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Political disorientation: n Letters and debate workern SWP and Labour Party SPEW and the unMarxist n From Powell to Brexit slogan of the 1% vs the 99% n Turkey after the coup No 1117 Thursday July 28 2016 Towards a Communist Party of the European Union £1/€1.10 Labour right’s floundering coup attempt 2 weekly July 28 2016 1117 worker letters

Letters may have been into membership or affiliation, but an incumbent they’re not subject to far less obvious forces within our working together to undermine Corbo shortened because of fundamentally this has to be decided by nomination: the nomination procedure own state who wish to suppress any at every turn. It was shocking to hear space. Some names the Labour Party itself, not any outside, is only for aspiring challengers. disobedience, rebelliousness or other that he had been throwing stones at the  may have been changed factional, hostile, poisonous sectlets. Correspondingly the incumbent is not such ‘insurrectionist’ potential from offices of Westminster champion, the I personally thought it was strange eligible to take part in that procedure freethinking and largely undefeated honourable Angela Eagle MP, in the Two cheeks and undermining to allow potentially - they’re excluded from it by the rules. citizens, such as myself. middle of the night. I was very disappointed with Dave Lynch’s transient ‘supporters’ the same weight in In his letter Andrew mistakenly slides This entire life experience of mine It was reported that Corbo had article, ‘Which side are you on?’ (July electing the leader as fully paid-up and the two cases together: “[t]he very rule has been nearly as bad as having been ‘allowed’ a culture of bullying. Tearful 21), which is a pretty scurrilous piece often longstanding members. I agreed Mike quotes states that ‘any nomination’ ‘shouted at’ by someone, or having women MPs were seen on telly and 44 of journalism. with the aim of making the Labour must be supported by 20%, which been informed that a brick was thrown Labour women MPs signed a petition I am assuming the Robert Griffiths leadership more attuned, sensitive and surely means any candidate. If it was through the window of completely against Corbo because “rape threats, letter is genuine, as you appear to outward-looking to both traditional intended to mean potential challengers empty premises! death threats, smashed cars and bricks be quoting it from the 21st Century and potentially newer constituencies of only, it would surely have said that, and Bruno Kretzschmar through windows are disgusting and Manifesto website. The position of voters, but thought this element should that the incumbent could go through email totally unacceptable”. This was part of the Communist Party of Britain on the be capped at perhaps 10% or 20% of the automatically”. Perhaps it’s going too the big build-up for a feminist challenge question of its members not registering total result, to protect the sovereignty of far to call this an amalgam. Vacant wit to male-dominated Corbynism. as either supporters or members is the membership base. But then a few months ago Andrew If Corbyn loses are you going to run the Ms Eagle led from the front. Yet this crystal-clear, and it appears Robert is I very much agree with trade asserted that “the publicly stated bases following ad? challenge collapsed when she stood simply putting that on a wider record and union political levy-payers becoming of the four key Moscow trials between “Situations vacant: messiah for the down for Owen Smith, a real man with for clear political and principled reasons. individual members of the Labour Party, 1936 and 1938 were in fact broadly left. The successful candidate must a family. The Westminster brand of Nothing to do with “scabbing” - a but what about the voice of the affiliated correct ... [the] arguments set out by the be able to elicit fawning, bordering feminism crashed onto the rocks of New disgusting allegation. trade unions and socialist organisations prosecution and supported by the trial on delusional, from those that should Labour political expediency. This was When the 2015 Labour leadership as collective bodies? How far should judges that former leading members know better. They must be able to talk exposed as another Westminster game, election opened, there was some non-Labour Party members be able of the party [had perpetrated heinous a good fight about ending Tory austerity, a weapon which Labour politicians ambiguity on the Labour Party website to influence Labour leadership and crime after dastardly crime] seem to be renationalisation and increasing NHS were exploiting, not least in supplying as to what a ‘registered supporter’ was policies? How far should the Labour supported by the facts now available to spending. Experience is not essential; Cameron and May with ammunition to really signing up to. The terms and Party seek to be a ‘parliament’ of the us” (Letters, March 3). And Andrew’s in fact it is a crucial requirement that taunt Corbyn. conditions implied that if one was not whole organised labour movement? middle name probably isn’t even Grover. the candidate has done nothing concrete. Next came ‘Corbogate’, when Corbo a member of an organisation ‘opposed’ Lynch attacks the Morning Star in Jara Handala Shameless hypocrisy is a requirement sent a gang of desperados to break to the Labour Party, and agreed with the not vigorously opposing Neil Kinnock’s email as the candidate must call for unity, into the Westminster office of another Labour Party’s aims and values, they assault on Militant in the late 1980s. but never have shown any in their past. Westminster MP, Seema Malhorata. My were eligible to sign up. I well remember, as a member of the Abused References from Dennis Skinner and the own theory is that Corbo wanted to bug As the CPB is not ‘opposed’ to CPGB at the time, hearing on the radio Taking my cue from those Labour MPs SWP are a must. But he or she must be her office, like tricky Nixon had done in the Labour Party, as per its political Kinnock’s extraordinarily, electrifying who recently have suffered the deeply able to lead the Labour Party to electoral the 1970s. He should have realised that programme and strategy, Britain’s excoriation of the Militant Tendency in disturbing upset of being ‘shouted at’ oblivion.” MI5 had already bugged all the offices, road to socialism, that could have Liverpool. during meetings, or even the sheer and Steven Johnston and simply asked Theresa May at PMQs led members to think they could and The “grotesque spectacle, of a abject horror of having had a brick email for a transcript of what the plotters have ought to sign up. However, on June 16 Labour council, a Labour council, thrown through the window of their been up to. It would have saved time. 2015, the CPB wrote to all members scuttling around the city in taxis handing (empty and locked) local offices, I wish Close it down Instead of being pinned down in advising that in fact the Labour Party out redundancy notices”, resonated to make a complaint. Again, precisely as The whole Westminster system is a a hail of Westminster bullets, Corbo has a different and tighter interpretation with huge sections of the genuine with those abused and vulnerable souls, complete farce and a national disgrace. should go on the offensive. These MPs of what constitutes ‘opposition’ to the left, who were disgusted at the total it’s a complaint that I intend to make Nothing more epitomises this waste of hate democracy and fear nothing more Labour Party, and made it absolutely depths and depravity Trotskyism in available to our corporately controlled time than prime minister’s questions. We than being held accountable by their clear that its members must not sign up practice had sunk to and, frankly, mass media outlets, as well as report may have seen Corbyn asking serious party members or their electorates. to the Labour Party or, if they did, they welcomed and supported their political for urgent investigation by the police. questions, sometimes from the public. And The people have to take matters into should leave the CPB. destruction in the Labour and working For whatever mixture of reasons, the prime minister gives a non-answer, their own hands. We need a revolution At that time and indeed since, there class movement. We knew Kinnock I am someone who has absolutely no with statistics about how they did better in democracy. The people are crying were wide allegations that ‘far left’ would use this to marginalise the left wish to comply with the ideology, let than the previous lot. out for it. groups, ‘Trotskyists’ and members of in general, but that did not mean the alone enable the practices, of capitalism. All this comes amid baying, cat- This is the message from the other political parties were joining as attack on Militant was not correct in Nevertheless, over the course of my calling, shouting and barracking. The Scottish referendum in 2014 and the Labour supporters, and this was being and of itself. lifetime I have suffered repeated and prime minister always ends up with EU referendum in 2016. Corbo must used to discredit and undermine Jeremy Communists, from Lenin in his indeed relentless harassment by our the last laugh, along the lines that my address the democratic deficit and offer Corbyn’s subsequent election as Labour Leftwing communism: an infantile various governments precisely to do party is better than yours. Bullying real solutions. On June 23, Scotland leader. disorder, have well understood that so - from both the overtly Tory as well and undermining is part and parcel voted to remain in the EU and England In my opinion, it is completely ultra-leftism is the counterpart of as those in a purportedly ‘socialist’ form. of the Westminster system, involving voted to exit. The Scottish people must wrong and totally unprincipled for rightwing opportunism and capitalism On many occasions, this harassment the whips, bribery and blackmail, all therefore have the opportunity for a members of other political parties to in the labour movement; two cheeks of and persecution perpetrated upon my orchestrated by the BBC and the national referendum on leaving the UK to remain attempt to join Labour for the purpose of the same backside. person by that string of governments (in newspapers. The kind of nonsense that in the EU. Every democrat in England voting for the leader. The CPB, entirely Andrew Northall close collaboration with most of their goes on here would not be tolerated in must support it. commendably, made that position Kettering nominally ‘outsourced’ agencies such the typical school playground. Neither the crown nor Westminster clear to all its members - and now in as the media, incidentally), together In my never-to-be-forgotten will allow it. The Tories will oppose communication to the Labour Party via Not Grover have extended to a level of ruthlessness 2015 general election candidacy in it. If Corbyn is truly the champion of its general secretary. Sometimes a letter may persuade even if I can only describe as ‘vicious-minded Bermondsey, I called for the crumbling popular democracy, and not just another The CPB does argue that political it isn’t evidenced. If it’s on an important bullying’. By which I mean, despite Palace of Westminster to be closed down Westminster rebel who eventually falls levy-payers in affiliated trades unions, topic it needs to be challenged, even publicly and sometimes extremely before it sank into the Thames. I alleged into line, he should immediately make including members of the Communist corrected, and this is the case with Andrew loudly expressing these principled and the Westminster system was doing this pledge. and other parties, should be able to fully Northall last week when he claimed that categorical objections of mine, those such a bad job we needed a complete He should declare in his campaign participate in the political activities of Jeremy Corbyn needs nominations to be self-same establishment outfits have radical break. England desperately for Labour leader that the next Labour their unions, but that this is a position on the leadership ballot. The high court continued to bomb and butcher and needs its own brand new, 21st-century government will call an early referendum to be won openly and collectively, and judgment on the matter is due on July maim, continued uninterrupted and people’s parliament. Given the deep to ask the Scottish people if they want not entryism or subterfuge. Writing to 28, and it turns on the interpretation of unabated to invade and destroy their division between London and the rest to leave the UK and remain in the EU. the Labour Party general secretary and the party rules. way around the world in pursuit of their of the country, it should be set up in the The same is true for Northern Ireland. publishing it on 21CM, is simply making The relevant rule identifies two blood-soaked and barbaric imperialist Midlands. The position of England is different. that principled, open and democratic cases, labelled (i) and (ii) - the first when agenda. England is still deluded by England voted to leave the EU. England position clear to anyone and everyone. there’s a vacancy, the second when there In precisely this same vein, also I Westminster. Many Brexiters has to change its mind. Supporting The total numbers of infiltrators in isn’t. The rule, in full: “i. In the case of wish to lodge an official complaint that voted to leave the EU, wanting to the right of the Scottish people to the Labour Party are frankly going to a vacancy for leader or deputy leader, an entirely fraudulent presentation of restore Westminster parliamentary self-determination will help to finally be relatively miniscule compared with each nomination must be supported those activities and practices on the part ‘sovereignty’. False expectations were put the myths of Little England with its the hundreds of thousands who have by 12.5% of the Commons members of the capitalist system (as being in the stoked up by the same politicians, who illusions in Westminster ‘sovereignty’ joined Labour either as full members or of the [Parliamentary Labour Party]. name of ‘democracy’ and consequently enjoy a Westminster job for life in to the sword. supporters. Paul Mason on BBC Radio Nominations not attaining this threshold on behalf of ‘freedom-loving’ people, their mainly safe seats. The antics of Steve Freeman Four’s World at one (July 21) joked shall be null and void. ii. Where there etc) has always caused and continues to Westminster MPs are now seen in the Left Unity and Rise that if there are more than a thousand is no vacancy, nominations may be cause extreme damage to my well-being; daily diet of Corbo-horror stories. active Trotskyists, plus 500 anarcho- sought by potential challengers each to create an exceptionally high degree of The long running saga of Fake solidarity syndicalists in the entire country, we year prior to the annual session of party emotional anguish and psychic distress. ‘Westminster versus the people’ is now Activists from Teesside People’s Assembly​ would be very lucky indeed. Add in the conference. In this case any nomination This is not to mention the utterly in overdrive with a fantastical series of and LGBT+ Against Islamophobia​ took Maoists, we might get to 1,542. must be supported by 20% of the sickening fact that, by behaving in that Corbo-outrages. It is better than The part in a successful anti-fascist action in Such numbers are going to have combined Commons members of the manner and despite equivalent disgust, Archers. I am getting addicted to the Stockton-on-Tees on Saturday July 23. zero impact on anything. The point is PLP and the members of the EPLP [Euro outrage and associated protestations drama of the Westminster establishment, A group of known far-right activists to remove any possible excuse for the parliament]. Nominations not attaining from a huge number of my fellow aided and abetted by the national - including members of the racist mass media or their political followers this threshold shall be null and void.” citizens, those elites of ours have placed media, doing everything possible to organisations, Pegida UK, North East to distract or deny the true membership So if there’s a vacancy everyone every single one of us at extreme and undermine, denigrate and bully the Infidels and the English Defence League and supporter base of the Labour Party, has to be nominated, obviously; so constant risk of being the target of people’s champion. I can’t wait for the - sought to exploit the recent tragedy their fundamental democratic right to the rule says that “each nomination retaliation from a variety of terrorists next episode to find out what terrible in Orlando by setting up a Facebook determine their leadership and policies. must” be supported by 12.5%; whereas (the object of what, in their own terms, thing Corbo has done. page called ‘LGBT Stockton-on-Tees’ Lynch ludicrously attacks the ‘right’ if there’s no vacancy the rule says is ‘retribution and revenge’). The whole Westminster and announcing a march supposedly of the Labour Party to determine its that “nominations must be sought by Of course, by ‘terrorists’ I mean establishment, Tory and Labour, wants in solidarity with the gay, lesbian, own membership! We may or may not potential challengers” (my emphasis); those of a grossly deluded Islamic rid of him. They fear he is letting the bisexual and transgender victims of have views on the role and purpose of so no “each nomination must”. The fundamentalist origin cum neo- ‘mob’ have a say in their exclusive that attack. Their purpose - not stated the Labour Party and who it accepts wording had to differ because if there’s medieval nature, but equally so those members’ club. A broad united front is in their propaganda for this event, but BCM Box 928, London WC1N 3XX l 07704 903382 l www.weeklyworker.co.uk l [email protected] weekly 3 worker 1117 July 28 2016

