treasur - one stage of civilisation has exhausted because that found themselves powerless in the face voted Labour but voted Brexit, by seeking to reposi - er, becoming chairman in 1923. In this itself, and when science and education of remote Westminster and Brussels politicians. tion the Tories as the Party of the disenfranchised role he was active in the Labour and demand rapid and immediate changes? If While the Tories were and remain deeply divided, against the ‘privileged few’. She will play the populist Socialist Union which in May 1923 had this be so, we can only fulfil our duty by new leader and prime minster Teresa May has clev - card—scrapping the Human Rights Act, getting reunited with the Vienna Union (or accepting the situation forced upon us. We erly put the Brexit architects (, Liam tough with workers and unions, tightening up on Two and a Half International) of which shall reject every political method but that Fox, David Davis) in the hot seat and papered over immigration and denying resident European work - the ILP had been a member. Allen was of submitting to democracy the policy in battle wounds. Labour too is deeply divided. ers’ rights. to resign as ILP chair in October 1925, which we believe. I think this favourable Labour’s divisions are about the kind of party Most recently we have the announcement of as the ILP became dominated by James chance would not have come in one gener- we need in the 21C and the kind of demo - a public services audit. This is eyewash to Maxton and his group of MPs. ation were it not for the hazard our lead- cratic socialist politics that can overcome disguise the fact that billions have been cut Allen had worked closely with Ramsay ers took when the Labour government was the deepening inequalities that scar from core services over the last six years MacDonald and supported MacDonald formed. The ultimate value of that bold modern Britain. with billions more ‘cost savings’ planned when he formed the National decision depends on the use to which we We have been plunged into an unnec - The Party in the future. As Frank Lee shows the Government in August 1931. He was now put the opportunity thus created. It essary leadership contest with Owen will need Tories economic strategy is in tatters rewarded with a peerage and was sub - may be that those who think in this way Smith as the ABC (Anyone But Corbyn) with the new chancellor abandoning the sequently one of the founders of the have no right to win a hearing in the flag bearer. Labour is now the biggest to come deficit reduction targets. Prem Sikka cross-party Next Five Years group world of practical politics, but at least we party in Europe, with well over 500,000 together reveals how the Tories are set on a race working with the young Harold will declare our belief that Socialism members, almost treble the tally before to the bottom where UK PLC is only top MacMillan and Alfred Barratt Brown of Ruskin could be accepted by this nation within our lifetime. Jeremy Corbyn. There is enormous as a tax haven. College to support national economic planning. As a Such a policy will require from us an utter rejection enthusiasm for a modern socialist Labour Fundamental questions of where Britain pacifist, he was active in the League of Nations of all interest in politics as a means to personal Party. goes after the Brexit vote are posed by John Union and the National Peace Council and in 1938 a power; it will involve a life of personal sincerity, Despite huge disenfranchisement of perhaps Palmer . Labour has to steer a pro Europe course supporter of Neville Chamberlain’s attempts to which is not often found in the politics of any party; 175,000 members who joined since 12 January 2016 based on access to the single market and free move - it will, above all things, require charity between our- avoid war with Germany. A biography of Allen, The C and many other supporters, including Ronnie ment of people as the key to economic advance. Julie Open Conspirator, was published by Arthur selves.” Draper, general secretary and his deputy John Dunn, Ward MEP , further illustrates why young people in of the Baker’s Union, Corbyn is making the running particular have much to lose if Britain severs eco - in the leadership stakes. nomic and cultural ties with the EU. The essential He has faced a vote of no confidence from the PLP, foundation for winning support for this direction will accusations of encouraging Trotskyist entryism from be upending the Tories, first in Parliament, on the Deputy Tom Watson, charges of unelectability from streets, and then in elections. and a sizeable section of the PLP. Dave Lister makes clear that despite a leadership However it is Corbyn who has inspired. Thousands change the Tories are still the nasty party intent on have attended his rallies up and down the country making working people pay in every way for the with a majority of pundits agreeing he has had the mess they and their corporate mates have created. upper hand in the TV debates with the challenger. Andy Gregg explains why race hate crimes have Smith has scored some own goals most notably in been rising in the wake of the Brexit vote and why implying South Wales has taken too many refugees the government’s approach to refugees is making and his sideswipe that Corbyn is a lunatic. matters worse. Wendy Pettifer , recently returned The Corbyn team are coming up with answers that from the appalling Calais camp detaining thousands printerad are popular and vote winning: investment in infras - of refugees, describes conditions and how not one sin - tructure to create sustainable jobs and an end to fail - gle unaccompanied child has yet been re-settled in ing austerity; nationalisation of key public services, the UK. particularly rail as franchises expire; a worker’s Whoever leads Labour will have a huge challenge voice in the workplace; rebuilding public services and in overturning the Tories at the next election, espe - rejecting privatising profiteers, especially in the NHS cially with the big losses in and upcoming and education with an end to academies and gram - boundary changes. We believe Jeremy Corbyn stands mar schools (as embraced by Theresa May), interna - the best chance of putting Labour on the right tracks tionalism based on peace not militarist adventurism. for victory. It won’t be a short haul and the Party will We backed Corbyn last time and back him again need to come together and ditch all talk of splits if we this time. But we do not do so without criticism. are to win. C 4 CHARTIST September/October 2016 September/October 2016 CHARTIST 5 POINTS & CROSSINGS GREENWATCH

Is the Northern Powerhouse How the environment can running out of steam? benefit from Brexit

Paul as Theresa May ditched George ‘charmed circle’ of the five major cities (, Dave lways look on the bright side of life’ was efficiency ambition! Osborne’s pet project, the ‘Northern , , Newcastle, Sheffield) are in a song associated with the ‘ Life of Brian’ Moreover, anti-nuclear greens may be cheered by Salveson Powerhouse’? Conflicting messages are a dire state with boarded up shops, decaying infras - Toke (and within the Labour Party these days news that Chinese investors in Hinkley C are coming out of government, with sugges - tructure and an increasingly alienated population sees of course, but I won’t go into that now). spooked by financial instability in the UK and the threatens tions that the new PM wants a ‘British served by local authorities which have run out of some rays So what’s good about Brexit? Well, it declining value of the £ making it even less likely Powerhouse’ which would presumably mean that money to provide even basic services. Will the might be a crushing blow to our British economy that the Hinkley C nuclear power development will to eat his Hany ‘special measures’ to revive the North’s economy Northern Powerhouse help them? It isn’t showing of hope aAnd environmental laws, but in other ways it might go ahead ahead. will be diluted. At the same time, a new minister much sign so far, though rail electrification is cer - actually help..... Now, think about it, under Brexit, the UK will cloth cap has been appointed for ‘The Northern Powerhouse’, tainly welcome and long overdue. Maybe they One way Brexit will definitely help is that the have a bad environment. But at least it will be bet - in the shape of Tory right-winger Andrew Percy. But should hold some black tie dinners in places like green interest groups will find it easier to get their ter in the rest of the EU. in implementing maybe it isn’t quite dead – there’s a black tie Dewsbury, Ashton-under-Lyne or Sunderland way on various environmental issues in EU institu- a range of environmental initiatives in the EU will ‘Northern Powerhouse Dinner’ coming up in instead of smart hotels in Leeds and Manchester? tions. The UK won’t be around to perform their be a lot smoother and more effective. Indeed, if by December. Chartist readers can get in quick and buy There’s a fundamental problem with ‘Northern usual watering-down role! Take the issue of air pol- some miracle the UK does remain inside the inter - a ticket costing between £150 and £1,500. The pies Powerhouse’, and that’s its lack of democratic legiti - lution. The UK has been an opponent of tightening nal market, the UK will have to obey the EU envi - had better be good, that’s all I can say. macy. It’s the brainchild of a Westminster politician up EU air pollution regulations. As ronmental laws anyway, but won’t be able to have But doubts continue. Responding to suggestions and was enthusiastically adopted by Labour local reported on June 3rd this year; ‘EU states have any say in making them! Ideal, you could say. that Osborne’s baby might be unceremoniously government leaders. There are no avenues through agreed to water down a proposed law aimed at halv- But there is one pretty sure way in which the drowned, – Labour’s choice for which you can influence what this ‘Powerhouse’ is, ing the number of deaths from air pollution within environment is likely to benefit from Brexit, and Greater Manchester mayor - said it would be ‘the other than perhaps hiring a dinner suit and hob- 15 years, after that is reducing UK worst betrayal since nobbing with the politi - intense lobbying energy consumption Thatcher’. Warming to cians at that dinner I from the UK that and thus reducing his new found regional - keep harping on about. cross-party MEPs carbon emissions. ist faith, Burnham has This ‘Powerhouse’ lacks have condemned as That’s because the more recently said that popular support, with “appalling”...Some Brexit-inspired Labour should develop many people ‘up North’ 14,000 people will reduction in eco - a stronger ‘Northern’ ignorant of its very die prematurely nomic growth will identity with the cre - existence. There are no every year across reduce energy con - ation of a cabinet of democratic Northern Europe from 2030 as sumption. Indeed, (presumably Labour) institutions and the a result, if the weak- the Government will Northern mayors, all of idea of a ‘cabinet of the ened proposal is now find that the whom will, unsurpris - North’ led by city may - i m p l e m e n t e d , need to build new ingly, be men. ors is not helpful. Not according to figures conventional power But let’s assume ‘The all parts of the North cited by the environ- stations is much Northern Powerhouse’ will have executive ment commissioner, reduced or even hasn’t been killed off mayors and the model Karmenu Vella.’ abolished with but was merely the vic - being imposed has Then there is the Brexit. The UK’s tim of a blip following weak accountability. issue of chemicals power demand has, the creation of a new Northern Powerhouse: Tory style,shiny, but no brass If we took Greater which scientists say Under Brexit, the UK will have a worse environment! in any case, been Government. Andrew London as the model, at are killing bees. The going down since Percy certainly thinks least the powerful EU banned farmers using neocontinoids in 2014, around 2005. Now it is set to continue to decline it’s still alive, showing his commitment to the region mayor has an elected assembly providing a degree of and bees are said now to be recovering, but the UK with slower economic growth, or even plummet with by ostentatiously going for a burger at that well- scrutiny. Not only that, it’s elected by PR. True, the dragged its feet at first allowing the NFU to use the a recession. Not only will we need less power plant known Northern institution, Macdonalds, on the assembly should have more powers but at least it’s a chemicals in 2015. In the USA the chemicals are and coal and gas burning but people will not be able first day of taking office. Of course it’s all about start and an intelligent mayor (as still used widely and bee numbers are declining. In to afford to heat their own homes as much. Less signs and symbols, and Percy is trying hard to show undoubtedly is) should use the assembly members the UK the number of bees declined by 15 per cent energy consumption means lower carbon dioxide his supposed working class credentials. If I hear as allies to extend and deepen his impact, not see in 2015 according to the Beekeepers Association, emissions - another environmental winner from another right-wing Tory going on about how s/he them as interfering nuisances. continuing a trend that has set in for many years. Brexit. See a previous post for more details see link was brought up in muck and grime and lived in a So why can’t the people of Greater Manchester, Under pressure from the NFU the Government one *. But of course there is the ‘ piece de resistance ’, council house, I’ll eat my cloth cap. South Yorkshire and Merseyside have directly-elect - has allowed farmers to carry on using these chemi- they say, in a language now increasingly banished I’ve argued in previous ‘Points and Crossings’ that ed assemblies to provide greater accountability of cals. Of course, once more over the cliff, our British from English schools. That is Brexit as a means to there’s the basis of a good idea in this ‘Northern their mayoralties? Basically, because it isn’t in lemming friends must go! deter any other country from thinking about quit - Powerhouse’ mullarkey. The North does need addi - politicians’ interest, either in Westminster or the Then there is the issue of renewable energy tar - ting the EU. With so much economic and political tional investment to bridge the current yawning gap mostly Labour-led Northern cities. Particularly if gets. The UK, under great pressure, accepted the chaos in the UK, populist politicians who were between what London gets and the rest of the UK. there were assemblies elected by PR (and it would 2009 EU Renewable target which was set as a thinking about asking for referendums about EU or The large Brexit votes in run-down Northern towns be hard to get away with doing it any other way), mandatory commitment for 2020. We’re now set to euro membership are now forgetting the idea or should come as no big surprise. It was good to hear the results could not be relied upon. As it is, short of get 30 per cent of our electricity from renewable having serious second thoughts. Ed Cox, who heads up one of the few Northern- an earthquake (and they do happen), we’ll have energy by 2020, even if we haven’t met our target So as the UK descends into political and economic based think tanks (CLES is another) saying “Any Labour mayors in Greater Manchester, Merseyside from energy as a whole. However the UK chaos, think about the gains, the supreme sacrifice Northern Powerhouse has got to take very seriously and South Yorkshire, working with Labour leaders Government has strongly resisted a further rigorous we are making in saving the EU from the English the role of the five biggest cities but the research of the local authorities in their areas. Whoever else target for 2030. Clearly, without the UK, the EU anti-green menace....not to mention reducing carbon that we have taken shows that smaller towns and is ‘empowered’, it won’t be the disaffected communi - could set a stronger renewable energy and energy emissions! C cities also have a very significant role to play.” ties of Northern towns and cities. C Many of the large Northern towns, outside the *Link one: http://realfeed-intariffs.blogspot.co.uk/2016/06/with-brexit-uk-may-not-need-any-more.html Paul Salveson blogs at www.paulsalveson.org.uk

