& Workers’ Liberty

SolFor siociadl ownershaip of the branks aind intdustry y No 440 31 May 2017 50p/£1 Inside: Vote Labour! Fighting for free education

Student activists discuss Labour’s YOUTH policies for Higher Education and students. See page 5 Is Corbyn right VOTE on terrorism?

Clive Bradley discusses Corbyn’s response to the Manchester terror attack. See page 3 CAN The Russian Policies in the Labour mani - festo like a £10 per hour mini - Revolution in mum wage and nationalising the railways as franchises come up for renewal have Britain brought Labour denunciation or derision from the wealthy and their ideologues, and a big lead over the Tories among younger voters. BEAT The outcome on 8 June de - pends on how many of those younger voters can got to the polls. The outcome after 8 June, if Labour wins or if Labour Chris Mathews examines how the loses, depends on whether left- British left responded to the Russian minded young people organise, Revolution. mobilise, become a dynamic fac - See pages 6-7 tor in the labour movement. TORIES More page 5 Brazil in crisis ORGANISE LABOUR’S

Alfredo Saad Filho reports on the latest political situation in Brazil. NEW SUPPORTERS See page 9 2 NEWS More online at www.workersliberty.org After Manchester: is more police the answer?

By Sacha Ismail creased by the Tories — by about of and hostility to the police into vocate fewer people are sent to 10% between 2014-15 and 2015-16, the labour movement and among prison, which functions as a breed - A central part of the Labour following repeated boosts in the workers. ing ground for Islamism as well as Party’s response to the Man - years immediately before. Until we are in the position to other social maladies. chester atrocity has been to em - A more nuanced version of this build a viable alternative, based on None of that provides a quick or phasise its call for more police argument says that what is needed workers’ and community organisa - easy solution to a situation where officers — and now also more in - is more funding for “community tions, we cannot reasonably advo - small but significant numbers of telligence personnel. Labour is policing”. In so far as “community cate abolishing the police. But we young Muslim people are attracted also promising more prison policing” has any distinct meaning, can fight for the abolition of special to jihadist groups and white people guards and borders agents. what is generally meant by it has organisations with a particularly to nationalist forces, and so on. But With a lead from Momentum na - little to do with directly preventing repressive role (including MI5, — beyond police/security opera - tionally, wide swathes of left-lean - terrorist attacks. But it is said that with any legitimate investigatory tions of the kind which are already ing Labour activists have picked up police based in the community can powers transferred to the main - heavily-funded — there is no short- this narrative. In many cases com - provide basic low-level intelligence stream police) and for greater dem - term solution except to make a start which helps the security forces in ocratic accountability. rades go beyond arguing the Tories changing society. their work. Instead of more police, the labour are hypocrites to agitate against It is not just a matter of fighting But could the argument around movement and left should advo - Corbyn on terrorism when their ageable outbreaks, particularly of a for more resources. That should be police cuts have made us less safe, community policing work on a left or anti-capitalist kind but more cate more teachers, more youth more general level? That commu - workers, more social workers, as part of building up a much to positively advocating more po - generally as well, and to repress stronger labour movement (includ - lice and even sometimes using slo - nity policing helps to strengthen those outbreaks when they occur. well as more decent jobs young ing the Labour Party), trade unions, gans like “support our police”. “community cohesion” and social Look at what the police were people can take up. We should ad - community organisations and Is the argument about public solidarity, thus undercutting the used for, only three decades ago, vocate the rebuilding of the public youth organisations, to create a safety right? And if not, what ability of jihadist-Islamists and during the last great flare up of services and social provision whose should the left advocate? other anti-social forces to recruit? working-class militancy in the min - gutting has helped to turn much of movement which can reinstate a The work of monitoring, tracking The idea that more police is any ers’ strike, the Fleet Street printers’ Britain into a desert, starting with strong sense of solidarity and col - down and dealing with potential kind of answer to the social decay, strikes, and so on. Then they were the reversal of all cuts and privati - lectivity in workplaces and com - munities. terrorists involves a, relatively- atomisation and despair in which used even against relatively un - sation since the Tories came to of - That is the only way we can ef - speaking, small number of police Islamism as well as nationalism threatening left-wing student fice (which, let’s note, Labour has fectively take on right-wing have undoubtedly grown (interna - protests in 2010. not clearly promised). We should officers as well intelligence officers movements of all sorts and un - working for organisations like MI5. tionally as well as in Britain) is Look at the way they relate to wage war against poverty and in - dermine the ability of extreme re - Unlike the police force in general, wrong. people, particularly young people, equality. actionaries like Daesh to appeal which has experienced cuts under The police do not exist to deal non-white and migrant people, in Rather than advocating more re - “austerity”, these operations have with such problems. They exist to every working-class community. sources for the prison system and to some of the most angry and had their funding substantially in - keep them from leading to unman - Socialists need to inculcate distrust more prison officers, we should ad - disillusioned. Daesh resurgence in Libya Attacks on Coptic Christians By Charlotte Zalens lence in Egypt, mainly involving church bombings. This attack has By Simon Nelson That group fought against responsible for the attack on the 29 people were killed on Friday been described by the Coptic com - Gaddafi, with the possible backing Benghazi US consulate. ASL has 26 May in the latest attack on munity as reaching a new level of The fact that the perpetrator of of MI6; hundreds of its fighters now dissolved and encouraged the Coptic Christians in Egypt. savagery. the Manchester bombing, were imprisoned by the Libyan militias and shoras in Benghazi to Gunmen flagged down a bus This attack has been claimed by Salman Abedi, may have been government in that time. Fundrais - unite, Daesh in Libya appears to Daesh; it is the fourth such attack part of a Daesh network in Libya ing for the group was undertaken have had a resurgence. convoy carrying people making a pilgrimage to a monastery in to have been claimed by Daesh has focused attention on the by exiled Libyans across the world Daesh could draw on areas with since December. group outside of its main territo - including in Britain where a “char - an Islamist background like Derna south Egypt. Claiming to be secu - rity service, the men ordered peo - The Egyptian government im - ries in Iraq and Syria. itable” front organisation was where ASL have been at their posed a state of emergency after a raided and closed down in 2006. strongest. Many militants in ASL in ple off the bus, separated men Daesh is known to have groups from women and children and in - bombing on Palm Sunday which allied to it across the Middle East, In 2007, following an offensive Derna went over to Daesh, and this left 45 dead, but Christians have by Al Qaeda to bolster its links to influenced other groups across structed the men to recite the sha - Africa and Asia but in recent years hada, the Islamic declaration of said that the state of emergency is their strength has grown in Libya. groups across the Middle East, the eastern and central Libya to do the doing little to protect them. Islamic Fighting Group formally af - same. faith. When the men refused the Since 26 May Egypt has The fall of Gaddafi lead to a series gunmen opened fire. launched air strikes against re - of fractured and splintered militias filiated. The Islamist movement is They were boosted by returned fractured in Libya and Daesh have fighters from Syria. In 2014 Daesh Coptic Christians have faced an ported terrorist camps in Libya. and rival governments fighting for increasing level of sectarian vio - control. managed to establish formal affili - asked recruiters to stop sending The roots of Daesh in Libya lie ation from a number of branches of new members from Libya to Syria with the Libyan Islamic Fighting different groups in 2014. or Iraq and told them to concen - Group, formed in the 1990s from As with their campaigns in Iraq trate on attacks within their own remnants of the mujahideen who and Syria, Daesh have come into country. Now driven out, they at fought the Russian invasion of conflict with Al Qaeda affiliates in one time controlled the city of Sirte Afghanistan. Libya including Ansar al-Shariya and took over almost 250 km of (ASL), which was one of the groups coastline around the city. Early on many of its leaders were Saudi or Tunisian, but there has New Daesh group in Philippines been a concerted effort to get Libyans into leadership roles. The city of Marawi in the Philip - law and given his assurances that While they controlled Sirte they pines remains under siege from troops will be protected even if aped the actions of Daesh in Syria the Maute group, which is now they commit war crimes including and Iraq, registering and taxing a part of Daesh. rape during the conflict. local businesses and taking over More than 90% of Marawi’s This bout of fighting was trig - public offices and services. Smok - 200,000 population have left as gered by the army’s attempt to ing was banned, barber shops fighting in the street and govern - capture Isnilon Hapilon, previ - closed, women were made to wear ment aerial strikes increase. ously the leader of the Al Qaeda long black robes, and boys were re - Sisters Uncut have occupied the old visitors’ centre at the now closed Maute rebels are one of several backed Abu Sayyaf group. cruited to fight. He has brought together AS Holloway Prison. The prison is due to be demolished for luxury flats. The factions active in Mindanao, an is - Residents accused of spying alongside the Maute, who were occupation calls attention to the fact that 46% of women in prison have been land state of the Philippines with or opposing Daesh were shot mostly a criminal network into victims of domestic violence. The group calls for funding for domestic a population of 22 million. Presi - dead, their bodies put on public the newest Daesh group in the display for several days. violence services, affordable housing and a community building. dent Duterte has imposed martial region. Workers’ Liberty @workersliberty NEWS 3 Labour and free education

NCAFC activist Cosmo Seamus explains why the Labour Party’s Manifesto commitment to free education and a National Education Service is important and badly needed*.

