Labour Affairs Incorporating the Labour and Trade Union Review

No 250 September 2014 Price £2.00 (€ 3.00) The TUC and Social Partnership

As we approach the next general election in 2015, quite likely, however, that the current TUC General it is hard to feel optimistic that the Labour Party will Secretary, Frances O’Grady, is at least the third to hold be any bolder than New Labour. Timidity and caution that office who has realised that making British trades appear to rule the day. Policymakers in the party are unions once more a force for the working class interest afraid of challenging major business interests that may needs to involve the unions taking some responsibility disapprove of any mildly radical policy that could con- for the running of the firms in which their members ceivably affect their interest and cause them to locate work and more broadly assuming a role in the run- to a more accommodating regulatory environment ning of the country, in a way that has been part of the abroad. More generally, the ‘business friendly’ attitude political and economic way of life in many European and aversion to any kind of principled stance on issues countries for many decades. However, she is the first affecting working people continues to saturate the at- General Secretary in recent decades who has actually titudes of Labour MPs and policymakers. Yet the last said so and she has made the aspiration a central part five years have seen government by a coalition bent on of her ambitions for her term of office. Her Attlee dismantling key elements of the post-war welfare state. lecture, printed in ‘Labour Affairs’ last year made this They have had considerable success in undermining clear and she and colleagues in the TUC have since universal education and health provision, and have kept continued the work of putting social partnership, and in place ‘socialism for the rich’ in the form of massive industrial democracy in particular, on the agenda of subsidies for failing banks, low-paying employers and union business. rapacious landlords. It is, therefore, hard to see how The leadership of the TUC have evidently concluded there could be much opposition to halt the relentless that there is a choice for the movement between con- march towards an American-style pluto-democracy tinuing irrelevance and decline (which may not be with most services provided by profit-seeking private gradual) and an approach that repositions trades unions companies in a desolate public realm. as doughty defenders of workers’ rights but also as Nowadays the trades unions are hardly taken seri- partners in the running of businesses and advocates ously as an economic, let alone a political force. Years over a range of other issues such as training and edu- of decline and an inability to leave behind a set of cation which were not previously prominent in union attitudes and strategies that made some limited sense campaigning and bargaining. This would no more make in the 1960s and 1970s, but no longer do, sometimes trades unions pushovers at the bargaining table than it make them look irrelevant to the modern political and does for European unions embedded in social partner- economic landscape. However, some re-appraisal has ship structures. It is evident in our published interview been going on for a number of years, even if it has with Frances O’Grady, which is available in this issue only taken place in small parts of the movement. It is of ‘Labour Affairs’, that this orientation is no flash in No 250 September 2014 the pan or fad, but absolutely cen- for keeping the Labour Party afloat. tral to the direction which the TUC Miliband, like Blair, is apparently would like the labour movement to an opponent of those on welfare Labour travel in. Research, scenario plan- benefits doing nothing for what ning and advocacy is being quietly they receive. This should apply to Affairs but persistently carried out in order the Labour Party as well and the to prepare the movement for a new unions should ensure that they get orientation. On the most optimistic ‘something for something’. Contents view, the trade union movement The third issue concerns the op- No.250, Sept. 2014 ISSN 2050-6031 could provide a way of avoiding ISSN 0953-3494 position to social partnership on the the fate of Britain becoming a poor part of the majority of businesses man’s United States. The TUC and Social Partnership and the majority of the Tory party. Editorial 1 However, this is only a beginning This should be the least of Frances and the initiative remains fragile. O’Grady’s worries. They can be There are a number of issues to tackled when the trades unions are INTERVIEW WITH FRANCES address. The first is within the committed to a change of orienta- O’GRADY, TUC GENERAL tion. If the trade unions once again trade union movement itself. The SECRETARY 3 general secretary’s initiative has become a force in the land with the not provoked loud protests but at backing of large sections of the the moment widespread enthusiasm population then they will have to LISTENING TO ITALY amongst union officials and leader- listen and so will the Labour Party. by Orecchiette 16 ships is hard to detect. A lot more At the moment they can point to the will need to be done to get them irrelevance of organised labour to signed up, let alone work enthusi- the running of the economy because astically for it. It is very easy to nod there is at least a grain of truth in in acquiescence and then to make their claim. sure that nothing gets done. This The Labour Party will not listen Regular Features work is only just beginning and the if the major trades unions do not outcome remains uncertain. support the approach adopted by Views from across The second issue concerns the the current general secretary. She the Channel Labour Party, which has shown has shown the courage of her con- by Froggy 9 little enthusiasm for industrial de- victions and has a clear view of the mocracy and which has shied away direction that British unionism has Notes on the News 11 from a broader social partnership to take. She deserves the support Gwydion M. Williams approach ever since the 1970s. of everyone interested in making However, it has recently commit- sure that Britain remains a civilised Parliament Notes ted itself to employees having a place in which to live and work. Dick Barry 17 say on remuneration committees and this may well involve it taking It's A Fact 24 on more commitments to indus- trial democracy than it currently Labour Affairs realises. The Labour Party is also Published by the Ernest Bevin Society We apologise for Editorial Board largely financed by the trade union Dick Barry Christopher Winch movement. There is ample scope the late appearance Jack Lane Madawc Williams for pressurising the party to adopt [email protected] a more robust social partnership ap- of this issue. proach as a condition for continuing Distribution support in a new and more benign Dave Fennell Technical hitches. Editorial Address version of performance related pay No. 2 Newington Green Mansions where the paymasters (the unions) Green Lanes get something worthwhile in return London N16 9BT

Labour Affairs 2 No 250 September 2014

INTERVIEW WITH FRANCES O’GRADY, TUC GENERAL SECRETARY CONDUCTED BY MARK LANGHAMMER AND CHRIS WINCH, 26TH AUGUST 2014. The conversation starts with ML I, and an increasing number of unionism’. Looking ahead, the inviting FO’G to talk about the economists, buy the thesis that the task is to think bigger and come publications that the TUC has worse inequality gets, the greater up with some quite ambitious recently produced about industrial the chance that we’ll get another thinking, not just about how our democracy. crash, only next time it will be day to day work as trade unionists FO’G bigger and quicker. could be transformed, but what Very often when you have a ML contribution we could make to conversation about workers’ voice, The whole thing as you say, with transforming the country. somehow you always end up In Place of Strife and even Heath CW going back to Bullock or In Place and Bullock and attempts further That makes a great deal of of Strife. Today, we are actually in back in 1946-47 with Bevin sense to us in terms of our own a very different environment, not asking the TUC to take a role in understanding of Jack Jones’ just in terms of union membership, running national insurance, is what importance. union density, industrial relations ‘traction’ is there in the movement, FO’G and so on, but we are also trying to and in society today, and are I’m a big admirer of Jack and crack a different problem. Now we we as a movement incorrigibly he was a very creative thinker. know the shareholder supremacy adversarial or is there some sense Telling the story in terms of his model is completely bust. The of fight about let’s help run this vision can appeal to people, some counter-argument to Bullock – that thing or shape this thing… ? of whom otherwise would have shareholders own the company FO’G been instinctively suspicious. and they are therefore the best Yes, I think that there are clearly The left has had to reflect on its stewards of its long-term interests key constituencies that we have own history and realise that there – has been left completely exposed to influence and bring on board. is more to this (proposals for by the massive shift in the profile First and foremost, the trade union corporate governance reform), of share ownership, the length of movement. This is ultimately about it’s not a threat to traditional tenure of any one share, and most tackling inequality and the flaws collective bargaining. Or more vividly of all by the 2008 crash. of the old economic model. We are to the point, some feared a euro- So I think that part of our job is still not clear whether it’s going to style social partnership would lead to pose a different question to that be more of the same or whether we to co option, that muzzled trade which Jack Jones, Hugh Scanlon are going to build a very different unionism. We realised that there and others posed previously. First model. My discussions with union was another strand of our history and foremost, if the old model is leaders have sparked an interest, to draw on. Unions 21, the union bust and if we agree that it’s bust, which if it was merely positioned think tank, is also interested and then what should take its place? as being about social partnership doing important work on these Of course, one of the reasons European style, it would not. So it’s sorts of issues. that it’s bust in the first place is a very new dimension to the debate. We’ve issued a series of the complete denial and waste of Some people on the left see these pamphlets. We are also writing worker talent, intelligence and sorts of proposals as being a threat blogs and using social media to contribution to a firm. But there is to trade unionism and collective generate interest and I’ve seen also a bigger challenge about the bargaining and others on the right that others like Labour Research kind of economy that we live in; see it as fanciful and assume that are starting to critique our work so not just whether it’s just and fair, we ought to stick to bread and that’s generating a broader debate but whether we are going to repeat butter stuff and do what we do amongst activists. A lot of the the mistakes that led up to the 2008 best. Then there were people like public debate has focused on our crash. The root cause of the crash Jack Jones, who was a genuinely proposals for workers on boards, was the growing concentration intelligent and far-sighted thinker something the person in the street of wealth and power in the and created a different sort of can understand and the polls show hands of a very few free-floating, tradition for the left, one which has strong public support. There is promiscuous, global masters of the James Larkin junior would have a link between this and the High universe. That’s important because described as ‘intelligent trade Pay Commission’s proposals

