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June 23 referendum: a n Labour and media workern Beppe Grillo’s M5S rotten choice between n Durham miners two Tory posh boys n Victor Serge review No 1111 Thursday June 16 2016 Towards a Communist Party of the European Union £1/€1.10 Corbyn and the media trap 2 weekly June 16 2016 1111 worker letters

Letters may have been class to guarantee full employment, of the family, private property and inaccurate, but they were basically in Derby. The EU does not protect shortened because of the NHS), and the big thing that the state does go further, adding a true. It is a provable historical fact that worker rights because it was the space. Some names is different about this period is discussion of how things then changed the Nazi regime (though not Hitler sacrifices of the Tolpuddle Martyrs  may have been changed the existence of an apparently - which might also be instructive - of personally) approved of Zionism and the formation of trade unions and economically and technologically how such ancient collectivities gave before World War II. They shared the worker associations that increased the Positive impact thriving USSR (think the panic way to another kind: the private- wish to prevent the assimilation of bargaining power of the working class I write in response to Arthur Bough’s engendered in the west by Sputnik - property, hierarchical kind. In other Jews, and the claim that Jewishness is in the UK. letter (June 9), responding to my my mother, as an academic librarian, words, how we got from there to not primarily a matter of religion. The Greek people have been intervention (Letters, June 2) in was sent off to learn enough Russian here. We need not accept every detail Ken’s (inaccurate) claim that Hitler forced onto starvation rations by the the ongoing polemic between him to catalogue accurately the Soviet in the Origin to see the wisdom of had supported Zionism “before he greed of the EU and its controllers in and Mike Macnair, which has been science publications that Leicester accounting for such a transition of went mad” and decided to exterminate the international banker cartels. The broadly about the nature of social University Library had decided how Eden was spoiled. This, after all, the Jews may seem to Toby as implying treachery seen by Jeremy Corbyn democracy and its usefulness in to start buying). This difference is is the point of historical materialism: that in the (alleged) earlier phase and his trade union enforcer, Len the advancement of working class reflected in Eric Hobsbawm’s use of how we got where we are. Hitler “was quite a reasonable bloke”; McCluskey, should not be ignored, control of society. the phrase ‘The Golden Age’ for the It may beOrganised by Big Ride but this presupposes that support for following the ‘Workers’ independence I shall confine myself to a broad- period, because of these gains. For Palestine: www.redspokes.co.uk/ Zionism is necessarily reasonable - a from Europe day’ on June 23. brush response to what I see as the Whatever we now think - or we thebigride. that the private-property belief not shared by Ken (or by me). The Rail, Maritime and Transport two main points raised in Bough’s think that workers in the west on ‘father-right’ societies developed as Clearly, Ken was deprecating Zionism union under the leadership and letter (anything more would entail the whole then thought - about the separate clans (as with Abraham in by associating it with Nazism, not guidance of the sadly departed Bob something longer than I imagine balance of positive and negative Genesis, or the Greeks) - an alternative exculpating Hitler by associating him Crow was not a rightwing capitalist the Weekly Worker would be willing qualities of the USSR, the idea that social organisation that came to replace with Zionism. lackey of the UK and EU elite. It to print in its letters section). I shall its existence had no effect whatsoever or conquer the more collectivist kind Moshé Machover was actually the representative of also not engage in a point-by-point on the attitude of western capital to in an evolutionary play-off. Or that email hardworking railway workers. analysis of areas where I think its own labour force is laughable: the the collectivist tribes themselves The enemy inside our ranks are the that Bough has misunderstood my power of capital had been overthrown were transformed, once they began White coats turncoats like Corbyn who come from intended meaning in a letter that in a large portion of the globe, which to store a surplus - as the Gravettians Maren Clarke claims that my attack a far more privileged background I wrote rapidly and in a possibly raised the potential for the growth of central Asia did by freezing meat on Marx’s theory of value is absurd than working class council house over-concise style that was at points of the idea in western working class (their social organisation incidentally (Letters, June 9). To me, what is absurd lads like myself and the many trade perhaps open to misconstrual. consciousness that the overthrow of being both settled and sending out is using the labour theory of value to union members I am proud to call To take Bough’s most theoretical capital was possible. Put alongside bands of hunters). Of course, we know explain the present crisis of capitalism. my friends. In 1970 the Equal Pay passage first: his last two paragraphs this the presence of mass communist of more recent social formations, in That was brought on by the peaking of Act became law and survived even seem a pretty good summary of part parties in many countries in western which property was and is held in a global oil production, leading to rising the Thatcher government. It was not of the argument of Capital Vol 1, as Europe, the programmatic closeness collectivist ‘communist’ fashion, but energy prices, which trigger recession because of the EU and its invisible it might be wilfully misinterpreted of the Labour Party left in this where this doesn’t guarantee equality. and the temporary collapse of these and non-existent worker protections by a bourgeois economist, so that it country to the CPGB’s British road to Furthermore a larger society same prices. that the equal pay principle survived. would support the idea that, although socialism programme, the perceived constructed of an alliance of clans My criticism of the labour theory It was because of the resistance that surplus value is extracted from need in the US for anti-communist may have meant that the loyalty of of value suggested it was a ‘time’ would be organised by the trade workers under capitalism, this is all to witch-hunts; then the idea that members to their own particular theory of value, which argues that the union movement in the UK. the good, because economic growth western capital was not influenced family or ‘nation’ led to one clan labour time spent making something A ‘workers’ Europe’ is a false through the accumulation of capital in its political behaviour within it gaining dominance over the others, determines its value. I argued that and forlorn objective because the benefits everyone equally, workers own states by the existence of the even if within it men and women that time is a mental abstraction, and I international and European class elite and capitalists alike. However, USSR seems naive. The USSR, from were more equal than they were later. understand that most people, including who created the EU, and who draw Bough completely sidesteps the the point of view of western capital, Remember, Cleopatra became ruler of scientists, believe in the reality of 99.99% of its collective benefits, will rest of the argument of Capital - ie, represented the apogee of latent Egypt because of her membership of time. But, whether you believe in not permit it to be transformed into everything that suggests that the revolutionary action lying ‘behind’ the right family. time or not, to argue that labour time an association of workers and trade need for capital to accumulate (and the social democracy of its own Thinking of Egypt, we can also determines the value of anything is unionists mutually working for their at times not accumulate) stands in working class. note how religious ideas might have purely arbitrary and subjective. own providence. opposition to the interests of workers One also has to think of the helped in the development of class Marx derives value from abstract We don’t need the banker and leads to periodic economic crisis, experiences of the first half of the society: a ruler who asserts closeness labour time. But abstract labour time institutions of the EU to do that; we unemployment, etc. 20th century. Capitalism was widely to god - whether Abraham, Pharaoh or is a mental construct. That is the can do it through pre-existing worker The rest of Bough’s letter seems seen as leading to two world wars Louis XIV - is in a stronger position to meaning of the term ‘abstract’. Real networks and through the digital to assume that I and Macnair are and the depression: socialism/ tell others what to do. labour is concrete and the dialectical transformation of communication. asserting that all gains within communism was widely seen as Way back when, the evolutionary opposite to the abstract labour from I am in regular contact with people capitalism by the working class are offering a way out of, or guarantee of advantage of a bonding religion which Marx derives value. To claim from all over the world. We don’t need solely the result of the existence of the non-return of, such a period, and was may have been due to how it helped that something called value comes outdated institutions like the EU to USSR and its satellites (and similarly widely perceived as succeeding in the convince, if not coerce, people that from abstract labour, which is purely achieve worker cooperation. organised states) before, during and USSR, at least in this limited sense. the settled community made life safer mental, is a good definition of absurd. The UK should leave the EU and after their existence. I do not think In this overall context, the political than the hand-to-mouth, ‘immediate People who believe value comes remove one layer of transnational that either I or Macnair have said discourse of social democracy in meal upon return’ regime of the hunter- from an abstraction do not know the capitalist class control over our pay, this; for myself, I have certainly not criticising simultaneously the USSR, gatherer. Did the faith in a powerful difference between the abstract and living conditions and inalienable intended to state or imply such a point. communism and revolutionary father-god - creator, ancestor, perfect the concrete, or the mental and the rights. Then we can organise 100% Obviously, gains by the working class politics, on the one hand, and individual - outweigh the claims of material. They surely need a visit from against the banker-funded Tory Party, under capitalism are multi-causal, as capitalism in its worst excesses, on collectivism? We know that the struggle the men in white coats. who have transformed the UK into a nearly all processes in society are. the other, has this effect: to the ruling continues over which of any kind of Tony Clark paradise for the global plutocrats to To say anything different would be class it is saying, ‘If you don’t give social model is best for the majority. Labour supporter come and deposit their ill-gotten gains to fall into an extremely mechanistic the workers some concessions, look Mike Belbin made from exploiting zero economic approach to human history. at what the awful results might be for email EU evils borders. Throughout the period of existence you, with workers driven to desperate In framing the argument about the We can’t rely on non-elected, wholly of a workers’ (revolutionary) measures.’ To the workers it is saying, Basically true internationalist dimensions of the appointed bankers, commissioners movement of any size and level of ‘If you don’t let us negotiate within Comrade Toby Abse oversimplifies European Union, the trade union and EU court judges to protect the organisation in Europe - let us say capitalism for you, look at what the matters by demanding that movement and the political left have rights that our ancestors fought for in from the period leading up to the 1848 awful result will be if you try more “everything” about the manufactured discounted the problems that the the trade union movement. We cannot revolutions onwards - there have been extreme measures against capital.’ hysteria alleging anti-Semitism in EU has imposed upon the United sit back and watch the privileged periods of ebb and flow in its fortunes, As a final aside, I described my the Labour Party should be seen “in Kingdom and on our fellow European controllers of the EU impose hardship, both in terms of its ability to extract correspondence with Bough thus a British perspective” - as a Blairite neighbours on the continent. privation and starvation upon the fine social democratic-type gains from far to a colleague who lived under offensive, that has nothing to do with Do I refer to immigration? No, I do Greek people. We here in the UK are the ruling class (eg, the widening of Soviet communism in eastern Europe the pro-Israel lobby. not. I refer to the factual knowledge being led down the road to serfdom. the electoral franchise, the provision (without being a blind supporter of it, Yes, he is right in saying that that the EU has deregulated labour Unlike the Greeks, we are not of public services, various forms of or vehemently critical either, as far as “[John] Mann is an opportunist who markets, permitting the transnational trapped in the EU, because we have social welfare, trade union rights, I can tell); her response was that the cares not two hoots about Israel/ capitalist class to diminish the an escape route and we must use the allowing of openly organised, existence of the eastern bloc clearly Palestine, but just uses the issue for inalienable rights of free-born that referendum ballot on June 23 explicitly labour-movement-inspired had a positive impact on the fortunes witch-hunting, from whatever angle individual trade union members to to become independent - not of our political parties, rising living of the working class elsewhere in the is politically convenient”. However, freely associate for the purpose of fraternal comrades on the continent, standards, free compulsory education, world. as I pointed out in my article, ‘Don’t collective wage bargaining. but of the control that the top 1% elite etc) and in terms of its ability to wrest Sean Thurlough apologise - attack’ (May 19), this local The EU has written hyper- of the UK and Europe have exercised power completely from the capitalist London anti-Corbyn offensive has merged competition into its institutional DNA, over us for so long. class for longer or shorter periods in with an international campaign through the issuance of directives Jeremy Corbyn should stick to his larger or smaller geographical areas Way back when launched much earlier by the Israeli on the privatisation of state-owned younger days and commit the Labour (more or less the events of 1848, I found nothing to disagree with as propaganda machine, aiming to railways, and opening up the postal Party to withdraw from the never- 1871 and 1917). Broadly, my view such in Camilla Power’s outline of discredit any opposition to Israel’s services to private competition. These to-be-reformed EU, controlled by is that the social democratic gains the ‘sharing’ and ‘counter-greed’ Zionist colonising regime and support EU directives have been gold-plated bankers and multinational corporation are made partly because of the threat strategies of ancient or still existing for Palestinian rights as ‘anti-Semitic’. by EU integrationist automatons in the executives. of revolutionary action lying latent primitive communism (‘Communism Toby’s attempt to dismiss this wider establishment - people from privileged Tony Benn opposed the EU. Bob in the working class ‘behind’ social in living’, June 9). The fact that all international dimension is obfuscatory, backgrounds who have no knowledge Crow opposed the EU. Dennis Skinner democracy. human society could have once been reductionist and insular. of the problems that their decisions opposes the EU. Corbyn, you have to However, the period immediately tribal-collectivist and ever on the His justification of Ken have imposed upon the rank-and-file stand up for people and fight and fight after World War II stands out as lookout for individual assertions of Livingstone’s suspension is deplorable. citizens and workers of the UK. and fight to defend the interests of UK exceptional in terms of social superiority is something we might It is arguable that Ken’s comments for It was EU competition law workers against the corrupt bargain of democratic gains in the west (eg, learn from. which he was suspended may have that stopped the awarding of the the EU and the international bankers the political decision by the ruling However, Engels in The origin been impolitic; they were certainly Bombardier contract to our comrades who will stop you renationalising BCM Box 928, London WC1N 3XX l 07704 903382 l www.weeklyworker.co.uk l [email protected] weekly 3 worker 1111 June 16 2016