Currently, England is the most expensive country to study in the world. Since the 2010 Tory-LibDem higher education (HE) reforms there have been cuts to government funding, an expansion of the stu - dent loan system and of course the famous trebling of tuition fees to £9,000. These sets of changes have been come together with an overall ne - oliberalisation of universities: more casualised labour and decreased pay and pensions for workers in HE, higher salaries for university managers, and more private insti - tutions getting their foot in the door NES is necessary and totally possi - in the HE market. Free education is not only Free Education is a reality in Education must not be treated ble. HE funding is currently not In turn there is now a lower pro - about access and funding — it many other countries like as a commodity but as sustainable and is coming off the portion of working-class students will create new potentials, Germany and Denmark. It something that enriches back of student loans, much of going to university and those leav - new ways of collaborative works, and it is so important society and benefits us all. which cannot be paid back and ing HE leave with massive learning and creativity. in building a better more The same impulse behind the which the government continu - amounts of debt. Education will be free from equal society for all. NHS should be behind ously tries to sell-off. The current Conservative gov - the economic, political and Education changes lives, and education. It should be free at If we restructure how education ernment is pushing the neoliberali - ideological influences of gives opportunities to people the point of use and available is currently funded and tax the rich sation of universities further by markets and capitalism, that may not have access to to all. in our society, the people who hold implementing a set of Higher Edu - allowing us, as individuals and them. If we want a more the wealth that is created by work - cation Reforms which will result in as a society, to move forward equal, and balanced society, Omar Raii, NUS NEC block of ing people — bear in mind that the universities being ranked accord - in weird and wonderful ways. where the gap between the 15 richest 10% in our society hold half ing to a Teaching Excellence Frame - rich and the poor decreases of the £8.8 trillion pound wealth in work, and these rankings allowing Andy Warren, NCAFC block of then we need free education, the UK — then we will have sure that has come from the grass - some universities to raise their fees 14 because everyone should enough money to fund not only the roots movements. The seven years and those who are seen to “fail” be have the right to study and NES, free childcare and Labour’s of protests, occupations, actions, closed down or taken over by pri - help them achieve what they world they live in, and is important other pledges, but much more. boycotts, solidarity with striking vate businesses. want to. As it stands many universities to allow society to flourish by giv - workers, and convincing people of ing people the means to learn, dis - MORE the necessity of free education has across the UK from Aberystwyth, Hansika Jethnani, NCAFC cuss and teach whatever it is they We need to argue for more than put these issues on the table. It is to Manchester, to Durham are an - international rep, Education might want to do. Because educa - what Labour is currently guaran - worth recalling that up until a few nouncing a wave a job cuts citing Officer at University of the teeing. years ago the NUS was one of the the pressures of marketising re - tion benefits all of us, the costs Arts London, NUS National only student unions in the world forms as their reason. The current should be borne by those who have Maintenance grants must not Executive block of 15 elect system desperately needs to be the means to pay for it. only be reinstated, but increased to not to have any policy on free edu - Despite the backlash Labour will cation. overhauled. a decently liveable level and ex - posed in the first place. get from the press and right wing Going forward it will mean con - The call by the Labour Party in tended to all students, and living However, it will not be enough to parties, the abolition of fees and a tinuing and increasing the pres - their manifesto to abolish fees and costs eased by not just restricting vote Labour in and hope for them implement a National Education rent rises, but reversing them in sure. Quebec, Chile, South Africa, Free education has to be to make good on their promises. Germany and many other countries Service is a welcome event. This is about so much more than halls and elsewhere. This is not how positive social a massive change from New Labour should clarify that its have managed to resist and reverse scrapping tuition fees. change happens: a left-wing attacks on education by having or - Labour which implemented tuition The very idea that people pledge to abolish fees will be ap - Labour-led government would face fees back in the 1990s, as well as plied to international as well as ganised and militant struggles should pay for their education obstructions and immense pressure through direct action and student from a Labour Party a couple of means a system more pliant British students. to retreat on its policies. years ago which only promised a And graduates should receive an strikes. NCAFC and education ac - to the whims of profit and big We will need to continue build - tivists have been pushing student cut in tuition fees to £6,000. business than one servicing amnesty on the student loan debt ing a strong student and workers An NES would mean a cradle-to- that should never have been im - struggles in higher education, mak - society as a whole; for movement in education and be - ing the argument for free educa - grave system that guarantees ac - degrees to be about little yond which will provide the polit - cess to learning for everyone: free The logic of the current tion, coordinating national more than a pathway to a ical pressure for these promises to childcare, comprehensive school - system means that funding is demonstrations and pushing na - high-paying grad job makes be made a reality. One of the many ing, abolition of fees and valuing allocated according to tionwide actions like the boycott of the experience stressful, reasons why it has been possible properly those who do the work. students’ preferences. What the National Student Survey. atomising and inaccessible, for the leading opposition party to Join us to keep it up. Furthermore, establishing an NES is fashionable, as opposed to threatening the rights of staff take on these proposals is the pres - what is needed, will determine and deprivatisation of education along the way. The only whether courses are provided “I support free education because I fundamentally believe that creates the potential for a more answer is public education and even whether education is a right and nobody should be graduating with an democratic education where those funded through progressive departments continue to enormous debt. Tuition fees are a tax on learning and aspiration who are doing the work and study taxation on the rich, and exist. It is only with free — let’s tax the rich instead. What’s more, the fee system turns call the shots and make the deci - democratically governed by education, funded through higher education into a commodity and universities into sions, rather than managers. students and staff progressive taxation, that we businesses, pushing them to prioritise marketing and income Education at all levels is neces - — where a National Education can take democratic control generation over the needs of students and staff. We need sary for a democratic society. It al - Service is held with as much of our education system. institutions that are run democratically, in the interests of lows people to discuss and think universal esteem as our NHS. creatively and critically about the students, workers and society, not the market.” Josh Berlyne, NCAFC North Mark Crawford, NCAFC co-rep Ana Oppenheim, NCAFC block of 14, UAL campaigns officer Postgraduate Rep., UCLU * First published on anticuts.com 4 COMMENT Email your letters to [email protected] Religious practices should not be banned Is Corbyn right on terrorism? An Indian socialist presents a view different from Solidarity ’s on an attempt to get the Supreme Court to rule unconstitutional the practice of triple By Clive Bradley* (some of whom, indeed, had fought, in the talaq (where a Muslim man can divorce 1980s, against the USSR in Afghanistan), but his wife in minutes by saying the word “Jeremy Corbyn has said that terror at - with scarcely any notion at all of what might talaq three times). tacks in Britain are our own fault,” replace the dictatorship. The result is more or claimed Theresa May on Friday. “I want to less a failed state: Libya is divided, battle- In India banning has become the re - make something clear… there can never torn, and a long way indeed from democracy. sponse to anything that goes against the be an excuse for terrorism, there can be This process took longer than is sometimes state. But the practices of nikah halala no excuse for what happened in Man - implied. Democratic forces did counterbal - [women entering second marriages as a chester.” ance the Islamists for a while; and the IS- precondition for remarrying a first partner] It is a measure of the cynicism — and des - aligned forces in Libya are now on the retreat. and triple talaq should never be consid - What this suggests is that Western policy ered for banning because they are derived peration — of the Tories and their press that Corbyn’s speech this week has been attacked played a part in Salman Abedi’s decision to from religious laws which have roots massacre some kids at a concert, but not in stretching back 1,400 years. in this way. Corbyn did refer to British for - eign policy as a factor in any explanation of the obvious sense. Terrorism is not a knee- As India is seeing a rise of extreme right- terrorism, but only in similar terms to many jerk reaction to Western wars, but it is some - wing politics, and with Uttar Pradesh chief commentators, and indeed some Tories. thing which can breed in the chaos fomented Minister Yoginath organising anti-Romeo What Corbyn actually said was: “Many ex - by the failures of Western policy. squads to regulate sexual harassment perts, including professionals in our intelli - And of course the jihadi organisations (IS through violence, the banning move epito - gence and security services, have pointed to and al-Qaida and their affiliates) demagogi - mes the hypocrisy of Indian politics. The the connections between wars our govern - cally make use of any and every Western fail - move to ban triple talaq is certainly aiding ment has supported or fought in other coun - ure to recruit vulnerable, confused, or the rise of Hindu sectarian politics. tries, such as Libya, and terrorism here at alienated young people. The petition becomes unjust because this home.” To explain the growth of Islamism in Eu - Muslim law is not in keeping with the Hindu He went on: “That assessment in no way rope — either more broadly defined, or code. Triple Talaq has some conditions within reduces the guilt of those who attack our chil - specifically the jihadi movements (the deci - it which boost egalitarian goals of all Muslim dren. Those terrorists will forever be reviled sions by young people to go to Syria to fight, women. Claiming it is hierarchical and anti- and implacably held to account for their ac - etc), one needs to look at more than “Western feminist is a convenient mechanism for those tions.” policy”. There are many factors at play. But arguing for the ban. On the other hand And he concluded: “But an informed un - for sure, as part of a wider, nuanced explana - blow up teenagers; why often the terrorists tion, foreign policy, as Corbyn said, plays its maybe more laws need to be made to regu - derstanding of the causes of terrorism is an aren’t personally from the countries affected late it. essential part of an effective response that part. To invoke it is not necessarily to relieve (even in the Manchester case, it’s unclear if the terrorists themselves of responsibility for Coming from a minority religious back - will protect the security of our people, that Salman Abedi’s action was specifically in ref - ground (Jainism), I am familiar with a ritual fights rather than fuels terrorism.” He their own actions (and Corbyn’s speech erence to events in Libya); why the terrorists’ could hardly have taken greater pains to of “Santhara”, which means “fast unto summed it up — paraphrasing Blair: “Tough aims are so unspecific, even apolitical, but death”. For many liberals this is an act of sui - on terrorism, tough on the causes of terror - avoid this error). rather just an expression of general hatred It is true that Stop the War, with which Cor - cide. But this act has religious underpinnings ism.” and a desire to inflame more of it. which mean it cannot be reduced to a form of In truth his speech bent over backwards byn has been personally associated, has de - suicide. Especially when the Indian state not to be construed in the way May and the WESTERN FAILURES nounced all Western wars in a very un-nuanced way. It is the opinion of this hovers around with its particular banner of Tory press then deliberately misconstrued it. But there’s a much more cogent version writer, for instance, that though the outcome secularism. More — it heaped praise not only the emer - of the argument, which is more what Cor - of military intervention in Libya was pre - It is against secular ideals to ban something gency services but on the military. byn seems to have had in mind. that is held to be important to sharia law, and This was a mild, even-handed intervention dictable up to a point, at the time — March Islamic State/Daesh, for example, was banning is also a violation of a sacred law. in the debate, only pointing to foreign policy 2011 — the only real alternative was to allow formed in the aftermath of the US-led inva - This issue appears in various ways — from as one factor in understanding terrorism. Gaddafi to survive and immediately mas - sion of Iraq in 2003. There were many aspects the anti-migrants ban against the Muslims in What of the argument itself, though? Is sacre his opponents. Moreover, the rebel to Western policy which fuelled the growth America or the passing of the parliamentary there a train of thought in Corbyn’s argument movement was calling for intervention. The of what was to become IS, principally the bill for a Burkha ban in Austria to deter Is - which does, as it is claimed, attempt to ex - proper socialist response was not to march in utter lack of any sort of plan for what would lamic fanaticism. The issue of triple talaq re - cuse the terrorists? opposition to military intervention — as Stop come after the fall of Saddam, the decision to quires a distinct attention as it is banned in There are different “versions” of the the War did, if ineffectually, but to support destroy the bureaucracy of the Iraqi state, 25 other countries across the world, including “Blame Western Foreign Policy” argument. the revolution against Gaddafi and warn driving thousands of Sunni Arabs into the many Islamic countries. At its most primitive it implies that the ter - about likely future problems. arms of the jihadists, and the decision to back In the rural parts of India, it has become a rorists act simply from a kind of Pavlovian Still today, to reduce a critique of Western a Shia-sectarian government which made this social norm for women to be victims of do - reflex to various (especially) US-led policies, policy in Libya to the fact of intervention is worse. mestic violence. There is always an argument most obviously the war in Iraq. This, crudest, to miss a lot of the point. Libya, where Salman Abedi was born, was Corbyn’s background in the Stop the about not hurting religious sentiments, but version plainly fails to explain much at all: in some ways a repeat of the same thing on a War milieu will inform what he says now why should the innocent suffer so that mas - most obviously, why the vast majority of smaller scale. In that case the UK and France about terrorism and foreign policy. But sive opposition can be avoided? Muslims, for instance, don’t, despite these (with considerable ambivalence on the part what he has actually said is right, as far as Judicial activists need to take a pragmatic foreign policy outrages, feel motivated to of the US under Obama) decided to over - it goes. And the Tories’ attempts to attack response towards the triple talaq issue. Why him for it should be denounced for the is it necessary that every Pope needs to be throw the Gaddafi regime, co-opting some of * First published by the Clarion magazine, see dishonest, demagogic scandal they are. male and why is it that many women are not the Islamist forces who had been in exile https://theclarionmag.org allowed in the mosque? The answer lies in the sacred texts of each religion and their ori - gins. Questioning is must, but forcibly chang - ing things to bring them up to date is a The origins of modern suicide bombing violation of the religious law. A judicial sys - tem which favours religious nationalism su - persedes that of constitutional nationalism in By Colin Foster Trade Centre in 1993 as well as the one in ist attacks have been ordinary Muslims. a country like India, as religion is a precursor 2001, and it was equally designed to kill (Source: University of Chicago database). to the making of the nation. Nobody has the Andy Burnham, now Labour mayor of everyone there, only it failed. Analyst Riaz Hassan finds the following right to argue how a religion is meant to Manchester, probably wanted to cover for US-led military actions in the years run - common features of suicide attacks: used by work. A religious belief cannot be overtaken his votes in favour of the invasion of Iraq. ning up to 2003 — the Bosnia intervention in weaker groups in high-asymmetry conflicts; by the jurisdiction of a court. But, as it stood, his comment on 28 May 1995, Kosova in 1999, or the USA’s aid to Is - used only against (more-or-less) democra - Hence, the illusion of changing the Muslim was right: “Obviously, the actions of gov - lamist groups in Afghanistan — favoured cies; religion may not be invoked at all, but law regarding triple Talaq, polygamy, and ernments can then contribute and help Muslim forces against non-Muslim rivals or if it is, it is Islam (bit.ly/riaz-h). nikah halala needs to be countered as it is the terrorists to add to their cause, but enemies, rather than the other way round. Attacks like the Manchester bombing are aimed at suppression of the religious faith. let’s remember that the appalling atrocity Between 1981 and 2016, 80% of suicide at - not inevitable or logical “blowback” from US The Supreme Court has said women of 9/11 happened before interventions tacks and 73% of victims were in or UK misdeeds. They have their own dy - should also have to give consent to the anywhere”. Afghanistan, Iraq, Israel, Lebanon, Pakistan, namic. triple Talaq, but the law cannot be banned We can best undercut them by rebuild - Modern-era suicide bombing dates from the Palestinian Occupied Territories, Russia, because it holds a sacred place in the ing movements of social hope. the 1980s, not from 2003. There was an Is - or Sri Lanka — not in Europe or the USA. Muslim code. lamist-terrorist attack on New York’s World The big majority of victims of Islamist-terror - Workers’ Liberty @workersliberty WHAT WE SAY 5 Help us raise Youth vote can beat Tories £20,000 to