Labour Affairs 3 No 250 September 2014 for workers representation on workers on the boards of German FO’G the committees that set top pay. companies in the UK… The Attlee lecture I delivered last Of course the TUC doesn’t F O’G year got a very positive response believe that having workers on Exactly! There is a myth that from senior people in the Labour these remuneration committees British culture is not compatible Party. We have a very clear set would in itself transform the with the approach to worker of campaign priorities. Beneath world, but because it opens up representation taken in the most that we have a very worked up decision making to a degree of of the rest of Europe, as if French set of policies about how to accountability and democracy. and German unions somehow support progress under each of Why shouldn’t a boss have to have a less confrontational those priorities, which are set out look their own workforce in the approach. Well, since coming into in TUC documents, responses eye and explain why they’re this job I’ve developed close links to consultations, and so on. The getting a big pay rise and why with French and German trade TUC’s policy on governance that’s more than most workers unionists, and I can tell you that reform, and I would stress this, is are getting? As we know, the pay they are just as independent and about a lot more than just having gap is growing massively. So just as determined to get a fair workers on boards. Our call for arguing for worker representation deal, as British trade unionists. workers on boards is high profile on top pay committees is a way But they can combine this with policy, an ambitious policy. But in to generate some excitement, rights to works councils and Board it’s also only one element of what a sense of justifiable outrage, representation. we want to see. We also want better about who takes decisions in ML information and consultation whose interests, and why it is that The TUC publication, ‘German rights, stronger rights at work workers are currently locked out Lessons’ set out a useful direction and better coverage of collective of those decisions. There is a lot of travel? bargaining. of discussion about the need for FO’G But I would say that there are more diversity in boardrooms - and European unions are no members of the shadow front I’m a supporter, for sure, of more pushovers, you know the idea that bench who are engaged. Of course, women in the boardroom. But if codetermination has somehow when the High Pay Commission we are talking about women, why softened the German trade report came out, Labour made on earth aren’t we also talking union movement– come on. The a public commitment that when about better representation of the majority of European countries they got into office, they would people whose lives depend on now have some form of worker put workers on remuneration decisions taken in the boardroom, representation at board level, and committees. Now they have to workers? If we are talking about what’s good enough for French or answer the question, ‘How?’ diversity let’s talk about it in its German workers is good enough We’ve made some detailed fullest sense. In Britain I think that here. We are not victims of our policy proposals on how that there is an almost inherited kind past. We can consciously choose commitment could be delivered. of nervousness about this agenda. to construct a culture that creates And that immediately takes you I think the public is way ahead of more fairness and gives people a to the core, fundamental changes the political class on this. voice. If you look at the number needed to introduce democracy ML of days lost through strike action and democratic structures in the Does it help that quite a lot of our in Britain nowadays, they’re way workplace. industry is foreign owned, for down. In some cases, that’s good ML example Nissan…? news because disputes have been Company Law? A company is a FO’G resolved fairly. But in other cases, legal and political construct. You I wonder whether that’s going to people are not even in a position can change it. come through and, if so, it will to assert their rights. FO’G be interesting to see how that CW Exactly. I’m not sure that everybody debate develops. There’s so much I was surprised to see what an thought through, having made obsession with free movement of outlier we were in that respect. that commitment, how it would people and hardly any attention F O’G be delivered, because I pointed given to free movement of capital. That old idea that there is a link out that unless you do have some But I wonder whether that will between not having workers on form of independent election with begin to come through more boards and having high levels of workers participating, the only sharply as people wonder why the strike activity was broken long worker representation that you’ll majority of shares in British based ago. get on a Remuneration Committee firms are now owned overseas. ML is actually a management rep., ML In your contact with the Labour because they’ll be hand-picked. But even in terms of the practice, Party, does any or much of this You have to have some degree there are, for example, British resonate? of democracy at work to deliver

Labour Affairs 4 No 250 September 2014 it. The policy answers are rare. In fact our current TUC all of that. Just to come back to closely aligned with improving President, Mohammad Taj, a bus what you are doing, because I information and consultation worker, was a regional worker was one of the graduates of the rights, the development of works director for First Group. Some ‘Leading Change’ programme, it councils, and representation of companies are willing to explore was a good programme because workers, eventually up to and how we might boost workers’ you had quite a long term including board level. So it strategic voice on a voluntary engagement with colleagues from makes sense to address that wider basis and if that can ‘normalise’ different places and with different package as a whole. So that’s the the conversation, that’s all to the experiences. Is there scope for dialogue that’s happening now. good. Traditionally, if we can that kind of thing to “beef up” ML create voluntary agreements, even activists’ capacity around worker And how are you getting on with if we don’t get the whole shebang, voice, company construction, that? that’s a positive start. If we can finance and economics, patient FO’G begin to break down that kind of capital and worker economics? The cause of more democracy at oligarchy at work, and introduce FO’G work is one that unions have been the idea that worker’s voice at a Yes … pressing for a very long time. strategic level is the sensible thing ML Some might say we have high to do, that’s welcome. We issued Just an aside here, one of the hopes, but realistic expectations, another report on information lectures John Monks gave, he and it’s worth putting out there. and consultation recently, and was talking about Belgian trade I think that we’ve made some some of the senior HR managers unionism and how visible it was. progress putting it on the agenda. agree with us that the weakness He put this down to Belgian trade CW of the current legal framework is unions being involved in their Whereas it wasn’t on the agenda bizarre. They genuinely believe national insurance and the pension at all, and now it is. that the workforce is their most scheme. FO’G important asset – in which case FO’G Exactly. We need to inoculate you’d be mad not to involve them Arguably, we made a big mistake politicians against the idea that at a strategic level and hear what in not taking up such opportunities we need to get the CBI signed up the workers’ concerns are and when they were offered to us. to everything before we can make how you best address them. So ML progress. As with the campaign for the more mainstream the debate He mentioned that post-war, a national minimum wage, another becomes the better, I think. Ernest Bevin had suggested key progressive demand, of course CW something like the Belgian there will be outright opposition So that’s really the phase 2 isn’t insurance scheme. to change from some quarters of it, how does one mainstream these FO’G business. So get used to it, plan discussions within the trade union John’s written about it. I’ve gone for it and have the courage of movement, the Labour Party and back to source and it’s interesting your convictions, because it’s the also beyond. looking at the debates that people right thing to do. Of course, part FO’G had back then....I thought we of my job is to encourage more Coming in when I did 18 months should have gone that extra mile, sympathetic employers to speak ago I had a very short amount you should have grabbed it. in favour of corporate governance of time until the next election to ML reform, and separate them from deliver on something in this area. I But we are at a juncture - post the anti-democrats, as I would knew it was a long shot but I think crisis - and there’s all to play for see it. Informally, I’ve spoken that we’ve made some progress. now …. to lots of employers, including So we have our traditional routes FO’G those leading multinational to stimulate debate through Yes it is and sometimes I think companies who are required to union magazines, trade union we’re not ambitious enough. It’s provide for workers’ voice in the think tanks, and our education certainly worth a go and there are other countries they operate in programme - we train over 50,000 times when you think you haven’t and do so without a problem. And stewards every year. We do online got much to lose. through the crash, unions came training too which enables us to When you look back at the post- to very sensible agreements with reach people cheaply and on a war period they had the comfort employers to protect jobs and keep mass basis. then of 4 or 5 trade union leaders plants open - exactly the sorts of ML in the Cabinet. It must have felt a agreements that the Germans and This sort of thing is quite much more intimate relationship others made. fundamental not just for workers’ and a common cause, a sense of There are firms such as First voice. It’s actually to do with the co-determination at that level Group who do have workers legal construction of a company, politically. Clearly again we are on boards, but they are pretty patient finance, long term thinking, in a very different world now.