the railways and Royal Mail, and only ever be in one direction: worse or life. In 1925, like so many others of will overrule any opposition to the backward. This is to deny the potential that time, he left the rural south to seek multilateral contract to start privatising power of the working class - more than better opportunities in the industrial CPGB podcasts European public services. capable of extracting a few crumbs north. At the beginning he found work Every Monday we upload a podcast commenting on the current If you cannot be bothered to from the bosses’ table, and bringing in a cement plant in Indiana before political situation. In addition, the site features voice files of public represent genuinely working people, democratic and social revolution. eventually settling on the Southside meetings and other events: http://cpgb.org.uk/home/podcasts. then please step aside and let the real UltraExit denies and opposes the of Chicago, where he worked as a cab London Communist Forum representatives in the trade union possibility of European revolution led driver and then took employment as a Sunday June 19, 5pm: Weekly political report from CPGB Provisional movement, such as the RMT, Aslef, by the European working class. stevedore. Central Committee, followed by open discussion and reading group. SLEF and the other unions and union UltraExit claims that leaving the Racism fuelled Law’s passion Calthorpe Arms, 252 Grays Inn Road, London WC1. Study of Ralph members do it. I am an optimist with EU will overthrow Cameron and to fight for social equality, while Miliband’s Parliamentary socialism. This meeting: chapter 6 (‘The reason and caution and, to be candid, I destroy the Tory Party. Of course, the great depression only served to price of respectability’), section 2: ‘In pursuit of the national interest’. can’t see you changing, so, to borrow Cameron may be sacked by the Tory strengthen his leftwing values. He Organised by CPGB: www.cpgb.org.uk from history: ‘Depart, I say depart, for Party, but they will keep him if he can chaired the Southside chapter of the Labour Party Marxists: www.labourpartymarxists.org.uk all the good that you have done and still deliver for the City. We should Labour Defence League in Chicago Radical Anthropology Group never will do.’ Depart and give the not underestimate the ability and and became a frequent target of Tuesday June 21, 6.45pm: Introduction to social and biological Labour movement back to those who determination of the Tory Party to keep police harassment, as his activism anthropology, Daryll Forde seminar room, Anthropology Building, 14 genuinely care for it. its grip on power. Worse, it ignores the grew. In 1930, Law was beaten and Taviton Street, off Gordon Square, London WC1. ‘Spinning/weaving in Oliver Healey reality that if Cameron is ousted he arrested with 14 other activists at an the heavens: the new archaoastronomy .’ Speaker: Morag Feeney-Beaton. Leicester will be replaced by Boris Johnson, not International Unemployment Day Organised by Radical Anthropology Group: radicalanthropologygroup.org. the SWP or the SP. A victory for exit, rally in Chicago. In 1935, he helped Three trends with the present balance of forces, organise a large rally in protest against Imperialism centenary Thursday June 16, 7pm: Lecture, Marx Memorial Library, 37A As we move into the final countdown leads to the right. Despite its own Mussolini’s occupation of Ethiopia Clerkenwell Green, London, EC1. Speaker: Andrew Murray, marking for June 23, we need to take stock radical intentions, ultra-leftism sounds and was arrested, while giving a 100 years since Lenin wrote Imperialism, the highest stage of capitalism. of the three basic positions in the ‘revolutionary’, but delivers its voters speech to the 10,000-strong crowd. Organised by Marx Memorial Library: www.marxlibrary.org.uk socialist movement, which are for hedge funds, smaller businesses When the Spanish Civil War flared reflected in the Republican Socialist and rightwing politicians, and adds to up in 1936, Law joined the Abraham Convoy to Calais Alliance. First, there is the reformist the anti-immigrant mood. Lincoln Brigade and within a year he Friday June 17, 6pm: Rally, case for ‘remain’ backed by Jeremy UltraExit claims that the EU is was in Spain fighting Franco’s fascists. Emmanuel Centre, Marsham Street, London SW1 Corbyn, the Labour left, Left Unity worse than ‘ordinary’ capitalism. The On January 16 1937, Law, along with Saturday June 18, 9.30am: Vehicles depart, Whitehall, London SW1. and Socialist Resistance. Second, EU attacks the working class, imposes many other volunteers from America, Organised by Convoy to Calais: http://convoytocalais.org. there is a revolutionary case on neoliberal policies and austerity. But, arrived in Spain. On February 17 they Remain, leave or boycott the EU which is expressed around unlike capitalism in the UK, this EU got their first taste of action in the Saturday June 18, 2pm: Meeting, Liverpool Central Library, William ‘boycott and abstain’. Variations of capitalism cannot be reformed nor Jarama valley, where the task of the Brown Street, Liverpool L3. How should socialists vote? Speakers: James this are promoted by the CPGB, Fight overthrown by revolution. If this is International Brigade was to stop the Heartfield (‘leave’); Sandy McBurney (‘remain’); Jack Conrad (boycott). Racism, Fight Imperialism, and the true the entire world will be taken over advancing might of Franco’s troops. Organised by supporters of Critique journal: [email protected]. International Socialist League. Third, by the EU and capitalism will remain Although Law and his fellow Spirit of Soweto we have the ultra-left case for ‘leave’, unchanged for ever. brigadistas were unable to hold out Saturday June 18, 11am to 5pm: Public meeting on the legacy of or UltraExit, supported by the Socialist UltraExit is built on intellectual against the better-equipped fascists, struggle, Barbara Strang Teaching Centre, Newcastle University, Party, Socialist Workers Party and the pessimism about the potential power his display on the battle field saw him Newcastle NE1. Communist Party of Britain. of the working class. This is quite rise through the ranks of the Lincoln Organised by Newcastle Stop the War Coalition and others: Of course, these three broad trends understandable, given the defeats Brigade. Two weeks after landing www.northeaststopwar.org.uk/index.html. - reformist, revolutionary and ultra suffered by the working class in in Spain, Law had been promoted to left - have variations and ‘internal’ the UK. Various socialists have section leader and on February 27 he No to Immigration Act contradictions. Although millions lost confidence in the international took part in an attack on Pingarron Saturday June 25, 12 noon: Protest march. Assemble top of Stanhope of people will abstain or boycott the working class and no longer see it Hill in the Jarama Valley. Of the 500 Street, Newcastle upon Tyne NE4. ballot, in the working class movement as the agent of change - reform or Brigadistas that went into that battle March to Grey’s Monument, Newcastle NE1 for rally. comrades are polarised between the revolution - in Europe. against Franco’s troops, some 300 Organised by Migration and Asylum Justice Forum: reformist and ultra-left positions. There is a world of difference were killed and wounded. Two weeks www.facebook.com/migrationandjustice. The ‘reformist-remain’ position is between saying ‘Remain by voting after this setback, Law was promoted Yorkshire rebellion of 1820 that the only way to fight to remain in for Cameron’s reactionary policy’ to commander of the machine gun Saturday June 25, 1pm: Discussion, the Red Shed, Wakefield Labour the EU is to vote for Cameron’s anti- and saying ‘Remain’, while opposing company. Club, Vicarage Street, Wakefield WF1. Admission free. Buffet and ale. immigrant and pro-City of London the Tory policy by not voting for it, Heavy losses dented the Organised by Wakefield Socialist History Group: deal. This is by far the largest and most and calling for militant class struggle International Brigades, and the www.theredshed.org.uk/SocialHist.html. influential in the labour movement and opposition to Brexit, if necessary, Lincoln Brigade was one that suffered Marxism, imperialism, profits has created a popular front between after June 23. Whoever wins the the most. With the high losses, Law Monday June 27, 9.30am to 5.30pm: Day conference, room V111, liberal big capital, represented by referendum, the economic classes soon rose quickly among the ranks School of Oriental and African Studies, Vernon Square campus, Penton Cameron’s Tories, the City and big will have their say, whether in the and six months after arriving in Rise, London WC1. Discussing the theories of Marx and Lenin, the corporations, and the organised form of a financial crisis, a strike of Spain he had become commander globalisation of production and the role of finance and profitability. £5. working class in the right wing of capital or workers’ general ‘strike of the Lincoln Brigade. Oliver Law Speakers: Lucia Pradella, John Smith, Michael Roberts, Tony Norfield. the Labour Party, the trade union against exit’. Given the situation of became the first African-American to Organised by International Initiative for Promoting Political Economy: bureaucracy, and socialist reformism. striking workers in France, there is no lead an integrated American fighting http://iippe.org/wp. The popular front is based on the better time for a militant fight linking force. In the United States army, the idea that all classes benefit from the up with French workers. highest rank Law could rise to was Investment, not cuts EU, both capital and wage labour. It Before anybody claims that corporal due to segregation, but in Thursday, June 30, 6.30pm: Economics seminar, Unite the Union, 128 is accepted by Corbyn that the EU is workers strike action would be Spain he was now leader, even if it Theobalds Road, London WC1. Participants include: Victoria Chick, not perfect, but Labour can reform it to illegitimate by defying the democratic was just for a short time. James Meadway, Mick Burke, Sian Errington. serve the working class. In reality this decision of the people, we need to In July 1937, Law led his brigade Organised by Labour Assembly Against Austerity: promise of ‘jam tomorrow’ is empty remember that 2.3 million EU citizens into the Battle of Brunete, where Franco http://labourassemblyagainstausterity.org.uk. because there is no means by which have been excluded from the ballot. had sent back-up troops to prevent an Beyond caring the Labour Party can delivery on If women were not allowed to vote in approach on Madrid. It proved a bloody Wednesday July 6 to Saturday July 9, various times: New play, their promissory note. It is a promise this referendum would we accept it as battle and one in which Law would lose Theatre Delicatessen, 17 The Moor, Sheffield S1. that the EU will carry on in the way it a legitimate democratic result? Why his life. On July 10, he assembled his How the lives of people working on zero-hour contracts are affected. treated the Greek working class. should we accept the exclusion of EU troops to advance on a hill known as Book online: http://theatredelicatessen.co.uk/js_events/beyond-caring. £20. UltraExit is a mirror image of citizens from this ballot as anything Mosquito Crest. Franco’s troops were No to Chilcot reformism. Whilst reformism says the other than Tory gerrymandering? there waiting with severe fire power, Wednesday July 6, 5.30pm: Vigil to remember victims of war, Grey’s EU can be reformed without having Steve Freeman but Law charged forward, waving Monument, Blackett Street, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1. any plan or means of achieving it, the London his pistol and encouraging his men to Organised by Newcastle Stop the War Coalition: ultra-left claims it cannot be reformed follow. www.northeaststopwar.org.uk/index.html. and so have no plan either beyond its Unsung hero A sniper’s bullet hit him in the assertion. Like reformism, UltraExit On July 19 1936 general Franco, stomach and he fell in mid-charge. End the arms trade Thursday July 7, 6.30pm: Public meeting, small meeting room, denies the possibility and necessity of with the backing of Hitler and As he was being brought down from Friends House, 173-177 Euston Road, London NW1. a European democratic revolution. Mussolini, led a coup against the the hill on a stretcher, another bullet Organised by Campaign Against the Arms Trade: www.caat.org.uk The revolutionary camp is not democratically elected government hit him and his life ended there in the in good health either, because it of Spain. It kick-started the Spanish battlefields of Spain, along with 135 Durham Miners Gala is divided between anarchist and Civil War, which saw a turbulent other Americans that day. The 37-year- Saturday July 9, 10am to 5pm: March: Assemble Market Place, revolutionary democratic arguments. conflict unfold between rightwing and old Oliver Law was well respected Durham DH1. There are two anarchist arguments. leftwing ideologies. Here in Ireland, and had gained trust from those who Main event: The Racecourse, Green Lane, Durham DH1. First, some anarchists say ‘a plague Scotland, Wales and England many fought alongside him, and his loss was Organised by Durham NUM: www.durhamminers.org/gala. on both houses’ and refuse to vote, like-minded individuals joined the a major blow to his comrades in the For a world without arms as a moral argument. They have International Brigades to fight against Lincoln Brigade. Sunday July 10, 11am to 5pm: Conference, St Hilda’s East no perspective beyond the polling Franco’s fascists in Spain. But so too In the immediate years after his Community Centre, 8 Club Row, London E2. booth. Second, there are revolutionary did many Americans and one such death, an attempt was made to make a Organised by Campaign Against the Arms Trade: www.caat.org.uk. anarchist arguments which simply young man from Texas would become film on the life of Oliver Law but it was No sales to Israel think that breaking things up is the first African-American to lead an blocked by the rightwing influences in Monday August 8, 12 noon: Protest, UAV Engines Factory, Lynn revolutionary like smashing the integrated fighting force. the film business. Among the 3,000 Lane, Shenstone, Litchfield, WS14. crockery or having smaller businesses. Oliver Law was born on a ranch volunteers from the United States Organised by Big Ride For Palestine: www.redspokes.co.uk/thebigride. This ‘revolutionary’ ‘mash it up’ is in Texas on October 23 1900. At the that went to fight against fascism in firmly in the UltraExit camp. age of 19 he joined the United States Spain, some 80 of those were African- CPGB wills UltraExit is seriously flawed. The army but, despite his impeccable American. Among them was Oliver Remember the CPGB and keep the struggle going. Put our party’s name EU has changed, is changing and will record, segregation prevented Law Law, an unsung hero. and address, together with the amount you wish to leave, in your will. If continue to change. But the ultras from rising in the ranks and after six Pauline Murphy you need further help, do not hesitate to contact us. claim that permanent change is and can years in uniform he left for a civilian email 4 weekly June 16 2016 1111 worker labour Corbyn and the media trap Labour should stop basing its strategy on appealing to the media - it will fail, argues Paul Demarty bout the best that can be said for Jeremy Corbyn’s appearance Aon last week’s edition of the Channel 4 comedy chat show, The last leg, is that it was not a disaster. It was not a success, either; but it could have been much, much worse. It was, after all, on ‘friendly territory’, so far as these things go. The last leg began as part of Channel 4’s Paralympics coverage four years ago - two of its three hosts have disabilities of one sort or another - and its output is irreverent, but basically right-on. (The latest winner of the show’s annual Dick of the Year award is that other notorious political Jeremy, Hunt.) So the objective - as far as anyone can tell - was to be a good sport and get out alive. Look vaguely human. That sort of thing. (Incidentally, it is striking how quickly the image of the robotic politico with the thousand- yard stare has been pinned onto Corbyn, given that part of his appeal in the leadership contest was that he alone looked human, surrounded by the Stepford candidates.) So he was filmed turning up at the studio ina tuxedo and floor-length pimp-coat, with louche rap music playing over the top; there was a ridiculous and not terribly funny skit about how he likes manhole covers; he was forced to debate political etiquette with Russell Crowe. On it went: and it was over. All agree he came out of it better than Nick Clegg, who suffered a real Capitalist media: predator, not friend lynching on the same programme a few years ago. intoxicated with the idea that new dominant than they are in dead-tree organisation is now part-owned by the important ad contracts at a given Far worse was Jeremy Corbyn: and alternative media will be a form. The proof of the pudding - what Rupert Murdoch, though his stake is newspaper these days.) the outsider - an ‘inside story’-type more hospitable environment for else? - is the very fact that Corbyn a small (by his standards) 5%. It turns out that history is full of documentary from the Vice media a politician with a foot outside the was elected to the leadership, against Vice is, in reality, in a similar labour movements who bothered group, which saw the hipster outlet’s Overton window like Corbyn; the the fervently worded advice of every position to many of its peers, to do it for themselves - create Ben Ferguson follow Corbyn around Vice disaster is a salutary reminder damn paper from the Mirror to the although it has had enough success newspapers, radio stations, television during the eight weeks running up to that this is not the case. Mail (Bernie Sanders’ impressive over the years to attract $70 stations (never mind websites!) the May elections. The film itself is campaign in the United States is a million of Murdoch money. It is that were funded and staffed by the not unsympathetic, really; but it has Media ‘strategy’ similar phenomenon), but with the attempting to carve out a sustainable voluntary sacrifice of thosepolitically provided a lot of raw material for far Both of these moments point to support of at least some at Vice, and existence outside the charmed committed to the success of the more hostile coverage, with Ferguson a deliberate choice on the part various other ‘new media’ outlets, circle of traditional media outlets, movement (which is one way to get repeatedly sent packing, as the of Corbyn’s handlers to focus on Twitter cliques and what have you. and it is attempting to do so on a rid of Vice’s zero-hours troubles ... ) inner circle faced yet another crisis. relatively more sympathetic media Yet somehow it does not seem to capitalist