evident in their political affiliations Syrian Kurds from the PKK and he is not simply the US dog’s tail. and recent comments on social media responded. Was the attack on Gülen Erdoğan has charged the Muslim - was to portray Muslims as somehow and the sudden reversal of the policy of cleric and Islamist leader, Fethullah London Communist Forum responsible for the Orlando murders. seeking rapprochement with Abdullah Gülen, with prime responsibility for the Sunday July 31, 5pm: Weekly political report from CPGB Provisional After being tipped off about the Öcalan and the PKK really part of a coup and is demanding his extradition Central Committee, followed by open discussion and reading group. fascists’ plans a few days before the struggle within the state? Operation from the US to face trial. Secretary Calthorpe Arms, 252 Grays Inn Road, London WC1. Study of Ralph event, we contacted labour-movement Martyr Yalçın, which began on July of state John Kerry has not outrightly Miliband’s Parliamentary socialism. This meeting: chapter 6 (‘The activists, equality campaigners and 24 2015, was surely due to Erdoğan’s refused, saying it can be discussed if price of respectability’), section 4: ‘After MacDonald’. organisations that work to support the increasing concern about the success of evidence is produced. The US is now Organised by CPGB: www.cpgb.org.uk; LGBT community; we explained the the Kurdish People’s Protection Units desperate to limit the damage from the Labour Party Marxists: www.labourpartymarxists.org.uk. march organisers’ real agenda to some (YPG) in Syria with the backing of the debacle of the failed coup and Gülen’s Dance for Corbyn of the people they had tricked into US. The targets were overwhelmingly head on a plate may be a price they Thursday July 28 and Friday July 29, 7pm: Music event, Amersham expressing support on Facebook; and PKK strongholds and very few IS are prepared to pay. Gülen was an Arms, 388 New Cross Road, London SE14. Tickets: £3 to £10. we issued statements to the local media, positions were hit. ally of Erdoğan until 2013. He runs Organised by People’s Momentum: www.peoplesmomentum.com. which were reported by the Teesside Erdoğan has finally lost patience an international Islamist movement Gazette ​and The Northern Echo​. with the US, who are using the YPG with upwards of 12 million supporters The new economics On the day, we went along to as ground troops to attack IS. He fears in many countries. His is apparently Thursday July 28, 7.30pm: Public meeting, Orange Box, Thomas Stockton town centre, distributed leaflets that they want bases in Rojava, Kurdish a more moderate form of Islam than Street, Halifax HX1. Speaker: Rebecca Long Bailey MP, shadow chief that promoted a positive message of Syria, to use against Russia and they Erdoğan’s, whom he accused of running secretary to the treasury. unity and equality, and spoke to many will guarantee a Kurdish state to get a corrupt system, forcing the break. He Organised by People’s Momentum: www.peoplesmomentum.com. local residents about the reasons for our them. Erdoğan fears this will encourage describes himself and his movement as Stop the Labour right counter-protest, which later involved the PKK in Turkey to join with them in ‎non-denominational Muslim. But it is Thursday July 28, 7pm: Public meeting, Bromley Labour Party, St occupying the space outside Marks and creating a greater Kurdistan. Because also clearly more pro-US imperialist. Mark’s Road, Bromley BR2. How to defend Jeremy Corbyn. Speaker: Spencer that the fascists had planned of the situation in Iraq, that Kurdish His charter schools in the US get TSSA general secretary Manuel Cortes. to use for their rally, and declining region is also independent. But all generous funding from the government. Organised by Bromley Momentum: www.peoplesmomentum.com. invitations to vacate the area. Around 40 Kurdish leaderships, Öcalan’s PKK, And he has connections with Obama comrades were involved in supporting the Democratic Union Party (PYD/ and the Clinton Foundation, to which Support Corbyn our action over the course of the three YPG) in Rojava and Masoud Barzani’s Gülen followers have reportedly Thursday July 28, 6.30pm: Meeting, The Station pub, 2 Warrington hours we were there. Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) in donated between $500,000 and $1 Street, Ashton-under-Lyne, OL6 . Fewer than 10 people actually took Iraqi Kurdistan are, to a greater or lesser million. Organised by People’s Momentum: www.peoplesmomentum.com. part in the fascists’ march with, at extent, clients of the USA - Barzani Erdoğan had good reason to fear Groundswell most, 15 people attending their rally is by far the most reliable and the a successful coup. Almost all leading Thursday July 28, 6.30pm: Film screening, Hamilton House, 80 when it eventually started. The fascists’ other two maintain only a relative government figures were executed in Stokes Croft, Bristol BS1. Documentary on fracking in the USA. spokesperson, Bill Weir, blamed us independence. the coups of 1960 and 1980. Prime Organised by Bristol Momentum: www.momentumbristol.org. for the poor turnout, claiming that the It is likely that the Turkish coup minister Adnan Menderes, minister of “media narrative” we promoted was attempt was assisted and encouraged, if foreign affairs Fatin Rüştü Zorlu and After Chilcot “intimidation” and had put people off not actually directed, by US imperialism minister of finance Hasan Polatkan Thursday July 28, 7pm: Public meeting, Chapel Field Road Methodist taking part. We are proud to have played in response to Erdoğan’s moves to seek were executed on İmralı island in Church, Norwich NR2. a role in making the local community rapprochement with Russia (he has September 1961 and, in 1980, 50 Organised by Norwich Stop the War Coalition: www.norwichstopwar.org.uk. aware of these fascists’ history and their apologised at last for shooting down people were executed, 500,000 were Defend Jeremy real political objectives in appropriating the Russian jet) and with Syria’s Assad. arrested and hundreds died in prison. In Thursday July 28, 7 pm: Public meeting, Bromley Labour Party, St Mark’s LGBT rights. He also sought to mend relations with the ‘constitutional coups’ of 1971 and Road, Bromley BR2. Guest speaker: TSSA general secretary Manuel Cortes. We remember how not so long Israel - all in the past few weeks. 1987, political parties were disbanded Organised by People’s Momentum: www.peoplesmomentum.com. ago the same fascists hated Jews and At the time of writing the Incirlik and elected governments overthrown by pretended to support Muslims, bringing air base in southern Turkey is still the decree of the army, backed up by the No to Nazis Anti-fascist demonstration, Downing Street, London SW1. Palestinian flags to their rallies, because without grid power since the coup knowledge of the certain fate defiance Friday July 29, 5pm: Organised by Unite Against Fascism: http://uaf.org.uk. they thought it would find them allies attempt on July 15. CCN reported would produce. Çevik Bir, one of the for their anti-Semitism. We remember “several US defence officials” saying generals who planned the 1997 coup, Talk Socialism how they also hated LGBT people and that the military were doing “prudent which only required that infamous Friday July 29, 8.30pm: Stand-up comedy, The Cumberland Arms, held them responsible for child abuse planning” in case it needs to move its Turkish ‘military memorandum’, made Byker Buildings, Newcastle upon Tyne NE6. and claimed they should therefore be anti-IS operations from the base. The the following chilling threat: Organised by Talk Socialism: www.facebook.com/TalkSocialism. denied employment, imprisoned or even base commander, general Bekir Ercan “In Turkey we have a marriage of Laugh for Jeremy executed. More recently, the fascists Van, several pilots who were actively Islam and democracy … The child of Friday July 29, 8.30pm: Comedy fundraiser, Cumberland Arms, James switched to demonising Muslims and involved in the coup and a police officer this marriage is secularism. Now this Place Street, Newcastle upon Tyne NE6. With The Suggestibles, Hal claimed that they supported child- were arrested. This gives credence child gets sick from time to time. The Branson, Catherine Scott, Mickey Cochrane and John Whales. Tickets: grooming and terrorism. Then they to claims that the US were actively Turkish armed forces is the doctor £10 (£6 concessions). brought Israeli flags to their rallies involved in the coup. Erdoğan had to which saves the child. Depending on Organised by People’s Momentum: www.peoplesmomentum.com. because they thought it would get circle Atatürk airport for two hours how sick the kid is, we administer the Jewish people to side with their attacks before landing and the parliament was necessary medicine to make sure the No fracking on Muslims. They failed. bombed - as was Erdoğan’s holiday child recuperates.” Saturday July 30, 12 noon: Protest, Clifford’s Tower (the Eye of Well, now the fascists want us to resort hotel in Marmaris, which he had The child of Islam and democracy York), York YO1. believe they are advocates for LGBT just evacuated. had become very ill again and was in Organised by Campaign Against Climate Change: www.campaigncc.org. rights and seek to ‘protect’ them Lending urgency to the CIA/coup desperate need of the strong blood- Defeat the Labour coup from terrorism, which they blame on plotters was the knowledge that the purge medicine to be administered Wednesday August 3, 7pm: Rally, Belle Vue Way Social Club, Kendal Muslims. Yes, that’s the same LGBT long-proclaimed imminent fall of by the army by July 15, the coupists Road, Hartlepool TS25. community they wanted to wipe out just Aleppo, Syria’s largest city, is at reasoned. Organised by People’s Momentum: www.peoplesmomentum.com. a few years ago. hand. The Castello highway, the last Erdoğan has been moving against Anyone spot a pattern here? Hate supply route from Turkey into the the supporters of Gülen in the army All out for Shenstone and division. That’s all the fascists are city for the rebels, has been cut since in recent years, as Gülen consolidated Monday August 8, 12 noon: cyclists’ demonstration, UAV Engines Factory , interested in. Their bids for new allies July 7 in Bashar al-Assad’s northern his relationship with US imperialism Lynn Lane, Shenstone , Litchfield. Protest against arms sales to Israel. are cynical and intended to incite hatred Aleppo offensive, which began in June via the CIA and other agencies. The Organised by the Big Ride for Palestine: www.redspokes.co.uk/thebigride. and divide people. 2016, involving some 40,000 troops. Ergenekon conspiracy in 2008 resulted The trial of Jane Fonda There’s no place for hate in Stockton Significantly, it was cut in cooperation in very long and complicated trials Ends Saturday August 20: Anti-war play, Park Theatre, Clifton or anywhere elsewhere around Teesside. between Russian bombing, government with indifferent results for him. In the Terrace, Finsbury Park, London N4. If the far-right come back again, troops from the south and by Kurdish ‘Sledgehammer’ plot in 2010, charges Staged by Park Theatre: whatever disguise they wear next time, YPG forces from the north. of attempting to overthrow the civilian www.parktheatre.co.uk/whats-on/the-trial-of-jane-fonda. we will be here to oppose them and to Erdoğan’s proposed alliance with government were made against four counter their lies. Assad is undoubtedly aimed at a joint admirals, a general and two colonels National Shop Stewards Network There are photos from the July 23 assault on the YPG in Rojava as soon and were far more successful in getting Sunday September 11, 1pm: Rally at TUC conference, Ashdown action on our Facebook page at www. as the other non-IS rebels are defeated, convictions. Suite, Holiday Inn, 137 King’s Road, Brighton BN1. facebook.com/TeessidePA. The leaflet which may come very quickly now. The YPG in Syrian Kurdistan have Organised by National Shop Stewards Network: http://shopstewards.net. we distributed can be downloaded at So a large part of the motivation for become the foot soldiers for the US Underbelly of the workplace http://goo.gl/bkq1So. the coup was to prevent the Turkish/ against IS in the region and, after the Friday September 16, Saturday September 17, 11am to 5pm: Steve Cooke Russian/Assad front developing - or to rapprochement with Russia and Syria Conference, University of Greenwich, Stephen Lawrence Building, 30 Teesside People’s Assembly ensure that it happened if it was a false by the Turkish government and the Park Row, London SE10. flag. Just as important were domestic failed coup of July 15-16, may pay a Organised by Blacklist Support Group: Sick child counterrevolutionary considerations, heavy price. A joint assault on them by www.facebook.com/groups/blacklistSG. Esen Uslu tells us that “Erdoğan distanced equally held by both the army and both Assad and Turkey is now in the himself from the Gülen movement and Erdoğan, to prevent the marrying of offing, which Russia will be obliged to Tories out! Sunday October 2, 11.30am: Anti-austerity protest, Conservative Party started to demonise them. He sought the struggles of the western Turkish support, or at least ignore, to prevent the conference, Victoria Square, Birmingham B1. support from the military top brass by working class and oppressed with the setting up of permanent bases against Organised by People’s Assembly: www.thepeoplesassembly.org.uk. letting them loose on the Kurds, and Kurdish struggle in the south-east for themselves in Rojava. reversing the previous policy of seeking self-determination, as signified in the So the tables have now been turned Stand Up To Racism a solution to the ‘Kurdish problem’ emergence of the People’s Democratic and Erdoğan has to seek a new ally in Saturday October 8, 10am to 4pm: Conference, Friends Meeting through negotiations” (‘Erdoğan’s Party (HDP) in the elections in 2015. Assad and the acquiescence of Israel House, 173-177 Euston Road, London NW1. counter-coup coup’, July 21). Israel apparently has bought into the and Putin against the Kurds, calculating Organised by Stand Up To Racism: Was it not the Suruç bombing plan, as its concern in the region is that it is no longer possible to ally www.facebook.com/Stand-Up-To-Racism-485067858271721. on July 20, which killed 33 young always to ensure that no regional power with IS. Remember, this is the land CPGB wills Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) gains hegemony and so become able to of ancient Byzantine intrigues, and Remember the CPGB and keep the struggle going. Put our party’s name socialists destined for Kobanê, the threaten Israel itself. Currently its target modern Turkish politics fully lives up and address, together with the amount you wish to leave, in your will. If immediate cause? Islamic State sent is Iran, allowing Turkey to became a to that heritage. you need further help, do not hesitate to contact us. a message to Recep Tayyip Erdoğan stronger power in order to counter that Gerry Downing that he needed to halt assistance to the seems to be their game for now. Israel Socialist Fight 4 weekly July 28 2016 1117 worker labour