Labour Affairs 5 No 250 September 2014 Perhaps we are a bit hard because about one not being enough, do you for themselves but it stops at the it is easy with the benefit of hindsight have any sense of what the minimum company door, and increasingly they to look back and say, ‘Why didn’t would look like in a decent industrial become emasculated anyway, because you do more?’ democracy…? workers know they can always be And I think we mustn’t go too far the FO’G replaced by a non-union workforce. other way in the sense of dismissing I think that the bottom line is at least Let’s ask about our performance as the reasons why people fear co- two worker directors on a board - the a movement over the last ten years option of trade unions, because TUC has produced detailed papers real wages down because those are genuine fears. We have that set out the nuts and bolts of membership is down. As an organiser real experience of employers using what we are asking for and how it I’m interested in the corporate very sophisticated union avoidance would work. At a pragmatic level, governance reform agenda because and dilution techniques. We’ve seen we suggest starting with very large I think it’s our best shot at creating cases, albeit a very small number companies. You can bet your bottom embryonic democratic structures of cases of corruption, for example dollar that the majority of these within non-union Britain. All of us famously at VW in Germany. Now companies are multinationals that have a legitimate interest in having those are the exceptions not the rule, already have workers on boards in a democratic country and a healthy but that doesn’t mean that we should the other EU countries. and thriving trade union movement let down our guard on some of those CW is a key pillar of that. threats. We have to go in with our eyes And there are different thresholds in What we can be really proud of open and when we’re presented with different European companies for the is, despite all the battering that those sorts of historic opportunities, size. unions have taken, both in terms of my judgement is that we should take FO’G industrial restructuring and in terms them. But we also have to make sure Yes. of the law, we have maintained that we’re fit to take full advantage of CW membership around the six million them without compromising what is In terms of union leaderships and mark. Although the latest figures our core responsibility to democracy executives, national officers, how show that because of the cull of jobs and accountability. I do believe that does it play with them in the medium in the public sector we’re down, very strongly. We are ultimately a term? private sector membership is up. democratic movement. FO’G Which is pretty amazing really. I You’ll know the CBI objections to I think that people support it. They’ve think that a lot of our organisers and workers on boards. On the one hand been very supportive of the work that stewards should take credit for that. they say that board discussions are we’ve done, not just in our exec, but it But what’s happened to trade unions all too complicated for workers to runs all the way through the regions, and collective values is much bigger understand, that we’d be lost in the so they see it as commonsense. A lot than what’s happened in any one boardroom. And on the other hand, of them have mixed experiences of country. This is about a set of ideas they argue that worker directors European Works Councils, and other and a model of capitalism that has would threaten the entire corporate kinds of mechanisms so they know systematically reduced the power governance system. So which is it? that it’s not the be all and end all. and dignity of working people. And, Are we too incapable and shy to make That’s why it’s important that we if we’re going to push back on that, a contribution in the boardroom or talk about it in terms of that broader it will take more than what we’re are we going to tear down capitalism package of improving workers’ voice doing now. I could have a thousand if we get there? But there are very and rights. more organisers and I still wouldn’t practical issues about how do we The landscape has been changed be able to rebuild union membership train people so that they can play an dramatically by the fact that 80% of sufficiently to reverse growing effective role. I‘ve never been keen workers in the private sector aren’t inequality. In my view we need on the idea of any of us on public members of a union, so the balance an alliance between a sympathetic bodies going in on our own. It’s hard of risk has changed. I’ve had these government, trade unions and to be in on your own, which is why very straight conversations with civic society if we’re going to we want workers’ representation, not people saying, ‘look at the figures’. push back on these extreme levels just one. We also have to put support The real threat is that membership of inequality, wealth and power. mechanisms in place, so worker and collective bargaining coverage The corporate governance reform directors are trained not just about goes off the cliff American-style. agenda is just one part of that knowledge but in the skills to operate What you saw in the States is that strategy, it is an important element in those environments, how you it goes down, down, down because in reforming the way in which network outside of the room, how you’ve got no power to help anyone our companies actually work, you make effective interventions. anymore. We end up with little union giving us the opportunity for every That’s exactly what we’re looking at fortresses that can help members worker to have the right to a voice, now in very practical terms. inside a particular enterprise but but for us to have the opportunity to CW can’t help anybody else beyond it. galvanise that voice into independent, To go back to that point you just made They get good pay and conditions democratic, trade unions. So again,

Labour Affairs 6 No 250 September 2014 it’s a big challenge to be ready to take buck. This isn’t a moral judgement, would be popular. How should that advantage of that. it’s how our system works. So we go? How do the unions influence the CW have to change the rules. Labour Party? Isn’t it about time that So would it be a breakthrough if one Unions have been engaging in performance related pay applied to of the big unions really owned this solidarity bargaining for the last 30 the Labour Party? Pick a couple of issue? years. And although we still have 5 big ticket issues and say ‘come on FO’G million earning less than the living guys we’re not giving our money for Yes. I think that there are senior wage, it is the middle who have been nothing’? individuals within UNITE for hit hardest proportionately. Unions FO’G example who get it, who see have been using our bargaining power Obviously for the affiliated unions, that bigger picture. And it’s very in general to try and protect the worst the policy forum, that route… important, because this is the largest paid. But it’s middle incomes that ML private sector trade union. have collapsed. And if the middle Or do you co-ordinate influence, ML collapses then we won’t be strong that’s what I’m trying to get at… When I recently read a UNITE enough to help the working poor. FO’G document from Northern Ireland I think we’re all clear about what Obviously the TUC seeks to engage ( I find that Irish trade unionism needs to be done, but a lot of it with all political parties, and a series has a different orientation) but they requires political solutions. We of policy conversations have taken were getting into the mechanics can’t do it all on our own. So I am place with Labour. We’re making of company law and all the rest of encouraged by Ed Miliband. He does progress in some key areas. We’ve what a good employer should look think seriously about these issues made real progress with our proposal like, and how we should encourage and though the language wouldn’t be that the Low Pay Commission that through carrot and stick. I was mine – predistribution, for example should have powers to bring unions going to ask about two big associated - he’s absolutely right, that the state, and employers together in industries issues. One of them is the rebalancing on an ever reducing portion of the where we have the evidence that we of the economy. The other is the tax base, can’t go on mopping up ought to pay more, to set a higher relationship between wages and after the sins of the system. Labour statutory remuneration package. profits. Less of GDP goes on wages now understands that you have to We’ve looked to build cross-party than ever before for the last 30 years, intervene in the market and that was support and win support from some more goes on profits. How do we get an important break with New Labour employers on that. And it’s hard Britain a pay rise? But on the other thinking. This is not to say that to believe but you couldn’t even one, rebalancing the economy, how everything New Labour did was bad mention the term ‘industrial policy’ do we do that? Different company but it fundamentally accommodated even five, ten years ago, it was a law, different interventions, industrial free market liberalism in a way that dirty word. So I’m happy that we’ve strategy, how are you tackling those hadn’t happened before. And it failed helped put industrial policy back on issues at the moment? to understand that you need a whole the map. Tax policy is a little trickier, FO’G range of strategies to provide some spending policy is a little trickier. It’s part of our shared analysis of kind of protection against the worst CW tackling the root causes of that failures of the market. For example, The Tories have managed to inequality. How do you do that? a degree of public ownership, a more hegemonise this issue of the social We know that trade unions and democratic regime for companies, security budget, but a lot of it you collective bargaining is one part of and a stronger tax base. Instead could argue is socialism for the rich, the answer, with one international we got sold individual rights as an for companies that don’t want to report suggesting that the decline of alternative to market intervention pay their workers properly, greedy trade unions accounts for about one but individuals are never going to be landlords and so on. fifth of the growing inequality gap. strong enough to exercise them on FO’G Another is an industrial strategy to their own. Exactly, subsidising tight fisted create better paid, better skilled jobs ML employers with tax credits and and the industries that will sustain I’m from Belfast, so I don’t have a housing benefit. them. Banking and finance reform “dog in the race” in terms of British CW is absolutely critical to encourage politics – but looking outside in, Can we get the Labour Party to be a patient capital. Corporate governance it looks like Labour is desperately bit bolder on that issue? is another vital strand because as tentative. He’s saying some of FO’G long as top directors are allowed to the right things about predatory Well, to be fair to Ed, he personally behave like certain Premier League capitalism but you get the impression got this, he understood that point, footballers, then they just take the that opinion polls, triangulation, that actually the problem here is not money and run. And as long as matter far too much to them. We’ve just low but unfair pay. Unions did shareholders remain the sole stewards had an awful crash, we need to be a lot to make living standards a key of a company, then companies will bold. Polls tell you that bringing the issue that every politician now has to remain hooked on pursuit of the quick railways back into public ownership address, but we also had to come up

Labour Affairs 7 No 250 September 2014 with practical policies to solve the employers and unions still have already publicly made commitments problem. So on the doorstep voters to fight on some structures even on apprenticeships. But what about probably don’t give a fig about what to get our foot in the door, but the everybody else? Apprentices are we’re saying about giving the Low principle is that they should be social important but there is also the great Pay Commission being given new partnership bodies. bulk of the workforce who need more powers, but in terms of delivering And all roads end up returning to skills and training too. real improvements in people’s living the need for corporate governance CW standards and reducing the welfare reform. Yes, that’s interesting, I remember bill, that practical policy is key. I I went to see Cowley (the BMW- Peter Mandelson said, apropos think we’ve seen a generation of owned car plant). It was a fascinating of levies, something like that the politicians across the board, who example of a very sophisticated employers would just fiddle it, those have felt powerless in the face of a company with very mature industrial were his words almost, and I guess globalised economy and feel afraid relations. The union have just you need corporate governance to of companies who can threaten to negotiated not only a very decent make sure that doesn’t happen. ship out and punish governments pay rise, but to convert the agency FO’G who try to rein them in. That does workers onto permanent contracts. Exactly, and you know, we’ve not mean that you have to give up. They’re also bringing back in had levies in construction and On the contrary, you have to be even house apprenticeship and training broadcasting. In broadcasting more determined. programmes, recognising that they actually, I think it’s worked pretty CW need to invest long term and develop well. In construction? You’ve always been interested in plans jointly as a company. Why CW Vocational Education and Training has that taken so long? What do you It’s mainly managers who benefit (VET) issues, and the TUC has done need to incentivise companies to see ML some great work. But the Labour training as a key part of investment A couple of final questions. If the Party does seem very timid on these policy? How do you get companies Conservatives remain in power, what issues and I know that the TUC has to the stage where they are upping would be your concerns about further come up with some practical ideas their investment and taking a long restrictions on trade union activity? to improve the situation. Do you termist, rather than a short termist FO’G think there’s any scope for getting view? Skills are a natural part of that Well, they’ve been very upfront about greater interest in VET, in both the but it’s not the whole story. If you’ve that, haven’t they? And we’ve been unions and Labour? My sense is, it’s got a company like BMW investing upfront in our responses. I genuinely a bit patchy and in the Labour Party heavily in robotics, they have to train worry that this is about a deeper attack there’s a great deal of timidity. people to use that technology - which on democracy and dissent and civil FO’G is just what they are doing now with liberties. Although, to set a threshold Labour sometimes isn’t alone in massive investment. on ballots that no other democratic putting the cart before the horse There is now genuine respect across election would have to meet, means here. Everybody gets so excited the board for Unionlearn (the TUC we’re being singled out. But also about structures, and sectors versus led body involved in VET activities). it’s the picket line stuff that interests localism and everything in between, It’s taken a 20% cut but that’s the me, potentially criminalising trade that they forget to work out what same as every other government unionists on picket lines where local the purpose of any structures should funded body, and the amazing thing government workers, firefighters be. One of the mistakes in the past is that they didn’t get rid of us. We’re and so on have gathered. Quite was seeing skills policies over here still there and one of the reasons is often people are gathering together and industrial policies over there that it’s bloody good. Unionlearn in numbers higher than the 6 that (indicates that they were in separate has been independently assessed would be legally allowed and it’s places). Our argument is that skills as delivering high-quality training not a problem, the police know it’s policies needs to be positioned at opportunities, it works and it’s got not a problem. The people gathering the centre of an intelligent industrial strong employer and union support - on the town hall steps, outside a fire strategy. I’m not keen on people and that’s why it’s difficult to get rid station, that’s what you would expect wasting huge amounts of time and of us. I think Labour is committed to people to do. But of course as the money moving the deck chairs giving us an even bigger job to do. seventh person visiting the picket around. We worked quite hard with CW line, I could find myself outside the Vince Cable to establish structures I would hope so, if you think about law. I think what’s more worrying that have union representation built levies in some areas or specification is there is a read across to the Data into them: the National Industrial in government contracts, including Retention and Investigatory Powers Councils and the UKCES (UK within the supply chain, do you think Bill and I suspect deliberately so. Commission for Employment and that there’s any chance of getting Criminalising certain behaviours Skills), as well as industrial skills movement there? partnerships. Of course, we’d like FO’G Continued on Page 9 50:50 representation for unions and Oh yes, on procurement, they’ve