6 CHARTIST September/October 2016 September/October 2016 CHARTIST 7 POLITICS LONDON

their seats until the last full day his naysayers. A condition of with messages all too often of Conference. So they can play no standing could be a signed under - drowned out by those members of Labour Party uncivil war: will it part in decisions either before or taking to support the Party the PLP with no regard for the during Conference itself. Leader, and breaches could carry Labour brand or the party's There may, however, be a case the risk of exclusion from selec - future electability. These are for a motion to be tabled and tions to stand at the next general derived from Labour policies – ever end? debated at Conference about election. affordable housing, free education Peter Kenyon members' expectations of the PLP Reintroducing members back for all, free health and social care fears the prospects are slim in future. into the policy-making process is at the point of use, secure enploy - Going back to the mistakes long overdue. In recent weeks ment, living incomes for all. made by Team Corbyn in the past there have been explicit refer - Corbyn's vision has brought hun - abour's right-wing sonable voices from both sides of and brought re-selection into 12 months, the following issues ences to democracy in Corbyn's dreds of thousands of people back declared war on newly- the leadership contest for the sharp focus. Threats of de-selec - loom large: speeches in the wake of 'exclu - into the party. He has now got to elected Leader Jeremy result to be accepted and the PLP tion are a very blunt weapon, a • messages sions' from voting by administra - confound his internal opponents Corbyn immediately to get back to the business of bit like waving one of those over- • media management tive means. What has been miss - by mobilising that support on the after the official result opposing the Tories. The first test sized foam rubber hands about in • PLP relations ing are effective on-line tools to doorstep. It cannot be done with was declared a year ago. It start - of that resolve will be during the a crowd. • conduct of Shadow Cabinet enable large numbers of people to Team Corbyn as currently consti - Led with a warning from Lord pre-Conference season What is more worrying is that business take part. Outgoing National tuted. There is a need for a com - Mandelson reported in the Parliamentary session. Will the there are so many people obsess - It seems clear, at least to this Policy Forum (NPF) chair Angela mitted democratic socialist at the Guardian on 25 September 2015 Labour front-bench have a full ing about the electability of the correspondent, that a Corbyn Eagle MP commissioned a web - heart of his strategic team who by Nicholas Watt: ‘The former complement of spokepersons to Labour Party when Gordon 'business as usual' stance is not site facility called ' Your Britain ' understands all facets of commu - minister and adviser to Tony take on the Tories? Will the Brown failed in 2010 and Ed on option. Winning back the which didn't attract many users, nication, including TV and social Blair offers his view in a private Labour benches be full to cheer on Miliband failed in 2015. Now the readiness of the bulk of the 172 cost a lot of money and was virtu - media. That requires delegation paper that circulated to political Corbyn at the Despatch Box for Tories are hell-bent on rigging Labour MPs, who expressed 'no ally impossible to find. That is and trust. His social media team associates last week in which he Prime Minister's Questions? parliamentary boundaries in the confidence' in his leadership, to due to be replaced by a new front- have to be liberated from internal urges them to dig in for the “long These are questions that every wake of legislation passed with support the frontbench will end with a recognisable web bureaucracy in both the Leader's haul”. In his paper, Lord Constituency Labour Party with a the help of the Liberal Democrats require changes in methods of address URL policy.labour.org.uk Office and Party HQ. They should Mandelson writes: “We cannot be sitting Labour MP could be in the last Parliament. At the working. Corbyn has got to get (or something similar). This is be trusted to use their initiative. elected with Corbyn as leader. putting directly to its elected rep - time of writing the Boundary out of the bunker and into the part of a very modest set of ideas How many families are there in Nobody will replace him, though, resentative now. This shouldn't Commission has just published its tea-rooms. Shadow Cabinets will to drag the Labour Party online the country who are not affected until he demonstrates to the have to be done. But how else can timetable for what in effect is the have to be conducted collegiately. in the 21st century. The ideologi - directly or indirectly by the risk of party his unelectability at the those who choose to ignore a opening of another battlefront for Policy will have to be discussed cal significance of a 'digital' mem - loss of employment, reduced polls. In this sense, the public will democratic vote of eligible mem - internal squabbling in the Labour and debated much more readily. bership card, or an application for working hours, loss of secure decide Labour’s future and it bers, registered affiliates and sup - Party. Mainstream media (MSM) Part of Blair's legacy was accu - smartphones and other handheld terms and conditions, illness, would be wrong to try and force porters begin to be held to speculation is that up to 200 mulating too much power in the computing devises to go out talk - unaffordable housing, or disap - this issue from within before the Labour seats will be affected – we Leader's office at the expense of ing to potential voters cannot pearing public services? public have moved to a clear ver - In the light of PLP behaviours over the only have 231 MPs. So a period of the General Secretary, NEC and understated. This is about Most people who voted in 2015 dict.” ‘ past 12 months, there is now a strong sober reflection would be helpful the wider membership – trade empowering members. There did not make the connection Even assuming Corbyn sur - on that matter. unions, socialist societies and appears to be significant resis - between those risks to themselves vives the last minute media bar - case for the party's National Executive From a democratic socialist individuals. Part of an adult tance among Labour Party senior and their families, and the Tories. rage to unsettle Labour's internal standpoint, the accountability of debate in the wake of the last 12 management and regional staff to That has to change too. The MSM electorate and secures a second Committee (NEC) to address elected representatives is an months ought to be how to rebal - these projects. will not do that job for Labour. Leadership election victory, his disciplinary requirements for members unresolved matter. The original ance that power in the interests Democratic socialists have no That is why the messages have to opponents will not accept the Chartists thought annual elec - of the Party as a whole. A start - difficulties recognising the signifi - be clear and direct. That is why decision of party members in of the PLP both in the House of tions were the way forward. One ing point could be the reintroduc - cance of members to the electabil - the PLP has to remember you 2016, anymore than they did in Commons and the Lords of the oldest institutions in the tion of Shadow Cabinet elections ity of the Labour Party. We the have to be an adult to stand for 2015. They are not democratic UK with local authority responsi - detested by Blair, but not formal - members are not a sufficient con - Parliament. The time for behav - socialists. The question for the account? MPs who fail to support bilities that kept to that pattern ly abandoned until 2010 with the dition, but we are necessary. In ing like spoilt children is over. rest of the party is how can the Party's elected leader are on until 2004 was the City of election in Opposition of Miliband addition to the challenges for Conference 2016 is the time to electability be restored with bat - strike. In any other working situ - London. But most members of the as leader. Treated as a test in loy - Corbyn managing relations with put an end this very unhappy talions of snipers at large? ation, they would get their pay establishment generally scoff alty to the Party leader and effec - the PLP differently, are those episode and restore hope to Team Corbyn has not covered docked. whenever that Chartist demand tiveness at the Despatch Box, mobilising members. Corbyn has Labour voters – past, present and itself in glory in its first year. The But no. They claim they are not of the 19th century is resurrected. they could help Corbyn confound been offering some easy to engage future. C management of relations with the accountable to Labour Party The Labour Party has very tight Parliamentary Labour Party, the members. They say they are disciplinary requirements of its Party General Secretary, party accountable to the electorate. elected representatives in local staff, policymaking and the media Wrong. With one or two excep - government. all pose questions. tions (if that) there is not a single In the light of PLP behaviours As matters stand there are no Labour MP who could resign from over the past 12 months, there is means available to the Party to the party and seat, trigger a by- now a strong case for the party's hold its elected representatives to election, and secure re-election National Executive Committee account for damaging the reputa - under another label. Legal regu - (NEC) to address disciplinary tion of the Labour Party or trash - lation of political parties by the requirements for members of the ing the brand. That is what has Electoral Commission under the PLP both in the House of been going on now relentlessly for Political Parties, Elections and Commons and the Lords. a year by those on the right belit - Referendums Act 2000 means The chances of that being pro - tling Corbyn's achievements, ridi - politicians cannot play fast and gressed before or at the 2016 culing his standing and asserting loose with imitation party names Labour Conference are small. Not that he is unelectable. If they suc - that could mislead the electorate. least because the NEC is finely ceed, the battle-lines will simply Think of it as an anti-splitters balanced in its allegiances. New be redrawn and the conflict will charter. Events over the past 12 members (including the two extra From left to right (no reflection on their politics): Jeremy Corbyn - Leader, Tom Watson - Deputy Leader, Iain McNicol - General Secretary, continue from the left. months have revived the issue of pro-Corbyn supporters in the con - - Chair, PLP - who collectively have a responsibility to call a truce and make peace to fight the Tories There have been calls by rea - parliamentary candidate selection stituency section) do not take 8 CHARTIST September/October 2016 September/October 2016 CHARTIST 9 LABOUR TORIES

Policies not personalities New leader—same old Tories? Labour must use its new strength in numbers for positive purposes says Duncan Bowie Dave Lister on a new Tory enemy erhaps the personality t was not supposed to be all Home Secretary was hardly a lib - macy…”. The French Foreign cult which dominates over until September, but eral one. She introduced a mea - Minister has accused Johnson of internal Labour Party ended up sure to curb broadcasting rights, lying during the referendum cam - politics is all Tony having to vacate 10 was responsible for the infamous paign and much has been made of Blair’s fault? With Downing Street in a rush. vans telling illegal immigrants to his description of US Presidential Blair, UK politics adopted the This was due to a rather bizarre go home cut spending on the hopeful Hillary Clinton as like “a PAmerican presidential style - you Iseries of events. First there was police and wanted to withdraw sadistic nurse in a mental hospi - are either for or against the lead - ’s orchestrations in from the provisions of the Human tal”. It will be interesting to see er. In the recent NEC elections the dark, which led to Boris Rights Act. how Johnson’s relationship with we were urged to support team Johnson standing down. Then However, May’s background is David Davis, the minister charged Corbyn or the ‘Save the Labour Gove got his come-uppance from different from that of her prede - with actually negotiating Brexit, Party’ team, whose main object Tory MPs for his undoubted cessor in that she was largely develops. Clearly what May has seems to have been to rid the treachery. We then had the battle state educated and is not a mil - done is to put pro-Brexiters in party of its leader. Owen Smith of the Amazons – Andrea lionaire. She is also intelligent charge of Brexit so they cannot argues that he agrees with Leadsom against Theresa May. enough to see the virtue in complain after the event and will Corbyn’s policies (which is not However it had become clear dur - widening the Tories’ appeal. take the blame if things go wrong. quite true) but that he would ing the Brexit campaign that There is a famous 1867 cartoon make a better leader. Where are Stark warning to Labour’s elected representatives Leadsom had her limitations, called ‘dishing the Whigs’ about May risks alienating the good old days of collective which she compounded with her Disraeli expanding the franchise, leadership, where the leader was suggestion that May was not fit which was not what people May risks alienating some of someone whose job it was to hold of how to get it. I searched in vain their posts. This was wrong. Some to be Prime Minister because she expected from the Conservative the people who voted for Brexit as together an alliance of different to find any substance behind had a reasonable case for arguing was not a parent. She also man - Party. May may decide that with it seems unlikely that Davis will interests and different personali - Corbyn’s latest leadership mani - that Corbyn was not a team play - aged to accuse of “gut - the Labour Party in total disar - be able to square the circle of ties with different views? Attlee festo. There appears to be no one er and was neither collaborating ter journalism”. With Leadsom’s ray there is a real opportunity to remaining in the single market was the most effective chairman in his team with substantive with them nor even replying to withdrawal, May was elected by do an SNP in England and Wales and reducing immigration. Ukip of the board; even in the days of experience of writing policy never their requests to discuss both default. and present a programme in 2020 may well benefit from this. There Wilson and Callaghan, the role of mind having to run a public overall strategy or individual poli - that wins over more working- is also the question as to whether the leader was to arbitrate organisation and deliver it. The cies, but to leave the party with - One nation lines class voters from the Labour negotiations over Brexit will take between conflicting personalities. residual shadow cabinet is not out a coherent presence in parlia - Party and Ukip, whilst not alien - precedence over domestic legisla - I have been increasingly dis - impressive – it’s not their fault. mentary debates was a mistake. Her first speech as incoming ating the Tories traditional mid - tion, to the extent that some pro - mayed by the hero worship and You normally get some political At the same time Corbyn clear - Tory leader was clearly delivered dle-class vote. jects get shelved. cultism that now surrounds experience before being made ly made no effort to maintain along one nation lines: “We are At this stage we can only spec - As for the future, it is going to Corbyn. To bring so many people shadow Minister, and as well as some kind of collaboration with going to unite our country….a ulate on how the May premier - be very difficult to defeat the into the party (not all of whom lacking experience, some are dou - shadow cabinet members who had vision that works not for the priv - ship will develop. She has shown Tories, even if the Labour Party is are entryists from Trotskyist bling up on cabinet level posts, different views and were not his ileged few but that works for considerable ruthlessness in able to reunite, especially given groups) is a considerable achieve - without other MPs to back them personal friends. every one of us” and her promise sacking Osborne, Gove and other boundary changes and the situa - ment. Moreover, they are not all up. There is also little evidence Whichever way the leadership “to speak for the ordinary work - key players. The new Chancellor tion in Scotland. It is not going to Corbynistas. There are young that shadow Ministers are shad - vote goes, the vote itself will not ing-class family struggling to Philip Hammond has been be good enough for Labour to say people and old rejoiners, who owing Ministers, never-mind solve the problem. A situation make ends meet”. May also put described as ‘a safe pair of that it is doing as well as under have been enthused by Jeremy’s actually opposing what Ministers where the deputy leader and the forward the fairly radical ideas hands’. He has already indicated Brown and Miliband. Clearly in approach to politics. There are are doing or putting forward poli - paid general secretary of the that shareholders’ votes on boss - that he will not pursue Osborne’s order to win in 2020 Labour will others who have joined or become cy alternatives. party are trying to bring down the es’ pay should be legally binding goal of balancing the budget by have to do considerably better. C active again in order to take the To take one example: we don’t elected leader is intolerable. Both and that employees and con - the end of this Parliament. This party in a different direction. have a shadow Minister for hous - should resign. For a Labour Party sumers should be represented on can mean less austeri - These are not all Blairites or ing and planning, while the shad - to go to the courts to block thou - company boards. On the one ty but it is unlikely careerists, but people who want to ow Minister for communities and sands of its own paid up members hand, elements of her speech that there will be mas - see the party become more than a local government, Grahame from voting while allowing non closely resembled ’s sive U-turns around party of protest. Comrades, I have Morris, does not appear to have members to vote for £25 is shame - address to the Labour Party con - cutting benefits and worked with for many years, said very much since his appoint - ful. The only way the Labour ference in 2011, but the proposal local authority funding whether on the left, the centre or ment. He is also apparently dou - Party can survive, never mind to have workers’ representatives for instance. the right of the party, or com - bling up as shadow Minister for actually convince the electorate on boards goes back to the 1970s Problems may arise rades focusing on specific policy the constitutional convention, but that is worth voting for, is to put and the Bullock Report. On the over her curious choice issues are in despair that the I don’t think he has said anything personalities aside and to seek to other hand, Cameron went of Boris Johnson to be party seems unable to use its new about that either. At a time when agree a basic set of policies on through a similar phase when he , strength for positive purposes. the Government is starting to which the majority of MPs and first became leader with ‘hug a which she may live to What is so strange is that not implement the most regressive Labour Party members can stand. hoodie’ or a husky etc. and we all regret. Former Tory only are we not clear what we are housing and planning legislation Moreover the shadow cabinet know how that played out. Foreign Secretary protesting against except that we since before the second world war members who resigned, including In addition May’s previous Malcolm Rifkind has think capitalism is bad or per - and phasing in the abolition of all Owen Smith, should make a com - record is hardly a radical one. For commented that haps not very good, is that we are government grant to local govern - mitment to work with whichever instance she voted against the Johnson’s appointment even less clear what we are argu - ment, this seems rather inade - candidate is elected. This also introduction of the minimum was risky because “he ing for, except in very abstract quate. means Jeremy Corbyn and John wage and was a key member of has a humorous repu - terms. Jeremy and the team The weakness of the shadow McDonnell need to state that they governments which brought in tation which diplomats around him don’t really seem to cabinet is not all Jeremy Corbyn’s will serve in a shadow cabinet austerity, benefit cuts and the dislike…and now he is British Prime Minister Theresa May: Labour’s job is to wipe that smile have much of an idea of what fault, given that so many experi - under Owen Smith. This works whilst cutting taxa - going to be involved in from her face as soon as possible they want, and certainly no idea enced MPs in effect abandoned both ways. C tion of the rich. Her record as the most difficult diplo - 10 CHARTIST September/October 2016 September/October 2016 CHARTIST 11 LABOUR LONDON