“If 38% of voters genuinely go for improve our pro-IRA anti-nuclear pro-mass- nationalisation Corbyn, UK voters are no longer mature enough for website democracy.” The Twitter comment from An - drew Lilico of the right-wing Insti - tute of Economic Affairs sums up how a section of the British ruling class views even the outside chance of a Corbyn victory on 8 June. For a whole era after Neil Kin - nock quelled Labour’s rank and file £3426 revolt of the early 1980s, Labour was a “safe pair of hands” for the raised out ruling class. Tony Blair set out to identify Labour as “unequivocally of £20,000 pro-business”, and on that, anyway, he succeeded. Millions of working-class people became politically demoralised and unable to see Labour as represent - ing their interests even minimally. Voter turnout among under-25s was estimated at 89% in 1964. By 1992 it had gently slid to 75%. It crashed to 38% by 2005 and had recovered only to 44% by 2015. We need to build a left that is open to Policies in the Labour manifesto but Labour’s omission anything on the older We need a Labour Party that really stands by debate and is serious about self- like a £10 per hour minimum wage and na - anti-union laws pushed through by Thatcher the manifesto promises to secure the same education. tionalising the railways as franchises come is a glaring gap. Jeremy Corbyn and John Mc - advantages as the single market, and thus Our website, including its extensive up for renewal have brought Labour denun - Donnell are in favour of the repeal of all those fights the Tory Brexit all the way. archive could help build a different kind ciation or derision from the wealthy and their laws against solidarity action, flying pickets, On freedom of movement, or its emphasis of socialist culture — one where ideologues, and a big lead over the Tories workplace ballots. So, on paper at least, are on expanding the security services, the discussion and self-education are among younger voters. all the major trade unions. Labour manifesto is wrong. Activists will cherished. The outcome on 8 June depends on how Right-wing Labour MPs have blocked re - fight on the ground and in the run up to From Trotskyist newspapers of the many of those younger voters can got to the peal from the manifesto. Union leaders have Labour’s conference in September to get clear 1940s and 50s, to older Marxist classics, polls. The outcome after 8 June, if Labour been silent, and we suspect that some half-se - left-wing policies passed and implemented. to discussion articles on feminism, wins or if Labour loses, depends on whether cretly prefer “having their hands tied” by Despite all that is good about the mani - national questions, religion and left-minded young people organise, mobilise, laws which limit rank-and-file action. festo, the last two years have been marked by philosophy and resources such as become a dynamic factor in the labour move - A Corbyn government, or a strong Corbyn- confusion and the old Blairite way of policy- guidelines for Marxist reading groups — ment. led opposition, will be effective only if they making. Policy should not be the property of it’s all there on the Workers’ Liberty A YouGov Poll from 24-25 May showed the link with organising, mobilising, and action wonks, think tanks, or officials in the website. gap between Labour and the Tories down to in workplaces and on the streets. The support Leader’s Office. But to make our archive of real use we 5%. Further polls since the Manchester gained by the Labour manifesto must be The fundamentals of the ideas and actions need professional help to make all bombings indicate that the Tories’ attempts translated into real action, and not be drained we fight for a Labour Government to take up content fully integrated, searchable by to smear Corbyn as a “threat to national se - away in behind-closed-doors battles in the should be formed by democratic debate date and subject and optimised for curity” are not paying off. As the polling right-wing-dominated Parliamentary Labour through the whole labour movement and the mobile reading. We need to finance a agency YouGov reports: Party. institutions of the Labour Party. The Party website co-ordinator to ensure our “If the election were held only among the Conference must be sovereign, democratic, news coverage is up to the minute and under-fifties, Corbyn could beat May. And ACTIVISTS and a real decision-making body. shared on social media. We want to Labour policies are supported across the Tens of thousands of activists have been YouGov and the other polls still predict a raise £20,000 by our conference in whole electorate. Capping rents, nationalisa - on the streets campaigning for Labour. Tory victory. Even if Labour’s vote is up on November 2017. Any amount will help. tion and abolishing tuition fees are popular The campaigns have certainly been a 2015, we could lose seats because of ex-UKIP In the two weeks Solidarity sellers policies, as indeed are most of Corbyn’s man - mixed bag, varying from constituency to votes going to the Tories have increased standing orders, and ifesto pledges. constituency. After 8 June, the Labour right wing will made donations bringing in £125. “Scorning Corbyn and his supporters seize on any pretext to challenge Corbyn’s could be perilous… If Labour after this elec - A few have been resolutely run and well- organised, with the manifesto and Corbyn’s leadership and try again, as they did in 2016, • If you would like to donate by paypal tion ejects not only Corbyn but his mission, to turn the Labour Party backwards. The without a clear idea of embracing both the pledges front and centre. Young people have go to www.workersliberty.org/donate been drawn in to new activity, new members fight to transform the Labour Party is still at centre of politics and the frustrated margins, an early stage. Most of the work remains to • Or set up an internet bank transfer to they could be even worse off.” have been recruited on the doorstep, and be done. “AWL”, account 20047674 at Unity Trust Taking £50 billion extra a year from the many previously disengaged have been brought into the campaign. We have to work systematically in wards, Bank, Birmingham, 60-83-01 (please rich, out of their many hundreds of billions CLPs and Young Labour groups to discuss in revenues, is not going to create the frac - In other areas the campaign has been long- email [email protected] to notify term activists only, often working with MPs and debate policies, and take them out on the tures that they say it will. us of the payment and what it’s for); or virulently hostile to Corbyn who scarcely streets. That is necessary whatever happens But modest measures in the manifesto on 8 June. • Send a cheque payable to “AWL” to which have enthused Labour activists and mention Labour, let alone the manifesto, or who openly decry the Labour Party’s direc - John McDonnell recalls that in 1992, when AWL, 20E Tower Workshops, Riley Rd, voters will require a fight to push them he lost his constituency to the Tory Terry tion. London SE1 3DG (with a note saying through, even if Labour should win a land - Dicks, he and other activists made a point of slide on 8 June. After the election, there will be a fight both what it’s for). within the Labour Party and about fighting organising a stall in Hayes Town Centre the A real fight over the minimum wage and very next Saturday. They showed the con - banning zero hours contracts will mean gear - for the manifesto policies on the ground. Take a look at We need clarity on some of the manifesto stituency that they had not gone away and ing up trade unions and the labour move - would continue to fight. www.workersliberty.org ment to organise in workplaces currently promises. What does the commitment to Whatever the outcome is on 8 June, we unorganised, where workers are hyper-ex - local energy production mean, beyond what must go forward in that spirit. ploited and where a revitalised labour move - is happening already under the Tories? We ment backed by a left-wing Labour should fight for the wholescale nationalisa - Workers’ Liberty comrade Joe Booth will government could begin to initiate real tion of the big six energy companies, under Solidarity 441 will be published be doing a sponsored 10 mile dog walk change. workers’ control. on Wednesday 14 June for the website fund on Sunday 11 June. Scrapping the Trade Union Act will help, How can Labour look two ways on Brexit? Sponsor him at: bit.ly/2oGBwwd More online at www.workersliberty.org Workers’ Liberty @workersliberty War and the revolution The Russian revol peoples, nor depriving them of their na - tional heritage, nor violent seizure of alien By Chris Mathews leadership of the Labour Party in opposition TrOTSkY’S territory,” but “nevertheless complete obser - to the war at its outbreak (and who would ruSSiAN vance of the obligations undertaken to our It is February 1917. A large crowd are later go on to be the first Labour Prime Min - Allies.” gathered to hear socialists and pacifists ister before betraying the Party) said of the rEvOLuTiON That declaration of March 27 was wel - denounce the war. As the speeches start February revolution, “When the war broke comed not only by the entire Compromis - the snow begins fall... The hundreds who out, organised Labour in this country lost the ers’ press, but even by the Pravda of assembled that snowy night, looking like initiative. It became a mere echo of the old Continuing a series of extracts from Kamenev and Stalin. a scene out of Dr Zhivago , were not in governing classes and opinions. Now the Leon Trotsky’s History of the Russian The English press immediately and with Petrograd 1917 but in Waterfoot Russian Revolution has once again given you Rossendale. the chance to take the initiative yourselves... Revolution , this explains how the satisfaction interpreted Russia’s renuncia - the great opportunity which the war gave to Provisional Government worked to tion of annexations as her renunciation of The rally held that snowy evening was to the Labour Party to take hold of diplomacy keep Russia in the First World War. Constantinople, by no means intending of support the candidature of Albert Taylor, a course to extend this formula of renuncia - local anti-war trade union leader and mem - was thrown away, because the Labour Party tion to herself. The Russian ambassador in ber of the British Socialist Party (BSP) in a never saw what the real meaning of the war was, and without the Russian Revolution, the On 23 March [1917] the United States en - London sounded the alarm, and demanded parliamentary by-election; the campaign on opportunity would not have occurred.” tered the war. On that day Petrograd was an explanation from Moscow to the effect his behalf (he had been imprisoned at the re - While MacDonald and Snowden, the two burying the victims of the February revo - that “the principle of peace without annex - quest of the Liberal party agent) was a coali - leading stalwarts of the post-war Labour es - lution. ations is to be applied by Russia not uncon - tion of pacifists and socialists. Their ditionally, but in so far as it does not oppose campaign was able to secure nearly a quarter tablishment, spoke up rhetorically in support Twenty-five days later — during which our vital interests.” But that, of course, was of the vote. of the February revolution and Soviets, noth - time the soviets had gained much experi - exactly the formula of Miliukov: “We prom - Within a month of the first Russian revolu - ing very concrete emerged out the Leeds ence and self-confidence — occurred the 1 ise not to rob anybody whom we don’t need tion (in February according to the Russian Convention. Some local conferences were May celebration (1 May according to the to.” calendar and March by the Western) British held, but no lasting organisation was estab - Western calendar, 18 April Russian calen - The declaration of March 27, although to - support for that initial revolution garnered lished. dar). All the cities of Russia were drowned tally empty, disquieted the Allies, who saw support from a similar coalition of pacifists The unity of the movement in support of in meetings and demonstrations. Not only in it a concession to the Soviet. and socialists looking both to end the war the Russian revolution began to fracture as the industrial enterprises, but the state, city and to fight for a more just society. Taylor the revolution moved to the left. When in Oc - and rural public institutions were closed. BIG GAME would go on to support the second October tober (November our calendar) the second The war had not yet come to an end; on In the hope of help from the Allies, Mil - (Bolshevik) revolution and on his release Russian revolution took place and the “Bol - the contrary it had only widened its circle. iukov had embarked on a big game. His from prison he flew the red flag of socialism sheviks” took power through the soviets, the It was becoming harder and harder to live. fundamental idea was to use the war out of his bedroom window*. uneasy alliance of pacifists, social-democrats, Prices had risen alarmingly; the workers against the revolution, and the first task The British establishment had allied with and revolutionaries, fractured over what were demanding a minimum wage; the upon this road was to demoralise the Tsarist Russia at the outbreak of war and should be the correct response. bosses were resisting; the number of con - democracy. from the outset many in the labour move - Meanwhile Lloyd George’s coalition gov - flicts in the factories was continually grow - ernment prepared to intervene in the Russian But the Compromisers had begun just in ment had opposed an alliance with what was ing; the food situation was getting worse; civil war, in order to crush the revolution and the first days of April to reveal an increasing regarded as the most reactionary and auto - bread rations were being cut down; cereal return Russia to the fight against Germany, nervousness and fussiness upon questions cratic government in Europe. cards had been introduced; dissatisfaction in spending it has been estimated upwards of of foreign policy, for upon these questions The revolution when it came in 1917 was the garrison had grown. £100 million to support the White forces the lower classes were unceasingly pressing hailed on the left. The BSP, the largest British The district staff, making ready to bridle fighting fledgling soviet state. In contrast the them. The government needed a loan. But Marxist party, proclaimed “Long Live The the soldiers [send them to war], was remov - January 1918 conference of the Labour Party, the masses, with all their defencism, were Revolution” in its newspaper The Call . The ing the more revolutionary units from Pet - only 17 years old and still very much a loose ready to defend a peace loan but not a war socialist Daily Herald declared “a new star of rograd. coalition of “liberal” trade unionists and so - loan. It was necessary to give them at least hope... arisen over Europe”. At a packed Al - On the day of America’s entry into the cialist groups, greeted the October revolution a peep at the prospect of peace. bert Hall meeting George Lansbury of the In - war, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the with a spontaneous singing of the Red Flag Tseretelli proposed that they demand dependent Labour Party (ILP) and editor of Provisional Government Pavel Miliukov, and cheering the names of the revolution’s from the Provisional Government that it Daily Herald said of the February revolution greatly encouraged, developed his pro - leaders as they were mentioned. despatch a note to the Allies similar to the “How much it is by far the greatest and best gramme before the journalists: seizure of domestic declaration of March 27. In return thing that has every happened in the history Constantinople, seizure of Armenia, divi - LABOUR PARTY for this, the Executive Committee would un - of the world”. sion of Austria and Turkey, seizure of North - Labour at that time had no individual dertake to carry through the Soviet a vote While the labour movement cheered on the ern Persia, and over and above all this, the membership. Individuals had to join affili - for the “Liberty Loan.” Miliukov agreed to February revolution the pace of class struggle right of nations to self-determination. “In all ated organisations. In addition to affiliated the exchange – the note for the loan – but de - quickened. Strikes broke out in engineering his speeches” – thus the historian Miliukov trade unions, the two largest Party affili - cided to make a double use of the bargain. in Rochdale, Clydeside and the Tyne. There explains Miliukov the minister – “he deci - ates were the Independent Labour Party Under the guise of interpreting the decla - were unofficial strikes in the coal mines of sively emphasised the pacifist aims of the and the British Socialist Party. ration, his note disavowed it. It urged that South Wales and the trams of East Lan - war of liberation, but always presented the peace-loving phrases of the government cashire. A “Women’s Peace Crusade” was The ILP was by far the larger of the two, them in close union with the national prob - should not give anyone “the slightest reason able to mobilise large numbers of working- starting the war with 30,000 members. The lems and interests of Russia.” to think that the revolution which had oc - class women against the war. Probably more ILP was an organisation of many contradic - This interview disquieted the listeners, curred entailed a weakening of the rôle of worrying for the establishment, just months tions. Founded to fight for independent “When will the foreign policy of the Provi - Russia in the common struggle of the Allies. after a whole section of the French army had working-class representation, it has been por - sional Government cleanse itself of Quite the contrary- the universal desire to mutinied, soldiers of the British army in trayed as Methodist and Pacifist. However hypocrisy?” stormed the Menshevik paper. carry the world war through to a decisive France at a training camp at Etaples mu - over the years many of its leading lights had “Why does not the Provisional Government victory had only been strengthened.” The tinied. gained their initial political training in the demand from the Allied governments an note further expressed confidence that the Against this background a broad labour Marxist Social Democratic Federation (SDF). open and decisive renunciation of annexa - victors “will find a means to attain movement conference was held in Leeds in While many of its leading members were op - tions?” What these people considered those guarantees and sanctions, which are June 1917 in support of the Russian revolu - posed to the war and actively campaigned hypocrisy, was the frank language of the necessary for the prevention of new bloody tion. Convened by the Independent Labour against it and led the anti-conscription cam - predatory. Frightened by the stirring of the conflicts in the future.” That word about Party and the British Socialist Party it was at - paign, others took an active part in support - democracy, Kerensky hastened to announce “guarantees and sanctions,” introduced at tended by 1150 delegates from trade unions, ing the war. While ILP MP J R Clynes became through the press bureau: “Miliukov’s pro - the insistence of Thomas, meant nothing less trades councils and local Labour Parties, so - a minister in the Liberal led coalition, other gramme is merely his personal opinion.” in the thieves’ jargon of diplomacy, espe - cialist parties, women’s and other organisa - ILP members led rent strikes in Glasgow and That the author of this personal opinion cially French, than annexations and indem - tions. It was chaired by Robert Smillie of the were heavily involved in wartime engineer - happened to be the Minister of Foreign Af - nities. Miners’ Federation and the speakers in - ing strikes. fairs was, if you please, a mere accident. On the day of the May 1 celebration cluded Ramsay MacDonald, Philip Snowden, Many in the ILP supported the revolution, Tseretelli [Menshevik], who had a talent Miliukov telegraphed his note, composed Ernest Bevin, Mrs Despard, Bertrand Russell, supporting the “Hands off Russia” solidarity for solving every question with a common - at the dictation of Allied diplomats, to the William Gallacher and Sylvia Pankhurst. campaign, and later its left tried to move the place, began to insist on the necessity of a governments of the Entente. And only Resolutions were passed congratulating party closer to the Communist Party and governmental announcement that for Rus - after this was it sent to the Executive the Russians, calling for an end to the war, Communist International. sia the war was exclusively one of defence. Committee, and simultaneously to the supporting a charter of liberties and calling The British Socialist Party (BSP) evolved On March 27 the government gave birth to newspapers. for the setting up of Local Councils of Work - out of an attempt to unite the ILP and the first a declaration to the effect that “the goal of men and Soldiers’ Delegates or Soviets. Even British Marxist group the Social Democratic free Russia is not domination over other Ramsay MacDonald, who had resigned the Federation in 1911-12. Unity failed, but some HiSTOrY 6-7