basis, in which somebody, Thus, the media could become one of Foremost among these, naturally, was platforms where possible. work like that. In order to understand somewhere will make some money many sites in capitalist society where the anti-Semitism pseudo-scandal, We have already discussed the why, we must understand what has out of the whole deal. Thus, despite the political economy of the capitalist which broke over this period. The bona fide lefties of The last leg; and not changed about the media, as well its relentless lefty outpourings, Vice class could be contested by that of the very fact that Corbyn’s people Vice, at least in its UK incarnation, as what has. has become notorious for its callous working class, of the free association definitely did not want to be caught has been a hotbed of support for The most egregious aspect of treatment of freelancers and suchlike of producers. on camera candidly discussing their Occupy, Focus E15 and what have continuity is the agenda - and who - the margins are, at the end of the day, In order for this to succeed, tactical options was ammunition you - the sort of thing we would call sets it. This is quite obvious when it very thin, and squeezing an ounce however, we have to press the enough for Vice’s more old-fashioned millennial leftism (did the very word comes to the Vice debacle. In the first more blood out of the workforce can advantage - which is to say, we brethren. ‘millennial’ not make us want to instance, there is the film itself. Ben make all the difference! have to be able to compete in terms This is the problem for the vomit snakes). Ferguson states at the outset that he Thus, the faith in alternative of content, and be braver than the Corbynite battle for hearts and minds, In taking this path, we expect is a Labour member who voted for capitalist media - never mind yellow press. That, in the end, means in two incidents. The last leg spot is that many of the Corbyn inner Jeremy, but is frustrated by the lack of ‘alternative’ pockets of the overthrowing the dead hand of the basically as good as mainstream circle imagine themselves on the obvious change. What is obstructing mainstream media, like The last labour bureaucracy. There already media appearances are going to get rising tide of media history. There it? We are led to conclude that leg - is ill-advised on two counts. are labour-movement media, but who for Corbyn, ever; and the result is is a seductiveness to the picture, Corbyn’s people are permanently on First of all, the plucky upstarts are actually looks forward to their union a television appearance not least because the numbers don’t the defensive - from what? In reality, still effectively dominated by the newsletters and suchlike? Where’s two or three notches lie: the print circulation of most from the old media. Zoom out a little: big-money incumbents in terms of the spark, the danger? Remember lower on the cringe- newspapers is declining, and the practical result of Ferguson’s film their content and impact; secondly, - both the state (Channel 4) and ometer than might on the web ‘traditional’ media is that the Corbyn camp has come out the same plucky upstarts are at a the corporate media (Murdoch and be expected. Many organisations - though still very looking paranoid and incompetent. It more fundamental level dominated Vice) are able to entertain pockets of of his advisors are much dominating the upper would be perfectly legitimate to draw by capital, which needs an honest dissidence. Regrettably, the labour ranks of the page impression the conclusion that they were doing reformist in Number 10 like it needs movement and far left are worse on charts - are relatively less some kind of job under intense and a hole in the head. It’s a losing bet. this score. hostile bad-faith pressure from the The Corbynistas will protest that ‘The last leg’: bourgeois media. Who decides which this is all very well, but we do not cringe of these two interpretations is valid? A real ‘alternative presently live in a country with a Why, the bourgeois media. media’ thriving workers’ media, and we are There is the more insidious The time has come to think not about faced with the task of getting Jeremy problem, which is: who are these what material is immediately to into Number 10 in 2020 - given shiny new media organisations? In hand, but what material we actually lemons, we must make lemonade. the case of The last leg, of course, need in order for the healthier parts This is backwards. We have a once- the question does not even arise: it is of the labour movement not to be in-a-generation opportunity to start Channel 4, owned by the state, albeit permanently on the defensive. For rebuilding a sturdy movement, a not so obviously as the BBC, and it should not actually be difficult; necessary though not sufficient occasionally mooted for sale to (in the mainstream media are all part of which must be a compelling truth) relatively little controversy. As characterised by flagrant bias and set of media adequate to our tasks. for Vice, the question is a little more corruption, and there is no reason There will always be more elections vexed: the UK organisation’s news why any rational person should trust - and they certainly won’t be won by coverage sits oddly with the rightwing them without serious attention to dressing the leader up in a pimptastic politics of its founders (Shane Smith the inherent conflicts of interest at fur coat l fled Canada for the States to escape work. (Frankly, one does not have to its ‘socialism’), and notoriously the be an investigative journalist to spot [email protected] weekly 5 worker 1111 June 16 2016 rights Gulag conditions are the new norm Jeremy Corbyn is spreading illusions about the ‘progressive’ nature of the EU bureaucracy, writes Eddie Ford ecent polls by YouGov and Orb of chest pains and five that were have shown the tide seeming to connected to birth and miscarriage Rturn in favour of exit, with the (one worker actually gave birth in the Financial Times ‘poll of polls’ instant toilet). Orwellian-style, workers could tracker putting ‘leave’ ahead on 47% occasionally get harangued by name to 44% (the rest being ‘don’t knows’).1 via the tannoy system if they were Inevitably, these findings increase the deemed not to be moving quickly pressure on Jeremy Corbyn to discard enough. As for behaviour the company his semi-detached position - as it is considered punishable offences (called widely regarded - and appear extremely “strikes”), these included “excessive/ enthusiastic about the European Union long toilet breaks”, “excessive over the last few days of the campaign. chatting”, “horseplay”, “wearing Indeed, with an alarmed David branded goods” and “using a mobile Cameron deliberately lowering his phone in the warehouse”. Six “strikes” profile on the understandable basis that in six months and you were out. it only alienates Labour supporters, Ashley’s wretched defence to MPs Corbyn is now seen as central to the was that SD had a “hard-working ‘remain’ cause - especially as the 66 culture” and was a “victim of its own year-old Labour leader is thought to success” - he had the gall to say that have the ear of under-30s, who are far he did a “better job” for his employees more likely to vote ‘remain’ than older than Unite the union. True, he said, people. If Cameron wants to keep his “I’m not Father Christmas” and job, he needs Corbyn out on the stump “I’m not saying I’ll make the world batting for the EU. wonderful” - who could disagree? However, alarmingly for Labour Yes, he shrugged, the company had - hence for Cameron and the “outgrown” his ability to manage it, government - a campaign memo “probably a long time ago”. But hey, from Britain Stronger In Europe a “hard-working” billionaire could showed that about half of its voters not be expected to keep on top of were “uniformly uncertain” about everything - be reasonable. Unfazed, the party’s official position on the EU Ashley accepted that SD engaged in referendum.2 Perhaps more worrying practices that were immoral and even still, whilst they did not really know criminal - like employees on illegally what Corbyn thought or believed low wages and temporary workers about the EU or the referendum, they offered permanent jobs in return agreed that “his heart isn’t in it”. But, for sexual favours. But apparently, as this paper has pointed out, this is Ashley led us to believe, similar hardly surprising. All his political things happen at Sainsbury’s and life, Corbyn has been opposed to Mike Ashley: nothing exceptional Tesco - so what’s all the fuss about? the “bosses’ club” of the European Economic Community/EU - meaning and the environment”. Apparently, originally refused to appear before the the national minimum wage because Class struggle that he is now forced to argue for a Brexit would be an opportunity select committees conducting a joint they were held back at the end of So what was that about the “workers’ new position, one that does not fit so to attack workers in a “bonfire of inquiry into the demise of BHS. He their shift and brusquely searched rights” supposedly given to us by comfortably. rights” - a carnival of reaction. The had even imperiously demanded the by security guards before leaving the EU membership? Green and Ashley The Times maintains: obvious implication is that the level resignation of Frank Field, chairman company’s warehouse in Shirebrook, may be among the worst offenders, of protection and rights that workers of the work and pensions committee, Derbyshire - locally known as “the but companies such as Amazon or When the history of the European enjoy is all down to the EU, so we on the grounds that he was “biased” - gulag”. This involved a daily search McDonalds are hardly paragons of referendum is written, Jeremy must vote ‘remain’ on June 23 just to he was “not prepared to participate in - all part of SD’s ‘zero tolerance’ virtue. Indeed the ‘gulag’ is becoming Corbyn will have a controversial keep what we have. a process” which “has as its primary of theft - that required workers to the new norm in workplaces across walk-on part as the inverse of objective the destruction of my obediently line up as if they were Britain. So Jeremy Corbyn is being Forrest Gump. Instead of being Ruthless reputation”.4 prisoners before being ordered to incredibly complacent in defending omnipresent and endearingly Step forward, Sir Philip Green, Green eventually consented to strip to the final layer above the waist the existing situation, basically sincere, he will be depicted as billionaire former owner of BHS, appear before MPs, saying he was and empty their pockets. They were arguing that things could get worse largely absent and culpably and Mike Ashley, founder of Sports “sad” about the demise of BHS and then asked to roll up their trouser legs with a Brexit. dishonest (June 13). Direct. was working on a solution to “fix to reveal the brands of their socks Obviously things can get worse, Green, the great über-capitalist this mess” - a new plan, being drawn and also expose the brand of their but this is not the right attitude. In similar vein, Alex Andreou, of yesterday, whose empire includes up by accountancy group Deloitte, underwear. Occasionally workers Rights are something you win, not get normally sympathetic to the Top Shop and Dorothy Perkin, is would offer BHS pensioners a are hauled into a side room for a handed down to you from on high. Labour leader, castigated Corbyn’s now in disgrace after milking BHS “better outcome” than compensation more ‘detailed’ search. This was all The gains we have made, limited “anonymity, lack of passion and for everything it was worth by taking available from the pension protection unpaid time, of course - even though and inadequate as they are, did not refusal to engage meaningfully” in the out £400 million in dividends during fund. However, when asked if that the search could take 30 minutes or result from the beneficence of either referendum battle.3 his 15-year ownership. He then meant scheme members would more. However, if workers turned up the EU or Westminster, let alone of Yet Corbyn’s dilemma is very real. sold the company for £1 to a dodgy receive the pensions due before one minute late, they were docked 15 the bourgeoisie - but from the class How do you mobilise six million consortium (Retail Acquisitions), the collapse, no more details were minutes pay. struggle, through the struggle of Labour voters to save the skin of a led by Dominic Chappell, who has forthcoming. Showing how “sad” he All this came to public attention power against power. Tory prime minister, and more broadly been declared bankrupt at least was about the fate of BHS employees, last December, when The Guardian That is what Corbyn should be get left-leaning voters to support the three times, and has been dubbed Green has just bought his third luxury undertook an extensive investigation saying, not spreading illusions in status quo? Trying to sound more by members of Commons select yacht (Lionheart) worth £100 million using undercover reporters, and the progressive nature of the EU upbeat, on June 14 he appeared with committees a “mythomaniac” and a - maybe just to cheer himself up with published an article entitled ‘A bureaucracy - remember Greece? the entire shadow cabinet, members “Premier League liar”. All 164 BHS a bit of retail therapy.5 Naturally, day at “the gulag”: what it’s like to Instead, he should be demanding the of Labour’s national executive stores will close by the end of July the yacht - like all his businesses work at Sports Direct’s warehouse’ scrapping of all anti-trade union laws committee and trade union leaders at and 11,000 will lose their jobs. Even dealings - was formally purchased (December 9 2015).6 Some of the - one guaranteed way to help protect an event in central London, where he more unfortunately for both current by his wife, who lives in Monaco and other horrors uncovered were that and extend workers’ rights in Britain, stated: “It is the Labour position, the and former employees, who number thus does not pay British taxes. An workers are given a list of 802 inside or outside the EU. When do trade union position to vote to remain. 20,000 in total, the government- outraged John McDonnell demanded sports and clothing brands they are we hear him saying this? Corbyn, We urge our supporters to think backed pension protection fund that Green should be stripped of his prohibited from wearing - not just however, seems to be concentrating carefully and vote to remain”. A few does not cover the full value of knighthood, as that would “help SD’s own brands, but labels including only on the very worst offenders - days earlier in Aberdeen, he gave a their pension - so they will get an restore public faith in the honours Nike, Adidas and Reebok. Workers the ‘rogue’ capitalists and those who speech saying he was campaigning to immediate 10% ‘haircut’. Money system”. were said to have urinated into bottles insist on zero-hours contracts. A bold stay in the EU in order to protect the gone for ever. This brings us to Mike Ashley, because they were afraid of going to programme of change, or vagaries? advances made in “workers’ rights”, In a Commons debate on BHS, who also refused to be questioned the toilet least they be ‘sanctioned’. Alas, with Corbyn, it seems more the including maternity and paternity MPs from every party lined up to by the relevant select committee for Some staff were paid through a pre- latter than the former l leave, paid holidays, working hours, lambaste Green, describing him as an several months despite receiving a paid card that cost them £10, plus a anti-discrimination legislation, “unscrupulous chancer”, overseeing formal parliamentary summons, but £10-a-month ‘management fee’ - nor [email protected] environmental protection, etc. “wealth extraction rather than wealth finally turned up after the committee forgetting the 75p to use it at an ATM Of course, he had said the same creation”. Conservative MP, David hinted it would consider finding machine, and 10p when they got a Notes back in April as part of his long- Davis, said his ‘management’ of him in contempt of parliament. text message confirming they had 1. https://ig.ft.com/sites/brexit-polling. promised speech finally committing BHS “can be described as little Unsurprisingly, we discover that used it. Only about 200 warehouse 2. www.theguardian.com/politics/2016/may/30/ labour-voters-in-the-dark-about-partys-stance-on- himself to support for continued else than asset stripping”, even Ashley had written to the BHS workers were actual SD employees, brexit-research-says. EU membership, “warts and all”. though in August 2010 Green was administrators expressing an interest while more than 3,000 people were 3. https://twitter.com/sturdyAlex/ Though admitting that he was still asked by Cameron to carry out a in taking over a number of the stores - supplied by various employment status/741301370586812420. critical of Brussels’ “shortcomings”, review of government spending and but Green rebutted his advances. agencies. 4. www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-36528426. 5. www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/inside-sir- he told us that the EU had helped procurement. Anyhow, Ashley admitted to MPs Horrifically, there had been 110 philip-greens-opulent-7857760. to underpin “investment, jobs and Showing his total arrogance and that at a “specific time” Sports Direct ambulance call-outs to the warehouse 6. www.theguardian.com/business/2015/dec/09/ protections for workers, consumers sense of entitlement, Green had staff were effectively paid less than - 38 when workers had complained sports-direct-warehouse-work-conditions. 6 weekly June 16 2016 1111 worker europe

Whatever happens on June 23, one thing is certain: Britain will not leave Europe Our strategy and tactics Jack Conrad looks at the referendum - and beyond that to the challenge of continental unity