Ending chequer board politics Be bolder, think bigger– the first Trevor Fisher on Labour’s quagmire 100 days he last twelve months leadership challenge, Sadiq Khan, the Mayor of London, made a number of key pledges in his have seen New ie if a New Labour Leonie Cooper Labour's dominance of candidate ran the campaign. reports on what’s been happening the Party dwindling Labour Party this after two decades in would achieve victory control. While New Labour is far at Westminster. ousing was central to Less than a Tfrom dead, as the current leader - However Kettle went the Mayor’s personal week after he ship contest shows, the period further in arguing story and the housing took office in when a neo-conservative inclined that principled poli - crisis in London May, he made faction ran Labour is now chal - tics was irrelevant – dwarfs the crisis that his first state - lenged. If Corbyn wins the leader - something the official now exists everywhere. The ment on ship a second time, New Labour New Labour line does HMayor has appointed James improving air will move into crisis. not say. Murray as his Deputy Mayor for quality, saying The declining dominance of a Kettle argued last Housing, who now faces the that he would faction that believed, as Peter summer that while daunting task of trying to fix the launch a con - Mandleson once said, that “We Corbyn might not win broken, over priced housing mar - sultation in are all Thatcherites Now”, has – he thought he would ket, to enable Londoners who 2016. True to not led to the emergence of an come second – he want to buy to get on the ladder, his word, he analytical current. While there offered “a programme and to enable those who need to chose the 60th are some welcome signs in of prelapsarian social - rent not to have to pay eye-water - Anniversary of of a rethinking of ist purity, in this case Corbyn coup: co-conspirators Lord Mandelson and Dame Margaret ing amounts to private landlords. the Clean Air mass politics, the dominant centred on inequali - Hodge MP cheerleaders for the failed New Labour experiment Murray has begun to get to grips Act, 5th July, theme is oppositionalism and con - ty... the Fifth with his new brief and has spoken to deliver a Labour Mayor Sadiq Khan delivering for Londoners: the night tube trol of the party machine. In this Monarchy men of the to the Housing Committee about keynote speech it is the mirror image of New 1660s would have recognised the correctly that the defeat involved plans to increase affordable hous - that outlines some of his propos - But with so many London schools Labour, though reversing the old appeal of the everlasting gospel to more factors than that. ing to rent and buy on all sites – als that he wants Londoners to situated in air pollution hotspots slogan attributed to Mandleson of believers in the Indeed, the New Labour formu - but make no mistake, the intro - consider. These include a £10 and many routes to school involve Massive But Passive to sound like wilderness...Labour ...needs a la of accepting Thatcherite terms duction of the viability assess - Toxicity or T-Charge, on top of children travelling along the most Massive but Active. However the 12.5% swing to win a majority in of conflict had destroyed the ment has given developers the the existing Congestion Charge, polluted roads, we are stunting two factions share much in com - 2020.... many activists will prefer party's core identity. For Harris, biggest get-out clause ever, so for the dirtiest vehicles; the the lungs of generations to come, mon in their lack of willingness to not to make the hard choices it this was a moral failure but it there will be kicking and scream - Ultra-Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) so there is no time to waste. embrace the best moments of demands”. was worse than that as it ing as the Mayor’s pledges to expanded out to the North and Children are especially vulnera - C20th century Labour when it destroyed positive reasons to vote ensure Londoners get a look-in South Circular roads for motor - ble for two reasons, as studies was a genuinely broad church. Hard choices Labour. Only combating the Hard are implemented. This will proba - bikes, cars and vans – and made have now proven. Firstly, they The danger now is of a faction - Right in the Tory Party and UKIP bly be the most difficult manifesto London-wide for lorries, buses are shorter, so they are much al civil war which would damage This is not unreasonable, were incentives to vote, while tri - commitment to deliver for and coaches; bringing in the closer to the emission sources, but Labour's already limited chances though hard choices cannot mean angulation to the Right made Londoners, especially as the ULEZ in 2019, not 2020 – and all also their lungs are not fully of electoral recovery, particularly more acceptance of Tory dogma. Labour less and less a challenge review of the London Plan (which double-decker buses to be compli - developed and are much more in an era of boundary changes. He went on to argue “the question to their positions. It is this that gives the Mayor clout to enforce ant with ULEZ requirements susceptible to the impact of nitro - The new situation demands a that underlies the current contest fuels the rise of Corbynism, which his demands) takes about two from 2019 not 2020; creating gen dioxide and particulate mat - third road politics; possible for (is) purity or power. You have to has its own negatives. years….. clean bus corridors by putting the ter. the first time in a generation. The face one way or the other”. Here Let us reformulate the chal - On transport, the Mayor has cleanest buses onto the dirtiest We really need to push ahead theoretically possible Labour he finished, though others have lenge facing Labour and the Left. announced the implementation routes, in a bid to tackle air pollu - as quickly as we can, taking Unity position is not achievable in taken on that theme which under - Politics is not black and white. date of the promised Bus Hopper tion hotspots. Officers are also action that will have a real a party divided into two warring lies the second leadership contest. There is no draughts chequer ticket, to allow Londoners to drawing up detailed proposals for impact on the situation. A new factions. It is a wrong choice. board where white pieces fight switch buses in the space of an a diesel scrappage scheme, to put and determined Mayor, who has The most serious intellectual The New Labour Project was black pieces for victory. Neither hour without needing to pay each pressure on the government to started by putting out some problem is the view of Labour pol - based on the dichotomy offered the Corbyn Left nor the New time. The night tube has been introduce such a scheme national - strong ideas to tackle a major itics as a chequer board, with here; it failed once Westminster Labour Right can balance princi - launched and many bus routes ly while negotiations have started health problem is a refreshing black and white pieces combating power failed. And while the ple and power. Any viable party are now being provided with the on Vehicle Excise Duty. The change. There is no doubt we can for total victory. Despite their dif - Blairites blame the Brownites must balance both. latest low-emission buses. The mayor also called for a new Clean encourage him to go further – ferences, both sides in the faction - and argue that pure will Labour has to move beyond the Mayor has stuck to his position on Air Act, fit for the 21st century. introducing the ULEZ in early al dispute share this model, a win elections, that is factually principle versus power straight Heathrow, advocating strongly for As the Chair of the London 2019 or even in late 2018, or focus on which has the power to untrue. The Blairites lost votes jacket. At present, the two fac - Gatwick – and also put in a bid to Assembly’s Environment expanding it to completely cover exclude the other from power. from 2001 onward and 2005 was tions cancel each other out. take on the Southern railway Committee and Labour lead on London, coinciding with the Low This mirrors a more fundamen - a knife edge election. Yet as John Corbyn is probably unelectable. franchise. Next January, TfL the environment, I really welcome Leonie Cooper Emission Zone are potential addi - tal division, summed up by Harris wrote in the Guardian on And there is no question New fares will be frozen. So things are the fact that Sadiq has not let AM is Chair of tional asks. The London Mayor is Martin Kettle in the Guardian New Years Day, Blairites argue Labour is politically bankrupt. moving ahead in several areas on this slip at all, and is pressing the London bound to receive opposition from last summer (25th June 2015 – that the 2015 election defeat was Putting the two negatives togeth - transport – although there is ahead on his pledge to improve Assembly motorist organisations and busi - when the Leadership election due to only two factors “Labour's er achieves only a Party polarised much still to do on encouraging air quality. Unlike 60 years ago Environment nesses – but I for one will be Mark I had only just begun) that failure to pay enough attention to between unprincipled electoral walking, cycling – and developing when city smogs caused by coal Committee doing my best to make sure that there was a stark choice between 'economic competence', and the opportunism and principled ethics the TfL-owned public realm. fires were visible and obvious to the Mayor delivers on his pledge Electability and Principled fact that 'the public did not per - with no chance of winning power. On the environment, the Mayor all, nitrogen dioxide gas and the to clean up London’s dirty air and Politics. This is the unspoken cieve Ed Miliband as a credible The route out of the impasse can made tackling London’s dirty air tiny particles that lodge in our encouraging him to be bolder and assumption behind the current Prime Minister”. Harris argued only be a Third Road Politics. C one of his key campaign pledges. lungs are completely invisible. think bigger. C 12 CHARTIST September/October 2016 September/October 2016 CHARTIST 13 BREXIT TAX