geous self-defence he was sentenced to six months in the Second Division.” Malone himself, talking about a possible future revolutionary crisis, described the pos - sible fate of some of the ruling class, “What ution and the British left are a few Churchills or a few Curzons on lamp-posts compared to the massacre of thousands of human beings?” After his trial Labour Party, but supportive of October. Malone was stripped of the OBE which he The National Committee of the campaign had been awarded for his wartime work. reflected its broad support. In January 1919; Some believe his imprisonment could have the National Committee had representatives had more to do with his involvement with a from the four organisations like William Paul shadowy plan to set up secret “Red Officer” (Socialist Labour Party), WP Coates (national course aimed at training revolutionaries for secretary, British Socialist Party), Harry Pol - future “Red Army”. It is clear is that he was litt (national organiser, Workers’ Suffrage caught in a MI5 sting operation. For a time Federation). David Ramsay (treasurer, Social - after his release he spoke widely in favour of ist Labour Party) and Alfred Comrie were ac - Communist affiliation to the Labour Party tive in the campaign. The campaign was also and in support of the CPGB. However, by able to call upon a broader range of labour 1924 he had joined the ILP and was back of movement support including William Gal - the road to respectability. lacher, David Kirkwood, Cecil L’Estrange The success of the October revolution and Malone, Tom Mann, and Robert Smillie. Cen - the experience of the Bolsheviks in leading tral to this solidarity work was George Lans - that revolution was of untold importance to bury and his Daily Herald newspaper. The British revolutionary left. The foundation in Herald was able to expose the blockade of So - 1920 of the Communist Party (CPGB) was a viet Russia and the plans the government massive leap forward for class politics in had for intervention. Great Britain. In 1919, the campaign published a pam - Initially the CPGB united all the major phlet which asserted: Marxist groups in Britain, both the political “The imperialist Powers know that the and syndicalist wings of the movement. With very essence of Socialism is its international the development of united front tactics, and policy of a World Republic of Labour. They under pressure of the Soviet led Communist realise that the triumph of Socialism in Russia International (CI), the CPGB was able to in - is but the first step towards the triumph of tervene in class struggle at a much higher Socialism internationally. Hence their united level than its pre-war components. Under the designs and attacks to crush the Bolsheviks tutelage of the CI the CPGB created the Mi - in order to prevent the spread and triumph nority Movement, as a “rank-and-file” move - of revolutionary Socialism in other coun - ment in the trade unions and a National Left tries.” Wing movement was able to play a similar SYLVIA PANKHURST role in the Labour Party. Sylvia Pankhurst reporting in the Workers British socialists were not manipulated into Dreadnought in August 1919 said, “For supporting the October revolution. As Arthur months past ‘Hands Off Russia’ has found Horner the South Wales miners leader said of its way into the resolution of every labour this period said, “Above all, the Russian Rev - and Socialist propaganda meeting and lit - olution had inspired millions with the idea erature about Russia has been the more that the working people could take power and create a classless society...” eagerly read than any other”. British socialists, with their deep roots Probably the highpoint of the campaign in the labour movement, “...came to ac - came in May 1920 when East London dock - cept the Bolshevik viewpoint not because ers blocked the cargo ship Jolly George sail - it was imposed on them but because they A broad alliance of British Marxist, syndicalist and other socialist individuals and groups rallied ing to Poland. The arms on board were accepted its validity” in the fight for so - to the Russian revolution. Top to bottom, left to right: Sylvia Pankhurst, George Lansbury, the destined for the Polish war against Soviet cialism. Independent Labour Party, the British Socialist Party. Russia. The active participants in “Hands off Russia” campaign would use the experience * It was later reported in the local of working together to go on to found the Rossendale press that drunken soldiers out - on the left of the ILP and some socialist inde - was an early, if unofficial representative of Communist Party of Great Britain. raged by his red flags smashed all his house pendents were persuaded to join the SDF and the Bolsheviks. For a time Theodore Roth - Many were drawn to the October Russian windows on Armistice Night 11 November help form the British Socialist Party. The BSP stein was the chief representative of the Bol - revolution, but probably none more strange 1918. was divided at the outbreak of the war, with sheviks in Britain. Both eventually returned than Cecil L’Estrange Malone. Malone was a its ageing conservative leadership under to Russia. Zelda Kahan, who remained in pioneer of early military flight and wartime Henry Hyndman supporting the war and its Britain, worked alongside Rothstein in hon - hero. He was elected as a Liberal MP in the younger members opposing. ing the BSP’s anti war stance, and helped and snap 1918 general election, and was a res - Both sides could agree to campaign around campaigned for the formation of the CPGB. olute anti-socialist until in 1919 he visited defence of working-class living conditions John Maclean, probably the leading Scot - Russia, where he met many leading Bolshe - during wartime by agitating for rent controls tish BSP member, and well known for his viks including Leon Trotsky. While in Russia and state control of food supplies and em - anti-war stance, rejected the majority’s semi- he seems to have had an overnight conver - ployment. They were also able to campaign pacifist stance, believing the main enemy was sion to the cause of socialism. On his return against the worst aspects of anti-German jin - at home. He said, “Our first business was to he left the Liberals and joined the BSP as their goism, it saying, “... we appeal to you to dis - hate the British capitalist system”. Because of first MP before becoming the Communist tinguish between the mass of the German his advanced anti-war stance he was made Party’s first MP. He was never quite trusted people and the Prussian military caste which Bolshevik consul in Glasgow, although never by some on the left due to his military past, dominates the German empire”. acknowledged as such by the government. and John Maclean refused to appear on plat - By 1916 the BSP had split over the war. The Maclean spent much of 1918 in prison for forms with him. However for two years he old leadership group around the SDF’s sedition. Unfortunately he parted ways with threw himself into revolutionary politics with founder Henry Hyndman left to form a pro his comrades and later took a wrong turn gusto. war National Socialist Party. Those who re - into left nationalism. Klugman, the official CPGB historian, de - mained went on to be the core group around The most successful area of work for the scribes Malone like this, “In the first months which the Communist Party of Great Britain left supporters of the October revolution was of the Party’s existence Col. Malone was very (CPGB) was coalesced. After the split the BSP the solidarity campaign in support of the Bol - active not only in Parliament, but addressing was able to affiliate to the Labour Party and shevik Revolution, “Hands Off Russia”. The mass meetings and rallies all over the coun - The Russian Revolution: when made both anti-war campaigning and indus - campaign was founded in 1919 to organise try. Whatever his theoretical weaknesses, he trial struggles more central to its everyday opposition to the British intervention on the was a man of passion, moved by the revolu - workers took power can be work. side of the White armies in the Russian Civil tionary tremors that were shaking the world, purchased for £14.80 including Among those central to the post-split BSP War and brought together the disparate sec - full of wrath and indignation against the p&p. From bit.ly/RuRev. A study were a number of exiles from the Russian tions of the British left. As well as the BSP and powers that be, and after a fiery speech in the Tsarist empire, and they were central in shap - ILP, there was the Workers’ Suffrage Federa - Albert Hall on 7 November 1920, he was guide can be downloaded at the ing the BSP response to the October revolu - tion of Sylvia Pankhurst and the Socialist charged with sedition under Regulation 42 of same URL. tion. The exiles included Joe Fineberg, who Labour Party, both hostile to working in the the Defence of the Realm Act... After a coura - 8 FEATurE More online at www.workersliberty.org