Labour Affairs 8 No 250 September 2014 Froggy News From Across The Channel

Correction a wish at the moment. Separatists On the subject of the reform of local The département clearly still has its The département is run by a mixture authorities in France, an exaggera- defenders. It is part of history, and part of central and local government. In tion appeared in last month’s Froggy. of everyday life, even apart from its 1790 it was an agency of the state, run There is no project to do away with role in running services. It has a name by a préfet nominated by Paris, and the département. Or rather, there was and a number, for example Côte d’Or civil servants nominated by Paris. They such a project (2008 Attali government is 21 in the alphabetical list, and its were accompanied, much later, by a report) but it has not been adopted. number appears in people’s national locally elected council. The slogan of Next there was (early 2014) a project insurance number, in their postcode, the French Revolution and part of the to do away with the council that runs and in their car’s number plate. After 1791 Constitution, was ‘France, One the département, (called the ‘conseil a reform in 2009, the département and Indivisible’ (La France, Une et général’) but that was given up too. number is no longer part of the car’s Indivisible). This knitting of France Needing the support of the Radicaux registration number but it must by law into departments achieved the aim of de Gauche after the resignation of left- appear on the number plate, on the unity. This explains why today, when ish ministers at the end of August, the right of the number and inside the logo Spain, Belgium, Italy and Britain have Government has given up that idea, in of its region; the other novelty is that regions that behave like mini states, exchange for Left Radical support. The you can freely choose the number you and talk of separating, France is united responsibilities of the conseil général want. Most people choose their actual in its territory. This is not to say that will still be further discussed however, départements, but some, e.g. Bretons there are no regional differences. Some with a view to decrease them. or Martiniquais living in Paris, choose of the actual official regions are old So there is a wish to do away with their department of origin. distinctive provinces, like Brittany the département but it is no more than and Corsica, but there is no serious

Continued From Page 8 within the Conservative Party, like Jim Larkin senior, Jim Larkin junior Bright Blue, who also think it’s an is someone I’ve only really begun in respect of industrial disputes, absolute mistake to demonise trade learning about and I like that notion including being the seventh person unions, and yet they seem intent on of intelligent trade unionism. I don’t on the picket line, would then allow doing so. think that it’s all just about ideas, snooping on mobile phones, and CW sadly. If it was only about the strength other forms of surveillance. I think there’s still a very strong of our argument, we would be in a I think that has very profound current within the Tory Party that hell of a lot stronger place than we implications for civil liberties in thinks that trade unions are an are now as a movement. Ideas alone this country as it suggests we’re obstacle to the working of the market aren’t sufficient, but I’d like us to be going down a very authoritarian and I don’t think that’s gone away. respected as a thinking, intelligent route. I’m absolutely certain that FO’G movement. I want Britain to become the public don’t see trade unions as Yes, that’s what I’ve written more or a more equal and democratic country the problem. On the contrary, they less. I think there’s also class prejudice and it’s as simple as that really. I do see over mighty corporations as the and it’s getting worse out in society, feel very proud of the trade union problem. The public is worried about so I suppose when you look at who movement. There have been times inequality and the very, very wealthy holds the reins in the Conservative when I don’t think that anyone else individuals who are distorting our Party, it’s not surprising. was fighting for ordinary working democratic process, not trade unions ML people as hard. We’re never going to which are made up of ordinary Just to finish off, when you get to the go away, but we can’t take our future working men and women. So I’d be end of your term, hopefully your first for granted. There’s a lot we can do very interested in what you think their term, where would you like to see the for ourselves. motivation is as I’m just writing my trade union movement? Congress speech (laughs). Some of FO’G this will be covered. It doesn’t make I’d like it to be bigger, stronger. any sense and there are elements Although I’ve always known about

Labour Affairs 9 No 250 September 2014 plan for separation. large minority, the fight against auster- under plastic. ity is therefore going to be a minority Terroir is a notion, say the critics, The class struggle fight. Like the division of the Western cultivated for commercial purposes; Economic development is not world into an opposition of interest it is a ‘non-tariff’ barrier to trade, to evenly distributed through France, between the 1% versus the 99%, the speak the language of the Transat- but it is not concentrated in particular numbers involved are too unwieldy lantic Trade Investment Partnership, regions which then might want to take and represent a number of the dissatis- (TTIP). For example only wine made their wealth away from the whole. fied that is either much too large for from grapes grown in Champagne can The poles of wealth are the cities, and people to recognise themselves in a make Champagne. Other wines do not the cities are spread out: Paris, Lyon, vital way in that number, or too small deserve the name, even if their taste Nantes, Bordeaux. to be effective in the case of the 12%. and appearance are similar. An economist specialising in In neither case is a viable and realistic Champagne isn’t one thing with the ‘territoire’ (Laurent Davezies) alternative to the present arrangements one taste, like R. White lemonade. It described France as divided in four presented. Both standpoints leave out is a category; lots of growers make parts: the ‘external proletariat’, the working it, in varying degrees of quality. The 1. One part is productively and people of the developing world who taste also changes from year to year commercially active, concentrated produce our clothes, food and equip- with variation in rain and sun. So, in the big cities, representing 36% of ment. We profit from their labour and why not allow others to use the name, the population. 2. A second part is not leave them out of the equation when if their wine could be taken for a productive but living on a combina- it comes to defending our standard of Champagne? tion of tourism, retirement pensions living, in the same way that 19th cen- Perhaps wine made from grapes and public sector wages in the west, tury English textile workers did not grown somewhere else could be taken representing 44% of the population. concern themselves with the origin of for Champagne, perhaps the origin 3. A third part is productive and com- the cotton they worked on. Now that is not crucial to the character of the mercial but unsuccessful, mainly in the the exploitation of the rest of the world wine. northern half of the country (8%) and means the end of jobs for many in the Champagne is holding on to its trade finally, 4. A fourth part is the non ac- developed world, it is peculiar that it mark at the moment. Competitors in tive, benefit dependent area in the north is still left out of political plans. the wine market obviously want to east (12%). This economic situation minimize the French advantage, hence therefore does not favour a particular September Wine Harvest the fashion, in England at least, for region that might then want to go it This is still about localities, in this buying wine by grape sort: “I’ll have alone. The redistribution of income case the territories that produce par- a glass of Chardonnay’. from income rich areas to income poor ticular foods and drinks, called terroir, Suddenly that new approach widens areas, might cause resentment, but not and the influence of the Anglo-Saxon the market in a fantastic manner. It is a desire to separate. globalist outlook on France. easier to buy (and to sell) wine. Instead If the 4 part division of France The terroir is a territory that pro- of having to be familiar with the name represents reality, it explains its 2 part duces a particular food or drink. and taste of the wine of a region, es- political division, with the UMP (right The word terroir has no direct pecially a French or even European wing coalition) and the Socialist Party equivalent in English, even the word region, you only need to be familiar on one side, and the National Front on territoire sounds wrong when trans- with the taste (or at least the name) the other. 80% of the population, if lated in English as ‘territory’ in the of a wine making grape, wherever it we follow Davezies, are more or less context of for example local govern- comes from in the world. satisfied with their situation, or even ment. Yet in French it is used routinely: This is good news for some French very satisfied; this would lead them local authorities are ‘collectivités ter- producers; before they were, for ex- to support the two liberal parties; on ritoriales’, leaving the country in the ample, the absolutely unknown (and the other hand, the 12% feeling left sense of crossing the border is ‘quitter if known totally unregarded) “Coiffy- out and having nothing to lose, tend le territoire’, France is ‘le territoire le-Haut” (from a region too cold to to vote for the National Front. That français’. In English ‘territory’ is used produce good wine), now their label party’s stronghold, Hénin-Beaumont, in the context of animals (‘the robin displays their name printed small and is in the ‘non active, benefit dependent’ defends its territory’) and gangs. There “Chardonnay” printed big, and they part of the north-east which is where is something wrong with human beings will at least sell to English holiday- its voters are. having ‘territories’. (Even the Territo- makers visiting the local supermarket. The State has coped with the de- rial Army has jettisoned its name, and They might also take their chances on struction of the industrial base of now calls itself the Army Reserve). the wider market place alongside other France, especially in the ex-mining and Doubt has long been cast in England Chardonnays. steel producing north east, by spending on the validity of the notion of ‘terroir’, Better known wine producers will money on benefits and government job the place where something is grown, cling on to their famous names. Like creation. Austerity measures limiting giving it its unique characteristics. the départements, they refuse to be this have a limited impact on the 80% Everything, taste, texture, colour can insignificant in the global world, and but a drastic one on the 12% already be reproduced, if not in a laboratory, living on a very small income. at least anywhere with a suitable cli- Austerity affecting drastically a mate, supposing vines can’t be grown Continued on Page 11