Brexit fallout Post-Brexit vote Tories signal race Post-referendum Britain needs a strong united Labour Party capable of reconciling to bottom divisions, writes Julie Ward MEP Prem Sikka on why the tax haven route won’t bring economic prosperity to the UK s a pro-European, I sibilities. They celebrated Europe ity stance, and human in his am deeply disappoint - Day back home and invited their desire to include arts, libraries, s the UK on the path to accountants as shareholders. 2012 report by a US Senate ed by the referendum new European friends to visit. youth services, adult learning and joining its Crown Under the UK company law, pub - Committee noted that HSBC result, but I am not Long-lasting bonds were made early years provision in his vision Dependencies and Overseas lic companies must have at least played a central role in enabling surprised. I came into and the 'no-hope' kids that I had for a better society along with Territories in becoming a two directors, but only one of drug barons and gangsters to politics primarily to defend the taken abroad were now far more education, health, housing and tax haven? It is on its way. these needs to be a natural per - launder vast sums of money sAocial Europe that I believe is worldly wise, aspirational, welfare. This is the kind of home - Tax havens are difficult to define son. The other can be a legal per - through the US banking system. possible and to help strengthen employable and civic-minded than grown cohesion policy we need to Iprecisely, but have some distin - son, or another company, even The banks also violated sanctions ties between us and our neigh - they otherwise would have been, create so that young people in guishing characteristics. These though it is registered in a tax against: Iran, Libya, Sudan, bours. I do not believe the majori - many going to college or universi - particular know that there are include low tax rates, secrecy and haven which guarantees complete Burma and Cuba. ty of Leave voters were passing ty, some setting up their own people and places who will wel - lax financial law enforcement. So anonymity to all the owners and judgement on the EU on June businesses or social enterprises, come them and give them oppor - how do the recent UK trends controllers. This opacity makes it Did not investigate 23rd but were rather kicking most of them volunteering in tunities. measure-up? difficult to pursue the owners against the establishment as per - their communities, and none of Beyond our borders lie different Major European economies and/or directors for wrongdoing. The UK government did not sonified by Westminster and the them a burden on the state. challenges, not least the issue of compete by making considerable In common with many tax investigate HSBC but instead political class, most of whom were However, this model and others mobility (free movement) which investment in social infrastruc - havens, the UK lacks effective pushed the US to go easy on the advocating Remain. like it, needed to be scaled up and will be a terrible loss for people of ture, but the UK entices capital institutional structures for inves - bank. A 2016 report titled “Too Living and working in the replicated right across the coun - all ages but particularly for the by offering low corporate tax tigation and prosecution of tax Big to Jail” by the US House of deprived communities of northern try, embedded in our education young, whom it must be remem - rates. In March 2016, the UK gov - avoidance. Despite critical reports Representatives’ Committee on England, I had long seen the dis - and life-long learning systems. bered, were more in favour of ernment announced that it would by the House of Commons Public Financial Services noted that connect between the forgotten It is this generation of young remaining in the EU. It is their reduce the rate of corporation tax Accounts Committee (PAC) there “The involvement of the United post-industrial communities and adults and the next who stand to life-changing opportunities to rate from 20% to 17% by 2020. is a dearth of test cases against Kingdom’s Financial Services the centre of power. In the pit vil - lose the most from the ill-judged travel, study and live abroad After the Brexit referendum, the multinational corporations. Authority in the U.S. govern - lage where I had been for nearly Brexit vote. The peripheral which are in great danger of Chancellor announced that the Between 2010 and 2015, there ment’s investigations and enforce - 30 years, the nearest city was at regions have always been the being curtailed and Corbyn has tax rate would be reduced to 15% have been only 11 prosecutions in ment actions relating to HSBC, a the end of a poorly served bus yet to reconcile the fact that his by 2020 even though the UK can British-domiciled institution, route and few of the teenagers young supporters see the EU in a ill-afford to sacrifice £15bn of tax appears to have hampered the that I worked with ever made the It is this generation of young adults more positive light than he has in revenues. Amongst EU nations, Despite critical parliamentary U.S. government’s investigations 50 mile round journey outside of and the next who stand to lose the the past. at 12.5% only Ireland levies a reports no test cases have been and influenced DOJ’s Christmas shopping. London was lower rate of corporate tax. [Department of Justice] decision another country and the idea of most from the ill-judged Brexit vote Collaboration and dialogue brought against , Amazon, not to prosecute HSBC”. The Europe only conjured football Favourable tax laws Apple, Starbucks or any other report added that George teams. The Brexit vote delivered largest beneficiaries of European We must keep the door open for Osborne, former Chancellor of the by communities like this was Regional Development funding, collaboration and dialogue with In common with many tax multinational company for Exchequer wrote to the Federal largely a kick against that distant money that was bolstering up our peers in other countries, havens, UK also lets corporations Reserve Chairman and said that establishment which equated businesses and paying for through arts and science, through write favourable tax laws. A good avoiding UK taxes by shifting HSBC’s prosecution could lead to Brussels with London, and in improved infrastructure, rural education and youth programmes, example of this is the Patent Box profits to other jurisdictions [financial] contagion” and pose some cases, Town Halls. The dis - broadband, education, community and by reconnecting with our sis - legislation. This enables compa - “very serious implications for contented were urged to agree and leisure facilities, and employ - ter parties across Europe and nies to attribute some of their financial and economic stability, with Cameron and his despised ment programmes. Labour's beyond, building bridges with pro - income to patents, which can be relation to offshore tax evasion. particularly in Europe and Asia”. cronies, to kowtow to Blair and biggest challenge, therefore, has gressive civil society movements hired or registered in tax havens, Despite critical parliamentary HSBC paid a fine of $1.9 billion the bankers, and so they stuck surely got to be how it will deliver which are gathering momentum and pay a lower tax rate of 10% reports, no test cases have been and avoided prosecution. two fingers up, despite the risk of quality services and decent work and filling the void left by a politi - on that income. The working brought against Google, Amazon, self-inflicted pain. for these young people, their sib - cal class mired in turmoil and out party which designed the legisla - Apple, Starbucks or any other Tax haven route lings and indeed their own chil - of touch. The UK's decision to tion consisted entirely of individu - multinational company for avoid - Sphere of influence dren without defaulting to the turn its back on its nearest neigh - also with links to ing UK taxes by shifting profits to The above is only a small sam - pro-austerity agenda so beloved of bours must not be taken as our GlaxoSmithKline, Rolls-Royce, other jurisdictions. ple of the practices used by UK Over the years, in my own the neo-liberals. abdication of global responsibility Eisai, Syngenta, Shell, Dyson, The information provided by government to turn the UK into a sphere of influence I had success - One of the EU's greatest to fight for a fairer more inclusive Arm, Fusion IP, Vectura and Hervé Falciani, former HSBC tax haven, which is seen as a fully challenged limited percep - achievements, aside from peace world for everyone. Instead of AND Technology Research. employee, suggested that the route to prosperity. However, the tions of the EU, engaging disaf - between its Member States, is simply asking what can we get KPMG acted as advisers. The bank’s Swiss operations enabled sacrifice of tax revenues in this fected youths in subsidised cul - surely its Cohesion Policy which out of a Brexit deal we should Patent Box concession has wealthy people and arms dealers race-to-the-bottom reduces invest - tural exchange projects with their addresses areas of greatest depri - also be offering friendship, soli - reduced corporate tax bills by to evade taxes. Only one individu - ment in social infrastructure, and peers from across Europe, taking vation and the most marginalised darity, compassion and practical £700m last year and is expected al from the list of 3,600 potential it encourages anti-social business them to meet their mirror images communities. Post-referendum Julie Ward is a assistance to those communities to rise to about £1bn a year. UK tax evaders has been prose - practice. The regulatory degrada - in the safe spaces created by sum - Britain needs a strong united Labour MEP for affected by conflict and disaster. The UK provides corporate cuted. In January 2016, without tion will embolden footloose capi - mer schools and youth media pro - Labour Party capable of reconcil - the North West of The youth who support Corbyn secrecy by concealing the identity any prior announcement, HMRC tal to indulge in even more anti- jects, many of which were funded ing many divisions, not only England are open to the world and wel - of directors and beneficial share - abandoned its criminal investiga - social practices and and for by EU Youth In Action (now internally but also within our coming to others. Through their holders. Subject to certain legal tion into the role of HSBC in responsible companies who pay Erasmus+) programmes. society. Corbyn's appeal to those engagement and activism we formalities, UK shareholders can alleged illegal activities. their way, the UK will become an The young people touched by who have been let down, ignored might just keep a flame of hope conceal their identity by using The UK government also inter - increasingly less attractive rather this work learnt to see themselves and forgotten about is that he has burning beyond the Brexit mess. nominees such as banks and venes to shield wrongdoers. A than a safer place for business. C as Europeans with global respon - been consistent in his anti-auster - C 14 CHARTIST September/October 2016 September/October 2016 CHARTIST 15 EUROPE Brexit breakdown When time seems to speed up – so too do the challenges facing the left. John Palmer surveys the wreckage arely has the old adage seemed more the maximum pressure on the EU institutions apposite: “While the events of a few (Commission, ECB etc) to support a sustainable weeks normally take years to unfold, European growth initiative -spearheaded by a mas - sometimes the events of many years can sive, publicly financed economic, social and green unfold in a very few weeks.” It is some - infrastructure investment plan. thing we have had a vivid reminder of this past The roots of the wider crisis in the EU also lie in Rsummer. The dramatic referendum ‘Leave’ result decisions taken years ago. The launch of monetary and the remarkable upsurge in support for Jeremy union without a flanking economic union (against Corbyn’s vision of a socialist Labour Party are just which Jacques Delors warned in the 1990s) is a case two obvious cases in point. in point. The lurch to neo-liberal, austerity dogmas They are not the only examples where subter - by Tory EU governments was driven by ideological ranean economic, political and social forces have development during the Thatcher period. A sustain - suddenly broken surface. The appalling decline in able EU growth strategy must include far greater real living standards and economic security have resource transfers between richer and poorer EU their proximate origins in the global financial crisis countries. of 2007/8. They are only now finding expression in A programme for the EU institutional reform is popular anger and a desire for radical economic and vital. It should – at a minimum – include extending social change. the right of legislative initiative to the elected The complex of issues which have produced both a European Parliament, strengthening scrutiny of the crisis in relations between the British state and Council of Ministers by joint assemblies of within the EU itself have their roots in develop - European and national Parliaments and introduc - ments going back decades. The resulting political ing innovative new forms of law making consulta - tremors across the EU has seen the rise of new class tion to EU trade unions, NGOs and other civil soci - politics on the left (Syriza, Podemos etc) as well as a ety bodies. Such active EU wide collaboration growth of right wing populists and the far right responsibility function (which passed to the EU 40 to despair at the prospect of pan-European co-opera - should also include plans to convert the arms indus - (Trump, the French FN, Golden Dawn etc). years ago). Ministers had a shock when they tion on and science research being tries and the important skills workers have in those The centre right and centre left political estab - realised the loss of basic trade expertise in the civil undermined and UK students no longer able to industries to alternative, socially useful objectives. lishments have now reluctantly begun to recognise service. Little wonder panic stricken appeals are access the popular Erasmus scheme. Nowhere will this be more urgent than for the work - that the electoral ground beneath their feet is mov - going out to banks, consultancies – even to British It is likely that May herself has not yet made up ers in Barrow and on the Clyde employed on the ing unpredictably. The evidence increasingly sug - officials in the European Commission’s trade direc - her mind how to handle matters when they reach a grotesque Trident nuclear missile project. Its can - gests that the mainstream conservative, liberal and torate now responsible for all external trade negoti - climax – probably towards the end of 2018. Faced cellation should be a Corbyn government priority. social democratic parties are being profoundly hol - ations – to provide volunteers urgently for with the realities of losing Single Market access, she Why not give the trade unions a lowed out as their memberships and electoral bases Whitehall. may look for a face saving compromise on free move - key role here to build on the pioneering work on continue to shrink. Other ominous fault lines are opening up within ment, possibly involving acceptance of EU single socially useful alternatives first developed by the Across Europe the speed and direction of these the UK state. The entire withdrawal process – when market laws and the payment of substantial budget Lucas Aerospace shop stewards 35 years ago? changes differs from country to country. The politi - it eventually begins – will require the approval not contributions to Brussels. A Corbyn led government should hammer out cal consequences of the economic crisis and the dra - only of the UK government and Parliament, but But this would mean the UK accepting the main urgent strategies with other EU progressive parties matic movement of refugees from war and oppres - also of the Scottish government and the elected obligations of EU membership but without having and social movements on issues ranging from a sion have been different in Greece, Spain and administrations in Wales and Northern Ireland. any say in decision making. But if she dumps hard- civilised way to receive and integrate asylum seek - Portugal (moving to the left) compared with France, This will be particularly the case when any issues line Europhobe ministers such as Fox and Davis ers to laying the basis for a radically new EU for - the Netherlands Hungary and others (moving to the affected by the European Charter of Fundamental and seeks a climb down compromise with the EU, eign policy direction. right). Rights arise. The sensitivity of these questions in not only renewed civil war in the Tory party but the This work should take place in part also to lay The precise mix of pressures has been somewhat the new devolution context goes well beyond fall of the government might follow. the basis for a future Labour government to re- different in the UK. Here there is not only a sense of Scotland. Perhaps the most explosive (but less well We should not, therefore, assume that the pre - apply for EU membership IF we really are out an economy perched perilously on the edge of reces - known question) concerns the future border sent Tory government with its precarious before the next election. Much will depend on the sion yet again but also a government system in between Northern Ireland (outside the EU) and the Parliamentary majority will survive the new 5 year precise situation a Corbyn led government inherits. chaos. The UK itself faces the prospect of a renewed Irish Republic (inside.) fixed term. Given – at the time of writing – that But, if the Article 50 negotiations, expected to last Scottish bid for independence while utter confusion Given the government’s hysteria over migration, Jeremy Corbyn looks very likely to be re-elected two years, are not completed the new government reigns in the political class about Britain’s role in Theresa May was initially quick to announce that leader of the Labour Party, the Tories might even could announce that it no longer wants to leave the the world. . Irish security and trade border controls would have gamble on triggering a general election before 2020. EU. Labour’s overall strategy should be an essential One example of the turmoil which now afflicts the to be re-imposed after Brexit. Now she is backtrack - So what should be the response of a Corbyn led part of a movement, which is urgently needed, to machinery of government, following the decision to ing from this - aware of what any militarisation of Labour Party? Buoyed by the unprecedented influx halt and then reverse the drift to the radical right abandon EU membership, concerns its capacity to the Irish border could do to the entire Belfast of new members, the first priority (after expanding through much of Europe. The foundations for such a manage essential trade negotiations. The govern - Agreement. the new Front Bench) must be to launch nation- broader fighting European alliance of socialist, ment must now first negotiate withdrawal from the However if the Irish border remains open to free wide mass policy consultations. Important work has social democrat, Green and other radical parties EU (which involves amending some 18,000 pages of movement, London may have to impose border con - already been done by John McDonnell and his col - must, however, be laid now whether the UK is In or legal agreements) when the Article 50 process is trols between the north of Ireland and mainland laborators in fleshing out a new economic strategy. Out. eventually triggered by London possibly early next Britain - although both would be in the UK! There But this must now happen across the entire policy Together the basis can be laid for a very different year. is precedent for this in the temporary wartime remit. process of European integration not least to bring This must then be followed by the negotiation of a restrictions introduced in 1941, but any repetition It will be essential to extend this work to the clos - globalisation themselves under democratic social vast range of successor trade agreements not only will be fiercely opposed by Unionists. est possible collaboration with socialist, green and control. It will be the work for years – not months. with the EU but also with major international trad - It is too soon to know precisely how severe a blow social democratic parties across the EU. This is not But, by learning how to think and how to act togeth - ing partners including Russia, the US, Australia, will be inflicted on the British economy by with - a genuflection to political correctness. When it er at both the European and global level, Jeremy Canada, India and China whose trade with Britain drawal. Alarm at the possibility of being outside comes to economic policy it is essential to have a Corbyn’s new model Labour Party can yet help has been conducted through the EU. This could all even the EU single market is spreading among busi - worked out policy for coordinated EU wide economic make this alternative Europe a reality. C take many years more. ness leaders. UK economic growth is already slow - recovery to reduce the vulnerability of any one econ - But Whitehall no longer has any real global trade ing. The universities and scientific bodies are close omy bucking the trend. This will involve mounting 16 CHARTIST September/October 2016 September/October 2016 CHARTIST 17 ECONOMY RACISM

The blind leading the blind BREXIT racism storm Frank Lee asks if central bankers know what they are doing Andy Gregg ponders the future of UK race relations following the Brexit vote