ow do things stand with the June Boris Johnson, Michael Gove and Iain Duncan Smith. Vote Leave says gains a majority on June 23. Despite will be told exactly the same thing - 23 referendum? Surprisingly, Nigel Farage. Britain must “regain control over ringing declarations demanding only in blunter terms. And, be it Boris not least for me, recent opinion Needless to say, both camps insist things like … migration, crime and British independence, an end to mass Johnson, George Osborne or Theresa H 13 polls show the ‘leave’ campaign that some existential choice is about civil liberties”. As a loathsome European migration and freedom May, the new British PM will surely edging ahead.1 Eg, a TNS poll found to be made. auxiliary comes Migration Watch. from EU bureaucracy coming from follow US orders. that some 47% back Brexit, while only On the ‘remain’ side: the politics Unless Britain quits the EU, horror Messrs Johnson, Gove and Duncan 40% favour ‘remain’ (because this is of fear. Stronger in Europe implies of horrors, total population is set Smith, such a programme, as I have Illusory a survey of those intending to vote that three million jobs could be lost to rise to 80 million by 2035 - with argued many times before, will never Britain’s second Europe referendum, the remaining 13% are either ‘don’t with a Brexit.6 Meanwhile, HM “60% of migrants coming from the be implemented. in point of fact, closely matches Harold knows’ … or ‘spoil your ballot paper’ government’s £9 million pamphlet EU”.14 Nigel Farage, fronting the UK Britain, to state the obvious, no Wilson’s of June 1975. It was staged active boycottists).2 ominously predicts a ‘leave’ vote Independence Party’s Grassroots Go, longer possesses a global empire. Its not because he was unhappy with Moreover, as pollsters constantly will “create years of uncertainty”.7 now, almost triumphantly, announces: former position as world hegemon the EEC. Wilson’s referendum was, remind us, those wanting to stay Similarly, Another Europe is Possible, “When [David Cameron] says that we was taken over by the United States in fact, a wonderfully Machiavellian in the European Union tend to be a typical soft-left lash-up, announces can maintain control of immigration with World War II. The Suez fiasco in “ploy” dictated entirely by “domestic both younger and less likely to that “walking away from the EU while remaining a member of the 1956 definitively saw Britain abandon politics”.20 Labour had a long record vote. Therefore the 1.2 million who would boost rightwing movements European Union, people increasingly its futile bid to expand its African and of supporting British efforts to gain stampeded to register as voters and parties like Ukip and hurt ordinary know this prime minister is simply Middle Eastern colonies. Instead it membership, dating back to the mid- in the four days before the final people in Britain”.8 For his part, Mark not telling the truth.”15 Get Britain reluctantly settled for a privileged 1960s. Wilson was himself responsible June 8 deadline are considered a Carney maintains that a Brexit will Out - a longstanding far-right Tory position as America’s closest ally. for submitting Britain’s second, much needed boost by Stronger in put the country’s vital financial sector outfit - seeks to “bring back UK A position that it quickly came to unsuccessful, membership application Europe, Labour In for Britain, etc. at “risk”.9 Moreover, the Bank of democracy”.16 In exactly the same treasure and as everybody knows in May 1967. That is surely why Nevertheless, according to Betfair, England governor is expected to break red, white and blue spirit, the Morning goes under name of the “special Europe hardly featured in the 1970 the probability of a ‘remain’ vote is his “self-imposed purdah” and issue a Star’s inept Ben Chacko patriotically relationship” (a phrase coined by general election campaign: there was 64.5% - down 14 points over just damning report showing that a ‘leave’ rejects the “EU superstate project” Winston Churchill in 1946). That a cross-party consensus. four days.3 In response to such news, vote could upend inflation, growth and likewise seeks the restoration of is exactly why general Charles de However, against all expectations jittery markets sent the value of the and interest rate targets.10 Doing her Britain’s “democracy”.17 Then there is Gaulle twice said non. He rightly Labour lost to a Tory surge. Under pound and the FTSE 100 plunging bit for the remain cause, Christine Lexit - uniting the Socialist Workers saw Britain as a pliant US satrap. those circumstances Wilson turned downwards. There is a real worry Lagarde, head of the International Party, Counterfire and the Communist Even a US Trojan horse. And, once towards what is now politely called that June 23 could produce the wrong Monetary Fund, famously declared Party of Britain. Its Thomas Barker it was inside the European Economic Euroscepticism. In 1971 opposition result. that withdrawing from the EU seriously appears to believe that a Community as a full member, that to the EEC became official Labour Undoubtedly, the explanation would have “pretty bad to very, very ‘leave’ vote “would strike a mortal indeed has been the role played by policy. A year later, conference voted for the renewed wind in the sails bad consequences” for Britain and blow to the government, as well Britain. in favour of supporting the demand of the ‘leave’ campaign lies in the could trigger another recession.11 As as the EU” and “could lead to the Leave aside the possibility of for a referendum - till then alien to the “dominant issue” of immigration.4 for George Osborne he warns of a calling of a general election and an “independent” Britain not being British constitutional tradition. Many workers, especially those Brexit “emergency budget” that will the removal of the detested Tories instantly granted a free trade deal It was, then, a Tory prime minister, with a backward level of class- see him “slash public spending and from power”. He giddily envisages by the 27 countries remaining in Ted Heath, who oversaw British entry consciousness, misguidedly blame increase taxes” in order to tackle a the Tories debilitatingly split and a the EU. The likelihood is that an in January 1973 - with the help of the not global inequality, not the Tory £30bn “black hole” brought about by vague, undefined and entirely fanciful “independent” Britain just like the Roy Jenkins-George Thomson wing government, not the system, but a Brexit economic downturn - this “international fightback”.18 “independent” Switzerland and the of the Labour Party, he had won a migrants, for poor housing, lack of could include “raising income and Frankly, unlike genuinely crucial “independent” Norway will have to clear parliamentary majority for his school places, NHS queues, low inheritance taxes and cutting the NHS questions, such as transforming the abide by all relevant EU red tape, membership terms and conditions. wages, etc, etc. Stupidly, as always budget.”12 Labour Party, Greek debt bondage, accept freedom of movement from Nevertheless, Labour could steal votes in pursuit of a short-term political On the ‘leave’ side: the politics of Trident renewal, the danger of the EU and be under an obligation to by attacking Heath for getting a bad gain, David Cameron once promised hopeless hope. Formally headed by runaway climate change, etc, the contribute to EU budgets. Then there deal and by promising a “fundamental an annual cap on immigration and to Labour’s useful idiot, Gisela Stuart, whole referendum exercise lacks is the simple fact that the US does renegotiation” … to be followed by limit it to the “tens of thousands”.5 A and incorporating various mavericks, any real substance. Surely, whatever not want Britain to leave. Something Britain’s first referendum. Needless to hostage to fortune. He could never such as Kate Hoey, Frank Field and the result on June 23, “under no Barack Obama made abundantly say, Labour won the February and then deliver. The release of official figures David Owen, at its core, Vote Leave circumstances will Britain leave clear in public when he visited in the October 1974 general elections. showing a near record 330,000 influx unites Tory heavyweights - crucially Europe”.19 Eg, imagine, for the sake April - he urged Britain to “stick with Ensconced in No10, Wilson kept to in 2015 were an unsolicited gift for Boris Johnson, Michael Gove and of the argument, that the ‘leave’ camp the EU”. David Cameron’s successor his word and called a referendum. This weekly 7 worker 1111 June 16 2016

would also serve, he hoped, to humble are, therefore, that, whoever is the next more important, reason. Communists working class, are the reactionaries Ukip to do all the running? A boycott Labour’s ‘anti-marketeers’ - ie, Tony Tory prime minister, Britain would do positively favour a united Europe on the rampage or retreating, does is hardly the same as an apolitical, Benn, Barbara Castle and Michael just what other EU members have - even if that comes about under the a widespread popular hunger exist passive, abstention. Foot. The referendum campaign was, done - Denmark, France, Ireland and conditions of capitalism. Yet that for more than is on offer? All such In this context it is worth in fact, a highly unequal battle. The Holland. After a referendum has gone hardly commits us to supporting the factors must be taken into account. recalling that the Bolsheviks firmly ‘remain’ camp enjoyed professional the wrong way, the government would existing EU. Far from it. As to boycotting all elections, distinguished between a “passive organisation, drew on considerable negotiate “a new agreement, nearly The fact of the matter is that the practice surely speaks volumes here. abstention” and an “active boycott” finances, thanks to big business, and identical to the old one, disguise it in EU is only quasi-democratic. It is The CPGB called for a first-preference - which implies, as Lenin explained, had the backing of the entire national opaque language and ratify it”.24 Amid a creaking confederation of often vote for George Galloway in the May “increasing agitation tenfold”.27 The daily press (with the sole exception of the post-referendum shock and awe, fractious capitalist states, run by an 5 mayoral election in London and a Bolsheviks, it should be stressed, were the Morning Star). the population would be scared, fooled arrogant, remote, appointed body second preference for Sadiq Khan. not boycottists as a matter of principle. On June 5 1975, 67% voted ‘yes’ or bribed into acquiescence. There of commissioners. The directly Our intention was to simultaneously Far from it. Nonetheless, they did and a mere 33% voted ‘no’ to Britain’s would follow a second referendum. elected parliament exercises no real dramatise opposition to the witch-hunt organise a spectacularly successful continued membership. Despite that Boris Johnson has surely already power. As for the euro, it is clearly going on in the Labour Party and to boycott of elections to the tsar’s overwhelming mandate, given the given the game away. He is now using malfunctioning. Hence the long term defend the leadership of Jeremy Corbyn. duma in 1905. The Bulygin duma fulsome promises that joining the the standard ‘leave’ rhetoric: eg, the danger of a Prussian solution. Galloway condemned the witch-hunt; was in effect buried before it was EEC would bring substantial material sunlight of freedom, breaking out of However, the EU does provide us Khan defended it. However, a defeat born. However, under the changed benefits, it is hardly surprising that the EU jail, a once-in-a-generation with the wide sphere of operations for Khan would have seen Corbyn get circumstances of 1912, the Bolsheviks Europe has become a “scapegoat opportunity to “take back control needed not only to organise the the blame for a Labour defeat. In fact a totally dominated the workers curia in for economic malaise”: for sure, the over our borders and control over our working class into a ruling class, but Galloway vote cost nothing. He never the fourth duma. 1974-79 Labour government could do democracy”.25 But he readily admits a class that, having come to power, stood a chance. Second-preference We are not interested in saving nothing to reverse Britain’s relative that his support for Brexit only came can realistically expect to make a votes for Khan would, on the other David Cameron’s bacon. Nor are we economic decline.21 after Cameron’s final EU deal failed decisive, strategic breakthrough hand, count. That was our calculation interested in giving him a bloody The illusory nature of Britain’s to include his proposed wording in terms of the world socialist and that is what happened. nose and triggering a Tory leadership second Euro referendum is no less enshrining British “parliamentary revolution. A United Socialist States More than that, under the contest, which would see a battle obvious. The European Union sovereignty”. Just the kind of of Europe could stand up to US Provisional Central Committee, between Boris Johnson, George Referendum Act (2015) had meaningless drivel that could easily imperialism and spread the flame of the CPGB has fielded candidates in Osborne and Theresa May. What we nothing to do with David Cameron be conceded in future negotiations liberation to Africa, Latin America, elections going back to 1992. Why? are interested in is carving out a space, entertaining some grand plan for a and be successfully put to a second Asia ... and finally North America. A Because we want to use “every no matter how initially small, no matter British geopolitical reorientation. By referendum - an idea originally socialist France, a socialist Greece, avenue to propagate the ideas of how initially tentative, no matter how calculation, if not conviction, Cameron mooted by former Tory leader a socialist Portugal could never do communism”.26 Elections - with the initially inadequate, for the great task is a soft Europhile. And, despite tough Michael Howard. Naturally, Cameron that. Indeed any such isolated outpost growth of communist organisation of readying the working class in the talk about negotiating “fundamental, dismissed the second referendum of working class power would very and communist consciousness - can EU for the socialist revolution l far-reaching change” and gaining a option. He is in no position to do quickly fall to counterrevolution be turned from a means to lull the “special status” for Britain, just like otherwise. But if Johnson were to (either from within or from without). masses and gain their submission into Notes Harold Wilson, he came back from become prime minister we know So, yes, we want to sweep away a weapon of the class struggle - and 1. The Guardian June 13 2016. Brussels with precious little. Apart exactly what to expect. At US bidding the existing EU of commissioners, one of the sharpest at that. 2. The Daily Telegraph June 14 2016. from two very minor adjustments he would get an EU agreement to a the council of ministers, the court of During a gathering revolutionary 3. The Week June 13 2016. - a reduction in non-resident child highfalutin phrase that he could sell to justice, etc. In its place we envisage a storm, communists might well decide 4. www.theguardian.com/politics/live/2016/ jun/13/eu-referendum-live-labour-remain- benefits, which Germany too favoured, the British electorate. As with Harold thoroughly democratic and thoroughly to boycott a referendum with a heavily campaign-final-10-days-vote. and a temporary cut in tax credits - all Wilson in 1975, the chances are that internationalist United Socialist States loaded question such as - ‘Do you 5. The Daily Telegraph January 10 2010. that Cameron secured was symbolic there would be a clear, two-thirds of Europe. favour the restoration of peace, stability 6. www.strongerin.co.uk/get_the_ (ie, the agreement that Britain did majority. Although we programmatically and good governance?’ or ‘Do you facts#iQAmHJOlGfmYbztJ.97. 7. HM government, ‘Why the government not necessarily favour “ever closer distrust referendums, it would, of favour national collapse, anarchy and believes that voting to remain in the European union”). Boycott course, be stupid to insist upon mob rule’? If communists dominate the Union is the best decision for the UK’. Transparently David Cameron In general communists take a some blanket ban on voting in them. Labour Party, have a large communist- 8. www.anothereurope.org. never had any intention of Britain negative view of referendums. Everything depends on concrete Labour parliamentary fraction, control 9. The Daily Telegraph March 8 2016. 10. This is money June 11 2016. leaving the EU. His promise to hold We unapologetically prefer circumstances. Take the May 22 2015 numerous local authorities, lead the 11. The Daily Telegraph May 13 2016. a referendum was dictated solely by representative, indirect democracy, referendum in Ireland on same-sex important trade unions, run countless 12. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-eu- domestic considerations - above all, to so-called direct, plebiscitary marriage. The ultra-reactionary right, education institutes and co-ops and referendum-36534192. David Cameron remaining prime democracy. Rigorous debate, fielding the Catholic hierarchy and various can count on the support of rank-and- 13. https://d3n8a8pro7vhmx.cloudfront.net/ voteleave/pages/98/attachments/ minister. By holding out the promise detailed amendments, the prolonged Protestant sects called for a ‘no’ vote. file committees in the armed forces, original/1457545797/website-brochure-hq- of a referendum, Cameron - together struggle of parties is replaced by Meanwhile, the four main parties in etc, countenancing participation in mar16-2.pdf. with his close advisors - figured he an atomised electorate and the easy the Dáil supported a change in the such a counterrevolutionary stunt 14. www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-eu- could harness popular dissatisfaction appeal of bigotry. Hence Swiss constitution. To have advocated a would surely be to betray the cause of referendum-36514849. 