Labour Affairs 10 No 250 September 2014 Notes on the News By Gwydion M. Williams Play It Again, Uncle Sam. opinion in order to have any chance In Iraq, there was no solid tradition Suppose people were offering you of long-term survival. to fall back on, apart from two mutu- some wonderful cure-all medicine. The USA and Britain sold the 2003 ally hostile versions of Islam among You ask what happened to previous invasion of Iraq on the basis of a blatant Arabs and tribal values among Kurds. patients? Some are dead, and others lie and a foolish misunderstanding. The Of course it is a mess. Elementary are much worse than they were before lie was the “weapons of mass destruc- facts are: they were given a dose of this wonder- tion”. The misunderstanding was the a) A government cannot modernise ful cure-all. But the cure-all crowd belief that a better Iraq could be built its people if it is visibly a lackey of have excellent explanations for all this, on the basis of New Right wisdom. the West. It needs to have plausible and show an admirable stoicism in the The USA in the past had some credentials that it actually is looking face of other people’s suffering. success at nation-building, before after its own people and forcing com- Western politicians, and the USA they acquired New Right wisdom. promises on whatever foreign interests in particular, have totally botched the The people who turned Japan, Italy may be allowed. very powerful position they had when and West Germany into reliable al- b) Modernisation is never mild, tol- the Soviet Union collapsed. They were lies after World War Two knew what erant or polite. It was not in Britain or callous and irresponsible in the 1991 they were doing. They would never the USA, or anywhere else in Europe. Gulf War. Callous and irresponsible have done anything as crazy as dis- In Britain, it was done many decades after the 1989 Soviet withdrawal from banding the Iraqi Army, or letting the before the society became even loosely Afghanistan, when they should have wonderful heritage of Iraq’s museums democratic. recognised that Najibullah’s govern- be looted. c) Competitive electoral politics ment was as good as they were going War is not a large collection of will normally widen the gap between to get. Callous and irresponsible in individual fights, any more than an or- existing communities. It will often the 2001 invasion and occupation of chestra is a random heap of individual create war where previously there was Afghanistan, when they refused a Tali- players. Individual actions must be peace, tolerance and intermingling. ban offer to let them present evidence coordinated if an army is to win. It The general pattern in Iraq since the under Taliban rules that al-Qaeda had takes a long time to create the correct invasion has been for politicians to indeed organised the destruction of the culture, in which people forget who think ‘don’t fix it, blame someone Two Towers. Callous and irresponsible they used to be and become part of a else’. Trying to get something done in the 2003 invasion and occupation military machine. It’s nasty, certainly, means you can be blamed if it fails. of Iraq. Repeatedly foolish in not but then so is war in general. Without Criticising means you can pick up telling Israel that it has to create a such a collection of odd attitudes, what more discontented voters, or at least Palestinian State acceptable to Arab you have is just the appearance of an keep those you have. army. Something that will collapse Complaining about particular Shia into a mass of armed individuals intent politicians is irrelevant. The boot on on their own survival as soon as the the other foot is almost certain to kick going gets tough. The collapse of the with the same brutality. The new lead- Continued From Page 10 new Iraqi Army in the face of ISIS ers are also pretty useless at organis- forces was exactly that. ing anything,1 with a lack of military In most of Middle Europe, there helicopters particularly notable. The they have a long life in front of them. The were solid memories of politics before USA “accidentally” allowed Saddam French state is trying to disengage as much Leninist rule, and a lot of reliance on to go on using helicopters after the as possible from the population, leaving the values of Old Europe. A silly “New 1991 Gulf War, so he was easily able them to the market (private employment, Europe” flourished briefly but is now to put down rebellions by people who private education, private health) but the mostly extinct. In Russia, New Right responded to Bush Senior’s call for elements put in place with the French values had their chance and messed up. rebellion. Those were Religious Shia: Revolution to engage the population Putin stopped the rot and prevented a Bush Senior wanted a rebellion by with the State are still in place, and the probable return to power by the Rus- people content to be docile lackeys of population still has representatives and sian Communist Party. But the New the USA, and was presumably puzzled institutions that force the state to keep Right learn nothing and bitch about that this failed to happen. Just the sort its role. The wine of Nuits-St-Georges everything. Given a sensible offer, of “insight” he might have learned and its place of origin the Côte d’Or (21) Putin might be their friend. They prefer as Director of the CIA! (There are will live on. to defend their own wisdom and make people within the CIA who know what him their foe. they are doing, but the New Right has

Labour Affairs 11 No 250 September 2014 mostly suppressed them and sometimes of highly authoritarian movements as and anti-Fascists, and there was nothing persecuted them. The dominant idea is pure evil that happens for no reason inherently anti-Jewish in fascism until that truth is whatever the boss-man at all. Their preferred script – head-on Hitler became dominant. George Orwell wants it to be.) confrontation with all manifestations remarks in one of his letters that Sir Os- of ‘evil’ – might have come from wald Mosley had a bodyguard of Jewish A H o l y L a n d W i t h o u t visions of Armageddon. And quite boxers early on, before his movement became mindlessly anti-Jewish. (It could Palestinians? possibly did. be argued that Fascism failed because it A quick reality-check on the current And it is highly likely to be a self- became mindlessly anti-Jewish, losing crisis in Palestine: fulfilling prophecy. useful friends and making huge numbers a) Three Israeli teenagers are kid- Within Israel, there is also an un- of influential enemies.) napped and murdered in the West derstandable ambition to re-Judaise What’s remarkable is not just what Bank. places with strong historic meaning to Einstein said, but also how today’s Israelis b) Israel blames the Hamas gov- Jews via their scriptures. This would are resistant to his message. Consider this ernment of the West Bank, ignoring amount to most of the West Bank, from The Jerusalem Post: evidence that it might be someone and contradicts the idea of a viable “Einstein believed Palestine should harder-line, possibly supporters of Palestinian state. Of course Israel can’t be a model Jewish settlement focusing the self-styled Caliphate (formerly be overtly against the land-for-peace on social justice, yet he refused to work at Hebrew University, remarking he had ISIS). deal they have signed up to. But if a ‘negative attitude’ of the institution in c) Rockets are fired from Gaza – they were serious, they would have 1933. He disliked the Revisionist Zion- probably by someone harder-line than done what they could to build up the ists, who he claimed in 1935 ‘lead youth 2 Hamas. various Palestinian authorities rather astray with phrases borrowed from our d) Israel inflicts disproportionate than undermining them. Instead every worst enemies.’ punishment on Gaza as a whole. action by hard-liners is blamed on “Had he stopped there, one could argue e) Any suggestions that this is un- those authorities. he was simply a slightly naïve scientist fair gets denounced as anti-Semitism. They are not reading the right les- casting himself as a political activist. But Even when it comes from people who sons from the growth of Islamic ex- on December 4, 1948, he signed his name had previously been quite favourable tremism. It is used as another excuse to a letter in The New York Times that to Jews and/or Israel. for a hard line, rather than a trend should tarnish his reputation. “’Among the most disturbing political Does this sum it up correctly? that will be fatal for Israel unless phenomena of our times,’ read the letter, It seems a repeat of the earlier cycle, they compromise now with whatever ‘is the emergence in the newly created when Israel undermined the authority regimes are there. state of Israel of the ‘Freedom Party’ of Arafat and the PLO because they (Tnuat Haherut), a political party closely failed to control their own hard-liners. Einstein on Zionism and akin in its organization, methods, political This helped the rise of Hamas, who Fascism philosophy and social appeal to the Nazi however became more moderate “In a 1938 speech, ‘Our Debt to and Fascist parties.’ He and his fellow sig- when they became a government with Zionism’, he said: ‘I should much natories were referring to Menachem Be- something to lose. rather see reasonable agreement with gin’s Herut party. The letter used the word What’s really puzzling is what Israel the Arabs on the basis of living together ‘fascist’ nine times in several paragraphs. and the USA think they can achieve. in peace than the creation of a Jewish Einstein accused Begin of supporting the ‘doctrine of the fascist state’ and running The idea of a new sort of Arab govern- state. My awareness of the essential a ‘terrorist party.’ ment friendly to the West was a major nature of Judaism resists the idea of “The letter continued: ‘The people of factor behind the invasion of Iraq. It a Jewish state with borders, an army, the Freedom Party have had no part in the has been a pathetic failure. Exactly and a measure of temporal power, no constructive achievements in Palestine. the same thing was tried in the Arab matter how modest. I am afraid of the They have reclaimed no land, built no Spring and visibly failed (with some inner damage Judaism will sustain— settlements, and only detracted from the ambiguity in Tunisia, which however especially from the development of a Jewish defense activity. Their much- was never active against Israel). narrow nationalism within our own publicized immigration endeavours were minute, and devoted mainly to bringing The most plausible explanation is ranks, against which we have already 4 that they think they can create continu- had to fight strongly, even without a in Fascist compatriots.’” ous chaos and then thrive in it. This Jewish state. ... If external necessity Begin was Prime Minister from 1977 is a ludicrous misreading of politics should after all compel us to assume to 1983. He did make peace with Egypt, giving up the Sinai Peninsula, which in – chaos in a society almost always this burden, let us bear it with tact and 3 Jewish tradition was part of the wilderness produces in the end a highly authoritar- patience.” they wandered before getting the Promised ian movement with a strong ideology In 1948 he went further, noting Land. But he also began the failed policy hostile to the outside world. that fascist ideas had become part of of intervening in Lebanon, which has I suppose a failure to realise this the Zionist mix. Mussolini’s fascism created some dangerous enemies, notably would be consistent with the gross was widely admired throughout the Hezbollah. And like most other leaders, he misunderstandings of politics that world, including the USA and the UK. encouraged settlement in the West Bank, became fashionable when large ele- Churchill, though hostile to Hitler from making a stable peace unlikely. ments of 1960s radicalism were ab- very early on, was an enthusiast for Sowing the wind. The whirlwind is sorbed into existing power structures Mussolini in the 1920s. Italian Jews likely to be nuclear, and with people on the in the West. They see the emergence were found both among the Fascists Arab side from whom nuclear weapons are