nyone who still enter - that it resulted in a contraction of input (costs) will result in the andora’s Box has been reporting sites like Hope not tains the notion that money supply - measured as M4 – long run of a fall of output (prof - opened by the Brexit Hate, the Monitoring Group and central banks around see below – and this is why there its) until a point is reached where referendum victory and Tell Mama are under significant the world actually was no generalised inflation out - output turns negative relative to it is difficult to see how pressure in monitoring the know what they are side of the above mentioned asset input and the enterprise is no the evils that it has increasing outrages that are like - doing, and have the magic box of classes. longer viable. Keynes called this allowed to escape can now be put ly over the next few weeks and tAricks to get the world economy For speculators, however, there the decline in the Marginal Pback. months. Many of these sites are back on track, really ought to ask was a bonanza. They pushed up Efficiency of Capital, and along Since the referendum result themselves under continual where we have arrived and where prices of three asset-classes, with Schumpeter attributed this was announced on 24th June trolling and cyber attacks from we are going. bonds-stocks-property, with to the disappearance of viable there have been reports of online racists. The notion that Recently the Bank of England aggressive leveraged buying from investment projects and Animal increasing race hate crimes – immigrants are to blame for most (BoE) governor and former free monies lent to you by munifi - Spirits. many directed at Polish and other of the ills that confront less well- Goldman Sachs employee, Mark cent chaps like Mr Carney. When For Marx the explanation of European migrants but also off members of society has now Carney, announced a new mone - the market tops out, you sell and falling profitability was the directed at Muslims and other become the received wisdom, tary stimulus package designed to take your profits. When the mar - growth in what he termed the migrant and minority groups. repeated over and over again by get the UK economy moving ket crashes you then get to buy ‘organic composition of capital’ Both hard statistical and anecdo - politicians, pundits and the press. again. It consisted of the follow - bargains at fire damage sale which we would probably call the tal evidence show not only a Former Tory Party chairman ing measures: prices. The speculators win when capital-labour ratio. Given the faster growing number of racist Sayeeda Warsi has warned that UKIP campaign: disgraceful dog whistle politics Interest rates at a record low of labour theory of value incidents, but also that they are “immigrants and their descen - 0.25%, a level not seen which he inherited becoming more serious and in dants (some who have been here migrants as well as wider minori - in the BoE’s 322-year (with modifications) some cases life threatening. for three, four or five ty ethnic communities. The history with more to from Smith and Young African refugees that I generations) are being told to Immigration Act will force land - come. Ricardo, human labour have spoken to in West Kent leave Britain” in the wake of the lords and other public officials to An extra £60 bln of was said to be the report that, whilst they used to “divisive and xenophobic” Brexit profile service users so as to iden - newly created money to source of value – or have to endure occasional hostile campaign. tify those who do not have the buy government bonds, what we would call looks and muttered imprecations Things are likely to get worse correct paper work and permis - drive down gilt yields value-added - and since at the bus stop and elsewhere, rather than better. Over the last sions to work, rent, drive and and force investors into it would be increasingly now they have to face regular few years racist incidents have receive other services. As part of riskier assets replaced by capital then spitting, bottle throwing and open been rising at a steady rate, but its attempt to create a hostile A new £100 bln the rate of profit would racist shouting and even attacks the recent spike is a very signifi - environment for ‘illegal’ immi - scheme to encourage fall. in the street. These kinds of inci - cant change both of number and grants it will give free rein to banks to lend cheaply to Global corporate dents are happening to a wider degree of seriousness. The post landlords and many public ser - UK companies profitability was spectrum of victims who now Brexit spike in racist incidents vants to profile and single out A pledge to buy £10 around 30-33% in the include those Europeans who comes against a background of an minority ethnic people in ways bln of corporate debt early 1960s and has don’t speak fluent English and, on increasing number of racist inci - that we thought had disappeared issued by UK companies now fallen to less than occasion, even tourists. dents even before the referendum. since the 1960s. If you have a who make a genuine 20%. In an attempt to Although many who voted for The Government is determined to dark skin or look or sound foreign contribution to the UK overcome this stagna - Britain to leave the European promote a “hostile environment in any way you could become a economy. tion debt (private and Union were not in themselves for illegal immigrants” but is source of suspicion regardless of All of which adds up public) grew from 246% racist, the campaign itself was unwilling to address the fact that how many generations you or to another helping of so- of global GDP in 2000 riddled with dog whistle politics this directly affects all minority your parents may have lived in called quantitative eas - to 286% in 2014. All about migrants and foreigners. At ethnic groups regardless of their this country. Fines for landlords ing (QE). Is this second this must lead to the times the sound of the whistle status or long history in Britain. and employers of those found to round of monetary eas - inexorable conclusion was obvious and audible (as with Currently of course we have what be ‘illegal’ are set to mushroom ing going to be any more that since debt is grow - the disgraceful Farage “Breaking can be described as relatively and the Government – far from successful than the ing faster than output Point” poster of a line of refugees ‘happy’ racists who think that having any policy to try to first? Or is monetary policy alone prices climb and they win when then diminishing returns have set at the Slovakian border). Groups they are back in control of their improve race relations -is current - going to result in escape velocity prices plummet. In the trade it is in. such as Britain First and the country. Soon they are likely to ly refusing to admit the obvious and usher in growth? Judging on called ‘pump and dump’. Where all of this is heading English Defence League are now discover that immigration is not conclusion that their current poli - past performance the prognosis is The crux of the matter is that doesn’t look particularly appetis - capitalising on this climate and magically declining and that not cies will directly harm community not encouraging. Last time businesses are stubbornly refus - ing. What is becoming patently trying to provoke disorder, racist only have they not “got their cohesion. The ‘Prevent’ anti around QE – i.e. BoE purchases ing to invest in productive capaci - obvious is that finance ministers, attacks and appeals to “send country back” but also the econo - extremism programme is increas - of privately held UK bonds (Gilts) ty and no amount of monetary central banks, and financial them home”. However it is not my has tanked because of uncer - ingly criminalising large numbers – injected £375 billion into the easing will induce them do so. elites, around the world either (a) just active members of explicitly tainty around Brexit, In these cir - Andy Gregg is of Muslim young people without economy which was supposed to This of course raises the ques - don’t know what they are dealing racist parties who are now emerg - cumstances ‘happy racists’ are Chief Executive proving particularly effective in lead recipients to engage in pro - tion of why. Investment decisions with (b) think they know what ing to spit their bile. It is now likely to become very unhappy of Race on the stopping radicalisation. The ductive investment in the (real) are related to the rate of interest. they are dealing, but don’t, and clear that many people who previ - ones. By definition this is unlikely Agenda Government may also try to do value-added productive economy. High rates of interest will tend to therefore propose totally inappro - ously harboured racist views and to improve the situation. away with the European Alas, most of this BoE largesse have a negative influence on priate ‘solutions’ (c) the masters thoughts but kept them to them - As if this wasn’t bad enough, in Convention on Human Rights did not enter the real economy. investment and vice-versa. But of of the universe sitting in their air- selves now feel that they have the midst of this dangerous atmo - which is one of the few protec - Non-financial companies equal and possibly more impor - conditioned offices and trading explicit permission to insult sphere the government is now set tions against the worst excesses invested their newly acquired liq - tance is the return on such invest - floors, know perfectly well what is migrants and tell anyone who is to enact disastrous legislation of such racism and discrimina - uidity in share buybacks and ments. The theory of diminishing happening – but they don’t partic - not obviously white and British to under the Immigration Act. This tion. mergers and acquisition activi - returns on investment projects ularly care; they’ll just take the “go home”. legislation will compound the pro - ties. The great paradox of QE was postulates that each successive money and run. C Anti racist and anti fascist cess of demonization of all CONTINUED ON PAGE 21>> 18 CHARTIST September/October 2016 September/October 2016 CHARTIST 19 REFUGEES

has no means of processing rub - Currently there are 127 chil - place for adults to actually get to bish, so an enormous amount of dren in the system awaiting the UK. waste lies around in black bin either approval by the Home Although the "Dubs amend - Life in the jungle bags, waiting to be collected by Office or processing by the French ment" included in the NGOs and this led to an explosion once that approval has been Immigration Act 2016 provides Wendy Pettifer in the rat population. An exter - granted. And there's still no sys - for the safe transfer of an unspec - Thousands of refugees endure a living nightmare reports mination drive in July led to the tem for adult discretionary take ified number of children to the surreal sight of flocks of seagulls charge requests. I am about to UK, shamefully not one child y first morning on port to the 800 plus children on people die in the jungle mostly feasting on rat corpses. from Calais has been transferred ‘the jungle’ as a pro camp. At the bottom of the street when trying illegally to get into as a result of the provision. MPs bono lawyer and are 700 containers access to lorries, but they also die in fights Living feral need to act now. there's a thick mist which is controlled by fingerprint - and fires. A massive brawl Although the "Dubs amendment" between the A16 ing. Next to that is the Sudanese towards the end of May resulted Children are living feral. included in the Immigration Act 2016 Humbled motorway and the arid land hill, the sprawling Afghan com - in 40 hospitalisations and many There's only one tiny school. They Mwhere south camp used to be munity and several mosques. tents and shelters being razed to are at constant risk of abuse, provides for the safe transfer of an If the living nightmare of the before it was destroyed - making In spite of its size, the French the ground. Fires are a constant hundreds of them sleeping in unspecified number of children to Jungle is to be humanely disman - about 2000 migrants homeless. authorities do not recognise its hazard with kids falling asleep tents and shelters with up to six tled, the French must agree to After seeing small phantom fig - right to exist. The right wing beside lighted candles. Many fires adult men. Following a UK case the UK, shamefully not one child putting serious resources into ures with rags around their mayor of Calais, Natacha are set by arsonists, possibly at known as ZAT, the French have processing both children and heads, I realise that the mist is Bouchard declared after the UK the behest of the state. reluctantly set up a system to from Calais has been transferred as adults who are legally entitled to tear gas and find out later that Brexit vote that she intended to process the children's "take a result of the provision join family members in the UK the CRS riot squad is a perma - renege on the "Le Touquet" joint To reach a better life charge" requests to join family and assist all those who are not nent presence on the Calais camp. agreement which enables the UK members in the UK. In 2016 over applying for asylum in France. Someone helps me find the to externalise its border to Calais. The main jungle activity is try - 50 children have passed to the Until that time I remain humbled Legal Shelter: a small caravan So far she has failed to get the ing to reach the UK and a better UK but this is thanks to the return to Calais to bring a 19 year by the spirit and generosity of with two tables and six chairs necessary backing from President life. This means illegally clamber - efforts of the legal shelter and its old man to the UK to join his both camp occupants and volun - deep into the Afghan section. The Hollande so the camp continues, ing into juggernauts travelling to UK equivalent, Safe Passage. But brother. He's been very ill, the teers and I will continue to work previous shelter was burned its occupants enduring a brutal the port at night. Small boys run this is a tiny percentage and the Home Office has approved his to get children out of there and to down. I will spend three hours level of harassment by the French after the lorries to try and open system is hopelessly inadequate. request but there is no system in safety. C here every day for three months state. the back so the adults can get in. advising on all aspects of asylum People are killed and many are law and particularly taking Closed injured: broken arms and legs, Please lobby your MP to act on the Dubs amendment. charge of requests from kids as fingers and toes, lacerated faces To donate to Cabane Juridique/Legal Shelter set up a standing order to young as eight with close family On 22nd July the CRS riot and hands from scaling barbed Credit Cooperative Bank Gare de l'Est 42559 00003 4102004152351. members in the UK as part of a police raided 13 so-called "restau - wire fences. Calais hospital has a mainly French team. rants" set up to feed the inhabi - whole unit dedicated to treating Our centre has a French and tants, including the Kids Café. camp occupants. In the week of 22 an English lawyer supervising They were closed on the grounds July three people died, including (mainly French) law students. of failing to pay tax and inability an 18 year old Eritrean girl who Like the camp, it's chaotic. We to meet health and safety food was run over by the lorry she was BREXIT racism storm have no internet, no office, no standards. The closures were trying to get into. The French copying facilities. Even so, in the later declared illegal by the refused to allow us to hold a vigil >>C ONTINUED FROM PAGE 19 three months I was there, we Tribunal Administratif in Lille. in town. were able to get 14 minors out of The Kids Cafe immediately Trying happens from after sup - Against this dark climate we newspapers can be properly held the camp to join family in the UK. reopened but this is typical of the per to dawn. People then return must all work together to rebuild to account when they publish state-sanctioned harassment tak - to their shelters and sleep until trust and defend our different biased and racist articles that Horrendous conditions ing place in order to destabilise midday. An evening meal is pro - communities. We must ally reinforce hatred, as they so often the camp and deter new arrivals. vided at 8 pm by two large UK together against the Immigration now do. Different nationalities live The jungle is a violent place, NGOs arriving in vans with food Act, defend the European Even more important than EU cheek by jowl in horrendous con - not least because of this. Many in plastic containers. The camp Convention on Human Rights and membership is the question ditions. When I arrived in May continue to challenge all the areas about what sort of country Britain there were around 7000 occu - where discrimination and racism wants to be, and that question pants, which has since grown to continue to scar our country – will continue long after the refer - an estimated 9000, about 800 of whether this is in employment endum. Do we want to continue whom are children. and education, stop and search, to be a positive, tolerant society The camp is the only refugee the penal and policing systems capable of challenging inequality camp in the world which is not and all the other areas of gross and discrimination and address - supported by UNHCR. Instead, inequality. We must insist that ing our differences in a civil man - over 100 French and English the Government develops a posi - ner? Or are we going to respond NGOs attempt to run the camp tive and proactive strategy to by retreating even further into through a council of community ensure reporting of racist attacks our enclaves and spitting hostility members, mediating between var - that also aims to challenge them. at each other across the growing ious warring factions. The astonishing recent divide? Early on the last Century, The multiplicity of services is Government decision to award the the great US thinker WEB Du bewildering. On the east side lies contract for its discrimination Bois said that “the problem of the the main road to the main hub, legal advice help line to G4S twentieth century is the problem the Jules Ferry centre, and the shows the contempt they have for of the color line.” Whether we enclosed women's camp and the citizens’ ability to get independent can learn to live together better hospital centre. On the west side and effective advice to challenge and address racism and inequali - is a street with over 100 shops, racism and discrimination, We ty effectively will be the problem community centres, and restau - need to overthrow this decision of the twenty-first century. And rants including the Kids cafe and also mount a different kind of we have not got off to a good start. which provides invaluable sup - Kids cafe which provides invaluable support to the 800 plus children in the Calais Jungle campaign to ensure that tabloid C 20 CHARTIST September/October 2016 September/October 2016 CHARTIST 21 CHARTER