Owen Smith: vacuous right-centre Labourite Right’s floundering coup Where next for the Labour right? Jim Grant considers the options hat was it Marx said about inevitability of Smith’s defeat in MacDonald took only 15 with him expecting different results. fight effectively for apparatus control, history repeating itself? anything resembling a fair fight can into the national government in 1931, how to lie and smear and exploit the W This time last year, the be more obvious to nobody than Smith and the Social Democratic Party 28 in Version three: preference of the courts and bourgeois Weekly Worker was already confidently himself. We must ask: what is the right’s 1981. That 28 became six after the 1983 press - an experience denied to the likes predicting that Jeremy Corbyn would plan B? At the moment, there are several general election. A traitor organisation well grubbed ... of Owen Smith, who had Neil Kinnock, win a crushing victory in the first candidates; all, it must be said, are of the PLP will have the support of So what is left then? Only total inaction Blair and the rest to do the hard yards for round of the Labour Party leadership unattractive. Murdoch, but not of the unions; and it and paralysis; waiting for this leftwing him in advance. election. It seems odd in hindsight, but is the latter support that is measured, at fever to usurp itself. What is necessary then - as this paper many comrades were very much more the end of the day, in pounds and pence. The problem with this approach has repeatedly argued - is for the left to cautious, despite polling figures the Version one: Both sides would be likely to suffer; for the actual individual MPs is that it press its advantage and make war upon three stooges must surely have viewed the split but the traitor side would be likely to may bear fruit far too late for them; a the right. Reselections, trigger ballots as impossible to overcome. There is, first of all, the possibility of suffer worse. And what conclusion promising career will have been mired and expulsions are the order of the day; Some on the far left were engaged some kind of split. would ordinary members draw - that it hopelessly in the wilderness for half a and the democratic transformation of the in spreading fear, uncertainty and doubt Let us sketch out a scenario: the was Corbyn’s leftism or the Blairites’ decade or more, maybe. They may well party, so that the PLP can be permanently in order to save their own perspectives, moment Jeremy Corbyn begins sabotage that had led them to defeat? rotate, disillusioned, into sensible jobs in subordinated to the membership. Yet which were crumbling to nothing before his victory speech at conference in In all likelihood, the split is good for lobbying, PR or high finance, where they this is not the left’s focus; instead, the their eyes (Peter ‘Nostradamus’ Taaffe September, the anointed leader of one term only; and, while Theresa May will never have to pretend to be leftwing obsession is the same as the right’s - with of the Socialist Party springs to mind); the Parliamentary Labour Party’s might deny it, one term might not be all in order to attract the votes of people they winning the next election. This obsession others, we fear, had become so utterly predominant traitor faction declares that that long. truly despise again. is the leash by which the left is bound accustomed to defeat over the last few the PLP is no longer under the discipline From the point of view of the Labour to the right. decades that they refused to believe it of ‘the Corbyn organisation’, riddled as right as a historic force - the bourgeois Left unchecked, it will destroy the was not some sort of cruel prank. it is with Trotskyites, anti-Semites and Version two: pole of this bourgeois workers’ party gains made in the last year. Owen A year passes, and we are back in what have you. We will call this leader see you next year! - things look a little healthier. For, if Smith will not bring things back into the same situation. Corbyn is once ‘Owen Smith’, although we doubt he If an immediate split seems imprudent, nothing fundamental changes in the their ‘proper’ order, of course, but - say again fighting a leadership battle. His would be suitable for the role, given our rightists could acknowledge what mode of organisation and social basis - Owen Jones might. His press output opponent, Owen Smith, despite his his mediocrity and the energy with certainly seems to be the case: that of the Labour Party, the existence of a has been getting wobblier by the week; mendacious self-presentation as a which he is presently pretending to be their brave insurrection was, like pro-capitalist right wing, and its eventual we read now, on the Guardian website, leftwinger, is actually a centre-right hack a leftwinger. the Spartacist uprising and the Paris resurgence, is guaranteed. his idiotic plea to the remaining rump (although this time there is only one of The PLP takes with it a reasonable Commune, tragically premature. The The Labour left, in its current of Bernie Sanders diehards in the him). And once more, unless the courts cache of activists, if not a majority; solution, then, is to wait until the time moment of aberrant ascendancy, has States to unite with Hillary Clinton to choose a perverse interpretation of the crucially, in the Commons it dwarfs, is right, and challenge Corbyn then, been fortunate, in that its enemies were at beat Donald Trump,1 and we wonder Labour’s rules (more than possible, in the short term, the official Labour when he truly gets himself into a pickle. first helpful in the shape of the “morons” whether his real audience is American alas), or some other rabbit is pulled out Party, and becomes her majesty’s There will still be time to eject him this who agreed to nominate Corbyn. It, also, Democrats after all. of a hat, Corbyn is on course to win a official opposition. At prime minister’s way before too long, and for a new is a historic force, devilishly hard to The right is in a bad position to win the crushing victory. Nothing is moving the questions, it is ‘Smith’, not Corbyn, leader to bed him or herself in for the kill (it is not like Blair did not try); and coming battles in the Labour Party. But needle - not the gerrymandering, the who is called upon to hold Theresa May next election Labour has any chance a component in Corbyn’s victory and the left is still perfectly capable of giving fabricated accusations of harassment, to account, which he accomplishes by of winning. the associated tumult is surely that the victory away. Only when our political nor anything else. wittering on about his ancestors with a The deficiency of this approach right imagined that there was nothing horizon is no longer circumscribed by On the assumption - which we stress thousand-yard stare. is obvious - if you cannot make a in Labour left of Ed Miliband, and so an irrational fear of a Tory government is hardly a safe one, but anyway - that While attractive in the short term (and coup against Corbyn now, when will there was no risk in putting Corbyn on - Labour must win at all costs - will real the courts do not hew to a perverse if there is one lesson to be drawn from you be able to do so? We on the left the ballot ... before discovering that its political change become possible; until interpretation of the rulebook and David Cameron’s career, it is that the can give our rightwing friends a few own internal cohesion and ability to then, despite their current weakness, we deny Corbyn his candidacy, then, our short term offers a dangerous attraction hard-learned lessons about how long fight for mass support had withered in remain the hostages of the coup-makers first goal is to make sure his victory to today’s bourgeois politicians), the it can take for an enemy to ‘discredit the New Labour years of absolute press and their friends in the press l is appropriately demonstrative. Our difficulty with this approach to the himself’, so long did we wait (for officediktat . second, however, is to think more than situation is: what happens when there example) for the shine to come off We cannot imagine that this weakness Notes two months ahead. is an election? To be sure, no split in the Tony Blair. Insanity, according to an old will last forever, not least because the 1. www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/ After all, we must assume that PLP has ever taken more than a small saying, is characterised by repeating the next generation of Labour rightwingers jul/26/sanders-movement-bernie-hillary-donald- our enemies are doing just that: the minority of it out of the party. Ramsay same action over and over again and are going to learn very quickly how to trump. weekly 5 worker 1117 July 28 2016 the left Unique and historic opportunity There is no reason to be pessimistic about the struggle in the Labour Party. Peter Manson replies to Ian Birchall t seems that the main thrust of my article, ‘Defend Corbyn where it Ireally matters’ - published in this paper on July 14 - has been badly misunderstood. In the course of that article I pointed out that both the Socialist Workers Party and Socialist Party in England and Wales “have refused to call upon people to join the pro-Corbyn fight where it really matters” and wondered: “… what is stopping the comrades from making the call for working class activists to join the Labour Party?” Note the phrasing. The article was not suggesting that the SWP and SPEW should liquidate themselves and instruct all their members to sign up to the Labour Party, as comrade Ian Birchall clearly understood it to mean (see Letters, July 21). Instead that general call should be made to “working class activists”. Comrade Birchall is, of course, a former member of the SWP, but has a history in that organisation going back to its beginnings. Anyway, he says: “The SWP has a core of grey-haired activists, who for decades have been known (often to their credit) as SWP members in their unions and localities.” He asks: “Are they supposed to now publicly renounce their past and declare they are genuine converts to the Labour Party?” Well, er, no, that is not what my article was suggesting. As I pointed out, our aim should be “to transform the Labour Party into a genuine instrument of the working Stop blocking trade union affiliation class, one to which all working class organisations and left groups In fact this situation provides us with Socialist which pointed out that “The Marxist grouplets battle for control”. Firstly, “build for the Stand Up To can affiliate”. In other words, a party an historic opportunity - one that we party machine is still in the hands of It is true that such a split would Racism event on Saturday October 8 within which the SWP, SPEW, etc can must grasp with both hands. There are the Blairites.” temporarily reduce Labour to a in London”. Secondly, “Prepare for legitimately play a part. But right now, a number of things we can do. Why not It continued: parliamentary rump. But what would and build the demonstration at the as comrade Birchall states, if their urge all those who have registered as happen at the general election that Tory Party conference in Birmingham members joined Labour, many would supporters, as well as ordinary Labour It is to the current Labour’s undemocratic followed? The Corbyn-led Labour on October 2, called by the People’s be spotted immediately, while others voters, to actually get involved by structure that unions would be Party would have the freedom to select Assembly.” Thirdly, “Every branch would pretty quickly fall foul of the becoming full members? Start attending reaffiliating, where the constitution leftwing replacements for the current needs to maintain its meetings and party’s compliance unit. their constituency and branch meetings has been fashioned by the Blairites PLP gang and surely the unions would pay attention particularly to newer Of course, there are some smaller in order to defeat the anti-Corbyn right to maintain their pro-market policies. stay on board. Isn’t it at least possible members.” groups which are indeed operating and the self-serving bureaucrats. They would be spending hundreds that such a scenario could produce a Yes, if everyone just did that, they within the Labour Party. Others And what about the trade unions? of thousands of pounds for a tiny reinvigorated mass party, within which would be helping to create the “broader have officially closed down their Why don’t organisations like the SWP proportion of votes and influence …. Marxists could hope to gain influence? movement of resistance” that will own organisation in an attempt to and SPEW strive within, for example, They would also be giving It is not very likely that a rightwing split ‘guarantee’ a Corbyn victory, wouldn’t avoid the scrutiny of the Labour the Public and Commercial Services up their independence at this stage, would pick up a huge part of Labour’s they? Well, of course, building this or machine, and both tactics are perfectly union, the National Union of Teachers where the die hasn’t been cast, rather current vote, is it? that SWP-approved demonstration or legitimate. As I have said, the aim and the Rail, Maritime and Transport than use the possibility of supporting But what does comrade Birchall say event will hardly damage Corbyn’s should be to remove the various union to win them to pull their weight anti-austerity candidates against the we should be doing to help defeat the chances. Even if they actually happen bans and proscriptions preventing within Labour? For a start those unions Labour right as an important lever to Labour right? Does he agree with his a month after the Labour leadership affiliation, as part of the struggle to could affiliate - or, in the case of the supplement the struggle against the former comrades in the SWP that we election is over. But the SWP has transform Labour into a permanent RMT, reaffiliate. Blairites from outside. can somehow do this by mobilising for absolutely nothing to say about the united front of the whole class, as As recently as May this year, both We think it would be more ‘the next demonstration’ and in effect higher form of class struggle that Trotsky proposed. the SWP and SPEW voted against a productive for these unions to use abstaining from the internal Labour is taking place in the Labour Party. Comrade Birchall is not opposed to motion at PCS conference that wanted their resources to directly aid Jeremy battle? That shows the SWP is mired in a such an aim, but he is highly sceptical merely to review the union’s “relations Corbyn’s campaign against the right The latest internal bulletin for SWP particularly dumb form of economism. as to whether such a transformation is with the Labour Party, including the wing by, for example, financing members, Party Notes, claims that “a No, the left needs to actively possible. He writes: issue of affiliation”. Do they not think organisers. A future discussion on victory for Corbyn will be guaranteed campaign for all unions to affiliate to that the PCS, with its 200,000 members, reaffiliation must be linked to the right only by a broader movement of the Labour Party. For all trade unionists People have been trying to do that could actually help influence the internal of the unions to organise collectively resistance. Corbyn himself