29 JUNE - 2 JULY 2017 • BIRKBECK COLLEGE, LONDON WC1E 7HX -YLLKVTPZHUVWWVY[\UP[`[VL_WSVYL[OYV\NO[HSRZÄSTZOV^PUNZ^VYRZOVWZHUKKLIH[LZ PKLHZHIV\[OV^V\Y^VYSK^VYRZHUKOV^^LJHUÄNO[MVYHIL[[LYVUL A festival of socialist ideas and leftwing discussion, hosted by Workers' Liberty, Ideas for

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MHPSLK/V^JHU^LKLÄUL^OH[HYL]VS\[PVUPZ&/V^KV[OL`JVTLHIV\[HUKOV^JHU^LQ\KNL[OLT&Socialism and democracy Are socialists democrats? Are we for or against parliament and the rule of law? And how were our democratic rights won? PTWLYPHSPZT[VKH`&/V^KVLZP[^VYR&(KPZJ\ZZPVU^P[O*SP]L)YHKSL`What is a revolution? The history of the last century is littered with revolutions, real and imagined, successful and >L[HRLHSVVRH[[OL[PTLSPULVML]LU[Z[OH[QVPU[OL[^V9\ZZPHU9L]VS\[PVUZHUKHZROV^VULNYL^PU[V[OLV[OLY What is imperialism?7H\S=LYUHKZR`H\[OVYVMº;OL9\ZZPHU9L]VS\[PVU!>OLU[OL>VYRLYZ;VVR7V^LY»SVVRZH[[OLOPZ[VY`VM[OL)VSZOL]PR7HY[` With the end of the Cold War and the passing of the European colonial empires, what is 1917: February to October HUKWLVWSLZ!MYVT^VTLU»ZSPILYH[PVU[V[OLLTHUJPWH[PVUVMZL_\HSTPUVYP[PLZHUKUH[PVUHSTPUVYP[PLZ"MYVTTHZZSP[LYHJ`[VYLWYVK\J[P]LMYLLKVTZ(J[P]PZ[HUKThe party of victory ^YP[LY1PSS4V\U[MVYK^PSSSLHKHWHULSKPZJ\ZZPVUVU[OPZ¸-LZ[P]HSVM[OL6WWYLZZLK¹The Fate of the Russian Revolution The shadow of Stalinism: How did the world‘s greatest revolution for freedom turn, within just ten years, to Stalinist tyranny? 1917: the festival of the oppressed The Russian Revolution was a blow struck for freedom — not just the right to vote, but for the all-sided emancipation of people UL^YPNO[ (WHULSKPZJ\ZZPVU^P[OHJ[P]PZ[ZMYVTHJYVZZ[OL3HIV\YSLM[[V[HSRHIV\[[OL^H`HOLHKMVY3HIV\YHM[LY[OLLSLJ[PVU Europe’s far right on the march Yves Coleman, Editor of French anti-racist journal ‘Ni Patrie Ni Frontières’ joins a panel of socialists from around Europe to discuss the KPZJ\ZZWLYZWLJ[P]LZMVY[OL(TLYPJHUSLM[ Where next for the Labour Party? 7PJ[\YLOV\ZL*PULTHZZ[YPRLTrump and class struggle in America Catherine Liu, Democratic Socialists of America activist from California and Jason Schulman of the ‘New Politics’ editorial board, )YLHRPUN[OLJOHPUZ!ÄNO[PUN[OL;YHKL