Similar Citizens’ Assemblies have don’t like (as the Icelandic England and Wales with the been used in Canada and the Parliament shelved the draft con - ‘Remain’ votes of Scotland and Netherlands to deliberate propos - stitution produced by its conven - Northern Ireland? The referen - A Chartist moment? als for electoral reform. The tion). Alternatively, the conven - dum vote highlights – without Stuart White recent Irish Convention on the tion could have the power to send resolving – the question of where calls for a Citizen’s Convention Constitution chose 66 of its 100 its recommendations to a binding ‘sovereignty’ ultimately lies: with, members on a near-random basis, referendum. This is more consis - say, the UK Parliament, or with n 1839, the Chartists held a Welsh and Northern Irish ciently impartial to make deci - along with a government-appoint - tent with the principle of popular the peoples of the nations of the national ‘Convention’ to dis - Assemblies? What should ‘devolu - sions about the structure of the ed chairperson and 33 politicians. sovereignty, though voters do not UK? cuss how to achieve the six tion’ mean in the context of political system. It also reflects a Versions of the Citizens’ necessarily accept the proposals points of the People’s England? basic principle of democratic con - Assembly model were also recent - of a Citizens’ Assembly when put Cross party interest Charter. People gathered in These questions connect to oth - stitutionalism, that of popular ly tested in an interesting pilot to a referendum. Irish voters large open air meetings to elect ers about the structure of repre - sovereignty. In the democratic study organised by the Electoral strongly supported the Irish con - A second response is that there Idelegates. The government con - sentation in the Westminster republican tradition, captured Reform Society and a team of aca - vention’s call to amend the consti - remains wide interest in a con - sidered the Convention a threat Parliament. Surely we cannot memorably in Thomas Paine’s demics (see http://citizensassem - tution to allow same-sex mar - vention process across political to the state. Participants were continue with the present House Rights of Man , governments bly.co.uk/, Flinders et al 2016). riage. But Canadian electorates parties. When he was Shadow watched, some were arrested. of Lords? What should replace it? make policy within a constitution rejected the proposals of their Minister for the Constitutional William Lovett, a leading figure The general election of 2015 and the people make the constitu - Public discussion Citizens’ Assemblies for electoral Convention, MP in the Chartist movement, was underscored the absurd dispro - tion. reform. worked on some interesting ideas imprisoned for seditious libel. portionality of FPTP, reanimating A second issue concerns the A fourth issue is how to struc - to launch a convention process 150 years later political parties the argument for electoral reform. Design choices convention’s agenda and whether ture a convention, or convention from Opposition, with cross-party and civil society groups came What about the role of ‘money in it has power to set its agenda. A process, across the territories of support. A recent debate in the together in the Scottish politics’, of party finance, lobby - A constitutional convention can very broad or open agenda risks the UK. Here it seems essential Commons, initiated by Graham Constitutional Convention to ing, and so-called ‘revolving doors’ be structured in many ways; the generating discussion that is to acknowledge the UK’s emerg - Allen MP, suggests that cross- assert Scotland’s Claim of Right, between government and busi - design choices are important – unfocused and lacks depth. A ing federal character. This party interest remains ( a pivotal moment in the journey ness? not least for how far a convention narrow agenda risks ignoring implies a process in which con - 2016). As the search for a Brexit to a Scottish Parliament. Further questions concern the gives expression to the principle major issues. Also, if politicians ventions in the different nations settlement proceeds, support may In September 2014, following protection of basic civil rights. All of popular sovereignty (Renwick set the agenda there is a risk that feed into and constrain a UK- widen, taking in more Scotland’s momentous indepen - of these questions are posed in a 2014). they will have too much power in wide convention. Should a similar Conservatives. Recent proposals dence referendum, two campaign context of sluggish economic per - One issue concerns member - the process. A possible compro - process also apply within each from the Constitutional Reform groups, the Electoral Reform formance, long-term wage stagna - ship. Much recent UK discussion mise is for Parliament to give the nation, e.g., should English Group for a federal restructuring Society and Unlock Democracy, tion for many, and entrenched proposes that the convention con - convention a specific set of issues regional conventions feed into an of the UK show that many in the launched petitions for a UK-wide regional inequalities. sists at its heart of a Citizens’ to consider, while also giving it England-wide convention? political elite now see that ‘mud - ‘constitutional convention’: for an Against this backdrop, the call Assembly. Members would not the opportunity to identify some dling through’ lacks plausibility assembly, created by Parliament for a constitutional convention representatives of political parties further issues for itself. One No interest and legitimacy (see but working independently of it, draws on two insights. One is and civil society groups (as with advantage of this is that citizens http://www.constitutionreform - to deliberate changes to the UK’s that because there are so many, the Scottish Constitutional outside of Parliament and the This is all interesting, one group.co.uk). political system. interconnected issues on the table Convention); nor would they be convention then have the oppor - might say, but what are the Political parties made similar at once, we need a considered, elected (as was the recent tunity to campaign to the conven - chances of getting a constitution - Outside Westminster calls: Labour, the Liberal systematic response. The second Icelandic convention). Rather, tion for it to address their con - al convention process? The Democrats, the Greens and UKIP. is that when questions about the members would be chosen by lot, cerns. In this way, the convention Conservatives won the 2015 gen - Public discussion and cam - In March 2015, Parliament’s own basic structure of our political on a ‘jury’ principle, but in a can become the site of a wider, eral election and have shown no paigning outside Westminster, All Party Group on Reform system are posed, it is ‘We the ‘stratified’ way so as to create an public discussion about the politi - interest in holding one. such as by Assemblies for Decentralisation and Devolution people’ (or peoples) who should assembly that is descriptively cal system and basic rights, A first response is that the Democracy (https://assemblies - called on all parties to include a take the lead. In part, this is representative of the population enhancing the expression of popu - urgency of the underlying consti - fordemocracy.org/), is vital, both commitment to a convention in because politicians themselves – in terms of selected characteris - lar sovereignty. tutional questions is not going to obtain a convention and to help their upcoming election mani - of whatever party – are not suffi - tics such as gender, race and age. A third issue is what happens away. The outcome of the Brexit make it a democratic exercise. In festoes. Many did so. The to the convention’s recommenda - referendum has reinforced them. this respect, the example of the notable exception was the tions. These could just go back to The ‘Leave’ campaign called for a Scottish Constitutional Conservatives who won the elec - Parliament. The risk, of course, is take back of ‘sovereignty’. But Convention – and, indeed, of the tion. that Parliamentarians may what does this mean? How can Chartists – may still have some - The idea of a constitutional decide to shelve proposals they we reconcile the ‘Leave’ votes of thing to teach us. C convention has apparently moved from the margins to the main - stream. But why this interest now in holding a constitutional con - References and further reading: vention? What is a constitutional convention? Does the idea still Flinders, M., Ghose, K., Jennings, W., Molloy, E., Prosser, B., Renwick, A., Smith, G., and Spada, P. have relevance? Can it find pur - (2016) Democracy Matters: Lessons from the 2015 Citizens’ Assemblies on English Devolution. London, chase in the wake of the Brexit Electoral Reform Society, http://citizensassembly.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Democracy-Matters- referendum? 2015-Citizens-Assemblies-Report.pdf

Constitutional crisis Hansard (2016) https://hansard.parliament.uk/commons/2016-07- 20/debates/16072031000003/CitizensConventionOnDemocracy Interest in holding a constitu - tional convention reflects the Renwick, A. (2014) After the Referendum: Options for a Constitutional Convention. London, The judgment that the UK is in a pro - Constitution Society, http://www.consoc.org.uk/wp- found constitutional crisis. In content/uploads/2014/05/J1847_Constitution_Society_Report_Cover_WEB.pdf part, this is about the territorial division of power. As Scotland openDemocracy’s discussion of the constitutional convention, with a range of contributions from aca - moves towards greater autonomy, demics, activists and others is available at https://www.opendemocracy.net/ourkingdom/collections/great- and potential independence, what Chartist gathering in Kennington from the Illustrated London News 1848 charter-convention/constitutional-convention new powers should go to the 22 CHARTIST September/October 2016 September/October 2016 CHARTIST 23 USA FILM REVIEW

Clinton clinches nomination The flaw on drugs Paul Garver Patrick ollywood is not serious about the war on movie, people keep getting shot right next to him. reports on the challenge of uniting the Democratic vote drugs. By which I mean that it does not Given that The Infiltrator is a Hollywood film, of Mulcahy produce movies that ask legislators to course Bob is shown not to ‘enjoy’ his job. Of course, am writing one week after The success of the Socialist elections (Ohio, Pennsylvania, change tack. Hollywood movies are he has an attractive wife (played in the movie by the Democratic National Caucus demonstrates the galva - Michigan) where corporate-domi - on the war about the drug bust, the attempted dis - Juliet Aubrey) and two bright kids (though not one Convention ended in nizing effect of the Sanders candi - nated ‘trade’ treaties are widely ruption of a network and denying criminal gangs who asks, ‘daddy, what’s a Narco?’) Of course he Philadelphia where I orga - dacy in injecting democratic held responsible for industrial on drugs Haccess to the proceeds of their trafficking. As far as resists his fiancé, who in turn is not attracted to nized outside activities on socialist ideas into the main - collapse. But President Obama North America’s relationship with its southern him. behalf of the Democratic stream of U.S. political discourse. wants the TPP to be part of his neighbour goes, it is not about working with Latin The disappointment of The Infiltrator is that it ISocialists of America (DSA). Sanders won about 45% of the ‘legacy’ and wings of both American governments to diversify countries’ eschews a strong psychological portrait of the under - During the convention I con - Democratic primary election vote, Democratic and Republican par - economies so that cocaine production is not the cover cop for a series of suspense set pieces. It does soled Sanders delegates, both along with a majority of the ties promote global corporate industry of choice. Tactical rather than strategic however do something different. In the climax, there young newcomers to electoral pol - Millennial vote (including domination. interventions continue. is no big shoot out, rather something else. This is itics and older experienced hands, younger African-Americans and In the more likely case that There is a reason that Colombia was for many the film’s most radical departure from the genre, but many of whom were struggling Latinos). Clinton wins in November, the decades a major source of imported cocaine to the also accounts for its less than stellar box-office per - with tears of anger and frustra - The Clintonites tried to woo Left will quickly have to mobilize, United States: until fairly recently, it was the loca - formance in America. tion. We believed so strongly! Sanders supporters through com - to support those political and eco - tion of a bitter civil war between the FARC rebels Cranston looks like he’s played this role before We worked so hard! We came so promises on the party platform nomic reforms that will be and the government. At time of writing, a peace deal not least with the stick-on handle-bar moustache. At close! And now it is so hard to [more info requested] and on set - blocked by Congressional is being implemented that could offer a better hope one point, a villain sketches him and you think: ‘he’s plan ahead. ting more democratic rules for Republicans, to block passage of on the war on drugs than the break-up of any crimi - just drawn Walter White’ (Cranston’s character The famous injunction of leg - selection of delegates to the next the TPP and TTIP, and to oppose nal network, because the economic conditions that from the TV series Breaking Bad ). We learn a little endary labor organizer and song convention. The motivation of Clinton’s hawkish and interven - require mass production of cocaine should no longer bit on how to become a successful money launderer writer Joe Hill, executed in 1915 the party leadership was cynical tionist foreign policy initiatives. exist. – tip, small sums deposited in different accounts on trumped-up charges, “Don’t and its commitment to the new The Green Party presidential We know from the example of Afghanistan that draw less attention. It helps that drug lords have an Mourn – Organize!” needs tweak - progressive party agenda more candidate Jill Stein is not the log - countries that are either pariah states (refusing to air freight company as a front. ing to “Mourn, Then Organize!” tactical than principled. But by ical sequel to the political revolu - engage in the rules-based international system) or At best, the film is minimally suspenseful, but it Indeed, creative new organiz - insisting on progressive economic tion. She may get a temporary have large populations living in utter poverty that has a moment when Bob looks in the eyes of a large ing projects are sprouting like and environmental justice party boost from small socialist sects produce drugs to provide some sort of livelihood. The number of people that he has hoodwinked. You won - desert flowers after rain. Silos positions as the focus of the presi - urging members and Sanders demand is there from the rest of the world and no der about the kick of that moment, whether under - between the variegated causes of dential campaign, Sanders is supporters to join this campaign. amount of awareness campaigns will significantly cover cops can really live with the continual betrayal the American Left continue to making it harder for Clinton to But the Green Party is little more reduce drug use in the west when there is economic of people around them in the cause of justice. At crumble. Black Lives Matter follow her natural bent to waffle than an electoral ballot line, with inequality. First time users are driven to the flame best, the film gives you some sort of appreciation of (BLM) has announced a compre - and triangulate with Republican no structure or activity between and tell themselves that the drugs are necessary, no the twisted life of going undercover. It can never be hensive political programme positions. elections, and the socialist sectar - matter what the cost to themselves and others safe. opposing the Transpacific Simply supporting the ians are there only to recruit for around them. Hollywood created the sub-genre of Partnership (TPP), while labor Clintonites to defeat Trump is not themselves. stoner comedies to partially make fun of drug users and environmental organizations an option. Hillary Clinton and So what priorities for the (mainly consumers of cannabis) but this was more of unite with BLM against racist vice-presidential pick Tim Kaine American Left for late 2016 and a ‘if you can’t beat them, join them’ response. policing and mass incarceration. are already courting big-money into the near future? Cheech and Chong, Bill and Ted, the Dudes who lost The former Sanders campaign campaign donors, and will walk 1. Defeat Trump as decisively their car - they are all anti-heroes. Incidentally, I’m organization is collaborating with away from the progressive party as possible. still waiting for the first female-driven dope-head internet-based progressive orga - platform if allowed to do so. 2. Elect as many democratic comedy. nizations that had backed Without the muscular econom - socialists and progressive Directed by Brad Furman, The Infiltrator is the Sanders to support left and pop - ic ideas put forth by Sanders and democrats as possible at all levels latest example of a Hollywood thriller in which the ulist candidates for congressional, reluctantly accepted by the of government. good guys – American federal agents – attempt to state and local offices. Groups Clintonites, the Democratic Party 3. Keep the Millennial genera - ‘take down’ a drug overload. Set in the mid 1980s, it who had not endorsed Sanders, would be campaigning only on a tion actively involved both in is based on the real life work of undercover agent mainly ‘Warren-Wing Democrats’, message of social and racial inclu - electoral politics and in issue Bob Mazur, played in the movie by Bryan Cranston, have taken on recruitment, train - sion and tolerance. campaigns. who posed as an international money launderer in ing and support for insurgent The strangest presidential 4. Create our own political par - order to bring Colombian drug lord Pablo Escobar to candidates. (Elizabeth Warren is campaign in recent American pol - ties based on local electoral and justice. Nominally, the hook is: what makes a man the populist and popular itics pits an unscrupulous, unpre - issue organizing. risk his life to assume a different identity and how Democratic Senator from dictable and untrustworthy Real power must be built from can they balance that with a regular home life? It’s , Sanders’ closest Trump against an all too pre - the grassroots. The USA is varie - not simply about righteousness – bringing the bad ally in the U.S. Senate) dictable, cautious and untrust - Paul Garver is a gated politically. There are cities guys to book. Whilst undercover, you get to do cool DSA held a successful Socialist worthy Clinton. Sanders would member of DSA with nonpartisan races where stuff. Caucus at the Convention. More have been a much more effective Left alternative parties can In The Infiltrator , Bob gets to drive an expensive than a hundred Sanders dele - opponent against Trump! become the major opponent to car and even acquires a glamorous fiancé (played by gates, members of DSA or of the It is hard to imagine a Trump corporate Democrats. States like Diane Kruger, Hollywood’s Helen of Troy). When Progressive Democrats of victory, which would put the Vermont have a long tradition of you are dealing with corrupt banks like BCCI, there America (which played the crucial American Left into full mobiliza - independent socialist politics that is extensive travel. Whilst maintaining your cover role in persuading Sanders to run tion and insurgency mode for sur - produced Sanders. on an anniversary date with your wife, you even get in the primaries), met with over vival. But Trump can still win, The mourning period following to slam a waiter’s head into a cake bearing the two hundred more socialists, enabled by Clinton’s waffling on the Sanders campaign is ending. ‘wrong’ inscription. I really felt for that guy, trauma - including numerous labor staffers the TPP. This equivocation is Time to be agitating, educating tised in the workplace. If the incident really hap - and intellectuals who had not giving Trump a huge opportunity and organizing! C pened, he should be suing the FBI for unwarranted previously identified themselves in several states that normally humiliation. These ‘perks’ are offset against the as such. vote Democratic in Presidential risks as Bob tries to get close to Escobar. In the 24 CHARTIST September/October 2016 September/October 2016 CHARTIST 25 BOOK REVIEWS