Labour Affairs 12 No 250 September 2014 a good opportunity for mass martyrdom. Or that any Muslim who had the idea of crushed by the Kiev government. expressing their natural adventurousness The West won the propaganda war, con- The Self-Styled Caliphate. in a Western army would soon find that vincing people that a move to help people After the death of the Prophet Muham- they were really not wanted. The dominant who preferred Russia to a semi-fascist mad, political power passed to a series of attitude of “there ain’t no black in the regime in Kiev was actually the start of successors called Caliph. And did so very Union Jack” was noted long before the a return to Russia to the lands it gave up messily, with several assassinations and the current troubles started. in 1989-91. They seem now reconciled to beginning of the Sunni / Shia split. Still, Muslims in Britain have absorbed Brit- staying out of it and letting East Ukraine most Sunni recognise a continuous line of ish values, but with themselves as heroes be crushed. They were probably pres- Caliphs that included the later Ottoman rather than marginalised. All wholly surised by China to do this, since China Emperors. When the last of these was avoidable, but only if New Right ideas values stability and respect for existing deposed by Ataturk in 1924, the creation of had been junked. borders. If you watch China’s English- a new caliphate was considered but never language channel, it has never been at all agreed on. The British-supported Sharif End Game in Ukraine sympathetic to the rebels. of Mecca claimed the title in 1924 but got Ukraine in its current form was invented The aid convoy must reflect genuine little support and was driven into exile by by the Bolsheviks in 1922. It lumped concern for the mostly-Russian popula- the Saudi dynasty. After his death in 1931 together people who had been part of tion of the seceding areas, who are being there were no more serious claimants. the Tsarist Empire with others who had bombed and shelled without much concern ISIS, the Sunni insurgent movement been ruled by Austria-Hungary. And for their safety.5 Kiev might be glad to get in Syria and Iraq, expanded its claims to after 1945, further territory of a broadly rid of as many as possible, while Russia declare itself the Islamic State and its leader Ukrainian nature were taken from Poland, would want to help them where they are. as Caliph after its spectacular victories Czechoslovakia and Romania. Still, it plays well in Russia and with those over a demoralised Iraqi army, a mostly- A territory known in Tsarist times as sympathetic to them. Shia force in a mostly-Sunni area. Many New Russia was included, despite being The European Union had been pushed Muslims, some of them radical Islamists, a mix of Russian speakers and Ukrainian into sanctions, quite possibly causing support the general idea of a restored speakers that might have been more logi- the setback in German economic growth Caliphate that might in principle consti- cally made into a separate Union Republic, for the latest quarter.6 The USA has less tute a single state for all Muslims. But the or just included in Russia. It did serve to trade and is hurt less. It has done nothing right of ISIS to do this is another matter: increase the pro-Soviet elements in the new about cooperation in space, where it will it is still a relatively small movement. It Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic. be dependent on Russian vehicles until the is insignificant outside of Syria and Iraq, In 1954, Khrushchev decided for trivial promised private-enterprise US rockets with possibly an extension into Lebanon, reasons to add Crimea, hitherto included come through. where Sunni Muslims as a whole are less with Russia. Russia retaliated with a ban on imports than 30% of the population. It could not The Orange Revolution, taking its cue of food, which it can get from elsewhere. be viewed as a valid Caliphate in Sunni from the USA, successfully polarised If the European Union will not be friendly, Muslim terms unless it could get a lot more Ukraine between West and East, and it is best to reduce links and go somewhere support of the estimated thousand million gained enough of the mixed population safer. Sunni Muslims throughout the world. to make a credible claim to have won. It Meantime there has been a “deafening Which makes it odd that the BBC and then made a total mess of ruling, meaning silence” in recent weeks over the Malay- other Western media are referring to the that the mixed population surged back and sian airliner that was shot down. The former ISIS as the “Islamic State” and Yanukovych returned to power in 2010. USA initially blamed the separatists, but Caliphate, as if these claims were solid. In 2013, Yanukovych rejected a very has notably failed to come through with “Self-Styled” would be the normal lan- bad deal offered by the European Union. detailed evidence. There are good grounds guage to use for governments or religious One which would have destroyed the for suspicion.7 leaders whose status is strongly disputed industry of East Ukraine. This led to pro- And the Kiev government is in trouble by those they claim authority over. tests by a new movement, including the over the deal they signed with the European It also gives the movement legitimacy failed forces of the Orange Revolution, but Union. This is likely to get worse. Good in the eyes of the mass of disaffected also some outright fascists, Svoboda and little lackeys get patted on the head, but Muslim youth, both in the Middle East and Right Sector. Yanukovych unwisely tried a then find that their wallets have mysteri- in Western countries. You give people a compromise back in February, which was ously vanished. hell on earth, one likely result is a lot of used as a pretext for a complete take-over religious extremism. And today’s youths by his enemies. This could be called the The Fall of the US Middle Class of all creeds and colours no longer have Blood Orange Revolution. Ever since they elected Ronald Reagan, the same chance of decent, respected and Crimea had already been considering the “great middle class” of the USA has well-paid work that the West managed to secession. This tipped the balance. The been voting itself into oblivion. Their provide from the 1950s to 1970s. vote was irregular, but Kiev showed no “idyllic” suburbs are now in decline.8 In the West, it is not so much a failure interest in a proper referendum to settle the The Mixed Economy as it existed to be assimilated. Many people have noted matter, of the sort that is happening soon from the 1940s had done very well for that the Radical Islamists can assimilate in Scotland. They denied that there was those people. A lot of people who’d rate as much of the West as they find useful. any right of secession, but Russia moved themselves working class in Britain felt In many ways they have exactly the same in and annexed the territory regardless. they belonged to it and maybe did. But aggressive gun-flaunting culture that’s There were similar but weaker senti- they had also never lost their suspicion of become so popular, only with themselves ments in parts of East Ukraine. Russia the government. The big cultural changes as heroes in an Islamic cause, since the chose to encourage those sentiments, of the 1960s and 1970s included a lot of West treats them as marginal. which was irresponsible. Putin got au- blame for the government for not fixing It doesn’t help that Western policies thorisation to invade, which he later got everything at once. have repeatedly favoured Israel at the cancelled. This led on to the fragmentary Anarchists protest at everything and expense of Arab and Muslim interests. secessions that are currently being slowly liberate nothing. The most significant thing