L_WLYPTLU[ZPUMYLLKVTHUK[OLZLSMY\SLVM[OLVWWYLZZLK:HJOH0ZTHPS[LSSZ[OLPYZ[VY` (WHULSKPZJ\ZZPVUVUOV^YL]VS\[PVUHY`Z[Y\NNSLOHZZOHWLK[OL3.);TV]LTLU[ Bottom rail on top: Radical Reconstruction and the-YVT7VSHUK[V0YLSHUK[OLÄNO[MVYYLWYVK\J[P]LYPNO[ZPU,\YVWLPZMHYMYVTV]LY6U[OL[OHUUP]LYZHY`VM US Civil War The end of the US Civil War saw radical governments in the South replace slavery with bold KLJYPTPUHSPZH[PVUPU[OL<2^L»SSOLHYMYVTVYNHUPZLYZVM7VSHUKZ)SHJR4VUKH`^VTLU»ZTV]LTLU[HUK[OL3VUKVU0YPZO(IVY[PVU9PNO[Z*HTWHPNU 50 years since decriminalisation:;VZ[VWJH[HZ[YVWOPJJSPTH[LJOHUNL^LULLK[VLUK[OLY\SLVMWYVÄ[PU[OLLULYN`ZLJ[VY(KPZJ\ZZPVUVU[OLJHTWHPNU[V5H[PVUHSPZL[OL)PN reform and revolution in LGBT struggles :P_^P[OHZVJPHSPZ[LULYN`^VYRLY1967-2017: Fighting for abortion rights worldwide

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L]PKLUJLThe home front: The Domestic Workers’ Union of Great Britain and Ireland 1908–14 A socialist historian tells the story of how class struggle broke into the great manor >P[O*H[O`5\NLU[,KP[VYVMº:VSPKHYP[`»0;ZWLJPHSPZ[(SP*YHI[YLLHUKHYHPS^VYRLYPU]VS]LKPU[OLÄNO[[VZH]LQVIZ Is neoliberalism dead? Have Brexit and Trump’s election killed off open-borders neoliberal capitalism? Martin Thomas, author of ‘Crisis and Sequels’, looks at the +VUUHJOH2PYR Is automation making us free? ^P[O+Y1V`>OP[LH\[OVYVMº

Narratives of resistance: the politics of grime To vote or not to vote? A debate about the French Presidential election 1VPUV\Y-YPKH`UPNO[KLIH[L >PSSPHT4VYYPZ[OLW\ISPJH[PVUVM0ZRYHHUKHUH[[LTW[LK-LUPHUQHPSIYLHR1VPUV\Y Modernist architecture, several riots, demonstrations featuring Eleanor Marx and MVSSV^ Was the Russian Revolution a revolution for freedom and -PUKV\[TVYL!IP[S`SKUYL]Z democracy or was it was an undemocratic coup, the opening event of the tyranny to LONDON’Swalking tour to learn about REVOLUTIONARIESLondon’s revolutionary history 1917: FREEDOM OR TYRANNY? ^VYRLYZSPILY[`VYNPKLHZ IP[S`0--

@ideas4freedom Workers’ Liberty @workersliberty FEATurE 9 Brazil’s crisis of hegemony