The EU and the Class War Analysis of a failed state

EUROPE ISN’T WORKING ticularly perturbed by regional gold, is one alternative. The other THE LIBYAN REVOLUTION AND ITS respected and experienced Ian Another excellent chapter by Larry Elliott and Dan Atkinson aid to Sunderland, but the Finns is a floating currency misman - AFTERMATH Martin, now look optimistic. the UK based academic Yvan (Yale University Press, £10.49) and Dutch would be more than aged by bureaucrats. Floating Peter Cole and Brian McQuinn The book as a whole is excel - Guichaoua examines the relation - concerned about seeing their sur - currencies are not so much of a (Hurst, £30) lently researched providing fasci - ship between Libya and the he EU has been stumbling pluses going to what they believe system but more the lack of a sys - nating detail on the different Saharan Tuaregs and the role of Frank Lee from one crisis to another. are the undeserving nations of tem. A floating exchange rate sys - Duncan read this book in an attempt groups involved in the uprising Tuareg fighters for Quadahfi. In the halcyon days before the southern and eastern periph - tem is precisely what we were to understand why Libya had and somewhat surprisingly, on Also reported is the situation of on the EU Tthe massive market correction of eries. This was clearly the case gifted when the dollar went off Bowie failed to rebuild a stable state the military co-operation between expelled migrant workers in the 2008, everything seemed to be during the Greek sovereign debt the gold standard in 1971. We are on Isince the fall of Quadhafi. Libya different groups and the various Tuareg uprisings in northern and going so well; seemingly the only crisis, still ongoing. now living with the long-term tends to be only in the news in intervening powers – notably Mali and Niger, which led to a real problems with regard to the Additionally, one- size-fits all results of this fiat currency based post- the UK as a departure point for France and the UK and also sig - short-lived autonomous state of capitalism EU were those concerned with the interest rates rests on the experiment. The authors should Quadahfi migrants to Europe. Much atten - nificantly, Qatar and the United Azawad in northern Mali, until democratic deficit. Indeed, this assumption that it is possible and take note of what has happened tion is given to Syria and Iraq Arab Emirates – all four coun - superseded by another group of was a policy leitmotif of the optimal to impose a similar fiscal to the American template instead Libya while we fail to recognise that tries having military advisors recipients of Libyan weaponry – Bennite opposition within the and monetary regime on all states of, implicitly at least, offering it Libya is also an example of the and/or special forces and intelli - al-Qa’ida in the Islamic Maghreb PLP including inter alia Benn within the union regardless of as an alternative. failure of Western powers to have gence operatives on the ground (AQIM). It also goes some way to Snr, Peter Shore, Bryan Gould their differences and levels of There is no such thing as crisis- a deliverable reconstruction strat - with different groups. explain the origins of the Tuareg and , and at the development. This Teutonic fixa - free capitalism. It is a system of egy after supporting the downfall An essay by Frederic Webrey managed migrant time, Jeremy Corbyn. But these tion with a hard anti-inflationary violent internal/external shocks of an autocratic regime. examines the extent to which trafficking/assistance operation, were a minority in the Labour currency has led to depression and multiple disequilibria which The book comprises 14 essays each intervening power collabo - which is now bringing so many party with most of the opposition conditions in the south and east - produce feed-back loops further written by a wide range of diplo - rated with different factions. It sub-Saharans to the Libyan coast to the EU coming from the hard ern areas of Europe. destabilising an already unstable mats, academics and NGO also demonstrates the extent to in search of a better life in right in the Tory party. A change to the EU came about system. The post-war boom is activists. The editors are an ana - which opposition factions were led Europe. Other chapters cover the Elliott and Atkinson have long sometime in the 1980s when a over, this is the new reality and lyst for the International Crisis by returnees from the Libyan failure of the UN supported been outliers on the left, and they rigid neoliberal (together with an its most salient feature is class Group and an academic who diaspora, many of whom returned attempt to re-establish a judicial are at pains throughout this book added neo-conservative geopoliti - struggle. advised the Carter Centre for from the UK as well or the US, system, the range of regional and to make manifest their opposition cal) model was imposed. The The centre left imagines that a Conflict Resolution and subse - France and the Middle East. ethnic groups, and the revival of to the majority in the LP. Their authors point out that fuddy- few tweaks of the social and eco - quently the UN. One of the most intriguing factionalism and inter-city and critique was mainly directed at duddy interventionist nonsense nomic variables will return us to The main focus is on the 2011 chapters is that by the Irish jour - inter-tribal disputes and violence. the euro (although they tend to ‘’such as exchange/capital con - the golden age of the post-war uprising and the following two nalist, Mary Fitzgerald, which At one point, Ian Martin refers use the euro and EU interchange - trols, protectionist trade mea - boom. Wishful thinking. Today years. It therefore does not deal examines the rise of different to the fact that UN intervention ably) and its design flaws. These sures, a de facto prohibition on the monied classes have launched with the pre 2011 relationship Islamist groups and their roles was initially welcomed by flaws were inbuilt from their ori - the creation of new state enter - a ruthless class-war. Warren between Quadahfi and the UK both within and outside the tran - Libyans, based partly on the gin. prises, other than in an emergen - Buffet, the famed US investor put and US and ’s support sitional government. The chapter memory of the role of UN commis - The euro was a currency with - cy, and strict rules on how pub - it quite openly when he said: for Quadahfi against the domestic was written before the appear - sioner Adrian Pelt in the 1951 out a state, an experiment in licly owned entities are to be ‘’There is a class war going on and opposition. Nor does it deal with ance of ISIS in Libya and touches transition from Italian colonial monetary union without political financed’’ are all totally prohibit - my side is winning.’’ Enough said. the recent deterioration in the on the developing link between estate and the post-war British union, and lacking the economic ed by EU laws. political and security situation. the Libyan Islamic Fighting and French military administra - desiderata to qualify as an opti - These policies were Although published last year, Group (LIFG) and al-Qa’ida, tion to an independent monarchic mal currency area. This last point consistent with the many of the essays were clearly though at that time the affiliation state. What is odd is that none of is particularly significant. For a dreaded holy trinity of written two years earlier. Some was only suspected. Fitzgerald the authors, least of all Martin, geographical area to be optimal, privatisation-liberali - essays that focus on the transi - also focuses on the ‘radicalisation’ examines why the 2011- 2013 UN i.e., best serve economic develop - sation-deregulation; tional period of 2011-2012, led by survivors of Quadahfi’s intervention was, in contrast, ment, perhaps the most impor - the economic template notably that of the former UN 1996 massacre of Islamist prison - such a failure. tant condition is a currency risk- for Europe, and is now special representative, the highly ers at the Abu Slim prison. sharing system across countries. much the same as the A risk-sharing system in a cur - Structural Adjustment rency union requires the distribu - Policies the IMF has Vision of a peacemaker tion of money to regions experi - used in the third encing economic difficulties, world and now in PEACE BEYOND BORDERS cussion dialogue and diplomacy, decades. This is a welcome contri - whether due to the adoption of Europe (Latvia, Vijay Mehta 6) Financial incentives and sup - bution to the debate. unsuitable economic policies or Greece). (New Internationalist Publications, port, 7) Veto and consensus build - simply that these areas are less The authors propose £9.99 *) ing, 8) Resistance to external developed. In any individual a discretionary interference, 9) Rules for human states there will be the necessity approach to the rigid James ijay Mehta’s thesis is that rights and multiculturalism, 10) of fiscal transfers from the more rules-based policy because Europe has been Mutual trust and peaceful coexis - prosperous regions to the more regime:| a looser ‘soft’ Grayson peaceful since WWII one tence. less developed regions. For exam - money system. Here I cVan extrapolate. He sets out ten But the EU lacks military ple, this happens in the USA, part company. You on conditions which form a sufficient forces and is mostly ‘protected’ by with fiscal transfers from can have a soft money cause for continuing peace else - NATO which moved into the for - Vermont to Mississippi or in the regime or a hard- exporting where: 1) Enshrined democracy mer Soviet Union sphere of influ - UK from Surrey to Merseyside. money regime, neither and the rule of law, 2) Economic ence at the first opportunity and However, these fiscal transfers do is ideal, both have European truce, 3) Open borders and politicians failed to consider the not present any over-riding diffi - problems specific to human ties, 4) Soft power and consequences. Nevertheless it has culties within countries, but they themselves. A fixed peace shared values, 5) Permanent dis - enjoyed internal peace for several do become problematic when they system like the euro become policy between countries. where the currency is *£9.99 plus £2 post and packing available from www.europe for peace.org.uk People in London may not be par - pegged to another or or send a cheque to Vijay Mehta at 14 Cavell St. London E1 2HP 26 CHARTIST September/October 2016 September/October 2016 CHARTIST 27 BOOK REVIEWS

Colonial legacies Socialists and nationalism AFRICAN DEMOCRACY: ITS ORIGINS African lead - HESITANT COMRADES ment, did not support the Easter union movement during the1916- AND DEVELOPMENT IN UGANDA, ers. The devel - Geoffrey Bell (Pluto Press, £18.99) Rising, and even James 1921 period and provides an KENYA AND TANZANIA opment (or not) Connolly’s former colleagues of interesting study of William Gardner Thompson of democracy in Duncan o doubt published to coin - the Socialist Labour Party consid - Walker and the Belfast trade (Fountain Books (Kampala), £30) the three coun - cide with the centenary of ered Connolly mistaken in seeing union leadership’s protestant sec - tries after 1960 Bowie the Easter rising, this an independent Ireland as a pre - tarianism, which is perhaps part Nigel his book raises many ques - reflected their on a Nbook’s focus is on the period condition for the Irish working of the explanation for the British tions about democracy that differences: troubled between 1916 and the Anglo-Irish class to take power. Labour party leadership’s caution Watt on go beyond East Africa (and Uganda was an treaty of December 1921, which Bell has a very useful chapter about explicit support for either Tare relevant to our referendum uneasy amal - relationship created the Irish Free State and on different attitudes to the rela - the nationalist or the Protestant blues): what is democracy, what gam of strong generated the Irish Civil War. tionship between nationalism and faction. Bell also focuses on the decolonis- do people actually want – and kingdoms, The study is the first comprehen - socialism. The Rising occurred nascent British Communist party, ation and which people anyway? notably sive study of the attitude of the while Britain was at war with with Willie Gallagher in 1921 Thompson’s first question is to Buganda and British Labour movement to this Germany and those Labour lead - apparently advising the anti- democracy ask whether the British colonis - very different phase of the Irish struggle for ers who supported the war such treaty nationalists to arrest ers made any preparation for a Nilotic popula - independence, what Bell refers to as J R Clynes, George Barnes and Michael Collins and the pro- democratic outcome in these tions in the as the ‘Irish Revolution’. Bell, a Jimmy Thomas viewed Irish treaty nationalists. Bell also pre - countries or did not rather pro - north coupled Belfast protestant, has previously nationalism as a dangerous diver - sents a detailed analysis of the vide training for dictatorship. He with a bitter written books on the Protestants sion, there was little sympathy supportive commentary in Sylvia looks at the colonial period, the struggle of Ulster and British attitudes to for Roger Casement, executed for Pankhurst’s Workers transition and the story since between ‘the Troubles’. trying to organise German arms Dreadnought , the more hesitant independence in each country and Catholics and The book is well researched for the nationalists. Ramsay position of concludes that the end result is Protestants and presents a fair assessment of MacDonald who had opposed Labour Party and the Fabian atti - something called “democracy with dating from the responses of different ele - British involvement in the war tude which was more hostile to African characteristics”. The before indepen - ments of the Labour movement supported Irish self government, Irish nationalism arguing that a British ruled as authoritarians, dence, not to towards developments in Ireland. with a status similar to Australia form of strengthened local govern - sometimes providing good gover - mention the What is perhaps most interesting and Canada, but within the ment should satisfy nationalist nance, and assumed they had Muslims. is the limited priority within the framework of a reformed British aspirations. many years to prepare for inde - These tensions Labour movement to the Irish Empire. Labour leaders were to Bell’s book is well worth read - pendence. Suddenly, in the late had brought the country to ruin always wins) but presidents serve nationalist movement, a contrast claim credit for the Anglo-Irish ing; it presents a sound analysis 1950s factors caused a dash for by 1986 when Yoweri Museveni for two terms and dutifully retire. with the central role of the Home treaty which was based on this of a neglected subject and raises independence on ‘the in his first years provided good Thompson sees uneven Rule campaign in British liberal - premise, though there is little evi - some interesting and difficult Westminster model. Harold governance and hope, but he has progress hampered by the diffi - ism and the early socialist move - dence that the Labour leadership issues as to the relationship Macmillan realised that post- stayed too long in power, allowed cult birth of independence and ment in the last half of the 19th contributed significantly to the between socialism and national - Suez, the days of Empire were corruption to flourish and lost his the huge international economic century, where radicals and settlement, and Labour leaders ism. It is significant that the over and gave Iain Macleod full closest allies. and political pressures faced by socialists allied themselves with were shocked by the degree of Labour movement was more sup - support for rapid withdrawal. Kenya started with the poten - these young states. In the circum - the nationalist cause. opposition within Ireland to the portive of nationalist struggles in Other factors included: the begin - tial problem of its two largest, stances political parties in By 1916, attitudes and priori - settlement. India and Egypt, both key con - ning of the Cold War, Ghana culturally very different, ethnic Uganda and Kenya have been ties had changed. Most of the Bell provides a detailed analy - cerns during this period, than of becoming independent and the groups (Kikuyu and Luo) who mostly ethnically based and their , while supporting sis of the limited discussions on the struggle closer to home. reaction to the massacres at Hola were rivals for power and at times main objective has been to hang some degree of Irish self-govern - Ireland within the British trade Camp in Kenya and in Nyasaland also represented conservative and on to power. The fact that govern - (both in 1959) showed that force socialist ideas. Jomo Kenyatta, ments have relied on indirect tax - could no longer hold the Empire the first president, deepened the ation and foreign aid has given down. Then the Belgians in the ethnic divide and his successor, the executive freedom to spend Forgotten revolutionary feminist Congo in 1960 showed how not to Moi, perpetuated dictatorship. (or sometimes eat) the money on THE RED VIRGIN & THE VISION OF books—that movingly illustrate home. do it. The ethnic divide coupled with policies decided undemocratically UTOPIA Michel’s heroic life. The Talbots’ re-examination of Amazingly the first elections on economic hardship felt by the rather than taxpayers taking Mary M Talbot & Bryan Talbot Michel died in 1905, the year of the idea of utopia through this a full franchise in the three coun - rapidly growing population led to responsibility for spending deci - (Jonathan Cape, £16.99) the first Russian revolution and enthralling life story continues to tries were held just before or just the violence that followed the sions. He is critical of aid, quoting the story traverses back and forth inspire all who work for a better after independence. Although con - “stolen” election of 2007. Dumisa Moyo’s book, Dead Aid . Mike elebrating a tireless cam - from her early days to the world. stitutions were negotiated, Tanzania had the advantage of He shows how China’s advances Davis paigner for equality, human Commune when French workers Britain’s interest was to hand having no dominant ethnic have been welcomed in contrast on rights and liberation the established a short-lived socialist over to leaders who would serve groups, a national language, to the West constantly badgering CTalbot partnership once again col - council in the heart of Paris to the British interests and stay on side Kiswahili, a political party with them on things like human the laborates to animate the life of a 20th century. The device of con - in the Cold War. This attitude no rival which led automatically rights. forgotten heroine of the 1871 versations between Charlotte could have odd results: Britain to a one party system and a It helps to know something Commune Paris Commune. Louise Michel Perkins Gilman, the pioneer welcomed Idi Amin but saw visionary leader, Julius Nyerere. about the region first; Thompson was a revolutionary feminist and American feminist, and contem - Nyerere as a threat. Unfortunately his vision was too often omits to provide the back - and libertarian socialist who not only poraries of Michel, is used to tell The handover turned out to be much for a country of conserva - ground information which many envisioned a better life for women her story. smooth, thanks mainly to tive peasants and his socialism, readers would not know e.g. the courage and oppressed working people but Following the bloody suppres - Macmillan and Macleod and a promulgated in the Arusha union of Zanzibar with fought courageously for that new sion of the Commune Michel was couple of wise governors, Declaration, ultimately failed Tanganyika, the fact that there world. fortunate to escape with her life Turnbull in Tanganyika and when he stopped listening and in are several kingdoms in Uganda, Historian and academic Mary but was transported to New Cohen in Uganda who wrote, “a his frustration forced people into not just Buganda, the ethnic bal - Talbot provides the text and Caledonia. Earlier we see her sense of responsibility can only be communal villages. Tanzania has ance in Kenya. The book is very annotations while husband Bryan campaigning against wage slav - acquired by exercising responsi - now become part of the globalised readable – and it was published supplies the vivid black and white ery in France and then the real bility” – but the pressure for fast economy and has a multi-party in Uganda. graphics—peppered with red ban - slavery and illiteracy of the change came mainly from the system (in which the ruling party ners, neck-scarves, roses and indigenous people in her new 28 CHARTIST September/October 2016 September/October 2016 CHARTIST 29 BOOK REVIEWS