pointed to pay the political levy. For all Labour more or less since the Labour Party Labour battle in Corbyn’s favour? within Labour, which was finally this out on Saturday”.2 To back this voters to join the Labour Party as full was founded; they have all failed. Just one year ago the Socialist Party ended by the Collins review.1 up Party Notes refers SWP members members. For all full members to Indeed, the present-day Labour Party was still attempting to get unions like to an article on the SWP website, in attend CLP meetings, to vote for the is considerably further from that Unite to disaffiliate and sign up instead The comrades were seriously which the Labour leader is quoted as Grassroots bloc in the forthcoming NEC model than it was in 1945-51. Does to SPEW’s very own Trade Unionist claiming that it was all a waste of saying: “What happens in parliament is elections, to vote in new GMCs locally. the CPGB have some magic formula and Socialist Coalition - a dead end time. Apparently unions cannot even important. But change comes because We certainly want to win Labour’s that will enable it to succeed where all if ever there was one. Would it have “organise collectively” within Labour, people want that change to come.” massively expanded membership to its predecessors have failed? been an advantage to Corbyn if there let alone hope to change anything. Much The only other Corbyn quote is the secure the mandatory reselection of had been no Unite representative at the better to watch from the sidelines and following: MPs, to end the bans, to abolish the It is not a question of a “magic formula”. July 12 meeting of Labour’s national then, if - miraculously - the right wing compliance unit, to subordinate the PLP Surely we should recognise the huge executive, where it was narrowly were to be defeated, the RMT, PCS, Labour’s membership has surged - we to the NEC, to put all Labour MPs on possibilities that have opened up since agreed that, as current leader, he NUT can safely take part in a “future are a social movement. We have become an average skilled workers’ wage, to the election of Jeremy Corbyn. For the should have the automatic right to be discussion on reaffiliation”. And in the a mass party, a mass organisation. adopt a new, implicitly Marxist, clause first time ever, Labour has a leftwing on the ballot paper for the forthcoming meantime you can claim that you are Our party is changing - politics is four, etc. leadership, which in turn has mobilised contest? helping to “supplement the struggle changing. It needed to change. You Such a programme would not only tens of thousands in support of Corbyn against the Blairites from the outside” are that change. You are the ones bring victory for Jeremy Corbyn in and the small group around him. We now Waste of time? by standing Tusc candidates! that will change politics.3 September. It would transform the have a unique situation, in which much When comrade Birchall worries that It is true that comrade Birchall Labour Party and the entire political of the Labour machine, in alliance with “perhaps Corbyn will be defeated”, does at least consider that “perhaps Does the SWP really think he was terrain in Britain l the Parliamentary Labour Party majority, leaving “thousands” of his supporters Corbyn will win”. But even then he suggesting that “change comes” not is doing its utmost to thwart and defeat “demoralised”, I must confess that this is unduly pessimistic: “Perhaps the by boosting the surge in “Labour’s [email protected] both the Corbyn leadership and the mass reminds me of the Socialist Party’s line. Labour Party will split” and then you membership”, but by creating a “broader of the membership. I fail to see how all Like comrade Birchall, SPEW points would have just “a small left party movement of resistance”, SWP style? Notes 1. The Socialist October 14 2015. this means we are “considerably further” to how the odds are stacked against the with at best a handful of MPs, and In case you were wondering, Party 2. Party Notes July 25. than in the post-war years from the aim left (or so they say!). As late as October the youthful followers of Corbyn Notes informs SWP members of three 3. https://socialistworker.co.uk/art/43119/ of transforming Labour. last year an article appeared in The increasingly alienated, as the various main things to do in the short term. Corbyn+in+Manchester:+Politics+is+changing. 6 weekly July 28 2016 1117 worker racism

Enoch Powell: made racism respectable From Powell to Brexit t has been 48 years since Tory minister Evan Smith explores how Powell opened Judging by a sneak preview, Smith’s drift, but merely appears to conceive of it as Enoch Powell delivered his Birmingham up a political space to the right of the work offers a valuable and detailed account a belated update. Ispeech in opposition to Commonwealth Conservative Party, hitherto confined of the hitherto scarcely documented Evan Smith is a visiting adjunct fellow immigration and a proposed anti- to marginal neo-fascist sects that are anti-racist history of the CPGB. However, in the School of History and International discrimination law: “We must be mad, subsequently gathering populist support it also bears the hallmarks of academic Relations at Flinders University, South literally mad, as a nation,” he polemicised, on the back of anti-immigration sentiment. (post) Marxism. Class-centric politics and Australia. He has written widely on the “to be permitting the annual inflow of some The author’s focus, however, is the response conceptions of history are often equated British left, the history of immigration and 50,000 dependants, who are for the most of the Communist Party of Great Britain: with the narrow workerism pushed by transnational political activism. He is the part the material of the future growth of the Smith traces its history, beginning with the ‘traditionalists’ and counterposed to a co-author of Race, gender and the body in immigrant-descended population.” Powell post-war period, during which the CPGB paradigm in which structural components British immigration control (London 2014) closed with the now famous words: “As I represented a leading anti-racist force in such as class, gender and race ‘intersect’ and the co-editor of Against the grain: the look ahead, I am filled with foreboding. Like British society. He documents years of its on an equal footing. Consequently, the British far left from 1956 (Manchester 2014). the Roman, I seem to see ‘the River Tiber being overshadowed on the anti-racist front author does not identify the CPGB’s He blogs at Hatful of History.1 foaming with much blood’.” by migrant organisations and the fronts of gradual orientation towards cross-class Alex Carnovic took the opportunity to In his forthcoming book, British the ‘new left’ all the way until the official ‘broad democratic alliances’ from the 1970s interview the author on his forthcoming communism and the politics of race, leadership liquidated itself in 1991. onward as a further political rightward book and issues of racism more generally.

Could you outline the contents were inspired by the American civil with that came a popular racism. It Was all that violence to be an outright extra-parliamentary and central argument of your rights and black-power movements. wasn’t a politically mobilised, hard-right orchestrated at this early stage? fascist group. book? The CPGB, which had been at the racism - it was just a general feeling I believe it was mainly spontaneous. The Were the supporters of Powell The book is about the Communist forefront in the late 40s to early 60s, that there were British people and there National Front formed in 1967, and the and the early NF disgruntled Party of Great Britain and its role in the was then no longer driving the anti- were others. British Movement in 1968. They definitely petty-bourgeois Tories, or did anti-racist movement in Britain from racist movement. In the 1970s, anti- When these ‘other people’ started to benefited from the racist language the far right make inroads into the late 1940s till the early 1980s. The fascism becomes important, and the come from the colonies during the post- Powell used, with the NF siphoning off the working class at that stage? CPGB was one of the first organisations CPGB was overtaken by the Socialist war period, there was resentment and disillusioned Tory voters in particular. In 1968, you had a small amount of dock in the labour movement to engage with Workers Party. By the early 1980s, the fear that they were taking jobs or were However, I don’t believe they organised workers marching either in support of migrant workers. It was much more CPGB was negligible in anti-racism, involved in crime. All of this added up much of the violence that occurred at that Powell or free speech for Powell. However, ready to organise and unionise migrant as it had been outflanked both from its to a nebulous popular racism with all the stage - it would have been spontaneous at that stage the support base was still workers and fight discrimination within left by anti-fascist organisations and well-known, contradictory tropes: they attacks committed by people who were largely a traditional, disgruntled, petty the labour movement and white British by migrant community organisations. steal jobs, but also scrounge benefits; moved along with the popular currents. bourgeois one. For this period, the National society than, say, the Labour Party or Your book states that Enoch they are too strict and conservative, Was the early National Front a Front tried to pick off disaffected Tories, the trade unions. While the Labour Powell in his infamous ‘rivers yet also sexually devious; and so on. fascist organisation? particularly from the Monday Club. John Party found it very difficult to recruit of blood’ speech “appropriated Hence, Powell exploited a long formed, The NF only started its campaign of street Kingsley Read, an early NF leader in the non-white workers, the CPGB was much the crude racism expressed in imperial popular racism that already violence around 1973-74. However, I 70s, defected from the Monday Club, as more proactive with regard to this, and the pubs”, and that a Gallup poll existed. think it’s fair to say that even in its early did a few other figures. the same goes for its engagement with in May 1968 revealed that “74% Would you nonetheless agree stages, it was fascist in the sense that it They also picked up on the Ugandan non-white students: the CPGB was of those questioned agreed in with the notion that Powell’s was about mobilising in the streets, boots Asian controversy.3 The NF portrayed heavily involved with the West African general with his views”.2 Where speech was a cause of racist on the ground, marches, flags and other the Conservatives as ‘weak’ on this Student Union in 1950s London and did this reservoir of crude violence? extra-parliamentary activism. issue - it happened just prior to the Manchester, for instance. popular racism stem from in the There are indeed suggestions that Powell’s Ideologically, there was an early 1971 Immigration Act coming into The central argument of the book first place? speech mobilised racist sentiment. split. On the one hand, there was AK effect in January 1973 - and via the is that the CPGB was ahead of its time Well, it had a long history that was Afterwards, there was an explosion Chesterton - a former member of the Monday Club, the NF promoted itself in engaging with non-white workers synonymous with the history of the of racist violence, and for the next British Union of Fascists and League of as the home for disillusioned Tories and migrant communities. However, British empire and how British people few years the papers would report of a Empire Loyalists - who wanted the NF concerned about immigration. But once the non-white communities perceived the world in terms of their racial significant increase in ‘Paki-bashing’. to be a pro-empire group in the tradition the influx of former Monday Club found their own political vehicles, the and cultural superiority. In the 1950s-60s, There is a new article by Satnam Virdee of the pro-imperial pressure group in the members into the NF created a rival CPGB ceased to be central to their there comes with decolonisation what and others published in the latest issue Conservative Party, the Monday Club. power base to the Tyndall/Webster struggles. In the mid-60s, there was a Paul Gilroy refers to as postcolonial of Race and Class that testifies to the On the other, there was a more hard-line axis and a series of power struggles shift towards organisations set up by melancholia. The ordinary British public outbreak of racial violence in the period neo-Nazi element around John Tyndall occurred, partially rehashing the debate the black and Asian communities that had a lot of investment in empire - and right after Powell’s speech. and Martin Webster, who wanted it over the NF’s strategy of either being a weekly 7 worker 1117 July 28 2016

pressure group for disaffected Tories Labourite agenda of the CPGB in the likes of Red Action, which I impressions of how the Weekly left has taken to defending it because or an extra-parliamentary vehicle more 1960s and 1970s. think was justified. However, the Worker addresses migration this multiculturalism is undermined by likely to attract working class support. How do you evaluate the anti- political groups that emerged issues? the way parts of the state act in a racially So it was only after 1974 that the fascism presented by the Anti- out of Red Action and AFA - such I have been taking an interest in what discriminatory fashion. NF started to target working class Nazi League at the end of the as the Independent Working the Weekly Worker writes on the issue Looking at the Brexit campaign Labour voters and supporters more. 1970s and later by Unite Against Class Association - then of migration - not least because it has and events in its wake, for This wasn’t a Strasserist turn within Fascism? Was its politically indulged in a twisted workerism quoted me in the past - and I do think it instance - was this racism the NF, but, as the economic crises of ‘broad’, popular front-styled that ‘takes real concerns about does a good analysis of the problem. I proper, or was it rather a the 1970s wore on, the NF realised that approach adequate to combat immigration seriously’. It’s a cannot say I know the paper’s positions nativism that cuts across ‘race’? those feeling most of the pressure of racism and street fascism? slippery slope. on everything, but I generally think the There were racist elements to the Brexit the economic downturn - the working I do understand the critique made by Indeed. What we often have today is paper provides very good coverage. campaign, but also English nationalism class - could be mobilised around the the likes of Red Action and Anti-Fascist people saying that ‘we need to talk about Would you say that today’s - both were wrapped up in rhetoric about issue of immigration much more readily, Action - ie, that the Anti-Nazi League the white working class’ and that there Britain is a ‘racist’ society, or ‘sovereignty’ and ‘taking the country especially as the Labour Party was in was far too broad-based to fight some are ‘real concerns about immigration’. has there been an ideological back’. Of course, not everybody who power during this period. of the more extreme elements of the far One side of this is that one does need to shift away from racism? campaigned for Brexit was a racist, but You argue in your book that right. What I think the ANL did very understand what people are concerned I suppose there is an official anti-racism at there were racial overtones in a lot of the the CPGB’s dependency on its well was to break away support in that about - but the slope to giving credence a rhetorical level, but that does not mean rhetoric from the Brexit camp. broad left allies undermined its nebulous zone between the Tories and to racist and anti-immigration sentiments that institutions, the government and On the History and Policy influence on the docks at rank- the NF - a place today occupied by the is certainly very slippery. other parts of the state and