By Alfredo Saad-Filho and Armando comings. Most simply, he was not elected to Boito* office and has no personal legitimacy. Indeed, his administration has implemented the Brazil seems stuck in a permanent politi - same program the right-wing opposition of - cal crisis. After three years of agony, Pres - fered in 2014, when it was defeated at the ident Dilma Rousseff of the Workers’ polls. Party (PT) was impeached last August. Trade unions and the country’s mass or - Now her traitorous vice president Michel ganizations have challenged his govern - Temer’s administration is disintegrating ment’s policies at every turn. Their resistance under a cloud of scandal, not to mention has been growing, and the largest general its mind-boggling incompetence. strike in Brazil’s history took place on April 28, with promises of more to come. Four common illusions prevent us from Further, a minority of the bourgeoisie has clearly understanding why this political in - always opposed the government’s push to re - stability has only intensified under Temer: store neoliberalism; for example, large oil and that Brazil has a unified right wing; that cap - gas firms are suing the government because ital acts together; that the bourgeoisie con - of the changes to the local-content rules, and trols the state and the political process; and domestic conglomerates have objected to cuts that social conflicts revolve only around the in BNDES-subsidized credit. fundamental disputes between capital and All this is very important. But the most sig - labor. Rifts within the ruling class are threatening the Temer administration nificant source of political instability comes Instead, rifts within the ruling class are from the judicial attack on prominent politi - threatening the Temer administration. A cal leaders within the Temer government. rogue judiciary, backed by powerful media A worsening economic slowdown, fol - concocted extraneous accusations, and an Even though the PT has always been the outlets, has turned the upper middle classes lowed by political crisis, has engulfed Brazil overwhelming majority in the chamber of main target of the corruption investigations, against the government, stalling the nation’s since 2011. This economic degradation and deputies and the senate impeached her in key figures in the judiciary have developed a return to neoliberalism. The left can — and the Rousseff administration’s repeated polit - August 2016. genuine desire to purify the political system. should — take advantage of this situation. ical mistakes encouraged a convergence of re - A conspiracy of thieves, hoping to restore This surprising onslaught has disabled the Not too long ago the world’s moderate left volts that would eventually include the neoliberalism and protect themselves against administration. could hold Brazil up as a prime example of media, finance, industrial capital, the upper investigation, led the impeachment drive. An Brazilian anticorruption legislation follows success. Global economic prosperity and middle class, most of the government’s base increasingly right-wing upper middle class American law, and the US Justice Depart - President Lula’s exceptional talent allowed in Congress, and virtually the entire judici - supported it, calling for the end of corruption ment trained many of the judiciary’s leading his administration to temper the neoliberal ary. — code for the destruction of the PT. figures. They, however, are not acting merely policy framework of the 1990s. He introduced While these hostile forces gathered steam, Despite promises that removing the presi - more expansionary policies and unleashed a the PT’s social base stayed largely inert: most dent would unleash a brisk recovery, Brazil as tools of American imperialism: as the in - virtuous cycle of growth that increased prof - workers remained passive in the face of a remains mired in the most severe crisis in its vestigations have unfolded, these authorities its, created jobs, distributed income to the strong right-wing opposition, a shrill media, recorded history. have built their own base of support in the margins, increased democratic participation, and the economic downturn. The PT, which The economy is now a picture of desola - upper middle class. Now, this group identi - and built a stable political culture. When Lula years ago chose to follow the rules of conven - tion. The slowdown culminated in sharp con - fies with the judicial branch, demonstrating stepped down in January 2011, his popularity tional politics, found itself defenceless tractions in 2015 and 2016, reducing income their support on social media and in the rating approached 90 percent. against an extraordinarily aggressive constel - per capita to the level of the early 2000s. The streets, further validating the endless inves - Even then, however, his party was riven by lation of enemies. gains achieved under the PT administrations tigations. contradictions. The PT’s remarkable ability to evaporated. Open unemployment has shot An alliance with the mainstream media has bring together bourgeois and working-class SCANDAL up. The fiscal deficit and public debt are further expanded the judiciary’s power. interests, delivering growth with redistribu - A diet of scandal and hatred for the PT, mounting, and several domestic conglomer - Daily leaks, media-led worship of telegenic tion, made it the best-funded political ma - served by the mainstream media, has nur - ates — especially the so-called national judges and prosecutors, and live coverage of chine in Brazil. Access to money played an tured Brazil’s upper middle classes. Dizzy champions, which the PT sponsored in its al - raids strengthens this relationship. The inves - essential role in its success given the cost of with indignation, this group has tended to liance with the internal bourgeoisie — are ex - tigations have fed ratings and newspaper winning elections in a large country with a ignore the economic, social, and political periencing deep crisis. sales, while media attention has empowered fractured political system. But this cash infu - impacts of neoliberalism. The political front has offered the judges, lawyers, and the police to perform in - creasingly outrageous deeds, often for pub - sion transformed the purported voice of the Instead, they blame Lula and Rousseff for putschists only disappointment. Most party licity and in blatant disregard of the law. This working class into the internal bourgeoisie’s intangible but presumably vast damages to leaders have been implicated in the never- symbiosis between the media and the judici - political arm. Its most influential members the state as a result of corruption and ineffi - ending array of scandals propelled by the became agents for powerful interests. ciency. Implicitly, they hold the PT account - media and rogue judiciary. Congress has be - ary has fuelled upper-middle-class outrage Even though no one suggested personal able for their own loss of income, privilege, come utterly demoralized, and the executive against the political system. What started gain as a motive, the PT found itself en - and authority. is disorganized. Policy-making has become with the PT now transcends Lula’s party. meshed in a cloud of financial impropriety. A string of corruption scandals energized erratic. As a result, the coup’s plotters have lost The party became forever vulnerable to accu - them. The Lava Jato (“carwash”) investiga - A coalition of international capital and the control of the corruption investigations, and sations of hypocrisy, supported by damaging tion, which the federal police launched in domestic bourgeoisie associated with it sup - their own political base in the upper middle disclosures from disgruntled funders and 2014, gained traction gradually, eventually ports the Temer administration, hoping to class has abandoned them. These two ele - hostile media outlets. Its method for gaining becoming a juggernaut that overwhelmed use it to restore their political hegemony and ments — the escape of the judiciary and the electoral traction exposed it to seemingly the Rousseff administration. Accusations of neoliberalism’s economic primacy. The gov - desertion of the upper middle class — have endless charges of corruption. corruption tainted the entire political system, ernment has complied with gusto. created the instability that plagues the Temer As the PT moved to the center, it also lost and the PT appeared as a prime example. The Immediately after Rousseff’s impeach - administration. its political coherence. The party defended media loudly and daily proclaimed that ment, Temer pushed for a sharp fiscal adjust - The alliance built to defeat Rousseff and both economic stability and structural re - Lula’s party had set up a slick system to rob ment, reversed Brazil’s independent foreign the PT has fractured, compromising the gov - form, supported big capital while claiming to public assets and defraud the republic. policy, “reformed” the state-owned conglom - ernment’s ability to restore neoliberalism’s represent workers, and promoted a new, in - The wheels of justice have turned surpris - erate Petrobras by offering significant conces - hegemony. For example, capital demands the clusive political culture while pursuing al - ingly briskly. Law enforcement has devel - sions to the oil majors, removed local-content immediate reform of pensions and labor liances with the most unsavory figures in oped a procedure for handling the rules for government procurement, and laws, but Henrique Meirelles, minister of fi - Brazilian politics. Beyond its failure to choose investigation: arrest carefully chosen busi - reined in the Brazilian development bank’s nance, cannot accomplish that thanks to po - a platform that it could actually defend, the nessmen and prominent politicians and keep (BNDES) aspirations. The government also litical turmoil and a deadlocked congress. A PT neglected its most committed working- them in jail until they enter a plea bargain denationalized Brazil’s vast oil reserves in the judiciary empowered by the bourgeoisie now class supporters, refused to challenge the in - that incriminates others. Repeat as needed. South Atlantic, as well as the energy, agricul - threatens that class’s strategic program. terests of the one percent, and shied away Evidence has become entirely optional: ture, and infrastructure sectors. This conflict pits two reactionary wings of from reforming the media, even though hearsay is good enough. Despite these neoliberal successes, Temer the political right against each other. Neither mainstream news outlets systematically un - The investigation inevitably caught other hasn’t delivered on his promise to reform upholds a progressive platform or the inter - dermined the party’s administrations and re - parties in the net, but this didn’t matter: only pensions and labor law. This failure has frus - ests of workers and the poor majority. This dispute might damage both fac - peatedly sought to destroy its leaders. claims against the PT really counted. No trated his political sponsors, showing that his tions, opening a gap for the left, which credible allegations were made against government cannot create a secure environ - now demands the president’s resignation Rousseff, but the absence of guilt did not ment for neoliberal hegemony, which re - * First published on Jacobin magazine and direct elections. This is a fight the left slow her political liquidation. The opposition quires a stable and effective administration. website, www.jacobinmag.com Several things help explain Temer’s short - can win. Where we stand More online at www.workersliberty.org Workers’ Liberty @workersliberty Today one class, the working class, lives by selling its labour power to another, the capitalist class, which owns the means of production. The capitalists’ control over the economy and their relentless SNP smear opponents drive to increase their wealth causes poverty, unemployment, the blighting of lives by overwork, imperialism, the destruction SCOTLAND self for the people which it claims Tories to rally support from “No” of the environment and much else. to represent, the SNP responds to voters in the 2014 referendum. criticism of its record by denounc - Through its sole official Against the accumulated wealth and power of the capitalists, By Dale Street ing critics for “talking Scotland spokesperson (i.e. Nicola Stur - the working class must unite to struggle against capitalist down” . geon), in the six weeks since an power in the workplace and in wider society. When the SNP government’s The SNP does not use rational election was called the SNP has The Alliance for Workers’ Liberty wants socialist revolution: record on the NHS was criticised political arguments to bond to - bounced back and forth on whether by a nurse during the Scottish collective ownership of industry and services, workers’ control, gether its cult-followers. Instead, it the election results in Scotland party leaders’ debate a fortnight specialises in emotional denuncia - should be interpreted as a mandate and a democracy much fuller than the present system, with ago, the response from the SNP tions of its political opponents. for a second independence referen - elected representatives recallable at any time and an end to and their followers was to vilify Thus, Labour are “Red Tories”, dum and for Scottish membership bureaucrats’ and managers’ privileges. the nurse. even as the SNP simultaneously of the EU. We fight for trade unions and the Labour Party to break with SNP MSP Jeane Freeman and proposes a “progressive alliance” But this is all a matter of political “social partnership” with the bosses and to militantly assert SNP (ex-)MP Joanna Cherry led the with Labour, and also sits in coali - calculation. tion administrations with Labour To argue openly that the general working-class interests. charge, falsely claiming that the nurse was the wife of a Tory coun - in Scottish local authorities. election in Scotland is all about in - cillor. Once unleashed by Freeman And the Tories are defined as the dependence (and for the SNP, it is) In workplaces, trade unions, and Labour organisations; party of the “Rape Clause”, even would fuel the growing backlash among students; in local campaigns; on the left and in and Cherry, the allegation was then taken up by other SNP parliamen - though the SNP ignored the “Rape against the SNP. To argue openly in wider political alliances we stand for: tarians and by SNP cybernats. Clause” until they found a role for favour of EU membership would • Independent working-class representation in politics. In fact, they ratcheted up the it in their current election cam - alienate the one third of SNP voters • A workers’ government, based on and accountable to the smear campaign to the level of a paigning. who backed “Leave” in 2016. frenzy, claiming that the nurse had Sturgeon has dismissed Corbyn labour movement. STRONGER as “unelectable” and as someone • A workers’ charter of trade union rights — to organise, to been a BBC “plant” and that she was not actually a nurse. While her In 2017, as in 2015, the SNP who “won’t be going anywhere strike, to picket effectively, and to take solidarity action. criticisms were ignored, the nurse claims that only SNP MPs will near Downing Street.” As in 2015, • Taxation of the rich to fund decent public services, homes, herself became the target of system - “stand up for Scotland” and the optimum outcome of the gen - education and jobs for all. atic abuse and denunciation. “give Scotland a stronger voice” eral election for the SNP would be in Westminster. • But the nurse was a nurse. And either a Tory government or a mi - A workers’ movement that fights all forms of oppression. nority Labour government. Full equality for women, and social provision to free women she was not the wife of a Tory coun - In fact, its MPs have consistently cillor. (Even if she had been – so ignored the majority of the Scottish The former would allow the SNP from domestic labour. For reproductive justice: free abortion on what? Women won not just the electorate, which remains hostile to to run with the theme that only in - demand; the right to choose when and whether to have right to vote but also the right to independence and a second refer - dependence could save Scotland children. Full equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual and have their own political opinions a endum. from permanent and alien Tory long time ago.) At Holyrood, where the SNP has rule, even though over a quarter of transgender people. Black and white workers’ unity against the Scottish electorate are now racism. The SNP’s social media cam - now been in power for over a paign of smear and vilification likely to vote Tory. • decade and has had a real opportu - Open borders. crumbled within a matter of hours. nity to “stand up for Scotland”, it The latter would allow the SNP, • Global solidarity against global capital — workers But not before it had demonstrated has made steady progress back - or so it hopes, to demand a second everywhere have more in common with each other than with that Scottish “civic and joyous” na - wards. referendum in exchange for not tionalism is just as putrid as any Cuts in council funding, declin - bringing down the government, their capitalist or Stalinist rulers. even though Corbyn has rightly • Democracy at every level of society, from the smallest other variant of nationalist ideol - ing literacy and numeracy stan - ogy. dards, less teachers, less FE places ruled out any deals or alliances workplace or community to global social with the SNP. The SNP itself is the most unde - and teachers, less working-class ac - Doorstep canvassing confirms organisation. mocratic party in Britain. Policy cess to Higher Education, falling that support for the SNP is in de - • Equal rights for all nations, against adopted at its 2015 conference bans NHS standards, declining eco - cline. In the time remaining be - imperialists and predators big and small. its elected parliamentarians from nomic performance, and more fore the general election, Labour • Maximum left unity in action, and public criticism of any other parlia - child poverty. canvassers need to push the mentarian, and from public criti - In fact, the SNP’s main achieve - openness in debate. SNP vote into further decline, cism of SNP policy. ment in recent years has been to re - and to make sure that the de - The SNP’s intolerance of criti - vive the Scottish Tories’ electoral cline is to the benefit of Labour If you agree with us, please take some cism by an NHS employee is em - fortunes. The polarisation of Scot - rather than the Tories. copies of Solidarity to sell — and join us! blematic of its intolerance of tish politics around the single issue criticism in general. Substituting it - of independence has allowed the There’s an election, let’s witch-hunt the left! Events vote (on Facebook, closing 29 By Sacha Ismail tween supporters of what is now Saturday 3 June Friday 16 June the “leadership faction” around Jon May) to purge the left from The biggest national decision- Lansman and the more radical, what’s left of MYS. Nottingham Picnic and Rally: ‘Austerity Fight’ film premiere making gathering of Momentum democracy-minded left. In Novem - The motion calls for the expul - People’s March for Education 6.30pm, Rich Mix Cinema, Beth - that has taken place so far was ber 2016 the MYS committee voted sion of committee members who 12 noon, The Arboretum, Waver - nal Green Road, London E1 6LA the Momentum Youth and Stu - to support the national meeting to are not members of the Labour ley St, Nottingham NG7 4HF bit.ly/2qxJRnG dents (MYS) conference held last campaign for democracy in Mo - Party (i.e. whom the Compliance bit.ly/2rLNTK5 Saturday 17 June summer. mentum by a majority of one. Unit has expelled) and declares that Since then the “leadership” peo - members of socialist groups like 3-4 June No need for nuclear: the The 200 Momentum members ple on the committee have pursued Workers’ Liberty and Socialist Ap - Picturehouse cinemas strike renewables are here who took part elected a national two tracks. The first has been grad - peal will be excluded from any fu - Various times and places 9.45am, Conway Hall committee pretty evenly split be - ually adding more people via re - ture MYS conference. bit.ly/2qvLrKN 25 Red Lion Square, London gional elections, some of dubious Though ineffectual — they are WC1R 4RL On Saturday 30 May the right wing Tuesday 13 June legitimacy, so that they have a ma - expelling people from an organisa - bit.ly/2s9RkKT of Labour Students kept control of jority. The second has been to pre - tion they themselves have pretty The Clarion post-election the organisation by unjustly and 17-18 June vent MYS being active, firstly by much shut down — this is shame - meeting Manchester bureaucratically excluding around pouring cold water on campaign - ful. It also shows how politically 7pm, Central Methodist Hall, NCAFC summer conference nine Labour Clubs and others from ing proposals from the left and then corrupt the milieu around the Mo - Oldham Street, Manchester M1 University of the Arts London, its national conference. by just doing nothing. mentum leadership has become in 1JQ 272 High Holborn, WC1V 7EY The conference was deliberately its struggle to prevent the organisa - bit.ly/2qxK7TG bit.ly/2rABXOm called at short notice, in the middle INACTIVITY tion functioning democratically. of the exam period, and Now — after months of inactivity, The excluders on MYS com - sidestepped a mandate to elect the in the middle of the General mittee evidently think the way Have an event you want listing? Email: committee by One Member One Election campaign — they have forward is to copy young Vote. taken an out-of-the-blue online Blairites! [email protected] rEPOrTS 10-11 EHRC strikers keep fighting PCS backs freedom By Dale Street of movement After one-week strikes in Glas - gow and London, PCS members in the Equality and Human Rights By a delegate Independent Left activists Commission (EHRC) Cardiff of - passed three emergency motions fice are on strike 29 May — 2 PCS, the civil service union, through branches. One for the June. 5-9 June, coinciding with held its national conference in union “to offer as much support to the general election, PCS mem - Brighton 23-25 May. Labour Party candidates as is al - bers will be on strike in the Workers’ Liberty supporters lowable under current PCS pol - EHRC’s Manchester office. were delegates, as part of the left- icy” and another two explicitly The successive one-week strikes opposition ″Independent Left″. calling for a Labour vote, one in are part of an ongoing campaign We went into conference with vic - England and Wales only and one against redundancies imposed by tories in the NEC and Bargaining for all the UK. the EHRC. The campaign, involv - Group Executive elections. Following shenanigans with the ing a succession of targeted strikes, The industrial landscape is dire, conference standing orders com - has been underway since October and the leadership′s response has mittee, we were left with the “offer of last year. been inadequate. The union, de - as much” motion and one ″vote Employees with disabilities, spite years of supposedly ″left″ Labour″ motion, which bizarrely older and ethnic-minority employ - leadership, now has historically was judged to fall when the first ees, and trade union activists are low density-rates in its better or - one passed. disproportionately represented ganised workplaces, with some BREXIT among those selected for redun - bargaining units such as the Min - In an otherwise flat conference, dancy. And redundancies are being istry of Justice falling below 35%. Block 1, Spur D, Government a debate on the union’s attitude implemented despite the availabil - by the Conservatives reveal their We face increasingly hostile be - Buildings, St Agnes Rd, Gabalfa. post-Brexit committed it to ity of suitable alternative employ - real attitude, beyond the rhetoric, haviour by a confident govern - • Support Manchester picket line: “promoting the free movement ment in the EHRC. to issues of equality and discrimi - ment, the most brazen being the Arndale House, The Arndale Cen - of workers”. An emergency motion unani - nation. sacking of reps at the EHRC by “A Labour government will en - tre. mously passed at PCS annual con - email. But a union-wide response Arguments around migrants hance the powers and functions • Send donations to: PCS PSG ference (23-25 May) pledged full has been lacking, largely out of de - undermining wages and condi - of the EHRC, making it truly in - Hardship Fund, Sort code: 608301. support for the strikers and their spair and defeatism, but also due tions were defeated, a win in a dependent, to ensure it can sup - Account no: 20151243 campaign against redundancies. to a bunker-mentality of the sup - labour movement were these port ordinary working people to • E-mail messages of support to: The campaign was also given a posed Trotskyist-led leadership. myths are common. effectively challenge any dis - [email protected] boost by the Labour Party election Substandard deals involving a Conference also debated accept - crimination they may face.” • Send messages of protest to: Re - manifesto’s condemnation of the bonfire of terms and conditions ing the ″Transgender Report″, becca Hilsenrath, EHRC CEO, cuts imposed on the EHRC by the for scraps of pay, selective support where confused opposition was Union activists can support what Fleetbank House, 2-6 Salisbury Tories, and the consequent under - to workers who want to defend turned around. is now the longest-running indus - Square, London EC4Y 8JX mining of the EHRC’s ability to ful - themselves and a top-down ap - Conference also heard a report trial dispute in Britain by: • Tweet messages of support at: fil its role: proach to local disputes and or - into the extent of state-collusion of • Support Cardiff picket line: @savetheehrc “Devastating cuts to the EHRC ganising have left membership the right-wing of PCS′s predeces - confidence at a low and that seems sor union CPSA to undermind to have worked through to confer - and victimise left-wing activists. ence floor. For all the issues the union has Damning report on unison election One of the key debates was the currently, it’s a long-way from the unions attitude going into the witch-hunting, right-wing, General Election. At the NEC In - Thatcher supporting organisation By a Unison member but still employed, former London cies in Unison’s staffing policies, dependent Left members pro - the CPSA was. Regional Secretary. The staff mem - and the fact that rules were broken. The task this year will be to The fight to democratise the posed that the union should The Assistant Certification Offi - ber appointed to investigate the articulate a positive organisa - union must be taken up urgently, follow its support for Corbyn with cer has delivered their report on complaint failed to carry out a tional and political rank-and-file but will come from activists a Labour vote. The Socialist Party the Unison General Secretary proper investigation or to interview alternative to the bureaucratic pushing and winning members dominated leadership and the election dispute. relevant people. Intimidation was malaise and defeatism of the over to change rather then rul - General Secretary opposed that used against activists and other union’s broad-left leadership. The complaint was made by sev - ings from the ACO. call and neither the NEC nor any eral activists and all General Secre - members of staff to persuade them branches associated with the lead - tary candidates, except Dave not to assist the investigation. ership submitted text to confer - • Full article online: • The report can be read at Prentis, over the time used by un - There are a number of recom - ence calling for a Labour vote. bit.ly/2s9mQbR bit.ly/2rzV4Im elected full-time officials of the mendations made about future union to campaign for a “Team conduct of elections, the deficien - Dave” victory. The election will not be re-run Cinema workers strike again and that is the short statement that unison left wins in NEC elections Unison “welcome the decision” By Gemma Short with on their website. What they The Unison Action Broad Left as its guiding principles are in re - do not detail is the incredibly slate, comprising the SWP, SP, ality the “lowest common denom - Workers at East Dulwich Picture - damning evidence and detail in the some of the Labour left, and inator” that the current leadership report. others, has won 29 of the 67 house in south London struck on are wrong and need to be re - Saturday 26 May. The ACO is scathing about the at - seats on Unison’s NEC. moved. The candidates elected titude shown in the audio record - The result for the first time represent supporters of three dif - Cinema workers at Picturehouse ing of a meeting coordinated by ferent general secretary candi - Central, Hackney, Crouch End and Linda Perks the now redeployed, means that the current General Secretary, Dave Prentis, does not dates for the 2015 election. the Ritzy in Brixton will strike on 3- have an outright majority. The The turnout was absolutely 4 June to coincide with Picture - Stronger Unison slate, a sycophan - abysmal, with an average turnout house Central hosting the Scottish tic group to Dave Prentis got 31 of 4.62% in seats where every Sundance Film Festival. member can vote. Support for the strikes is grow - seats with the remaining seven a The incoming NEC must start lecturers push mixture of independents. ing. Helen Hayes, Labour MP for to address this decline and first Dulwich and West Norwood vis - Unison Action is currently only and foremost this will mean promising talks after being con - back employers an electoral lash up and will need ited and spoke at the picket line at fronted by Picturehouse workers building strength in workplaces East Dulwich Picturehouse on 26 to develop some proper structures by winning disputes and fight - at their AGM on 18 May, no ne - Read online: and plans if it is to have any role May. Supporters of the strike are gotiations have yet appeared. ing to protect jobs and leading encouraged to join a demonstration in transforming the situation in a real fight against the pay bit.ly/2qvjKBS branches and workplaces. There is at Picturehouse Central on Satur - freeze. day evening. • Support the strikes: likely to be some resistance to that Despite Cineworld bosses picturehouselivingwage.com SolidaFor a workers’ giovertnment y No 440 31 May 2017 50p/£1 Tel Aviv: tens of thousands march against occupation and for two states