15. www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-eu- with the EU - not least as generated by citizens voted in 2009 to ban the boycott because of some purist wish socialism. referendum-36444014. the rightwing press. Moreover, in terms construction of any further minarets to go unassociated with Fine Gael, Under such welcome 16. http://getbritainout.org. of party politics, Ed Miliband could (there were actually only four of them Fianna Fáil, Labour and Sinn Féin circumstances, we might be advised 17. Editorial Morning Star March 4 2016. be wrong-footed, Tory Europhobes at the time). Reducing politics to a would have been facile posturing and to demand a general election, along 18. www.leftleave.org/exit-left-the-socialist-case- for-britain-leaving-the-eu. conciliated and Ukip checked. simple ‘yes’ or ‘no’ choice encourages an obvious mistake. Our forces were with ending the many shortcomings 19. Andrew Moravcsik, Princeton professor of However, Cameron’s expectation people to ignore history, complexity and still are weak and disorganised, and violations of democracy that exist politics Financial Times April 9-10 2016. was that he would never have to deliver. and unexpected consequences. and expectations continue to be under the UK’s constitution. Absence 20. D Reynolds Britannia overruled London 1991, Most pundits predicted a continuation Especially under capitalism desperately low. Equally to have of proportional representation, the p249. 21. Ibid p250. of the Conservative-Liberal Democrat referendums tend to disunite the forces uncritically gone along with the corrupting role of big money, an 22. Andrew Moravcsik, Princeton professor of coalition after the May 2015 general of the working class and bring sections political establishment in some unelected second chamber, judicial politics Financial Times April 9-10 2016. election. With Nick Clegg, Vince of it under the hegemony of petty rotten popular front would have been review, MI5, the royal prerogative in 23. The Independent April 16 2016. Cable and Danny Alexander sitting bourgeois and bourgeois politicians. an obvious mistake. Mere tailism. choosing the prime minister, etc. 24. Andrew Moravcsik, Princeton professor of politics Financial Times April 9-10 2016. around the cabinet table, there would They are also the favourite devices The referendum should have been What about the silly notion that 25. The Independent March 6 2016. be no referendum. They would have of dictators and would-be dictators. used as an opportunity to militantly a boycott would “relegate” us to an 26. J Conrad In the enemy camp London 1993, p7. blocked such a proposal with threats During their resistible rises Louis raise the demand for the complete “irrelevance” and allow the Tories and 27. VI Lenin CW Vol 9, Moscow 1977, p182. of resignation. Yet, as we all know, Bonaparte, Benito Mussolini, Adolf separation of church and state. The despite the opinion polls, the Tories Hitler and Charles de Gaulle all used Catholic church’s special status, secured a narrow House of Commons referendums to provide themselves fabulous wealth, tax loopholes, role majority. So Cameron was lumbered with overarching powers. in education, etc, must be ended. Fighting fund with his referendum. Of course, June 23 has nothing Ireland should be refounded as a I still expect a ‘remain’ vote on to do with putting a dictator into the secular republic. June 23. Surely, backing from big saddle. What is really at issue is a Then there is the argument that business and international institutions, blue-on-blue power struggle. Assume boycotts are wrongheaded because Play your part celebrity endorsements ... and fear a ‘remain’ vote, then David Cameron “all referenda - and for that matter, F’s brilliant £120 donation trying to ensure we record our of the unknown will swing popular will probably stay on as prime minister all elections - are rigged to one Mprovided a much needed online readership as accurately as opinion at the 11th hour. Nevertheless, for the next couple of years. Assume degree or another”. Therefore, it boost to our fighting fund in an possible. No easy task, I’m told. establishment critics are undoubtedly a ‘leave’ vote, then we will probably supposedly follows that those who otherwise sparse week. We are Amongst the donations this right: Cameron has gambled on an get Boris Johnson. Given that palpable advocate an active boycott of the June now halfway through the month, week was comrade DB’s monthly often fickle electorate. Referendums reality, the dumbest thing to do is to 23 referendum should “logically” but the total of £836 raised so far £7.20 via PayPal. That’s the can go horribly awry for those who take the referendum at face value, to conclude that all elections should be is just a little bit behind where we amount he used to pay for his stage them, especially when issues obediently say that we must answer boycotted. It is, of course, true, that ought to be, if we’re going to raise overseas subscription, but, even such as mass migration, international the question on the ballot paper. No, all elections under capitalism are to the £1,750 we need each month. though he now reads us online terrorism and general dissatisfaction instead communists advocate an active one degree or another “rigged”. But, Other highlights this week and doesn’t take a hard copy any come into the mix. boycott. Go to the polling station on as argued above, that hardly leads were a cheque for £50 from KC, more, he insists he still wants to The danger of a ‘leave’ vote would June 23 and spoil your ballot paper: to communists boycotting every a £20 standing order from DW pay the Weekly Worker the same genuinely panic the ruling class, “if write ‘For a socialist Europe’. referendum as if it were a matter of and another £25 PayPal gift from amount. It’s gratefully received, the referendum really mattered”.22 Does that mean that we constitute principle. Our tactics are not based on one of our supporters in Canada, comrade! Sure, David Cameron “would not last ourselves an irrelevance, or that we the undeniable fact that establishment comrade SS. He was among the But now we could do with a bit 30 seconds” after a Brexit vote (Ken have nothing to say when it comes politicians cheat, lie and constantly 2,732 online readers our counter of acceleration in the second half Clarke).23 But he would not be replaced to Europe? That is a charge that has strive to deceive people. Tactics must registered last week - although, of the month. Feel free to play by Nigel Farage ... or Jeremy Corbyn. been repeatedly thrown against us by a be decided upon only after assessing of course, the accuracy of this has your part! l There will still be a Tory government. range of critics. Suffice to say, nothing class relations in the round and often been called into question. Robbie Rix It could be headed by Boris Johnson, could be further from the truth. The analysing the development of extra- It’s a question, on the one hand, of Theresa May, George Osborne … or, CPGB opposes the ‘leave’ camp not parliamentary and parliamentary total or unique visits and, on the Fill in a standing order form as of now, some less likely contender. simply because to associate with it struggles. For example, in a other, of the effect of ad-blockers (back page), donate via our Note: the next Tory leader/prime puts us in the obnoxious company referendum: what is the question, and suchlike. But currently we website, or send cheques, minister will be elected on a ‘one of Boris Johnson, Nigel Farage and why is the government asking it, are studying this question and payable to Weekly Worker member, one vote’ basis. The chances Frank Field. No, there is another, far how purposeful and combative is the 8 weekly June 16 2016 1111 worker italy M5S is not a leftwing party Why are elements within the left recommending a vote for Beppe Grillo’s party? Toby Abse points to its links with the far right

ny notion that the Movimento It is not just that Matteo Salvini, the economic and social census of those the Veneto, the Lega’s traditional faith has generally made him much Cinque Stelle (M5S - Five leader of the far-right, racist Lega who live there.” Not only does this heartland in north-east Italy, Jacopo less forgiving of the corruption and AStar Movement) is a leftwing Nord, has called for a vote for M5S display visceral hostility to the Roma Berti, the group leader of M5S in compromises of Italian politics than party has to be exposed, as a matter mayoral candidates Virginia Raggi and Simti, but the very idea of such a the regional assembly, has on many a Catholic like Nichi Vendola of the of extreme urgency, for the complete in Rome and Chiara Appendino in census has sinister undertones, given occasions supported resolutions from soft-left Sinistra Ecologia Libertà. nonsense it is. Turin in the run-off second ballots the way censuses of Jews in places the Lega, beginning with those calling Disgracefully, Ferrero has given Such a notion is being peddled on June 19. The links between M5S like Vichy France or indeed fascist for the repeal of the law protecting his backing to Chiara Appendino in the United Kingdom by the very and both the racist, right-populist Italy paved the way for the Nazi Roma and Simti.9 in the second round of the Torinese same people1 who are pushing what Lega and the neo-fascist Fratelli genocide, even if the census-takers mayoral election. Whilst Dario Fo I can only call a Schlageter line2 d’Italia (Brothers of Italy - FdI) had a milder version of persecution in Potential mayor may now be drifting into senility, in relation to the referendum on go much, much deeper. A recent mind. And, of course, in the Roman Let us turn now to some little-known his avowed support for the right’s the European Union, so they are opinion poll amongst M5S voters, context it is very reminiscent of the facts about Virginia Raggi, the mayoral candidate in Milan - a Forza probably utterly indifferent to the published in La Repubblica on June fingerprinting of all gypsy children 37-year-old lawyer standing for the Italia man, but one backed by the widely known fact that M5S leader 9, showed that 60% of M5S voters advocated by the neo-fascist mayor, Roman mayoralty, whom the world’s neo-fascist FdI - makes little sense, Beppe Grillo has as his principal ally were sympathetic to a party of the Gianni Alemanno (the man whose press has glorified both for her youth in view of what his late wife, Franca at the European level none other than right. By contrast only 15% had victory was famously greeted by and for her gender - many mainstream Rame, once suffered at the hands of Nigel Farage, the man whom even such a sympathy for the left. This fascist salutes in central Rome), with articles have waxed lyrical about her such neo-fascist characters. David Cameron - no slouch when cannot be explained purely on the whom Raggi has greater links than becoming potentially the first female Ferrero certainly must bear full it comes to dog-whistle racism, basis of ‘the enemy of my enemy is her official, doctored curriculum mayor of Rome.10 Her support for responsibility if he hands Turin over as his remarks about Sadiq Khan my friend’ - ie, hostility to Matteo vitae acknowledges. Lazio - the football team with the to the racists of M5S. Appendino, its during the London mayoral contest Renzi and his Partito Democratico - Nor is this racism some most violent neo-fascist hooligans candidate, has publicly reiterated her revealed - finds too openly bigoted since most of those polled specified idiosyncrasy of Raggi’s and nor, anywhere in Italy, whose players have willingness to accept the enthusiastic for defending the use of terms such the extreme rather than moderate for that matter, is M5S hostility to been known to give fascist salutes support of the Lega Nord’s Mario as “Chinks” and “fags” by a UK right. To some extent, this sympathy non-Italians confined to one ethnic and whose supporters have frequently Borghezio, its most notorious and Independence Party candidate.3 is reciprocated - most markedly group. Luigi Di Maio, the probable brought banners with disgusting open racist, about whom Farage has As Farage has proclaimed in a amongst Lega voters, 28% of whom M5S candidate for premier at the references to the holocaust into the recently said: “I was in the Lega very recent full-page interview with are sympathetic to M5S. Indeed, next general election,7 has said: ground - is hardly endearing and not group at Strasbourg. I did not ever Corriere della Sera, 18% of Forza Italia and 17% of FdI “The migratory phenomenon is an something fashionable liberals refer have any problems except with voters have such sympathies for enormous phenomenon. It is for to. However, it is not the worst of her Borghezio. I am not a politically Grillo and I will destroy the old M5S.6 this reason that we want a citizens’ defects by any means. correct type. However, Borghezio European Union. On June 19 At the ideological level, the income for the Italians. We must In her official curriculum vitae is too much even for me.”12 All that the Five Stars candidate will be racism of the leading figures amongst think first about making our country it is stated that between 2003 and makes Appendino beyond the pale. It elected mayor of the capital and the new generation of M5S leaders secure.” 2007 “she appeared in court for a would be comprehensible, although change Italy. On June 23 Great needs to be underlined. Raggi, the Thus the much bruited-about well-known legal firm specialising in my view mistaken, if Ferrero had Britain will leave the EU and Roman mayoral candidate, said in ‘citizen’s income’, about which in civil law”. Significantly it is not urged abstention, given PD candidate change Europe. We shall have relation to gypsies: “The camps many trade unionists all over Europe mentioned that the firm in question Piero Fassino’s enthusiasm for a domino effect. After us the have to be removed. We need an have grave doubts, as something was that of Cesare Previti - at the time the TAV (high-speed railway) and northern countries will leave one weakening workers’ collective a Forza Italia parliamentarian and so forth, but to ally himself with after the other. First Denmark, bargaining power by blunting the a former minister of defence, who somebody publicly supported by such then Holland4, Sweden, intensity of class struggle, is in fact in 2003 suffered his first conviction a character is to betray the values of Austria. This referendum linked to ethnic criteria of a kind that for corrupting magistrates. That the Italian resistance and everything is the most important is characteristic of a wide array of does not appear to have worried this that the communist tradition has ever event since 1957. European far-right parties. That latter-day hammer of corruption, stood for l The EU is about includes the Front National in who worked alongside him for to collapse. France, which does not currently another four years! The second Notes Disintegrated advocate extreme neoliberalism, extremely significant omission in 1. In particular Tariq Ali of New Left Review, the into so many but a welfare state confined to the this thoroughly bowdlerised CV lead speaker at an anti-European Union rally in pieces.5 ethnically pure.8 The implication is that she had the role of president London on June 13 2016. Although the lead that the door must be firmly barred in a company administered by the article, ‘Oppositions’, in New Left Review (March- April 2016) was written by his wife, Susan to all refugees and that all foreigners secretary of Franco Panzironi, former Watkins, it is hard to imagine that comrade Ali did are terrorists, murderers or rapists head of the municipal enterprise, not have a serious input into its general line. needs little underlining - such is AMA, and secretary general of the 2. Leo Schlageter(1894-1923) was a German what ‘law and order’ has always foundation set up by the neo-fascist Nazi, who, after participating in murderous anti- Polish violence in Silesia in 1921, was executed meant from Richard Nixon to mayor, Gianni Alemanno, currently by the French in 1923 for sabotage during their Donald Trump and Nigel Farage. on trial in relation to the Mafia occupation of the Ruhr. Karl Radek of the Alessandro Di Battista, another Capitale scandal. “It wasn’t a job Communist Party of Germany (KPD) made a leading national figure within the in the company - only a duty linked notorious speech praising him to the skies. A later, but related, episode in the history of the KPD younger generation of M5S, has to the legal practice in which I was came at the time of the Nazi-initiated plebiscite boasted about how Lega founder working,” she has unconvincingly against the Social Democratic government of Umberto Bossi - second to none explained to Fabrizio Roncone, Prussia in 1932, which the KPD called the ‘Red in his prime, when it came to a Corriere journalist. As another Plebiscite’ - the parallels with the proclamations of the supporters of the mythical left exit in the making racist remarks - gave Corriere writer, Sergio Rizzo, points United Kingdom, with their refusal to him a pat on the back and Di out, “But why omit this from her acknowledge that this EU referendum has become Battista affectionately described electoral curriculum? And why omit a vote about immigration, are too obvious to need Bossi to the press as “an old it from the one published on the much elaboration. 11 3. See Cameron’s interview in The Observer June lion”. Moreover, the same applies council website?” One suspects 12 2016. at the regional level. In because it would link her, however 4. Since this Farage interview, Geert Wilders, the indirectly, to corruption, criminality leader of the Netherlands far-right Freedom Party and hard-line neo-fascism. - a powerful force in Dutch politics - has called for a ‘Nexit’. In the light of all this evidence 5. Corriere della Sera June 11 2016. about the attitudes and record of 6. See La Repubblica June 9 2016 for detailed M5S, it is saddening that their figures. This article was written by the respected mayoral candidates are getting a political scientist, Ilvo Diamanti, one of the greatest academic authorities on the Lega Nord, free ride - not only in Britain from about which he was first to write a serious the Tariq Alis and Susan Watkins monograph. mesmerised by any force that aims 7. Whilst perhaps the ageing Beppe Grillo - a to destroy the European Union, but mere youngster compared with Silvio Berlusconi - is tiring of front-line politics more quickly than in Italy, from many on the radical Forza Italia’s leader, the principal reason for left. They include those who needing another candidate for premier is that define themselves as communists Grillo’s manslaughter conviction for careless - the most saddening instance driving (killing two passengers in his car) bars him from such high office. being no less a figure than 8. See my review of the timely and illuminating Paolo Ferrero, the leader of book edited by Fred Leplat, The far right in Rifondazione Comunista, Europe: ‘Populism, nationalism and racism’ somebody who started Weekly Worker April 21 2016. 9. These damning instances of hostility towards his political career gypsies and immigrants by leading members of in Democrazia M5S are reported by Annalisa Cuzzocrea in La Proletaria Repubblica (June 9 2016). and whose 10. See, for example, The Observer June 12 2016. Protestant 11. Raggi was elected to the Roman city council Beppe Grillo: by in 2013. Details taken from Corriere della Sera Valdese June 12 2016. his friends ... religious 12. Corriere della Sera June 11 2016. weekly 9 worker 1111 June 16 2016 review Principles of syndicalism Lewis H Mates The great labour unrest: rank and file movements and political change in the Durham coalfield Manchester University Press, 2016, pp328, £75