Labour Affairs 13 No 250 September 2014 they can achieve is to create social voids “The Department for Business said the different people had utterly different ideas that are reliably filled by people much MPs’ report contained “factual errors and about what this underlying human nature more authoritarian than those the original misunderstandings”. actually was. protest was made against. There was a lot “Royal Mail shares were priced at 330p, The most successful were those who of anarchism in the broad Hippy move- but jumped as high as 618p per share, and believed that “underlying human nature” ment, and it transmuted easily enough now stand at around 473p.”9 was greedy, but that enlightened self- into Libertarianism. The New Right found That’s been very unsuspicious. If the interest would put natural limits on it. This an opening in the mix of cynicism and public have lost a billion, someone else allowed them to become fans of the rich anti-state feelings that dominated 1960s must have gained it. People similar to and cheer-leaders for business interests. radicalism. those who set up the deal. Aligning oneself with existing pow- Hippy sympathisers did at least see the And it’s not even as if there have been ers brings short-term success, obviously. collapse of the conventional morality they real benefits, except for the rich. A recent Especially for people cunning enough to had been protesting at. Mainly because the article in The Guardian puts it nicely: present the rich and powerful as op- New Right used the votes of the respectable “Privatisation isn’t working. We were pressed and the poor and weak as aggres- or conservative middle class to undermine promised a shareholding democracy, com- sive and unjust. the basis for its existence. petition, falling costs and better services. The minor drawback is that none of it Pure capitalism was promised. Pure A generation on, most people’s experience is true. People who compare it to fascism capitalism has never actually existed. It has been the opposite. From energy to are flattering the movement. Fascism had was nearest to being achieved in Britain water, rail to public services, the reality a coherent program that would have pro- and the USA in the 1920s, which led on to has been private monopolies, perverse duced a coherent world system if it had not the Wall Street Crash and then the Great subsidies, exorbitant prices, woeful under- been militarily defeated, with the Soviet Depression. investment, profiteering and corporate Union doing the bulk of the fighting and From the 1940s to 1970s, the West capture. suffering. Fascism was also wise enough was committed to the Mixed Economy, “Private cartels run rings round the to keep money in its place and could ap- capitalism permitted it but with the state regulators. Consumers and politicians are peal to human social feelings, though of required to regulate it and to replace it bamboozled by commercial secrecy and a low, degraded and bigoted sort. This lot where it seemed to be failing. This was contractual complexity. Workforces have think money will fix everything, and it is also the system for Japan and the “Tiger their pay and conditions slashed. Control simply not working. Economies” of East Asia. of essential services has not only passed In Britain, and also the USA and From the 1980s, pure capitalism has to corporate giants based overseas, but Western Europe, the Left failed to do its been the official ideal in Britain and the those companies are themselves often proper job. Instead it undermined the USA and much more popular in Western state-owned – they’re just owned by widespread popular belief that the 1945 Europe. But the reality has remained a another state. Labour Government improved Britain and Mixed Economy. This even extended to “Report after report has shown pri- that the Soviet Union was the main force the state underwriting the gambling debts vatised services to be more expensive that stopped Fascism from conquering of the rich during and after the crisis of and inefficient than their publicly owned the world. 2008. counterparts. It’s scarcely surprising that Much to their surprise, once most people The Thatcher / Reagan policies of the a large majority of the public, who have had been educated in this new wisdom, 1980s did not in fact boost GDP growth never supported a single privatisation, mainstream Leftism collapsed. above the levels achieved in the “disas- neither trust the privateers nor want them Meantime other radical movements trous” 1970s. They were way below the running their services. have flourished, most notably the Greens. 1950s and 1960s, the prime years of the “But regardless of the evidence, the There should be lots of openings. Mixed Economy. And since the 1980s caravan goes on. David Cameron’s govern- there has been a decline, even before the ment is now driving privatisation into the Snippets disastrous crisis of 2008, which has seen heart of education and health, outsourcing “In emerging markets there are two a virtual standstill in Western growth. the probation service and selling off a types of corruption, organised and disor- Meantime China moved cautiously chunk of Royal Mail at more than £1bn ganised; and the difference is huge. ‘Japan from a highly state-run system to their below its market price, with the govern- is a very corrupt society, now and then in own form of Mixed Economy, one that is ment’s own City advisers cashing in their Japan big businessmen are caught, literally vastly more state-dominated than the West chips in short order.”10 with suitcases carrying millions of dollars ever had at the height of enthusiasm for in cash. But the Japanese economy is the Mixed Economy. The Art of Failing Elegantly highly efficient. Why? Because corruption Russia was persuaded to try pure Why is there no coherent political op- is highly organised; and from a business capitalism, but this actually caused a position to New Right ideas? The “missing point of view, in such cases, you can look sharp economic decline and a great loss link” is to see it as the flip size of the very at it simply as a tax. You ask: Can I afford of productive industry. Putin stopped the successful spread of personal and sexual it?’ and then factor it into your business rot, but they are still heavily dependent freedoms since the 1960s. plan.’ on the export of raw materials. 1960s radicalism was brilliant at de- “But unorganised corruption was a stroying what existed; much less success- killer because of its `unpredictability.’ “Errors” selling the Post Office ful at replacing anything. A widespread Giving the example of a company in “Taxpayers may have lost out on about fault was to condemn the past for being Bangladesh he said that a particular cor- £1bn from the undervaluing of Royal Mail, less than perfect, rather than recognise porate paid a bribe for getting a licence, as a committee of MPs has said. that there had been substantial achieve- there was no other option, and got it after “The government feared failure and ments. two weeks. But the next day somebody acted on bad advice over the Royal The general pattern was to believe showed up from the ministry of power Mail stock market flotation, reports the in an underlying “human nature” that supply. When the man said he’s already Business, Innovation and Skills select would automatically shine forth if artifi- got the licence, he said: `Sure, but you’re committee. cial constraints were removed. Of course going to use this much of power, and for

Labour Affairs 14 No 250 September 2014 that you need special permission.’ One of many bad cases, but they need to be set alongside “’That’s when you realise what is going on, and that this is many others when all has gone OK. disorganised corruption. That’s when you give up! The uncertainty What I’d suggest would be UN licensing for large non- associated with it is killing. In Korea too there is huge corruption, profit-making organisations that are also supervised. Make but it is highly efficient and organised. Once you pay the bribe, sure that would-be parents are suitable and that surrogate you know you are done, and that guy will distribute it down the mothers are not exploited, and that unwanted babies get line. You can make a rational business decision and ask can I af- the best possible care. It would cost money, of course, but ford it. Of course you can choose not to do it, but then you don’t let the customers pay. have a business. Indonesia today is a high cost economy because *** corruption is disorganised there.’”11 On the wider matter of child-care, it is tragic that so *** many children end up in orphanages and are damaged by “The mountains trembled – and gave birth to a ridiculous this unnatural upbringing. mouse.” That’s an old English saying. In a book about China, there was mention of an orphan- In the case of Afghanistan, the much-vaunted electoral proc- age split into units of one woman and maybe six children. ess hasn’t even produced a mouse. Two mediocre politicians This seemed a good idea, so I asked about it on Quora.15 It squabble over the prize. seems it is called the SOS Children Village, founded in 1949 The problem arose because of a suspicious reversal of fortunes by an Austrian named Hermann Gmeiner.16 And is rare in in the second round of the election. In Round One, Abdullah China, as in other places, being quite expensive. Abdullah got 45% and his main rival just under 32%. In Round I’d have thought it money well spent. Something a decent Two, there were more than a million extra votes and his main society ought to be able to afford. rival had leapt past him to claim victory. Naturally Abdullah *** Abdullah objected. The rise of Trotskyism in Europe coincides very neatly The solution was supposed to be a recheck of the votes. At with the general decline of the Left. Aleft-wing movement the time of writing (27th August), Abdullah Abdullah has rejected will always offend those with the wealth and power, and this as well,12 when it seemed about to confirm the same suspi- must rely on clarity and truth for its power. And also be cious result. able to taunt the right with its past failures and all of the Competitive electoral politics only leads to a successful things it used to defend that are now unacceptable. democracy when the main politicians are broadly honest and The record of the British Conservative party is vulner- prefer compromise to confrontation. Not qualities that Afghans able on this. In most of Europe, new parties with a clean are noted for. anti-Fascist record arose to occupy the centre-right of *** politics. In Britain it was the same party and mostly the “Leading political figures in Kosovo face indictment bya same people. special EU court for crimes against humanity, including killings, Trotskyists don’t want to know, obviously. Their line was abductions, sexual violence and other abuses of Serb and Roma to stay neutral and plan for revolution. Obviously absurd, minorities, according to the chief prosecutor leading a three-year particularly since no Trotskyist movement anywhere in the special investigation. world has ever got beyond the status of being an “armed “The threat of indictment comes in a progress report published nuisance”. on Tuesday morning in Brussels by Clint Williamson, an Ameri- Why the rest of the left has failed is less clear. It’s been left to can prosecutor appointed by the EU in 2011 to investigate ethnic us in the Bevin Society to remind people that Churchill was an cleansing committed in Kosovo since the 1999 Nato intervention enthusiast for Mussolini until Italy actually chose to join in on 13 brought an end to the conflict there.” Hitler’s side. And the public has been led to believe that charac- Independent Kosovo was the West’s creation, remember. The ters like Chamberlain and Halifax were no worse than weak and official position was that the six Federal Republics of Yugoslavia peace-loving in the face of the terrifying Nazi beast. Not that they were sovereign and could secede at will. Also that majority-Serb were moderately favourable to European fascism for as long as areas were forbidden to secede in turn. But though Kosovo was it seemed to serve the interests of the British Empire. not a Federal Republic, it was decided that it somehow gained There is a whole lost heritage needing to be recovered. I re- the right to secede when the Serbian government used standard membered a song my parents had told me about, but which seems measures of repression against armed insurgents. It was decided almost forgotten. After asking on Quora, I got this version: that NATO had somehow acquired both the right and the obligation “In Bucks there is a country house, country house to intervene. It might seem strange that no one suggested a similar “Where dwells Lord Astor and his spouse right for the final brutal crushing of the Tamil Tiger secession “And Chamberlain and Halifax in Sri Lanka. At least it might if you thought there was any real “To manufacture Fascist pacts, fascist pacts. honesty in what gets called “International Law”. The bottom line “Fare thee well the League of Nations is that the Kosovo insurgents were friends of the West and the Tamil Tigers were not. “Hail to “peaceful penetrations” In the same spirit, the majority-Serb areas in the north of “And good bye to International law- law- law Kosovo were not allowed to stay with Serbia. I’ve never seen a “Adieu Democracy, adieu, adieu, adieu decent explanation as to why. “We have no further use for you, use for you *** “We’ll pin our faith to fascism and war “Impoverished mother Pattaramon Chanbua told the ABC she “What is the National Government for - Government gave birth to twins after agreeing to be a surrogate for the West for?”17 Australian couple with a promised payment of about $16,000. Apparently based on a traditional folk song called “There is a “She claims the couple, who have not been identified, rejected Tavern in the Town”, itself perhaps derived from a Cornish miner’s Gammy and returned to Australia with his healthy sister. 18 “But the baby girl’s Australian father says the clinic’s song. A matter that someone musical should try taking up. doctor only told them about the girl. *** “He has told the ABC they had a lot of trouble with the sur- A lot of goods are cheaper in the USA, but not medicines. It is rogacy agency and had been told it no longer existed.”14 illegal to import them, and the prices are much higher.