Debt or Democracy? Spanish populism

DEBT OR DEMOCRACY nomics'; in practice neoliberal pol - PODEMOS mismanagement, along with Mary Mellor (Pluto Press, £17) itics has won out, and the ortho - Inigo Errejon and Chantal Mouffe the connivance of Social doxies of handbag economics (Lawrence and Wishart, £10) Democracy, the country faced John eoliberal politics, as Mary remain unchallenged. Brian an unprecedented economic Mellor points out, has an Mellor puts centre stage the he book is a conversation and social crisis, with 25% Sunderland obsession with public debt role of money and suggests that O’Leary between the authors unemployment, as well as a Nand deficit. This world view char - the creation of debt is a positive: a on (Errejon is one of the cen - legitimacy crisis, with the acterises public expenditure as means of resourcing productive Ttral leaders of the new Spanish uncovering of widespread on the deficit essentially parasitic – spending activity. She identifies the way in Spanish left anti-austerity party Podemos ). In institutional corruption. The money on public services which which public money has been sum it amounts to theoretical successes in rapidly building obsession are funded through the wealth effectively privatised as the ulti - populism advocacy of a post-Marxist pro - a popular mass anti-corrup - creation of the private sector - mate neoliberal deceit. She gressive identity politics and tion and austerity movement with banks acting as honest inter - builds on this by attempting to applies this to the birth and suc - and making an electoral mediaries. Her arguments centre expose one of the foundation cesses of Podemos. breakthrough in 2015, criti - on the centrality of the role of myths about the role of money, Both authors subscribe to a cally depended upon reject - money, and how the banking cri - including the idea that money is reinterpretation of Gramsci’s the - ing the ‘fetishism’ of left and sis has revealed the way in which nothing more than a mechanism ory of hegemony that Mouffe pre - right in favour of ‘an above the private creation of debt has of exchange - facilitated by banks viously developed with Laclau in and a below’. been used as a political tool. – based upon sound deposits and the 80s. To challenge and replace Mouffe has doubts as to She seeks to expose a number reserves of precious metal. The the existing neo-liberal hegemony whether Podemos can sus - of myths and contradictions of social and historical context in it is necessary to go beyond mere tain its advance in the what she calls 'handbag eco - which money emerged shows this class categories and construct a absence of a greater egalitar - nomics' - the homespun approach to be no more than a myth. new progressive ‘People’, which ian orientation and becoming popularised by Thatcher which the same for the country? This is These ideas are part of the involves uniting heterogeneous unashamedly left populist. sees national economics as house - a question the left badly needs to 'paradigm shift' in economic social discontents. Only with this The party indeed failed in its aim surely bite back. Isn’t this the hold economics writ large. answer in a clear and credible thinking that we need. Although insight can an effective mass pro - of becoming the largest opposition message of the current reversals Common sense dictates that when way. The near collapse of the this book is not an easy read, its gressive subject be built. In turn in the recent second election. of Bolivarianism in South households struggle with debt financial system should have sig - ideas are central to the develop - this means redefining ‘us and However they both agree that the America? they get into trouble – so isn't this nalled the end of 'handbag eco - ment of a viable alternative. them’ in more general terms. general trajectory has to continue Overall the book offers an In Spain Podemos re-cate - to be for a radicalisation of plural - insight into the views of those gorised ‘them’ as la casta , which ist democracy. Is this seriously that inspire and lead one of the approximates to the establish - enough? Even if initially success - most electorally successful anti- Ten years that shook the world ment. These are seen as the cor - ful any extension of democracy neoliberal parties in Europe. THE ‘RUSSIAN’ CIVIL WARS France, America, Japan and the phy to supplement the 250 page rupt power elites of the wealthy and redistribution, unless with While there could be lessons in Jonathan Smele Czechoslovakian legion and to a text. It is arguably a book for spe - as well as the traditional political intermediate demands, will leave tactically rethinking the virtues (Hurst £35 (hbk), £19.99 (pbk)) lesser extent Poland, Finland, cialists but perhaps the new parties that have governed since untouched national and EU capi - of a left populism it does not con - Greece, Turkey and Iran), while paperback edition will attract a Franco. As a consequence of their talist power structures that will vince as a long term panacea. Duncan here is a massive literature Smele’s focus is on the challenges wider readership, who will be on the Russian civil war, to the Bolshevik rule from a rewarded by reading this scholar - Bowie both in terms of memoirs of series of other political and ethnic ly work. As Geoffrey Swain points on Tparticipants, and in terms of aca - groupings. out, ‘the demise of the USSR demic studies. I did question why Smele is excellent on the fluidi - makes the civil wars more not Pioneering picture books a a new study was necessary, but ty of alliances and conflicts and less important: the foundation revisionist was impressed by Smele’s earlier gives appropriate attention to the myths of all post-Soviet states are A NEW CHILDHOOD: PICTURE BOOKS phers, working together in pre- books of Père Castor in France magisterial study of Kolchak’s socialist challenges to Bolshevism centred on these struggles.’ FROM SOVIET RUSSIA Stalinist USSR produced some of and Noel Carrington with the history regime in Siberia ( Civil War in as well as to the challenges from (Olivia Ahmed (curator) the most creative, eye-catching Puffin Picture book series in the Siberia CUP 1996 ), so was inter - ‘White Russians’ and Cossacks as (House of Illustration, £19.99) and influential children’s books of UK. ested in what Smele had to add to well as the interventionist pow - Mike the 20th Century. They provided Thousands of illustrators from the existing literature. Smele’s ers. This approach is not new and his relatively new centre for the inspiration for the children’s Lebedev to Lissitzky (who worked claim to a novel approach rests on can also be seen in Evan Davis exhibiting the best in illus - with other Yiddish artists until two related premises – that the Mawdsley’s 1986 study and more on tration is a must for anyone suppressed) in many publishing civil war started before the recent studies of politics Behind Tinterested in modern drawing and houses, used folk tales, poetry October revolution, with a revolt the front lines by Vladimir inspiring design. The House is tucked and prose, even nonsense verse, in central Asia in the summer of Brovkin, Geoffrey Swain and behind the new Kings Cross sta - as well as information on all 1916, and that the civil war was Scott B Smith. children’s tion complex on the edge of kinds of life, labour and produc - not one civil war but a series of Smele’s study is the most com - art Granary square and has a stand - tion to communicate to the wars which involved a range of prehensive. He has an ency - ing Quintin Blake Gallery. This younger generation. ethnic groups and was therefore clopaedic knowledge of both pri - latest show reveals the stunning Working in turbulent political not primarily ‘Russian’. mary and secondary sources, no innovation of illustrated chil - times the children’s book artists, While Smele’s first argument is doubt attributable to his decade dren’s books produced in the with arguably greater freedom unconvincing (and tends to rely as editor of the journal Children’s Books Soviet Union during the 1920s (for longer) than others from the on a recently republished study of Revolutionary Russia and his from Soviet and early 1930s. dead hand of state censorship and the central Asian uprising by compilation of a two volume Russia is at The Displaying a selection of origi - control, sought to educate, enter - Edward Sokol), the second argu - Historical Dictionary of the House of nal artwork and rare books from tain and uplift children in their ment is valid. Much of literature Russian Civil Wars (Rowman and Illustration until the collection of Sasha Lurye, endeavours. They did this in by Western academics focuses on Littlefield £170), published last 11th September reproduced in A New Childhood , spades judging by this show. the various western interventions year. His new book has over 150 the exhibition underlines the way Catch it if you can, or buy the in the civil war (by Britain, pages of footnotes and bibliogra - artists, designers and typogra - book. 30 CHARTIST September/October 2016 September/October 2016 CHARTIST 31 YOUTH VIEW Labour’s mutual interests

Harry f events of the past few Malhotra's months have underlined office; that Hayball anything, it's that Labour's Jeremy secretly left and centre-left need one voted “Leave”; tackles the another, and each side's and that he success depends on their coopera - tried to intimi - smears Ition with the other. If Jeremy date an MP Corbyn wins the current leader - through his and calls ship election, such cooperation IRA father, to will be essential to preventing a name a few. for unity damaging split, and to Labour's The assertion chances of expanding its support that centrist base in wider society. Labour's and centre-left centrists are not convinced that a MPs gave their mass movement is needed to win support to power. But if Owen Smith wins, Jeremy also co-operation with the left will, at does not with - the very least, still be vital to stand any avoid years of purges and faction - scrutiny. When al fighting, and the Labour right Sadiq Khan successfully undermining the was accused of new leadership as they did with sharing plat - Ed Miliband. forms with dubious indi - Open conflict viduals, the Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn prepares for another year in response of the office We are, however, in the unfor - entirety of tunate situation where these two Labour was to parts of the Labour Party are say, quite rightly, that this was give them a go – for a little longer now in open conflict. Meanwhile, simply a racist smear campaign – than nine months. the right-wing, which appears to as put it, the racist Secondly, a “forgive and forget” be the most adamant that it dogwhistle was turning into “a - and apologise where appropriate alone owns the party and knows racist scream”. But similar, and - approach of some sort is proba - Harry Hayball is the direction it should take, is even worse, smears have been bly needed. If different parts of secretary, operating mainly in the back - directed at Jeremy throughout his Britain's left spend forever going Village BLP, ground. time as leader, many of them pro - over what has gone wrong in the Dulwich and It is hard to know what has moted by parts of the Labour past, there is not much hope of West Norwood gone on behind the scenes and Party. The absolute silence of future co-operation. Corbyn has a CLP. He writes in the intimate details of the per - most of those Labour MPs not great capacity to reach out to his a personal sonal relationships between actively involved in these smears supporters, and through the capacity Corbyn, his team and members of has been quite damning - not to mainstream media the centre-left the shadow cabinet. Some of the mention their participation in the do too, so it shouldn't be hard to information that has come out attempted coup, support for the achieve this. has revealed that Jeremy's team exclusion of 130,000 new mem - has not been immune to The bers from voting, and so forth. Work out a way Thick Of It -style blunders, such As things currently stand, it S as around the appointment(s) of looks like Jeremy Corbyn will be Finally, both sides need to u . But The re-elected, perhaps with an even work out a way to co-operate on b Thick Of It was inspired by New bigger mandate than last time. policy, strategy and other key s Labour, not the left, so it is hard What is the way forward from issues – whilst bearing in mind w c to see these as sufficient justifi - this? I would suggest a few the proportion of the vote Corbyn w ri cation for trying to depose things. has and the democratic mandate w b Labour's elected leader. Firstly, the centre-left need to that gives him, as well as respect - . e Most of the allegations, make absolutely clear, from now ing party conference and Labour's c t moreover, seem to have onwards, that they would oppose internal policy-making processes. h o very little substance any split and try to work with At the moment, things look a C behind them: the whoever is elected, including rather dire. But there is no rea - rt H claim that lead - Jeremy. Their failure to convince son why Labour cannot re-unite is A ership staff the party electorate that Corbyn after the election. Most of t R broke into is a bad leader is not sufficient Labour's left and centre share a . T Seema reason to completely disregard fairly broad agreement on policy, o I that electorate and destroy the and just differ over what policies rg S Labour Party. Those voting for are feasible and tactics for win - . T Jeremy are not fanatics, cult- ning power. Regardless of what u a members and “Militant” diehards, has happened so far, their cooper - k t but people who like Jeremy's ation is essential, and something ideas and approach and want to we can all work to achieve. C