he period of the “great labour Indeed, myself and Lewis have argued to take the issue to DMA council of militancy and looks to the militant unrest” in the title of this book over this question since he took up before signing, and their subsequent lodges which returned the highest Twas between 1910 and 1914 - a this field of research. It is an issue inability, first to appreciate, then votes. Many of these were the home period when conflicting ideologies and which prevented the Durham and to mitigate any of its damaging base of the significant syndicalist organisational forms of struggle compete Northumberland miners affiliating to consequences. activists of the region. Chopwell, Will and overlap. This particular work focuses the Miners Federation of Great Britain Lawther’s militant lodge, returned, on what was perhaps syndicalism’s finest - the northern miners by and large The book indicates in great detail how for example, a 95% vote for ongoing hour - certainly its most influential already worked less than an eight-hour the issue of the eight-hour agreement action. Lewis discounts this though, period in its challenge to parliamentary day, in addition to those who would caused widespread industrial strife, as Lawther was studying in London reformism and constitutional socialism. soon be working fewer hours as they which raged through the coalfield for by then. The lodge led by George At this time there was an ideological graduated to full-time face work. years and was never really resolved. Harvey (who was an industrial scrum when liberalism - within which But is was not simply the danger of Lewis comments: unionist in contradistinction to “a the working class in general and the longer hours which mitigated against syndicalist”), Handon Hold, returned northern miners in particular had roots affiliation to the MFGB. Linked to Significant though the 1910 Durham a 78.3% majority, while South Pelaw, - and the newly emergent forms of such questions were the dangerous and South Wales disputes were, where a Socialist Labour Party caucus independent labourism and the Labour inroads into those ancient areas of job they came too early for syndicalism operated, registered 94.8%. Party itself were locked in combat control spoken of earlier. The northern in Durham to capitalise on greatly. Lewis concludes that there is no with dynamic industrial unionism and miners’ short hewing shift usually The eight hours agreement strikes easily discernible relationship between revolutionary syndicalism. occurred once - at some pits twice - ended some months before the syndicalism as such and the militant Lewis Mates is a tutor in politics a day, which kept a tight grip on the Cambrian combine strike began support for continuing the strike, but I at Durham University with a deep amount of coal being produced, and and before Mann’s Industrial tend to see the question the other way interest and involvement with the stopped the market being flooded, thus Syndicalist had been launched … round. It was not Lawther who had Durham miners both as an historical lowering the value of their wages. The More generally there seems to have swung Chopwell behind syndicalist subject and an ongoing working class eight-hour day demanded a three- and been no relationship between the ideas, or Harvey who did something social phenomenon. I regard him as a sometimes four-shift cycle. The coal lodge revolt against the owners similar at Handon Hold, but the grades or sums of money, which meant fellow Tyneside anarcho-syndicalist may have belonged to the owners, and their own agents and explicit militant, class-combative culture that everything was referred back to - our fields of research and political but control of the hewing space, and syndicalist ideas (p136). of those lodges which influenced district bargaining, thus negating the presentations often overlap and who occupied it, belonged to the the leaders toward syndicalism and main purpose of the strike: to win a complement each other. miners. The cavil system stopped industrial unionism. The ideas of national common pay structure. As a politics lecturer the author management choosing who worked Real syndicalism formal syndicalism would not have The MFGB then conducted a must first establish the veracity of where - the union decided allocating I would need to take issue with this come as a novel suggestion to the second national ballot on whether to class-struggle perspectives to gain work by lottery. In fact the legislation line of reasoning. Syndicalism was rank-and-file miners of these lodges, defy parliament and the law in order any headway in the prevailing winds for an eight-hour day threw all of this not invented with the term itself, any who had advocated for generations to force through the original demands of academic iconoclasms, which custom and practice, this self-selection more than anarchism was invented just such perceptions, conclusions and and Lewis masterfully traces the everywhere now challenge class and control, into the air. It opened the when someone chose to adopt that title methods of struggle. various reactions to the new ballot. analysis. For people like myself, born floodgates to unlimited coaling shifts. for their political outlook. Similarly, Lewis actually unconsciously As far as I know, no other work has into a world in which one’s entire Importantly too, surface workers, who ‘communist’ was invented neither makes this point himself later in the remotely looked at this period in such perspective and everything in society worked the longest hours, would gain by Karl Marx by giving analysis and book, when discussing the election at minute and fascinating detail. As it is premised and structured on class nothing from the act of parliament. context nor by people consciously Follonsby lodge of George Harvey to turned out, the Durham miners voted struggle, class identity, class history, the Lewis seems to learn in the process identifying with that particular term. the prestigious post of checkweighman, by a two-thirds majority to reject the very notion that the existence of class of exposition and changes his position, A rose by any other name must surely a position he had applied for on an parliamentary ‘solution’ and continue can be challenged or debunked is mind- as different factors are revealed. At smell as sweet, and it is the substance explicitly revolutionary platform. the strike. Nationally, however, the blowing. Yet we cannot simply argue first he seems to suggest that the of what perspectives and actions Concluding in his letter that he was MFGB achieved 54.8% in favour, it is, because it is - as though this was eight-hour day is the progressive workers engaged in which mark their “strongly opposed to the kind of men short of the two thirds it required. some form of deistic belief. flavour of the month, which the left political and tactical direction and we have so long kept at Durham and Lewis sees the “high tide” of So the first chapters of the book and the Independent Labour Party strategy, not the title someone later whom we in our ignorance believe are syndicalism in Durham as starting in are forced to review the various other take up as their cause célèbre - along invents. tin gods”, he declared: “If you want a the autumn of 1912, with the founding theories of conflict in this period in a with affiliation to the MFGB, which The revolt of the miners in the gentle Jesus or temperance preacher, for of the Durham Unofficial Reform search for something other than class effectively made the eight-hour 1830s of course predates the title God’s sake don’t consider me as likely Movement and the Miners Next Step that motivates action and outlook, day a condition. But it is clear it is ‘syndicalist’, but the press and to suit” (pp230-31). Lewis notes that Committee. Contrasting the relative which the Marxists have overlooked. In bitterly opposed by the rank and file owners of the period reported the his election was quite an achievement. failure of both wings of syndicalism addition to ceaseless academic searches and by men who were to the left of miners were talking of seizing the Harvey had no experience as a lodge to make any lasting gains, or win for alternatives to class analysis there the ILP - particularly the syndicalist pits from the owners, working them official, and was standing in opposition influence within the union structure, are the conflicts within socialist class and industrial unionist supporters. in common for themselves - and, to the political and union outlooks of along with that of the young militants of analysis of what the movements Subsequently, however, Lewis what is more, as popular, industrial the current DMA leadership against the ILP, he cites the emergence of their meant, how they were motivated and does make clear the reason for the democratic lodges. That surely is conciliation. Lewis concludes that Durham Forward Movement in April directed. Anarcho-syndicalist, Leninist groundswell of opposition, and the left syndicalism. The rejection of the the vote was an obvious endorsement 1912. This organised parallel Durham or social democratic - all are capable and progressive credentials of some of pomp and circumstance, the grand of his politics and stance. But this miners ‘council meetings’ with more of accentuating their own particular those doing the opposing. rules and bureaucracy of the Durham demonstrates that Follonsby’s political than half of the whole county’s lodges positives, while minimising the Of course, the MFGB as a national Miners Association, in favour of culture (and that of the older Wardley, represented, discussing issues, tactics opposing negatives. organisation could and should rank-and-file direct action organised to which it was connected) was de facto and constitutional changes. This was Of necessity the book makes have approached the issue by ring- through democratic miners’ lodges (or syndicalist and industrial unionist, to impact heavily over the coming central reference to the Durham fencing those regions with terms and sometimes even without formal lodge predating the formal foundation of years within the political and cultural Miners Association (DMA) - that conditions in advance of the eight- sanction), the rejection of the courts those political currents. nature of the DMA. giant, powerful bloc of the mining hour demand, but its rationale was that and labour laws - these were surely Lewis believes that the ILP militants proletariat - and the struggle to control of the lowest common denominator - features of the age-old miners’ direct Excels in fact stole the syndicalists’ clothes, it: struggles based around democratic rounding both up and down in terms democracy and rejection in action of Where this book excels is in the adopting their rhetoric, slogans and control, branch autonomy, centralising of hours. more constitutional or parliamentary detailed description of the struggle for postures, but they also had an extra bureaucracies and the dominant The advanced job controls held routes: syndicalist in everything but the minimum wage, and the campaign string to their bow in the form of party political hegemony within it. in the northern coalfields were not formal title. The radical unions and in Durham to secure support for the and electoral strategies. The whole The book demonstrates the divisions enjoyed elsewhere, and it was these rank-and-file workers’ organisations demand, and for a national strike. It is minimum wage issue, for example, of underground labour and their which ought to have been the standard. which sided with Bakunin in the first truly ground-breaking in describing the was ultimately being fought out in strategic and sometimes conflicting Amongst the ILP activists in the international were de facto syndicalist complex arguments about who should parliament. The ILP also had a plan aims and strengths. In the process it coalfield arguing for the MFGB and formations. The Levellers practised be able to claim it, and at what level it to take over structures and positions exposes the unique and long-standing its eight-hour policy, there seems to a form of agricultural ‘syndicalism’. should start. It follows the controversy within the DMA itself, a course of areas of job control, jealously guarded have been some naivety as to what it These perceptions predate the over the exclusion of the lowest paid action which anarcho-syndicalist from management and owners. It would mean in practice - they appear invention of formal organisational and men from the agreement, thus crippling principles precluded (although the also reveals the conflicting social and to have believed that safeguards for programmatic labelling. the demand from the start. industrial unionists softened their cultural traditions, which sometimes existing northern conditions would be I appreciate, of course, that Lewis is Lewis’s coverage of the vote which opposition to such a course and weighed against more revolutionary negotiated. On p87 Lewis expresses talking here of formal, self-identified brought about the largest ever strike George Harvey, for example, did run). conclusions - such as Methodism and his surprise that leading socialists in ‘syndicalism’ as a conscious political for a single industry in the world - with This is a masterly work of the deeply entrenched allegiance to the coalfields campaigned against the current and alternative to other strands over one million miners downing tools scholarship, passionately researched radical liberalism, which was to fight eight-hour legislation and urged all of the workers’ movement, rather and stopping not only the coalfields, but and referenced, which addresses a the emergent independent labour Labour representatives in parliament than the de facto form I am referring much else through knock-on effects - key moment in the history of the organisations for every foot of ground. to oppose it, but by p121 he concludes: to. But the tendency to look for form is also excellent. He is able to trace the miners in general, and in particular (or self-declared ‘leaders’) rather than attitudes of the Durham lodges, along the mighty institution of the Durham Eight-hour day The eight-hour imbroglio had essence manifests itself again with the with the changing national and county Miners Association. Not for the last The question of northern miners profound outcomes for the DMA’s Durham miners’ mass rejection of the responses, as the government steps in time would the mood of the generally and the eight-hour day is one which leadership. Their standing was settlement and vote to continue strike to pre-empt collective bargaining by conservative DMA set the pace and has baffled labour historians, and undoubtedly damaged by the action. Lewis asks how influential was bringing in the Eight Hours Act. The swing the tide for national action l particularly left ones, for some time. agreement, particularly their failure ‘syndicalism’ in terms of this mood act specified no details concerning David Douglass 10 weekly June 16 2016 1111 worker review Curious delay and publication switch Victor Serge and Natalia Sedova Trotsky The life and death of Leon Trotsky Haymarket Books, 2016, pp396, £12.99