civil society website, you and Steven Gray and-file level. How so? likes of Ukip. In my view, the ANL was As Richard Seymour observed do not engage in racially charged rhetoric. link the Brexit ideology to the At this stage, the CPGB strategy was part of the reason why support for the NF on his blog, Lenin’s Tomb, the ‘white Of course, the government would deny nostalgic notion of a “white to work with people higher up, and its declined as massively as it did within a working class’ is seen in the relevant that it is racist. However, you cannot commonwealth”, based on the rank-and-file membership was decreasing. two- or three-year period. discussions of the Labour right in look at how the home office works and shared “British culture and From the early 1960s onwards, young However, as the National Front split terms of being white: ie, white British deny that it has racially discriminatory values” of Anglo-Saxon peoples, people who came into the workforce and in the early 1980s, it changed its strategy people who happen to be working class. rhetoric and practices. a concept that you trace back joined the unions at a low level did not and became all about street violence, Their agency as workers is completely In his infamous speech, to the 19th century and earlier.7 tend to become CPGB members. The and the ANL was not the best vehicle to removed, and their lack of agency Powell lamented the “growth Do these themes really play a rank and file became more diverse: young counter that. Nonetheless, it did succeed fixated on their whiteness. While people of positive forces acting role in the consciousness of people joined the Labour Party or various in creating an anti-racist consciousness like Andy Burnham or Owen Smith against integration, of vested Brexiters? Trotskyist, Maoist and anti-revisionist among that generation of British youth. talk about the white working class, interests in the preservation The likes of Ukip and Farage certainly groups, which were dividing up the Would it be fair to say, though, they would really prefer to talk about a and sharpening of racial and have an imperial nostalgia and hark back trade union left at rank-and-file level. that by setting up broad anti- white lumpenproletariat, devoid of any religious differences”. Today, to that lineage. When Farage talks about Although the CPGB still had significant racist fronts without specifically agency and differentiated only by being in contrast, there seem to be the Commonwealth, he does so in terms influence over the leadership, it did not addressing working class white. They are spoken of in terms of two contending bourgeois of returning it to the way it was. Even have sufficient influence among the rank issues, the left lost sections being victims, including in the rhetoric ideologies: the pro-integration Boris Johnson in some of his writings and file to counter spontaneous outbursts of the manual working class employed in the wake of the European one that never quite places talks about new imperialism that does such as the dockworkers marching for to the far right? A British Union referendum: they are people immigrants above suspicion not apologise - as if the old British Powell. The International Socialists (later News bulletin of January 1979 who have no voice and no agency, so of constituting a fifth column; imperialism had ever apologised for to become the SWP), on the other hand, declares that the far right needs the Brexit protest vote is all they had. and, on the other hand, what it has done. might not have had very many people, to ensure that, now that the left It’s dangerous to look at them as an multiculturalism - separate Of course, Boris is a ‘free spirit’ and but enough activists at rank-and-file has become associated with apolitical mass. ethnic communities to which might not be representative of many level to organise relatively spontaneous students and minority groups, Interestingly, you write in your the state communicates other Brexiters in the Tory Party, but in counter-demonstrations against Powell. a “grassroots movement of introduction that the post- through ‘community leaders’. Ukip the imperial nostalgia is definitely You write that the ‘new workers and leadership of the war CPGB made opposition to These days, the left tends to present. I will explore this issue further left’ criticised the CPGB for working class does not rest with immigration controls one of defend multiculturalism against in a book I’m writing on rhetoric around underestimating Powellism as the communists and left, but the two central issues of its the idea of integration. Is that race in Britain from Blair to Brexit l a threat. Do you agree with this with the right”.4 anti-racist campaigning. Was not parasitic on bourgeois assessment? There is a truth to that, but I do not think that a blanket demand to scrap discourse - and does the Notes 1. https://hatfulofhistory.wordpress.com. Yes. I think it underestimated how much that it was just the turn to new social immigration controls altogether working class not have a long- 2. https://hatfulofhistory.wordpress. ‘ordinary people’ and workers would be movements that left the working class to or somehow qualified? term interest in integration? com/2016/04/20/powellism-and-the-advent-of- swayed by anti-immigrant sentiment. The feel abandoned by the Communist Party Initially, the CPGB had a blanket position The way integration operated, migrants had the-british-far-right-the-communist-party- CPGB largely confined itself to describing and the left. In my view, it boils down against all immigration controls. However, to abandon their cultures and assimilate response. 3. After the expulsion of Asians from Uganda by Powell as an arch-Tory, millionaire and to the crisis that the labour movement as immigration controls were introduced into white British society, so you can see Idi Amin in 1972, many Asians who were citizens enemy of the working class - it did not faced in the mid-1970s. Once the Heath in the 1960s, it began to argue that there how progressive multiculturalism came of Britain and the colonies migrated to the UK. address the issue of racism very much government was defeated by the labour shouldn’t be ‘racist’ or discriminatory about as a reaction to it - in the same way 4. Cited by Matthew Worley in ‘Oi! Oi! Oi!: class, at all, emphasising the threat that Powell movement, the Wilson government immigration controls. The first reason that identity politics is about experiences locality, and British punk’ at http://tcbh. oxfordjournals.org/content/early/2013/03/20/tcbh. was to workers in general. instituted the ‘social contract’. The was the construction of the Berlin Wall: outside the dominant paradigm. However, hwt001.full#fn-17. Today, it tends to be the other working class - even the rank-and-file the CPGB started to argue that states as the likes of Red Action criticised, 5. E Hobsbawm, ‘The forward march of Labour way round: the left confines trade unionists - began to realise that the have a right to control the flow of people multiculturalism can separate people halted - a response’ Marxism Today September itself to shouting ‘racist’ at benefits of a Labour government were across borders, obviously in defence of into essentialised groups. 1979, p265. 6. The Alliance for Workers’ Liberty’s Martin Powell-type figures while barely not going to flow down to the working the Soviet bloc. Also, as is the case with official Thomas, who in a pro-gentrification polemic addressing the class issue. class. And, since the CPGB with its Secondly, it was a halfway point anti-racism, people like Cameron positively celebrated the pricing out of the racist Yes - it has become easier to criticise the broad left strategy was so invested in to avoid alienating parts of the labour may celebrate something innocuous white ‘lumpenproletariat’ from the East End, racist part of rightwing populism than the notion of a Labour government, this movement: the CPGB claimed that it like chicken tikka masala, but not might serve as a particularly egregious example: www.workersliberty.org/node/25680. its anti-working class aspect. The ‘new affected working class support for the could not make ‘unrealistic’, radical necessarily other aspects of migrant 7. www.historyandpolicy.org/opinion-articles/ left’ criticism was that the CPGB did not communists too. demands for open borders if it wished to culture. So, while multiculturalism is a articles/brexit-imperial-nostalgia-and-the-white- do enough to mobilise white workers Substantial sections of the working engage with all of the labour movement, way of being officially non-racist, the mans-world. against racism. Today, the situation has class did not turn to the far right, but to yet needed some kind of position in shifted, in that we are generally much Thatcher. As Eric Hobsbawm noted in a order to engage with migrant-worker more aware of racism, but often lack response to the debate in Marxism Today communities. So it was a balancing act. Communist University 2016 the understanding of how class feeds about his 1978 piece, ‘The forward The ‘realistic’ position against A week of provocative and stimulating debate sponsored by into it. The ideal case would be not to march of Labour halted’, a third of ‘racist immigration controls’ Labour Party Marxists and CPGB just tackle either class or race, but try to trade union members vote for Margaret persists in the Morning Star’s Saturday August 6 to Saturday August 13 (inclusive) address both issues. Thatcher in the 1979 election.5 Communist Party of Britain, but You describe how in the 1970s But by the late 1970s and also in the Socialist Party in Westminister University, younger CPGB members wanted early 1980s, the NF had a England and Wales. Is that an Harrow House, Watford Road, to branch out beyond the labour considerable support base anachronism? Northwick Park, movement and form anti-racist in neighbourhoods such as Well, I think the trade union movement Harrow HA1 3TP alliances with the new social Shoreditch and Hoxton, often still has this idea that if you opened the Nearest stations: Northwick movements. Did this not go among the poorest, most borders migrants would bring down Park (Metropolitan line), Kenton hand in hand with a move to the casually employed sections of wages. Hence, the Socialist Party has (Bakerloo and overground). right: ie, towards cross-class the blue-collar working class. held on to its Labourite position since popular frontism? These are often conveniently the days of Militant. Ditto the Morning Confirmed speakers include: Yes, one of the criticisms is that the people dismissed as ‘lumpen’ by a left Star/CPB, which has a conciliatory Norman Finkelstein, Chris Knight, who pushed for more engagement with that does not want to face the relationship with the trade unions: open Hillel Ticktin, Ian Birchall, Moshé new social movements ended up being problem.6 borders would be nice, it says, but it’s Machover, Marc Mulholland, Bob the first to endorse identity politics. Yes, that is true - one thing that happened just not feasible at the moment, as it Arnott, Michael Roberts, Today, the criticism is often made that in the early 1980s is that the left did not would allow exploitation of migrant Jack Conrad, Yassamine Mather, the post-Marxist left has become all know how to engage with unskilled workers and wages to be driven down. Ben Lewis, Mike Macnair, about identity politics and has forgotten labour and young unemployed people in Other groups on the left, such as the SWP Tony Greenstein, Lawrence Parker, how to discuss class - it’s all about race, post-industrial areas. The language that and the Weekly Worker/CPGB, have a Kevin Bean gender and sexuality. the left spoke and the way it organised ‘no border controls’ position, of course. Full week, including accommodation in en suite single rooms: £250 Those who pushed for a widening failed to make any headway into these True, even if the CPGB position (£150 unwaged). Solidarity price: £300. of the ‘broad democratic alliance’, as sections. In his memoirs, Mark Steel, is based on the long-term First/final weekend, including one night’s accommodation: £60 (£30). outlined in the CPGB’s The British Road who was then in the SWP, talks about interest of the working class: Full week, no accommodation: £60 (£30). to Socialism, and for the CPGB to take trying to encourage young people signing capital is international and Day: £10 (£5). Single session: £5 (£3). Reservation: £30. seriously these other social movements on in job centres to come along to SWP moves freely, therefore labour We have also a few twin rooms available. have been accused of abandoning class meetings, but met with very little response. must too. Perhaps that is politics and ushering in Blairism with By and large, they were not interested. also the SWP’s reasoning, but Cheques: Make payable to CPGB and send to: the Marxism Today venture. But, like The gentrification of the left publicly it argues in a moralistic BCM Box 928, London WC1N 3XX. identity politics in general, this has to and its inability to engage with manner: ie, by claiming that PayPal: Go to the CPGB website: www.cpgb.org.uk. be seen in its historical context - it was the manual working class was all border controls are by Bank transfer: email [email protected] for details. a push back against the very narrow criticised at the time by the definition racist. What are your 8 weekly July 28 2016 1117 worker socialist party Return of the popular front The desire for a ‘party of the 99%’ represents a form of political collapse, argues Eddie Ford here is nothing more embarrassing terms of deciding the political and than a family member who enthu- economic direction of the system. Tsiastically adopts a fashion that is On the other hand, there are those years, if not decades, out of date - have of relative modest means who play a you got the heart to tell them that those crucial role for the ruling class (eg, top shoes or that band are now a byword politicians, key civil servants, judges, for uncoolness? generals, etc). Then there is the layer This is a bit how I feel about the of management. At the top many are in Socialist Party in England and Wales. receipt of million-pound salaries. But, Many of its members have an admirable as you go down the chain of command, level of personal commitment, but as an there is still an allegiance to the system organisation it has persistently refused of exploitation despite salaries as low as to engage with - or interrogate - political £120k (not much different from trade forces and complexities that take it union general secretaries and the leader out of its ideological comfort zone. of her majesty’s loyal opposition). You always feel that the comrades It is also true that sections of are lagging behind events. For years the middle class, most notably the the organisation burrowed away as petty bourgeoisie, have a political the Militant Tendency deep inside the and social outlook that is deeply bowels of the Labour Party, pretending reactionary. Eg, some small businesses to be normal party supporters and rely on exploiting and keeping down treating with open contempt anyone members of their own family (wives, from the “ultra-left” or “the sects”: children, nephews, etc). This breeds a back then, what mattered was secretive backward-looking politics, patriarchy, organisational manoeuvrings in order to plus the hatred of trade unions and big take over this or that body or committee. government alike. In other words, the There was no life beyond the Labour 99% is just as unreal as the 1%. Party, which apparently would introduce an enabling act to legislate in socialism. Differentiate Then when leading Militant comrades Take the Russian Revolution, when were being kicked out of the Labour the Bolsheviks took power in the name Party, they did a sudden about-turn and of a workers’, peasants’ and soldiers’ decided Labour was a straightforwardly government. But the Bolsheviks were bourgeois party - as if the whole world always clear that they were the party had suddenly changed, the moment they of the working class (at most some found themselves outside their familiar 5-10% of the