By Gerry Bates Minister] Netanyahu does not dream of freeing Palestine. He On Saturday 27 May between does not really give a damn about 15,000 and 20,000 Israelis far-away Iran. He wants to hold on demonstrated in Tel Aviv’s Rabin to East Jerusalem, to the West Bank Square to mark the anniversary and, indirectly, to the Gaza Strip.” of the Six Day war the subse - Herzog’s assessment of Trump quent Israeli occupation of the may reflect his own political ambi - West Bank and Gaza. The tion to govern Israel. He used his demonstration called for an end speech to call for a new opposition to the occupation and for “two alliance with the Zionist Union states for two people”. and others against Netanyahu. In proportion to population, the Fortunately other speakers at the turnout was equivalent to 140,000 rally were much clearer in their in Britain. Opposition leader and opposition to occupation and call Labor Party head Isaac Herzog for two states. Organisers of the was booed as he came on stage. rally also read a letter from Pales - He, claimed Trump was “deter - tinian President Mahmoud Abbas, mined to bring peace between us in which he pledged peace on the basis of the two-state solution. and the Palestinians…who under - The rally is a hopeful sign. As stands what his predecessors un - indeed is a recent poll (by Is - derstood.” rael’s Channel 2 TV station) That assessment is a rather poor which found that 47 percent of one. When Trump went to Israel Israelis still support a two-state he talked about peace a lot but his solution to the conflict with the notion of peace was, as veteran so - Palestinians based on 1967 bor - cialist Uri Avnery put it, based on ders. The same poll showed 39 the idea that everyone in the Mid - percent being opposed, and 14 dle East will do his, (Trump’s) bid - percent saying they did not princes had just offered him a deal Arabs and Israelis will become one gether against bad old Shiite Iran. ding: “Trump came to Israel with know. the impression that the Saudi — Israel will free Palestine, Sunni happy family, they will fight to - Wonderful. Only [Israeli Prime Or subscribe with a standing order Contact us Subscribe to Solidarity Pay £5 a month to subscribe to Solidarity or pay us more to make an ongoing contribution to our work 020 7394 8923 Trial sub (6 issues) £7 o To: ...... (your bank) ...... (address) Six months (22 issues) £22 waged o, £11 unwaged o solidarity@ One year (44 issues) £44 waged o, £22 unwaged o Account name ...... (your name) workersliberty.org European rate: 6 months €30 o One year €55 o Account number ...... Sort code ...... Write to us: The editor Please make payments as follows to the debit of my account: (Cathy Nugent), 20E Tower Name ...... Payee: Alliance for Workers’ Liberty, account no. 20047674 at the unity Trust Bank, 9 Brindley Place, Birmingham, B1 2HB (60-83-01) Workshops, riley road, London, Address ...... SE1 3DG Amount: £...... Solidarity editorial: To be paid on the ...... day of ...... (month) 20.... (year) and thereafter i enclose £ ...... monthly until this order is cancelled by me in writing. Simon Nelson, Cathy Nugent This order cancels any previous orders to the same payee. (editor) , Gemma Short, and Cheques (£) to “AWL” or make £ and Euro payments at workersliberty.org/sub Martin Thomas return to 20e Tower Workshops, riley road, London, SE1 3DG. Date ...... Signature ...... Printed by Trinity Mirror