he life and death of Leon Trotsky than themselves - like Corbynism or was originally published in 1946 the EU referendum, etc. Opportunism and the first English publication is not the answer. The left is split and Thad to wait until 1975. But now it is weakened as a result of getting these back in print, thanks to Haymarket questions wrong. Books. But it was supposed to have Serge bases his defence of been published by New York Review of the POUM against the charge of Books. (Thanks to the NYRB, I started reformism by pointing out that reading Serge’s novels again, as well Trotsky and the Left Opposition as his Memoirs of a revolutionary.) were guilty of the same offence: Midway through last year, NYRB ie, in 1930-31 they were slow to flagged the upcoming Life and death, condemn the Thermidor in Russia; so I put in my order - only to find that in particular the first faked trials and publication was delayed. And when false confessions, such as the case it finally came out, the publisher had of the technicians in the ‘Industrial switched to Haymarket Books. Party Affair’; the affair of the Haymarket is a self-described non- ‘Menshevik Centre’, as well as the profit book publisher and distributor. execution without trial of 48 alleged It is a project of the Chicago-based saboteurs involved in meat supply. At Center for Economic Research and that stage, western socialists too were Social Change, known for publishing unable to understand the “mystery of ‘provocative books’ from the left end confessions on demand”. Instead they of the political spectrum. Founding used the same argument as Stalin’s editors Anthony Arnove and Julie inquisitors of 1928, who, as Serge Fain previously worked on the reminds us, told the accused: International Socialist Review. The fact that the editors worked on subjectively you are convinced the ISR suggests that Haymarket is a revolutionaries. But objectively, by the project of a group of intellectuals discrediting the leader of the party, who harbour anarcho-syndicalist you are playing the game of the sympathies: viz, the remnants of the class enemy, of fascism … Years old International Socialist activist later I was saddened to see Leon tendency. This goes hand in hand with Trotsky, who knew better than a state-capitalist position as to the anyone Andres Nin’s devotion to class nature of the Soviet Union: the the working class, denounce him Bolshevik regime never broke with as a traitor (objectively, alas), only capitalism; therefore the Workers’ Natalia Sedova and Leon Trotsky to posthumously recognise his Opposition was right, and so on. revolutionary probity (subjective, Not happy with just republishing Should one remain neutral about these In his previously unpublished regards his old friend and comrade. no doubt) …. Serge and Sedova’s attempt to questions (as if this were possible) or article Serge reminds us that On the one hand, he defers to [This is] disdain for the write the first biography of Trotsky, should one come down on the side of “psychology exists”, which can Trotsky’s own works: eg, his History psychological fact, disdain of Haymarket Books have also included Serge? Greeman or anyone else from alter our subjective standpoint, vis- of the Russian Revolution, My life, The the moral fact, which is also an unpublished article by Serge, the Haymarket editorial board have a à-vis objective reality. This is true, new course, The revolution betrayed - an objective reality of primary written in 1940, in response to right to come down on Serge’s side, although it is often overlooked by even Their morals and ours! On the importance. [It is] contempt Trotsky’s 1938 Their morals and if they want to. But they should have Marxists themselves. It is a pity other hand, of course, there is the for different convictions, … ours. This appears as appendix B, made the case themselves, as well as Serge was not mindful of this fact restraining hand of Trotsky’s widow, exaggerated judgements, unjust while appendix A, on the other hand, defer to Serge’s published work, for himself when he joined in a public Sedova. Her own contributions are and hence as clumsy politically as is a eulogy of Trotsky by Serge, first which there is ample material (eg, his attack on Trotsky over Kronstadt. attributed in single quotes. So there is they are to revolutionary morality published by Partisan Review in 1943. Memoirs of a revolutionary). Instead This took place just when the latter no need to defer at length to the text (p297). The two are completely antithetical. they chose to publish his private was girding himself up to defend his itself (at least for the time being). The previously unpublished article is response to Trotsky’s Their morals old Bolshevik comrades, who were But why did Haymarket Books Yet in the Serge/Sedova biography, a damming attack on Trotsky, which and ours, despite the fact that, in the about to be executed - on the basis of want to get their hands on the with regard to the events in Barcelona is deeply flawed, as we shall see. I end, Serge decided not to publish forced confessions - at the infamous publishing rights of the Serge/ in 1937, Serge - still with his straight can only conclude that the publishers this; which is not surprising. Moscow trials (or they already had Sedova biography? Without being in bat - attacks the POUM for being in the chose to do this in order to push their He starts out by saying of Their been).1 possession of the facts, I can only say reformist government, because one own agenda. Whilst they are free to morals and ours: Likewise Greeman should have that somehow they were in a position of its leaders, Largo Caballero, had do so, this is a scurrilous way to do it, pointed out Trotsky’s overall situation to use Serge’s articles on Trotsky - refused to outlaw it as a revolutionary not least because it does a disservice The tone of the book, the here. He had seen his whole family in particular the unpublished one of party. But, once he was removed, “the to both Trotsky and Serge. domineering role of Bolshevik wiped out by Stalin’s assassins and, 1940, which is so critical of the “old POUM was crushed and the Spanish I refuse to make wild accusations speech of the great years, along as someone in exile, he knew he was man” - in order to counterbalance the Republic, with its back to the wall, about individuals. Therefore I shall with its echoes of the imperious living on borrowed time: ie, once he Serge/Sedova biography: ie, in a book was at once hideously defiled by a confine myself to the facts as much and uncompromising style of had served his purpose (as the alleged which they could publish under their string of crimes” (p223). as I can. But I assume there must Karl Marx, the polemicist, ... is leader of the ‘conspirators’ against own steam. It fits into the group’s But in his 1940 article, Serge have been a dispute between NYRB essentially one of intolerance, Stalin), then an assassin would come contradictory agenda (it has always commits the same error as Trotsky and Haymarket Books over things [because it] implies the claim to for him. Apart from Trotsky’s ordeal, been contradictory). On the one and the Left Opposition in 1930- like the foreword and afterword to the monopoly of the truth (p295). Serge himself had not long escaped hand, they sentimentalise Trotsky’s 31 (which echoed that of Stalin’s Serge’s and Sedova’s book: ie, how from the gulag and a GPU (State role as a great revolutionary; on the inquisitors), in order to justify should it be contextualised? Perhaps Wearing his new hat, Greeman Political Directorate) death squad. other, they adhere to the - by now - the POUM’s strategy and tactics the NYRB disagreed with the initial tries to be even-handed. On the one Both men were fighting a losing battle thoroughly discredited state-capitalist during the Spanish Civil War: ie, proposal. Was this anything to do side, he points out that, on the 10th against the counterrevolution. But it argument on the class nature of the “subjectively” they saw themselves with the Marxist-humanist, Richard anniversary of the revolution, Trotsky was only later that Serge realised they Soviet Union. In a word, the position as “convinced revolutionaries”. Greeman, its go-to man in relation to talked about “the need to democratise were living through “the midnight of of the editors of Haymarket Books is But “objectively”, as a result of a the publication of Serge’s works? I do the party and industrialise the the century”. Neither were immune fundamentally anti-Trotskyist! reformist strategy and tactics, “they not know. But it is he who provides country”. On the other, he refers to such psychological factors, which were playing the game of the class the contextualisation. to the moment in 1939 when are, by their very nature, destabilising Serge’s article enemy, of fascism”. Trotsky’s “collaboration with Serge in terms of any individual’s ability As I have said, Serge’s previously Serge should have learnt the Contextualisation exploded” into an “ad hominem” to maintain an equilibrium between unpublished article should not have lesson, which Trotsky later did, Of course, the question of attack, although this was based on a heart and mind. been published without criticism. regarding the “mystery of confessions contextualisation is unavoidable, misunderstanding. The ‘old man’ was Greeman fails to remain neutral Therefore I am obliged to comment on on demand”. Therefore, with the given the disagreement which referring to an article that he “had regarding Trotsky’s theory and it. In the article he tries to generalise benefit of hindsight, in Their morals emerged between Serge and Trotsky in not bothered to read” and that he practice. In a section on ‘Serge from what he sees as a basic “error” and ours, on the question of means/ 1937-40. In his ‘afterword’, Greeman “erroneously attributed to Serge”: and Natalia Sedova’, he goes out in Trotsky’s Their morals and ours, ends, he argues: reminds us that this boiled down to of his way to point up Sedova’s in order to explain why he got things two main issues: firstly, Trotsky’s Trotsky castigated Serge in a growing differences with the Fourth “wrong” over Spain vis-à-vis the role the use of any means, which by responsibility for suppressing the sarcastic polemical article entitled International, which concerned the of the POUM. By so doing, Serge itself may be morally indifferent, Kronstadt rebellion in 1921 and, ‘Moralists and sycophants against class nature of the Soviet Union, and raises some important questions, must be justified or condemned in relation to this, “the creation of Marxism’. In it, Trotsky called led to her ultimate break with the such as, is it enough just to say that according to the nature of the end the Cheka secret police with its Serge a “disappointed bourgeois organisation in 1951. Apparently she the end justifies the means? How does it serves. To fire a shot is morally inquisitorial methods”; secondly, intellectual who writes poems erred on the side of the state capitalist- the subject change the object in the indifferent; to shoot a mad dog Trotsky’s attack on the role of the about revolution, but is incapable argument. Grist for Haymarket real world? These questions are also threatening a child is a good deed; POUM (Workers Party of Marxist of understanding it” (p285). Book’s mill, whatever Greeman’s relevant to today’s debates: eg, on the to shoot to murder is a crime ... Unification) in Spain during the civil intentions! question of how small revolutionary All means are permissible war, which he regarded as reformist. Strong stuff! But Serge plays a ‘straight bat’ as groups relate to things much bigger which genuinely lead to mankind’s weekly 11 worker 1111 June 16 2016 What we fight for

emancipation; but such is the went over to Nazism”! Elsewhere the revolution was the bureaucracy were able to “use n Without organisation the dialectic of ends and means that Serge ignores Trotsky’s analysis threatened by Makhno’s bands in the the gears of power that were forged working class is nothing; with certain means cannot lead to that of fascism (in his Struggle against Ukraine. South of Moscow a Social before their arrival in power” to start the highest form of organisation end.2 fascism in Germany), which must Revolutionary army of 50,000 was massacring the old Bolsheviks; then it is everything. have been available to him. Thus he shooting communists and calling to falsify this by means of “legal nThere exists no real Communist The means/end argument is the fails to understand Trotsky’s point, for elections for a new constituent ideas”; so that the dictatorship of the Party today. There are many same, whether we are talking about that the leaders of German Social assembly. Once it rejected Trotsky’s proletariat had become synonymous so-called ‘parties’ on the left. show trials and executions or how Democracy or the Spanish socialists overtures for negotiations, Kronstadt with the bureaucracy’s “bloody In reality they are confessional revolutionaries should relate to “are only distinguishable from the had to be suppressed quickly before dictatorship over the proletariat”. sects. Members who disagree reformism and bourgeois initiatives GPU by the fact that for the moment the winter thaw set in. Otherwise a As a consequence, given their small with the prescribed ‘line’ are that affect the working class. It is they are not spilling blood” (p300). rebel fleet could sail in and capture size, neither the POUM nor Trotsky’s expected to gag themselves a question of ends. Of course, as How could Serge forget what really the fortress, opening the door of Fourth International - regardless of in public. Either that or face Lassalle points out, there is always a happened in Germany? Consider the reaction to the Whites. Wherever the who was right about the means/end expulsion. danger of losing one’s way: Comintern’s crazy, sectarian left turn, Whites had triumphed, they installed argument - were able to counteract n Communists operate which meant that the Communist a military dictatorship which “had Stalinism’s betrayal of the Spanish according to the principles of Show not only the goal; show also Party of Germany eschewed a united visited bloody vengeance on the revolution. Once again, that is the real democratic centralism. Through the road. front from below - even though this poor” (p107). tragedy. ongoing debate we seek to achieve So inseparably grow goal and road was essential to unite the German But in his 1940 article, Serge’s One final word on Serge’s unity in action and a common into each other. working class, to arm it, as well as idealist humanism gets the better unpublished article. He concludes world outlook. As long as they That the one always changes with form alternative organs of power. The of him. Once again, he turns to the this by saying that the revolution has support agreed actions, members the other; reformist Social Democratic leaders question of the Cheka. Not only a double duty: should have the right to speak Another road brings another goal had to be isolated and cast into the does he take this out of context; he openly and form temporary or into being.3 dustbin of history. That was the only separates the moral question from the to simultaneously… stand firm permanent factions. way to defeat fascism in Germany, struggle to defend the revolution: against the principal enemy, and n Communists oppose all To return to Serge’s article, he goes and it could have been done. Instead, defend the movement against imperialist wars and occupations on to point out how much harder by 1933, once again the reformists [Is] it possible to consider founding its own maladies, against the but constantly strive to bring to things got for revolutionaries in found themselves stuck in the a republic of free workers by polluting of organisations, against the fore the fundamental question the 1930s. In the face of the twin Reichstag. Only this time, they did establishing the Cheka - I mean an dumbing down, against petty - ending war is bound up with repressive collectivities (Stalinism not vote for war credits; rather they extraordinary commission judging interests, our own errors, our own ending capitalism. and fascism), the gap between were hapless witnesses to their own in secret based on case files, failings ... Bolshevism, despite its n Communists are subject (revolutionaries) and object demise! Fascism came to power via outside of any control than that of unity of thought and discipline, internationalists. Everywhere we (reformist/Stalinised parties, etc) the ballot box and then abolished it! the government, [the] accused it was always prey to contradictory strive for the closest unity and just got bigger. But this leads him Here Trotsky has every right to be doesn’t see, who have no right to tendencies. While some of them agreement of working class and to a defence of reformism and the angry and vehemently sarcastic! defence and can be executed in the opened the way to history’s most progressive parties of all countries. role of the POUM. It also reveals shadows? (p304). beautiful futures, others clearly led We oppose every manifestation a lapse into subjective idealism, Two Serges to its destruction (p306). of national sectionalism. It is an thanks to the betrayals of German A bit further on, Serge returns to the Compare this to the Serge /Sedova internationalist duty to uphold the Social Democracy and, he argues, in role of the POUM. Its leader, Andrés biography: No-one would quarrel with that! principle, ‘One state, one party’. particular, Nin, refused to follow Trotsky and the But I disagree with his following n The working class must be Fourth International’s strategy, based The red terror was still mild sentence: “It must be said: the seeds organised globally. Without Noske’s order to kill Karl and on a a clear revolutionary programme compared with the White terror of death [Bolshevism] bore within a global Communist Party, a Rosa and along with them 15,000 and independent organisation, opting in Finland ... Dzerzhinsky, the itself were always visible.” Wrong Communist International, the revolutionary proletarians, instead to enter the Socialist Party president of the Cheka, did analogy! What he should have said is struggle against capital is weakened “Stalinism has succeeded in and joining the Popular Front, which his best to discipline the local that the seeds will wither and become and lacks coordination. killing the Russian Revolution”; was dominated by the Stalinist commissions, many of which deformed, if they are left to grow in n Communists have no interest in 1919-20 the Italian socialists Comintern. had been infiltrated by sadists poor soil. That is more consistent with apart from the working class renounced the seizure of power This led to a breach, with the and criminals. He frequently historical and dialectical materialism. as a whole. They differ only in for fear of a blockade ... the POUM accusing the FI of ‘sabotaging telephoned Trotsky to discuss the recognising the importance of Austrian socialists were much less the Spanish Revolution’. Serge fate of suspect officers (p91). Human Marxism as a guide to practice. responsible, for they were placed acknowledges that Trotsky was right, I am a deep admirer of Serge as a That theory is no dogma, but in an extremely disadvantageous but then excuses the POUM by adding The Serge of 1940 omits Trotsky’s man, who evolved from anarcho- must be constantly added to and historical and geographic situation that Trotsky failed to understand key point in Their morals and syndicalism to Bolshevism, before enriched. and fought when it was too late, the objective situation: the fact that ours: “All means are permissible moving to his final position as n Capitalism in its ceaseless when all they could do was save the majority of the Spanish working which genuinely lead to mankind’s a Marxist-humanist. (Rather a search for profit puts the future their honour - I mean their dignity class were imbued with the ideas of emancipation; but such is the dialectic Marxist-humanist than a Stalinist or of humanity at risk. Capitalism is as the vanquished, which still anarcho-syndicalism and therefore of ends and means that certain means a reformist! What about a humanist- synonymous with war, pollution, counts (p299). did not understand the difference cannot lead to that end.” Marxist?) I applaud his principles, his exploitation and crisis. As a between Stalinism and Bolshevism. As for the Cheka, here Serge is courage and his ability to withstand global system capitalism can only But maybe the German uprising in They showed a “lack of historical on firmer ground. Yet, even in his extreme suffering and the threat of be superseded globally. 