population). Moreover, environment. the Bolsheviks began to differentiate Now, confronted by the stubborn between peasants, classifying them into reality of the Corbyn phenomenon, four broad categories - the poor peasants which clearly blows its previous (bednyaks), the mid-income peasants perspective out of the water, SPEW has (serednyaks) and the higher-income done another about-turn by claiming that farmers who had larger farms (kulaks). in reality there are “two Labour Parties”, And there was also the category of represented by the Blairite right and the landless, seasonal agricultural workers, Corbynite left. Yet there has been no who were part of the proletariat (batraks). admission that the previous line - that The Bolsheviks considered the Labour had ceased to be a bourgeois bednyaks the most consistent allies of workers’ party - had been mistaken. the working class, while the serednyaks And when it comes to politically were viewed as unreliable, “hesitating” assessing the Corbyn wing of the Labour allies. As for the kulaks, they were Party, SPEW has adopted a thoroughly identified as class enemies, Lenin unMarxist catchphrase: ie, ‘Not the 1%, describing them as “bloodsuckers, but the 99%’, a formulation strongly vampires, plunderers of the people associated with the Occupy movement. and profiteers, who fatten on You can see one of the most recent famine”.1 To encourage this process usages in an editorial in The Socialist, of class differentiation, the Bolshevik where we read: authorities briefly established Committees of Poor Peasants With justification, most supporters of (kombeds) as local institutions bringing Jeremy Corbyn in the labour and trade Together, but not in the same party together impoverished peasants in order union movement believe that unity to advance government policy - their in the Labour Party on the basis of by austerity” (March 18 2015); The or forceful individuals to become de adopt Occupy’s central political primary task being grain requisitioning democratic decision-making and an Socialist is “a voice for the 99%” facto leaders. At the end of the day, slogan? After all, crucially it is an on behalf of the Soviet state, plus the opening up of the party’s structures (March 25 2015); “Bernie Sanders decisions have to be taken one way or implicit rejection of class politics. If distribution of manufactured goods in would be the best way forward. But campaign an opportunity to build a another - accountable or not. we calculate that the working class rural areas. the political fault-lines are increasingly new party of the 99%” (April 6 2016); Of course, for the likes of David comprises some 70%-80% of the The fact that SPEW is coming irreconcilable - this is fundamentally a “EU: busting the myths that ‘remain’ is Graeber, Paul Mason and Patrick population (you can argue about the out with this sub-Occupy nonsense battle between those in the party who best for the 99%” (June 15 2016); and Bruner it was the greatest thing since exact figure), then it stands to reason represents a political collapse. By represent big business interests and so on and so forth. sliced bread. Indeed, we were often that SPEW’s ‘99%’ has to include contrast, our CPGB Draft programme those who want to represent the 99% told, Occupy and movements like all of the middle class and also a (Section 4.1) explicitly states: “… the (my emphasis - July 12). Cross-class it provided a model for the politics significant slice of the bourgeoisie. working class is the only consistently Everyone will remember Occupy - in of the future: it was new, new, new. Therefore, in reality, what SPEW is revolutionary section of society”, But, naturally, there are many more Britain there were the makeshift tents We were told that the left should calling for is a cross-class alliance or a meaning that “there can be no strategic instances of the slogan. For example, outside St Pauls, countless debates abandon their ‘obsession’ with ‘people’s party’. A degenerate version alliance with the medium and small when Jeremy Corbyn won the leadership and thousands of enthusiastic young centralist organisational structures, of the popular front championed by capitalists”. Also, “the middle class can campaign, partly thanks to the “morons” people. It was, of course, quite right programmatic clarity, boring political Joseph Stalin from the mid-1930s. A under no circumstances be regarded a in the Parliamentary Labour Party, the for the left to welcome Occupy, to meetings, the perspective of a mass degenerate version, because, whereas consistent ally of the working class”, headline in The Socialist proclaimed: “A engage with Occupy, to point out the Marxist party and suchlike. Instead, Stalin proposed a class popular front though “success in prising it away new era for the 99% - now organise to limits of Occupy. Eg, the obsession we should concentrate on symbolic government - ie, made up of the from capital deprives our main enemy fight for a socialist alternative” (September with ‘horizontal’ organisation as against happenings that grab the attention of Communist Party, Socialist Party and of a major social prop and adds to the 16 2015). The editorial went on to argue: ‘vertical’ organisation. jaded TV news editors and journalists the (middle class) Radical Party, - momentum of revolution”.2 “But now the world has been turned upside As this paper has often stated, on the lookout for the latest ephemeral nowadays the likes of former Socialist We need a revolutionary party of the down ... The hopes have been raised of horizontal forms of organisation and ‘big idea’. Workers Party leader John Rees and working class armed with a Marxist millions who want to see a society for the the supposed insistence on consensus However, the biggest problem with SPEW general secretary Peter Taaffe programme, not a phantasmagorical 99%, not the 1%. This is a tremendous actually bring with them “the tyranny Occupy was its political shallowness, advocate a cross-class party (the worst people’s front of the ‘99%’ - something step forward.” Previously we had been of structurelessness” - namely the the constant search for lowest-common- example being Respect, which was that would bust apart at the very first reminded that “capitalist parties offer anarchistic hatred of formal leadership, denominator demands that united, not designed to incorporate the British test l nothing to the 99%”, as “capitalism is leading without fail to ‘secret’ or divided, the belief that somehow branch of the Muslim Brotherhood). a system built on exploitation for profit informal leadership - which is far moral outrage itself would change the More than that, it has to be said [email protected] for the 1%” (October 2 2013). worse, because it means reversion world. It couldn’t. It didn’t. And within that the one percent is not real. It is a Similarly, in a fairly random sample: to pre-existing social relations of the space of a few months the whole mere statistic. It is not the same thing Notes 1. www.marxists.org/archive/lenin/works/1918/ “we are the 99% - fighting for our domination/subordination (class, movement slowly faded away, before as saying the ruling class or even the aug/x01.htm. future” (October 19 2011); “the 1% gender, education, etc) that inevitably finally fizzling out. capitalist class. For example, some 2. http://cpgb.org.uk/pages/programme/4- ‘walk tall’, while the 99% are bowed self-selects the most ‘charismatic’ Under those circumstances why billionaires are entirely marginal in character-of-the-revolution. weekly 9 worker 1117 July 28 2016 obituaries

1984-85: acid test Two miners’ heroes Brian Robson, 1940 - July 6 2016 rian Robson, who died on July 6, we discussed his newly awakened women and kids cheering support for twat”, he still called Brian “Brian”, not month-long action and its aftermath was my workmate - ‘me marra’ interest in class politics - and the the tenants. Mass protests at council because he gave him any less welly than - quite some feat. B- a fellow red. He was an official world revolution. By the time we offices and the homes of councillors the rest of us did, but because he did it His politics continued to evolve. He of Thorne Trades Council, a section drilled the final hole we had solved warned that evictions would be met with such dignity and self-respect that and his old comrades still held regular 123 pit inspector, an official of the the world’s problems. Brian was by counter-evictions - and, boy, did even the most Napoleonic of managers get-togethers and discussed the world, Hatfield Main branch of the National committed to a path which led him we mean it. had to respond in kind. our class and where we were going. Union of Mineworkers, and a dear to the famous Thorne branch of the 1969 saw a wind of change blowing But I don’t want to give the wrong My last disagreement with Brian came personal friend. Communist Party, under the inspiration through the nation’s coalfields, with a impression. With Brian and Harry Harle when I last visited his house at the end Brian wore many hats, intervened of communist councillors Sam Cairns national unofficial strike. The world (the comedic branch treasurer) in that of last year and moaned about the damn in many sections of the labour and and Bill Carr. Brian was eventually to was ablaze with revolution and debate union office it was a laugh a minute stupid wind turbines they had planted trade union movement, the anti-fascist become secretary of Thorne CPGB. on the way forward for the working and sometimes it was impossible to get at the end of his road. He confessed movement, the mass community Not many people now remember the class - of course, Brian and I disagreed any work done - they had us laughing that he found them rather majestic, rent strikes and tenants associations, Thorne and District Trades Council, but about exactly what was possible and till we cried. and concluded that in the interests of the miners’ union and community it operated in the Goole parliamentary how to achieve it, but we were side by Brian wrote his own autobiography, his grandchildren it was finally time to struggles of 1969, 72, 74, and 84-85. constituency and drew fascinating side on what had to change. Then 1972 which is a lasting and loving memorial close the coalhouse door and embrace But the thing which characterised him affiliates from Finningley RAF base, and 1974 were heady days for us. There to his family, to whom he was clearly a new, cleaner future. more than anything was that he was a the Goole docks and maritime services, were mass national strikes, which we devoted and to whom our hearts go out. I know Brian was immensely proud kindly, thoughtful, nice bloke with not and Hatfield and Glasshoughton won - and overturned a government in The book was a celebration of love of of the new branch banner, delighted a nasty bone in his body. That’s what collieries. Brian was president. the process. freedom and nature - he describes how it featured his personal friend and people think of most when they think of In the 1970s Ted Heath’s so-called Of course, Brian became an official he was given full licence in childhood comrade, Mick McGahey, and I am Brian. Deeply serious at times, highly Fair Rents Act and a joint offensive of the NUM branch and during the - in contrast to the lock-down short quite sure Mick, together with Brian politically motivated, but when he by the National Coal Board estates miners’ Great Strike of 1984-85 was rein, which today’s kids have to endure. and fellow CPGB mining stalwart smiled it was like the sun coming from department saw Brian and myself at chair of the strike committee, which He rarely ceased to amaze me. Billy Matthews, are knocking back the behind a cloud and your face couldn’t the head of a massive community rent often acted independently of the Having organised a big commemoration wee drams right now, as they fill their help but break out in sympathy too. strike, in which every single house in branch. He was a calming voice in in Doncaster to mark the 80th celestial home with blather. I first met Brian in the late 1960s. the coalfield areas refused to pay their often fraught and violent situations, as anniversary of the 1926 General Strike We will all miss Brian immensely. I was working underground and had rent. It was a struggle which was deeply tempers frayed and frustrations reigned. and miners lock-out, I invited him He made a deep and lasting contribution been thrown into action with a big inspirational, with torchlit processions After the strike we had some to speak. When he rose to give his to our union and our communities and ugly machine boring what seemed in the villages, mass assemblies, tyrannical managers, who seemed to presentation, he did so flawlessly earned the only prize a true socialist like granite rock. Brian brought his ‘soviets’ with elected representatives verge on the edge of psychopathy in without notes, giving a perfect seeks - the affection and gratitude of his considerable skill and sinew to my aid, from each street, and the beleaguered their world of rage. While one such chronology of events, characters and workmates and neighbours. It was an helping drive that drill home, while rent collectors followed by gangs of gaffer referred to me as “that little the key turning points of the nine- honour to have known the comrade l Davey Hopper, 1944 - July 16 2016 t is impossible to overstate the debate. He opened up its platform to in 1993, many areas wound down and year, and marked the birthday of Jim tales would keep you in stitches all importance of the role played by voices stifled elsewhere, to mass ranks of more or less gave up any political or Connell (the Irish republican and night long. He had a great love for Ithe ‘two Davies’ - Davie Guy and solidly working class families and whole trade union role, simply concentrating working class hero, who wrote ‘The the region’s music, not least its brass Davey Hopper, respectively the late communities. There were 150,000 at this on welfare work. Not so the DMA. red flag’) in Co Meath every year with bands, was a great historian and the president and general secretary of year’s event, held just a week before While areas like Yorkshire - many our band and banners. In Durham we most enriching of company. the North-East area of the NUM and Davey died, with Jeremy Corbyn as times bigger - abandoned their annual marked and discussed all the great Selfishly, I suppose, we tend to Durham Miners Association. the star speaker and dissident rightwing gala, the Durham gala refused to die. It turning points of the miners over the think, ‘What are we going to do now The North-East, though no longer MPs publicly banned from the platform. continued to discuss the struggles within last two centuries - and drew out the without you? We really didn’t need the senior coalfield area in size or NUM It was Davey and the broad left the industry, mining across the world, lessons for this one. you to die.’ Nobody seems ready or influence it was in the pre-war and within the miners’ movement which together with wider labour, trade union The DMA under Davey was up to its able to fill Davey’s considerable boots early post-war years, still commanded had swung that whole coalfield from and international political developments. armpits in the struggles for compensation or replace his ingenious, spontaneous a considerable position of influence in the ‘moderation’ of the post-war years Those bedrock communities of the for miners - although, of course, Arthur and larger-than-life capacity for the early 1980s. It had a mixed history and led the rank and file as part of the Durham coalfield refused to die with Scargill likes to take credit for our organisation and intervention in life. of entrenched political moderation and great revival of militancy in the 1970s. their collieries, and year by year they massive victories on chronic bronchitis But the DMA must live on. The last occasional outbursts of revolutionary Even more centrally the agenda had have marched back with restored and vibration white finger. In fact those mine in the Durham coalfield closed trade unionism and militancy. Its size been sufficiently changed, the debate banners, and bands in ever increasing cases were spearheaded by the Durham in 1993, yet in 2016 we staged the as a coalfield had dwarfed most of the sufficiently opened up, to ensure that, numbers - and now once again the gala miners, when Arthur did not want to risk biggest gala in 60 years, discussing other areas and, by the time it had been when the great crunch came in 1984, platform is too big and too important the funds. Recently the Durham miners the most seismic labour movement won to Labourism away from radical the Durham and Northumberland to miss. Have no doubt: this is not lost a high court case to win £2 billion events in decades. If we can survive liberalism, its political influence was miners would strike as coalfields, nostalgia. This is the relevance of the for crippled miners and their families in without a coalmine as a centre of remarkable. In the post-war years, despite the ballot that had declared labour movement and socialist message compensation for ‘miners knee’, when labour and trade union gravity, we owe when Durham Miners Gala crowds to the contrary. This in a coalfield for in the here and now - with, of course, much bigger, richer areas invested nowt. it to Davey, and all he stood for and reached 200,000 and more, no Labour whom ‘the constitution’ and doing hefty genuflections to our past struggles Davey ensured that DMA influence contributed, to carry on as he would or radical union leader could ignore things by the book had been a religious and heroes, and why not? within the regional Labour apparatus have done. its platform. In many ways it was the obsession. It ensured that Durham But Dave was much more than that. continued, though he was frequently at Our deepest sympathy goes to platform of labour debate, movement and Northumberland miners would be He set agendas, called conferences, war with Blairite councillors and MPs. Davey’s family and friends, who are discussion, argument and rehearsal fighting it out on the picket line, along intervened in protests with our bands Apart from all that, Davey was a totally shocked by this sudden and for party leadership challenges and with the Yorkshire, Kent and South and banners, marked triumphs and brilliant man for cracking a joke, as unexpected loss. The funeral will be struggles for the direction of the unions. Wales miners, and not crossing it with tragedies other union leaders cared anybody who ever spent five minutes in held at the DMA’s Miners’ Hall, Flass If Davey Hopper did nothing else, he official approval, as they were doing in not to remember. The Durham miners his company would tell you. He had an Street, Red Hill, Durham DH1, at placed the Durham Miners Gala right Nottinghamshire. occupied pride of place during the encyclopaedic knowledge of characters 9.45am on July 29 l at the heart of the labour movement Following our final defeat as a union Easter Rising commemoration this and events from the coalfields and his David Douglass 10 weekly July 28 2016 1117 worker turkey No let-up in purge A grand national coalition is part of Erdoğan’s ‘godsent opportunity’, writes Esen Uslu resident Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s plan to dismantle some of the Page-old institutions of the state in order to clear the way for the adoption of absolutist powers has been accelerated by the failure of the Gülenist junta’s attempted military coup on July 15. One of his targets has been the entrenched opposition from the judiciary, which has blocked many of his initiatives. Since late 2014 Erdoğan has put in motion a series of ‘reforms’, increasing his control over the body which appoints and oversees the promotion of judges and prosecutors. They also strengthened his influence over the criminal, civil and administrative appeal courts, as well as specially empowered criminal courts dealing with ‘terrorism’ cases. The president was also able to remove many of his suspected opponents. He had used the pretext that Alavis were enjoying “a built-in power” in some high courts - music to the ears of his Islamist supporters. The same went for the accusation of a “rabid secular grouping in the courts”. And more recently he had turned his venom against the “the terrorist organisation” alleged to be lurking in Muhammed Fethullah Gülen’s “parallel state structures”, when some courts and state security forces had revealed illegal arms trafficking to the Islamist jihadists of Syria carried out by the MIT national intelligence agency. Despite all those pretexts, his sackings had been only moderately successful. The laws governing those courts were altered several times, and many people were replaced by those deemed more ‘trustworthy’. However, the problem was that the latter turned out to have their own agendas. Some of his appointees were ready to serve the military junta that attempted to take over power two weeks ago. The ‘godsent opportunity’ of the failed coup has enabled Erdoğan to instantly sack hundreds of judges and prosecutors, including in the high courts, without due process. Many of them have now been charged with aiding and abetting terrorism, either because of their collaboration with the junta or its alleged plans to offer them senior posts, had the coup been successful. Cleansing the armed forces However, Erdoğan’s post-coup clear-out has gone far beyond the judiciary. The other obvious target was the armed forces themselves and here his retribution has been particularly heavy. The army as a whole was badly hit during the attempted coup. The headquarters of the general chief of staff was occupied and its command Aspiring dictator structures were decimated. The chief of staff himself had been detained in During the coup the airforce responsible are still being sought in the resolved. public two days later. an airbase near Ankara and had been commander and many of his high- hills along the Aegean coast. In the end, planes loyal to the The gendarmerie headquarters, too, pressured into becoming the figurehead ranking officers were grabbed at a The planes of the air tanker fleet government bombed the runways of was a battle zone. While the commander of the coup. But he refused and was wedding ceremony by a helicopter based in Incirlik, the airfield housing rebel airforce bases to render them was detained, high-ranking officers used rescued from the plotters the next day. assault squad. He refused to cooperate, the US base hosting airplanes of the inoperable, so the junta pilots could it as a bastion of the coup attempt, and His aide de camp and other staff officers but the junta enjoyed sufficient support so-called coalition against Islamic not use them for rearming their planes. when the police attempted to raid the were involved in the coup, and helped in the airforce to ensure that fighter jets State, were used by the rebels for There were unconfirmed reports of HQ the building was set alight. The the junta to detain commanding officers. took part in the bombing of the grand mid-air refuelling to keep them flying fighter jets engaged in dogfights, and rescued commander of the gendarmerie A four-star general commanding national assembly - the parliament - as for six hours. Air transport planes, several helicopters were shot down. had a heart attack and was hospitalised, the second army, which has operational well as in mock attacks terrorising cities including the brand new Airbus Atlas The navy did not fare any better. and a temporary appointment was made. control of all armed forces taking part with sonic booms. 400, were used to ferry ammunition The commander in chief was detained Erdoğan’s sweeping response in the war in Kurdistan, has now been Helicopter gunships were used by and commando units from bases in until next day in one of the frigates was to arrest first and ask questions detained. Commanders of many critical the junta against pockets of resistance Kurdistan to the main cities. That sailing in the Marmara Sea, and as a later. A third of the armed forces’ top commando units based in Kurdistan were from the police and protestors. They plan was aborted, however, in the result all principal naval bases and officers were detained, from four-star also among those arrested. Even the two ferried task forces to planned attack face of mounting opposition, but the ships were able to take part in the coup. generals down to brigadiers, along commanders of Turkish forces operating positions, and a special section was fully loaded and equipped planes The whereabouts of 14 navy ships was with thousands from other ranks, in Afghanistan as a Nato detachment and sent to collect Erdoğan himself from his remained waiting for hours on the unknown for several hours after the including lieutenants and colonels. as a part of UN forces were detained holiday resort. It failed to do so, but the runways, blocked by heavy construction coup was suppressed, and the navy About 3,000 conscripted solders were while trying to escape to Qatar. 17 members of an elite commando unit equipment, until the impasse was commander only appeared before the also detained - 2,000 being released weekly 11 worker 1117 July 28 2016 What we fight for n after interrogation. But those who took the power base of Fethullah Gülen group was given a free vote and the glove with the USA, seems to have lost Without organisation the part in actions where firearms were used lies also in the private sector. A major measures were approved by 346 votes its popularity. However, a replacement working class is nothing; with the against the public were charged and banking corporation, Bank Asya, has to 115. ideology has a long way to go before highest form of organisation it is remanded in custody. already been taken under the control of Under the state of emergency winning broad acceptance. everything. Following the coup, cadet schools, the banking regulatory body, declared non-approved assemblies and While the attempted coup revealed n There exists no real Communist military colleges and staff academies insolvent by the official receiver demonstrations are banned, but the split that has existed within society Party today. There are many have been targeted one by one. Many and closed down. Similarly lesser the CHP was allowed to stage a and the political establishment, along so-called ‘parties’ on the left. In of the commanding officers, teaching holding companies, trading houses and demonstration in Taksim Square with the clay feet of the seemingly reality they are confessional sects. officers and students have been arrested. manufacturing companies are being in Istanbul - to which the unions invincible AKP, what of the left? Members who disagree with the All told, more than 6,000 armed forces shut. Also associations and foundations were denied access on May Day. Unfortunately it is standing on the prescribed ‘line’ are expected to personnel were detained. About a associated with the Gülen movement Dignitaries from Erdoğan’s AKP party sidelines. Paralysed by the fear of many gag themselves in public. Either thousand of them have already appeared or acting as its front. graced the podium during the CHP dark decades under another junta, it has that or face expulsion. before courts. The declaration of a 90-day state of demonstration, while CHP speakers been unable to stand firmly in defence n Communists operate according A set of structural changes had been emergency has enabled the government in general declared their support for of democracy by opposing both the to the principles of democratic long planned, but not yet implemented. to proceed without awaiting any legal the government, provided it ensured ‘grand national coalition’ programme centralism. Through ongoing debate Now is Erdoğan’s opportunity. The sanction and no legal challenge can there was a ‘better dialogue’ between of the AKP as well as a new military we seek to achieve unity in action chief of general staff will now be be made against such administrative the parties represented in parliament. coup. and a common world outlook. As demoted, and attached to the ministry decisions until the emergency period The following day, Erdoğan invited Last weekend’s discussion on the long as they support agreed actions, of defence, whereas before it was ends. the representatives of the other parties, left as to whether it should take part members should have the right to under the president of the republic. The However, such a draconian apart from the HDP, to a meeting at his in the CHP rally clearly exposes its speak openly and form temporary gendarmerie forces will be removed measures are bound to provoke brand new palace. The groundwork for debilitating weakness. Where is the or permanent factions. from the control of the chief of staff, opposition. Erdoğan is well aware his grand national coalition is already radical programme defending the n and its commanders attached to the of that fact and attempts to drum up in place. interests of the oppressed and working Communists oppose all impe- ministry of internal affairs. These popular support through a media class? The left does not even attempt to rialist wars and occupations but moves are expected to be combined campaign portraying himself and his Worse to come challenge the grand national coalition constantly strive to bring to the fore with the creation of new civilian government as the victims, and the While Erdoğan now seems more now being put together before our eyes. the fundamental question - ending overseeing bodies. masses who support him as heroic powerful than ever, the weapons he While the government demonises war is bound up with ending The summer session of the supreme saviours. Huge demonstrations have is employing are actually blunt and the junta and the Gülen movement, capitalism. military council, which traditionally taken place in the main squares of feeble. His rhetoric and the anti-junta it denied rebel soldiers killed n Communists are internationalists. meets in late August to decide on every large city, addressed by Erdoğan sentiment of the masses may help veil in the attempted coup the right to Everywhere we strive for the closest promotions and appointments within himself in video recordings. their weaknesses, but he is aware of his any religious service. Some were unity and agreement of working class the officer corps, shaping the command In order to attract the biggest own fragile position. buried unceremoniously in outcasts’ and progressive parties of all countries. structure for the next period, will meet possible crowds free transport, free For example, all state institutions, cemeteries (yes, large cities in Turkey We oppose every manifestation this weekend. It is expected to seal the meals and free entertainment were including the Grand National Assembly have such facilities), while others of national sectionalism. It is an fate of detained officers, most of whom laid on. The most backward, vengeful itself, have dismissed staff accused were denied the right to be buried internationalist duty to uphold the will be dismissed. instincts have been encouraged, of being Gülen supporters, but no in municipal cemeteries at all - their principle, ‘One state, one party’. with thousands chanting for the politician has yet been targeted. It families were forced to bury them on n The working class must be The bureaucracy reintroduction of the death penalty by would be odd if the Gülen movement private agricultural land. organised globally. Without Erdoğan’s agenda in the bureaucracy public hanging, along with measures had successfully infiltrated all state On the other hand, the funerals of a global Communist Party, a was the same: get rid of all opposition in such as the chemical castration of sex departments, yet failed to gain any “democracy martyrs” are constantly Communist International, the a broad, sweeping move. In the ministry offenders. allies at all amongst MPs - including screened on every available TV channel. struggle against capital is weakened of internal affairs, several governors in Erdoğan himself voices his support amongst its former partner, the AKP Memorials are being built, and public and lacks coordination. the provinces, as well as their deputies, for those ideas, but informs people itself. buildings