1918 was also a mistake (compare the understanding and method”; but they Memoirs, which is critical of the death, his revolutionary optimism - n The capitalist class will never Austrian socialists); German Social were an example par excellence of Bolsheviks, Serge is still mindful of not to forget his undoubted literary willingly allow their wealth and Democracy’s betrayal in 1914 was by “moderation in polemics, loyalty the actual situation: talent, so clearly evident in his power to be taken away by a far the greater; because it led to the in organisational methods, absolute brilliant political novels: eg, The case parliamentary vote. defeat of 1918, wherein the German devotion to combat”. Moreover, [The] formation of the Cheka of comrade Tulayev and Midnight n We will use the most militant masses, despite the slaughter in the argues Serge, the POUM did much to was one of the gravest and most of the century. But at the end of the methods objective circumstances trenches, failed to rise up in support repair the damage caused by the way impermissible errors that the day I have to be critical, because allow to achieve a federal republic of the Spartacists. This is the real in which the Bolsheviks had treated Bolshevik leaders committed in his idealist tendencies got the better of England, Scotland and Wales, tragedy. Serge continues: the anarchists during their own civil 1918, when plots, blockades and of him. Thus he ends up defending a united, federal Ireland and a war. interventions made them lose their reformism, because the subject is United States of Europe. But in extenuation of the Spanish Once again, he relates this to moral heads ... [But] was it necessary unable to change the object (compare n Communists favour industrial socialists it must be said that the questions, which stand alongside that to revert to the procedures of the Lassalle’s poem!). unions. Bureaucracy and class decisive element in all this is of the class struggle itself - concretely Inquisition? [By 1919 the local On balance, I am not surprised compromise must be fought and Stalinist intervention. They knew Trotsky’s responsibility for the Chekas had been infiltrated by that Serge - after sober reflection - the trade unions transformed into to take up arms in Asturias in 1934, suppression of Kronstadt and the role men who were perverted and decided not to publish his attack on schools for communism. showing that they had learned of the Cheka. But this completely corrupt.] … Their morals and ours. It is possible n Communists are champions of the lesson of Germany. Largo contradicts Trotsky’s own position, I know for a fact that that he himself realised just how bad the oppressed. Women’s oppression, Cabellero considered forming with which Serge concurs in the Dzerzhinsky judged them to be it was. He had succumbed to the very combating racism and chauvinism, a worker-union government, Serge/Sedova biography. This is, of “half-rotten” and saw no solution psychology that he accused Trotsky and the struggle for peace and [but] the pressure of the Soviet course, consistent with what Trotsky to the evil except shooting the of, which leads to subjective idealism. ecological sustainability are just ambassador, Rosenberg, … says in Their morals and ours: worst Chekists and abolishing the Therefore he was only too happy as much working class questions dissuaded him … death penalty as soon as possible when, a year or so later, Sedova sent as pay, trade union rights and … working class reformism I am ready to admit that civil war is ... Meanwhile the terror went on, him those warm greetings, which led demands for high-quality health, seems to me to be too grand a not a school for humane behaviour. since the whole party was living in to their collaboration in writing The housing and education. thing to be subject to summary Idealists and pacifists have always the sure inner knowledge that they life and death of Leon Trotsky. It gave n Socialism represents victory judgements and even less to blamed revolution for excesses. would be massacred in the event him a chance to come to his senses in the battle for democracy. It vehement condemnations in the [But these] spring from the very of defeat, and defeat remained and write something which he would is the rule of the working class. form of insults … since the vertical nature of revolution, which is possible from one week to the not be ashamed to see in print. Socialism is either democratic or, fall of Stalinism into falsehood itself an excess of history.4 next.5 That is why the decision of as with Stalin’s Soviet Union, it and blood the old reformist Haymarket Books to publish turns into its opposite. socialism has demonstrated moral However, in the Serge/Sedova Serge is right about one thing: Serge’s attack on Trotsky’s Their n Socialism is the first stage stability far greater than that of the biography, following Trotsky, he communists must learn from history. morals and ours without criticism is of the worldwide transition to communist parties, and that the places Kronstadt in its proper context. In a future revolution there will be reprehensible and shows the poverty communism - a system which socialist spirit of the masses has It was the arsenal of the Baltic Fleet, no excuse for the methods of the of its particular brand of Marxism l knows neither wars, exploitation, taken refuge there. It maintains crucial to the defence of Petrograd. Inquisition. Rex Dunn money, classes, states nor its traditions and effectiveness The naval base was no longer a In 1940, when he wrote his attack [email protected] nations. Communism is general everywhere ... (my emphasis, p hothouse for revolutionary ideas. The on Trotsky’s Their morals and ours, freedom and the real beginning 299). rebellion itself was incited by a new Serge was still in denial vis-à-vis Notes of human history. layer of anarchists and left Social the fact that the tide of history had 1. I Deutscher The prophet outcast London 2003, The Weekly Worker is licensed by But in the next sentence he says: Revolutionaries, who were able to turned against the world revolution p353. November Publications under a Creative “In Germany we saw that a million exploit the situation. Food shortages at least 15 years before. He refers 2. Ibid pp354-55. Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 3. Quoted in ibid p356. 4.0 International Licence: http:// unemployed vote alternatively for and rationing led to the demand for to the defeat of Trotsky and the Left 4. Ibid p354. creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ legalcode. ISSN 1351-0150. communists and Nazis; in Sarre and new elections to the Soviets and for Opposition between 1923 and 1928, 5. V Serge Memoirs of a revolutionary New York in Austria communist functionaries “soviets without Bolsheviks”. as well as to 1936, when Stalin and 2012, p 94. No 1111 June 16 2016 Orchestrated weekly witch-hunt must be resisted, not worker joined Blundering ineptitude There are furious objections to the Morning Star giving Ken Livingstone a regular column. Peter Manson reports en Livingstone, of course, is and exaggerated, should be considered still suspended from the Labour “bordering on the anti-Semitic” if that Anti-Semitism and anti-Zionism KParty as part of the campaign person happens to be Jewish. are not the same. Zionism is a to undermine the Jeremy Corbyn Only the likes of comrade Katz political ideology which has always leadership through false accusations of know why. He complains: “Until now, been contested within Jewish life ‘anti-Semitism’. As readers will know, the Star ... was the only newspaper since it emerged in 1897, and it is Livingstone’s crime was to state that that never let the anti-racist movement entirely legitimate for non-Jews as Adolf Hitler had supported Zionism down. Sadly, now there is a column well as Jews to express opinions “before he went mad and ended up I won’t read.” He also raises all sorts about it, whether positive or killing six million Jews”. This clumsily of failings on Livingstone’s part, negative. Not all Jews are Zionists. phrased statement, made off the cuff including that he “supported the illegal Not all Zionists are Jews. during a radio interview, was not entirely Nato intervention in the Balkans and Accusations of anti-Semitism accurate, but it cannot be described as the mass bombing of Serbia”. are currently being weaponised anti-Semitic by any rational person. The Yes, that gives strong grounds for to attack the Jeremy Corbyn-led former mayor of London was referring criticism, but right now Livingstone Labour party with claims that to the cooperation between the Nazis and is amongst those targeted by the Labour has a “problem” of anti- Zionists in encouraging German Jews to rightwing witch-hunt and in such Semitism …. emigrate to Palestine. circumstances the Star decision to We stand against anti- Last month Liz Davies and Sue Ben Chacko: faulty editorialising make its opposition to that absolutely Semitism, against racism and Lukes stated in a Star article that clear by offering him a column should fascism and in support of refugees. Livingstone’s remarks were equivalent Jews to Palestine”. Zionist, how should one describe be applauded. As John Haylett himself We stand for free speech and open to “blaming victims for their fate”, However, in the same issue, Mary Davis, a former national chair of wrote in a letter published on June debate on Israel, Palestine and which they said was “another form of Chelley Ryan commented: “If anyone, the Star’s Communist Party of Britain? 9, “We have to be aware that the Zionism.1 racism” (May 27). How can the claim particularly anyone Jewish, was On June 8 the paper published her current furore about anti-Semitism that Hitler “was supporting Zionism” offended by Ken’s comments, I take letter protesting against “the decision in the Labour Party has been largely Despite this, the Star’s coverage of imply that it was therefore the Jews’ that seriously, and am glad Jeremy to give Ken Livingstone a regular confected as a device to undermine Ken Livingstone’s suspension has own fault that Hitler later slaughtered acted swiftly to suspend him.” What? column”. Jeremy Corbyn and demean his record been confused and inconsistent. them in Nazi death camps? This She was pleased that Corbyn bowed Davis described this as “a very of supporting Palestinian national And unfortunately its position on nonsense was published even though before the rightwing campaign impolitic move … in view of rights.” imperialist intervention on Syria is the authors had had exactly a month to alleging that Labour is stuffed full of Livingstone’s suspension from the Absolutely correct - instead of equally stupid, weak and blundering. consider their reaction to Livingstone’s anti-Semites, on the basis that some Labour Party and Shami Chakrabarti’s sanctioning the inquiry, Corbyn should Last week a Morning Star editorial, remark, made on April 27. - unreasonable - people might be inquiry into anti-Semitism” - so she have insisted that the allegations headed ‘Tide turning against Isis’, said The following day, the Star editorial “offended”? thinks the setting up of an inquiry into against Livingstone, not to mention this: blunderingly attempted to put matters And Hughes himself, while an imaginary problem was a good Naz Shah, Jackie Walker, Tony right. “[T]o wade into a row over moderating his earlier condemnation, move, does she? Making a pointed Greenstein et al, were blatantly false. Only after Moscow directed the anti-Semitism and compare Zionists nevertheless commented: reference to the Star’s “alleged While a subsequent letter - from Russian airforce to back the Syrian to Nazis was a serious misjudgement opposition to anti-Semitism” (my Brian Precious - calls the Star decision government last year ... did the and could have been predicted to whip Cheap remarks like Ken’s look just emphasis), she claimed the decision “typically brave and principled” US government authorise similar up the storm now battering the Labour like the ‘Swastika = Star of David’ “to offer Livingstone this lifeline” and asks, “Are those sections of the attacks. As welcome as US aerial Party”. Of course, Livingstone was posters: the person holding the was “hugely embarrassing”. In other media pointing the finger at Ken the involvement has been, especially rightly defending those under attack poster might think they are pointing words, Ken deserves to be thrown to same ones who ridiculed the way the in support of [the Kurdish-led from an orchestrated witch-hunt. That to some Israeli hypocrisy, but to the the dogs. Greater London Council bent over Syria Democratic Forces] along was not a “serious misjudgement”, but crowd it just looks like they are After all, backwards to challenge racism under the Turkish border, Washington’s an elementary principle. If there is a belittling the holocaust - or, worse, Ken Livingstone’s leadership?” (May hostility to president Bashar al- “serious misjudgement”, then it is that celebrating it. Livingstone has not been a friend 15), comrade Haylett concludes his Assad still trumps its desire to see of Star editor Ben Chacko. Moreover, Calling for a just settlement of this paper in the past. He and own letter by stating: “Having, as Isis and the al Qa’eda-affiliated Livingstone did not “compare” for Palestinian people is very the group supporting him did not political editor, discussed the issue Nusra Front defeated” (my Zionists to Nazis in the sense of important, and most emphatically support former Star editor John with our editor, Ben Chacko, I support emphasis, June 7). putting an equals sign between them. not anti-Semitic. But carelessly Haylett when he was wrongly his decision to give Ken a regular Nor did he “whip up the storm now talking about “existence” is a very sacked and furthermore he has column.” Perhaps the Morning Star’s editor battering the Labour Party.” That is bad idea, when the Nazis really did a chequered history of making What he means is that the old is retrospectively siding with Hilary indeed an inexcusable case of blaming try and stop Jewish people existing injudicious comments bordering on hand has helped to put his young Benn, not Jeremy Corbyn, over the victim. However, thankfully at all. We should be calling for the the anti-Semitic. and inexperienced successor on the support for the RAF joining US the editorial did at least make clear creation of something better in the straight and narrow - ‘Make sure that airstrikes in Syria. that “Livingstone was attacking the Middle East, not for “destruction” Presumably, she was referring from now on the paper comes over Nowadays strange things are political ideology of Zionism, not (May 6). to a comment also brought up by clearly and consistently against the happening at William Rust House, Jewish people” (April 28). another letter-writer, Phil Katz, who witch-hunt, Ben, and show everyone London E3 l Clearly then, the Morning Star’s Hughes was clearly referring to the stated: “It was wrong to castigate what we think of the allegations initial coverage of the Livingstone “existence” and “destruction” of the even the most reactionary and crappy against Ken.’ [email protected] incident and his subsequent suspension state of Israel, not of Jews - in his mind reporter as a ‘concentration camp And CPB general secretary Rob was confused, to say the least. Regular the two are synonymous, it seems. guard’ just because one thinks he is Griffiths has made his own position Notes columnist Solomon Hughes actually Jewish” (May 13). Once again I am clear by circulating on Facebook a 1. www.jewishsocialist.org.uk/news/item/ dubbed Livingstone’s remarks anti- Reaction left puzzled as to why throwing such statement from the Jewish Socialists statement-on-labours-problem-with-antisemitism- Semitic and I recall a news item that While Hughes is obviously a left an insult at someone, however crude Group, which reads in part: from-the-jewish-socialists-g. referred to his suspension “for anti- Semitism” (without so much as an Subscribe Name:______Standing order ‘alleged’). However, both Hughes’s 6m 1yr Inst. To ______Bank plc ______original article and that report now Address:______UK £30/€35 £60/€70 £200/€220 seem to have been removed from the Branch address ______Europe £43/€50 £86/€100 £240/€264 ______Post code ______Account name ______Star website. Rest of £65/€75 £130/€150 £480/€528 world On May 2, another regular ______Sort code ______Account No ______columnist, Charley Allan, agreed that New UK subscribers offer: Livingstone’s remark was not anti- 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* Jewish, but noted: “there are some until further notice, commencing on ______This replaces any previous order from this account. (*delete) UK subscribers: Pay by standing order and Tel:______things you simply can’t mention save £12 a year. Minimum £12 every 3 Date ______in modern politics”. Amongst such months... but please pay more if you can. Email:______Signed ______Name (PRINT) ______“taboo” statements, he said, is “drawing attention to the fact that Send a cheque or postal order payable to ‘Weekly Worker’ at: Sub: £/€ ______Address ______Weekly Worker, BCM Box 928, ______some Nazis made deals with some Donation: £/€ ______German Zionists in the 1930s to move London WC1N 3XX ______