are being renamed. However, n were sacked, detained and charged. that any such measures would have And who is to blame for not properly there has not even been an official body Communists have no interest Several county administrators have to be properly debated in parliament. paying attention to such infiltration? count of the rebel soldiers. Amnesty apart from the working class been dismissed, along with inspectors If parliament were to adopt them he Does this point to shortcomings in International has reported that rebels as a whole. They differ only in working in several commissions. as president would unhesitatingly the policy of the AKP over the last 14 who were captured were maltreated recognising the importance of The police force has also been hit: approve, he says. His kowtowing years? As one former top minister said, and subject to torture. Government- Marxism as a guide to practice. several police chiefs have been sacked to the anti-foreigner sentiments of “I was stupid not to anticipate the junta, controlled TV channels seem proud to That theory is no dogma, but and detained. Some of those who conservative and religious sections but I am not alone in such stupidity.” show detainees being beaten, forced must be constantly added to and enriched. had been forced to retire in the past of society is also evident, including These questions will continue to be to crawl on their stomachs, or stripped n few months on the pretext of being in his repeated calls for the extradition asked, and the crisis of the regime looks down to their pants and laying in stress Capitalism in its ceaseless supporters of the Gülen movement are of Fethullah Gülen from the US. set to continue. Part of that crisis lies positions. search for profit puts the future alleged to have taken an active part in Erdoğan publicly states that any in Kemalist ‘official ideology’, which These are clear indications that of humanity at risk. Capitalism is the coup. They too have been detained failure to comply with this request has dominated the state for decades. It the AKP government is not there to synonymous with war, pollution, and charged, while almost a thousand would call into question US sincerity. helps explain why the CHP is unable heal the wounds and repair the splits. exploitation and crisis. As a global police officers have been sacked. The implied message, easily to stage any meaningful opposition to No, it claims that vengeance is theirs. system capitalism can only be However, the largest house-clearing understandable by his supporters, the AKP. The new, alternative ideology However, we know that this attitude superseded globally. was taken place in the ministry of is that the US administration, or at encompassing the AKP, Islamist politics is in reality opening the way for yet nThe capitalist class will never national education, where 21,000 least some influential sections of the and free-market capitalism is yet to be another coup or even a civil war, whose willingly allow their wealth and teachers have been sacked. Another US establishment, is responsible for closely defined, although the failed ruthlessness will know no bounds. The power to be taken away by a 20,000 or so teachers who were encouraging “Gülen’s coup”. Another coup might accelerate the creation semblance of grand national coalition parliamentary vote. employed in the private education of his themes is the allegation that of an anti-western, Islamist outlook is illusionary, and is bound to come n We will use the most militant system have lost their teaching Christians and Jews took part in the merged with Turkish nationalism, as crashing down. methods objective circumstances licences. Hundreds of private or coup to stop the rise of Islam in Turkey. defined by Erdoğan and co. Gülen-type Alas, the left is in no position to l allow to achieve a federal republic foundation schools have been closed But the most important theme of all moderate Islam, which worked hand in take advantage of England, Scotland and Wales, down, their students transferred to state is the defence of the supremacy of the a united, federal Ireland and a schools or other private schools that elected president and his government United States of Europe. have remained operational. as an embodiment of the public will. n The same goes for academia. An appeal to such ‘democracy’ reduced Summer Offensive Communists favour industrial Several private or foundation to that simplicity is quite sufficient to unions. Bureaucracy and class universities have been closed, among mobilise nationalist support. It has also compromise must be fought and them the most prestigious ones. The helped support for a ‘grand national the trade unions transformed into fate of their academic staff is yet to coalition’. Such a coalition, where Political impact schools for communism. be announced, but their students have all parliamentary parties participate ith just over two weeks Worker this week. n Communists are champions of been given the option to move to other in or support a government of ‘unity’ W remaining before the end of Speaking of which, all donations the oppressed. Women’s oppression, universities. Several members of the has been the dream of every tin-pot our Summer Offensive, the CPGB’s to the paper, including standing combating racism and chauvinism, academic staff have been sacked from would-be dictator in Turkey. However, annual fundraising drive, our total orders, count towards our SO total and the struggle for peace and state and private-sector universities, Erdoğan has at least temporarily stands at £17,674 towards our during these summer weeks, but ecological sustainability are just and some have been detained. managed to create a semblance of such £30,000 target. the cash received is, of course, as much working class questions In the days after the attempted a coalition. While that still seems like a spent on the Weekly Worker alone. as pay, trade union rights and coup, the automatic departure system The MHP and CHP, the parties of long way to go (it is!), our SO is While printing costs make up a big demands for high-quality health, for electronic passports was stopped racist and Kemalist reaction, were always boosted in the final week, part of that, there is also the paper’s housing and education. at international airports. Many flights shell-shocked by the attempted coup. which coincides with Communist website to maintain - and, of course, n Socialism represents victory were cancelled because of never- On the night it took place, the leaders University. Our summer school those who read us online (there were in the battle for democracy. It ending passport checks. Thousands of both parties stood firmly against the attracts comrades willing to spend 2,943 such readers last week) are isthe rule of the working class. of special passports issued to high- military junta, and asked any of their on extras during this week of study not charged. Which is why all those Socialism is either democratic ranking state employees and their MPs who happened to be in Ankara (see advert, p7), not to mention on donations are especially welcome. or, as with Stalin’s Soviet Union, dependents were revoked, along with to go to the Grand National Assembly food and drink, which we provide But the cash raised during it turns into its opposite. those given to civil servants on official to resist the army intervention. The cheaply, but profitably - after you the Summer Offensive not only n duty abroad and diplomatic passports. leftwing pro-Kurdish HDP also stood take into account the amount of hard eases the continuous financial Socialism is the first stage A similar move, albeit smaller in against the junta and the day after work put in gratis by comrades. pressure we are under: it allows us of the worldwide transition to scale, is in operation in every ministry. the attempted coup a special session This week saw the total raised to make a better political impact - communism - a system which Even some ambassadors and consuls of parliament agreed a four-party go up by £1,479, which included primarily through our newspaper knows neither wars, exploitation, were sacked by the ministry of foreign declaration condemning the junta. £412 contributed by JT in the shape and websites, of course. Please do money, classes, states nor nations. affairs. Today not a single civil servant Erdoğan indicated that the CHP of bills paid on our behalf. For his what you can to help us meet our Communism is general freedom or public employee feels secure. Their and MHP would be rewarded if they part, MM paid in a fantastic £400, target l and the real beginning of human summer vacations have been cancelled, cooperated with the government’s while another MM made a second Peter Manson history. The Weekly Worker is licensed by and those already away have been invocation of the state of emergency, payment of £180 in as many weeks! Fill in a standing order form November Publications under a Creative recalled. and in fact only the HDP stood firmly JC wrote off £200 we owed him, Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 (back page), donate via our International Licence: http://creativecom- As readers can see, state against such measures. While the while PM, JT, GT, SS and DC were website, or send cheques, mons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/legalcode. ISSN departments, agencies, ministries, CHP leader stated that he opposed among those donating to the Weekly payable to Weekly Worker 1351-0150. etc have been rapidly dealt with, but the legislation, the CHP parliamentary No 1117 July 28 2016 Legal weekly challenge gets huge worker support

Affiliate to TUC No time to stay silent BMA members must insist that the union’s decisions are followed through, argues Richard Galen t the beginning of the month, in posts on August 3. This will leave many of EU nationals currently working for to cover costs in the event of Justice for with four days to go until the closing date, a clear rejection of their union’s medics, including new foundation the NHS would still be welcome. All Health losing the legal challenge. Not just 10% of those polled had responded. Arecommendations, a majority of doctors just starting in their first posts, this against the background of one of only was this revised downwards to This cannot be taken by the BMA as an junior doctors and medical students uncertain of both their future rotas and the lowest real-term funding increases just £70,000, but the original demand excuse to abandon the fight, nor to fuel voted to reject the renegotiated junior their pay packet - not an ideal situation in NHS history, with no sign that the was met by crowdfunding in just six division between those who disagreed doctors’ contract. This came after for those who have mortgages to pay mythical £350 million a week supposedly days after more than 5,000 answered over whether the new contract was several weeks of talks between the and families to support. gained from leaving the EU will suddenly the appeal for donations, bolstering the acceptable. If they are to succeed, doctors British Medical Association and the Meanwhile, the government is appear in the health service budget. efforts of the legal team. need to rediscover the unprecedented department of health, resulting in a pressing ahead with its plans to impose The contract imposition is still Encouraging as this news is, this unity of the profession that saw 98% of revised set of terms and conditions. In the new contract in October. Notably, facing a legal challenge, however, cannot be the only avenue used by those who took part in the original ballot the ballot of BMA members, turnout health secretary Jeremy Hunt managed with the campaign group, Justice for junior doctors to fight the government voting in favour of industrial action back was high at 68%, with 58% voting to to keep his job in the post-Brexit cabinet Health, which is led by junior doctors, imposition. The BMA must now step up in November 2015. reject the new contract. reshuffle, even smugly tweeting, currently engaged in a case against the and outline a clear plan to its members Much like the BMA leadership Having spent the weeks leading up “Reports of my death have been greatly department of health. Its argument is regarding further measures. This should at this point, they cannot turn silent to the vote touring the country to push exaggerated”, after the BBC reported that Hunt has no legal power to impose include joint action with other trade now. Members must insist that the union’s position - namely that the earlier in the day that he had been the contract, and can only recommend unions, including the National Union the decisions of the union’s May new conditions represented significant sacked from his post.2 it to any NHS bodies. of Teachers, which has stated several conference to approach the Trades gains and urging a ‘yes’ vote - the chair This can only be seen as a declaration On July 21, a high court judge ruled times its desire to coordinate further Union Congress with a view to winning of the BMA junior doctors’ committee, of support from new prime minister that a full judicial review hearing must strikes with junior doctors and other TUC-organised action, including a Dr Johann Malawana, announced Theresa May, who has shown no signs take place, commenting that the case public-sector workers. national demonstration, and discussing that he would stand down from his of deviating from the Tories’ current has “merit” and such a review would It is also vital that the doctors BMA affiliation be followed throughl position in the wake of the result. strategy with regards to the NHS. May be “in the public interest”. It will most themselves do not succumb to apathy His replacement, Dr Ellen McCourt has remained stubbornly silent on what likely take place in September, before in what has become a protracted battle Notes - described as a “militant medic” in Brexit will mean for the health service, the planned introduction of the contract. with the government. Regarding the 1. www.thesun.co.uk/news/1403350/prospect-of- The Sun1 - has not ruled out further This followed an outlandish attempt by BMA survey mentioned above, Ellen further-junior-doctors-strikes-increases-after- refusing to comment even after Simon militant-medic-becomes-bma-interim-leader. industrial action, but so far the union Stevens - head of NHS England - asked Hunt’s legal team to derail the case by McCourt passionately appealed for 2. https://twitter.com/jeremy_hunt/ has been decidedly quiet on the issue her for reassurance that the thousands demanding £150,000 from the campaign greater participation after revealing that, status/753560479658901504. of where to go next in terms of fighting the imposition of the new contract. Subscribe Name:______Standing order Aside from a number of token 6m 1yr Inst. To ______Bank plc ______statements expressing “disappointment” Address:______UK £30/€35 £60/€70 £200/€220 that the government was pushing ahead Branch address ______Europe £43/€50 £86/€100 £240/€264 ______Post code ______Account name ______with the contract imposition, the only Rest of £65/€75 £130/€150 £480/€528 world action thus far has been a survey of ______Sort code ______Account No ______BMA members asking for the reasons New UK subscribers offer: they voted against the contract and how 3 months for £10 ______Please pay to Weekly Worker, Lloyds A/C No 00744310 sort code 30-99-64, the sum of ______every month*/3 months* far they would be willing to go in terms until further notice, commencing on ______This replaces any previous order from this account. (*delete) UK subscribers: Pay by standing order and Tel:______of further industrial action. Date ______Given that the results have not yet save £12 a year. Minimum £12 every 3 Email:______Signed ______Name (PRINT) ______been released, it is difficult to see how months... but please pay more if you can. the union will be able to inform its Send a cheque or postal order payable to ‘Weekly Worker’ at: Sub: £/€ ______Address ______members of further plans before the Weekly Worker, BCM Box 928, ______Donation: £/€ ______nationwide changeover of doctors’ London WC1N 3XX ______