Labour Affairs 15 No 250 September 2014

“It’s no surprise that American cor- wondered if the new pope might have been 4 [http://www.jpost.com/Opinion/ porations spend billions of dollars each influenced by Latin America’s Liberation Columnists/Terra-Incognita-When-Einstein- was-wrong-330710] year on lobbying, trying to gain favorable Theology, even though he was strictly 5 [http://www.theguardian.com/ treatment from legislators. What some may speaking no part of it. It looks like it could world/2014/aug/05/ukraine-revolution- find a bit unnerving is the industry that’s be happening. dream-stalling-war-east] leading the pack in these efforts. *** 6 [http://www.irishtimes.com/business/ “You might think our nation’s defense At the time of writing,22 the riots in economy/germany-blames-contraction-on- russian-sanctions-1.1904878] and aerospace companies, which have Ferguson, Missouri have died down. That’s 7 [http://www.truth-out.org/opinion/ legions of hired guns on Capitol Hill, are the normal pattern with riots: the anger item/25546-the-mystery-of-the-malaysian- the leaders… gets discharged and people stop seeing airlines-crash-over-ukraine] “Back in 2006 for example, U.S. con- any point to it. But the problems have 8 [http://www.alternet.org/news-amp- politics/alarming-new-poverty-trend- sumers paid about 70 percent more than not gone away. america] our northern neighbors for prescription Black people in places like Ferguson 9 [http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business- drugs still on patent, according to the know that they have been left behind by 28250963] Canadian board. Five years later, in 2011, the blacks who have managed to ascend 10 [http://www.theguardian.com/ that difference had surged to 100 percent. into the middle class or the elite. Most of commentisfree/2014/jul/09/tide-turning- against-privatisation] And with drug price inflation in the United whom have been loyal to their new-found 11 [http://www.thehindubusinessline.in/ States hitting 11 percent in 2011, that gap status than their race. life/2006/07/14/stories/2006071400080100. will undoubtedly grow ever wider in the One problem is the fragmentation and htm] future.”19 local control of police forces in the USA. 12 [http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world- asia-28941526] A nice example of how Libertarian ideas There may be a lot wrong with British 13 [http://www.theguardian.com/ are ignored when it suits the rich. policing, but government control and world/2014/jul/29/senior-political-figures- *** large regional police forces do maintain kosovo-prosecution-crimes-humanity] I’ve mentioned before that it might some standards. In the USA, police often 14 [http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-08- have been a good idea if some refuge for act like an army of occupation in poorer 04/wa-couple-denies-they-abandoned-baby- gammy/5644850] displaced Jews had been set up where there communities. And almost anywhere, they 15 [http://www.quora.com/Are-there- weren’t many people, rather than in the seem to react violently to any challenge Chinese-orphanages-split-into-units-of-one- midst of the Arab World, with the reason- to their authority. Much more drastically women-and-maybe-six-children] able expectation of permanent warfare. if the challenger is black. 16 [http://www.sos-childrensvillages. org/] I now learn that there was at least one, And they are defending huge inequali- 17 [http://www.quora.com/Anyone- The Kimberley Scheme for Australia. This ties: know-of-of-a-1930s-song-starting-There-is- would have involved “the purchase of “In the U.S., a child born in the top 20 in-Bucks-a-country-house]. Also apparently seven million acres in the East Kimberley percent economically has a 2-in-3 chance at [http://www.gnel.de/acolit/Acolit- region of Western Australia as a farming of staying at or near the top, whereas a child Sonderheft3.pdf], but that’s a pay site. 18 [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/There_ settlement for a potential 50 000 refugees born in the bottom 20 percent has a less 20 is_a_Tavern_in_the_Town] from Nazism”. No one was bothered than 1-in-20 shot at making it to the top, 19 [http://www.publicintegrity. about displacing the Aboriginal Austral- making the U.S. one of the least upwardly org/2013/02/11/12175/opinion-big-pharmas- ians, but the existing white settlers didn’t mobile nations in the developed world. stranglehold-washington] 20[http://guides.naa.gov.au/safe-haven/ like the idea of a large block of aliens. Our levels of income inequality rank near chapter2/kimberley-scheme.aspx] Quite likely they didn’t particularly want countries like Jamaica and Argentina, 21 [http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world- Jews as such. Whatever, the scheme was rather than like countries like Canada and latin-america-28845998] definitely rejected in 1944. Germany, but American voters, in large, 22 27th August For some reason, people expected Ar- believe America is just doing fine… 23 [http://www.alternet.org/news-amp- politics/americas-inequality-nightmare] abs to put up with something much more “The study measured actual income drastic. And still seem puzzled that they inequality and upward mobility versus do not. Whereas I assume there would perceived income inequality and upward still be great trouble creating a refuge for mobility in a number of countries. The He who rejects change is the architect of Jews or anyone else in Australia, empty results are conclusive: U.S. voters don’t decay. The only human institution which though it mostly is. demand income redistribution, from the rejects progress is the cemetery. *** rich to the lower economic classes, because Harold Wilson “Pope Francis has lifted a ban on the they don’t grasp how severe inequality beatification of murdered Salvadoran actually is… For my part, while I am as convinced Archbishop Oscar Romero. “Income inequality is now a problem a Socialist as the most ardent Marxian, “For years, the Roman Catholic Church in just about every developed nation, but I do not regard Socialism as a gospel blocked the process because of concerns America remains an outlier. In the U.S., of proletarian revenge, nor even, that he had Marxist ideas. the top 20 percent earn a whopping 16.7 primarily, as a means of securing “An outspoken critic of the military times what the bottom 20 percent earn, economic justice. I regard it primarily regime during El Salvador’s bloody civil and that gap is ever widening, given 95% as an adjustment to machine production war, Archbishop Romero was shot dead of all income gains since 2009 have gone demanded by considerations of while celebrating Mass in 1980. to the richest 1 percent.”23 common sense, and calculated to “Beatification, or declaring a person increase the happiness, not only of “blessed”, is the necessary prelude to full References proletarians, but of all except a tiny sainthood. 1 [http://www.informationclearinghouse. minority of the human race. “The bishop was one of the main info/article39356.htm] Bertrand Russell, 2 [http://www.timesofisrael.com/hamas- proponents of Liberation Theology - an fired-rockets-for-first-time-since-2012- The Case for Socialism, interpretation of Christian faith through israeli-officials-say/] In Praise of Idleness and Other Essays the perspective of the poor.”21 3 [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ At the time of his election, I had Political_views_of_Albert_Einstein]

Labour Affairs 16 No 250 September 2014 LISTENING TO ITALY by Orecchiette THAT SINKING FEELING Berlusconi was famous for denying little impatience in Euroland at Renzi’s (AGAIN) the financial crisis that was obvious concentration on his political rather than Summer is the peak season for to most commentators: “We aren’t in financial reforms. But, some flexibility has migrants arriving in small boats at crisis, the restaurants are full and you been negotiated with Brussels and Renzi Lampedusa and Sicily. The rest of can’t find a seat on a plane”. has promised movement. Europe turns a blind eye to what Berlusconi has avoided and escaped The Economist’s cover profoundly ir- we like to think is Italy’s problem the many personal legal charges brought ritated the CEO of Fiat Sergio Marchionne, and Italy has to cope financially and against him. He was acquitted once again who feels the need to be proud of being Italian, “because Italians are as good logistically with it. Frontex, which in July from his conviction for having sex with Ruby, the under-age prostitute. There as anyone”. He was widely reported as “promotes, coordinates and develops finding the image objectionable, “crap”. European border management in EU was a flurry of disbelief in Italy at this. La Repubblica re-issued a long incisive He used the ice cream insult as a pivot to and Schengen Associated Countries” is article by Eugenio Scalfari, the paper’s build a speech about the need for swift, going to make a greater effort to help venerable co-founder. It was originally tough government action on the financial under the recently agreed Frontex Plus. published in 2009. Called “The dramas front. He emphasised that Renzi must be But, says the EU Commissioner for and the secrets of the imperial court” it supported to move an immobile country Internal Affairs, Cecile Malmstrom, started with Silvio’s ex-wife’s exposé of forward and the audience apparently re- as she shares smiles and handshakes his lifestyle. A Huffington Post article of 21 ceived him in silence. with Italy’s Minister of Internal Af- July also said that the acquittal was neither And yet another ice cream ripple, as fairs, Angelino Alfano, it might be a political nor moral rehabilitation. But, Pierfranco Pellizzetti, essayist, wrote a blog for Il Fatto Quotidiano which hard to get the financial contributions Berlusconi (ludicrously) does his weekly community service, and for the rest of characterised Renzi as being just another from member states. And as the flood political pigmy hoodwinking not only of migrants increases, the chances of the time is back influencing mainstream politics as leader of the centre right Forza Italy, but a credible Europe. He was this happening are not good. Migrant Italia Party. despairing of what he called Renzi’s numbers increased from 42,000 in When Renzi was elected he made a “privatized Keynesianism” which feeds 2013 to 100,000 so far this year. And, pact with Berlusconi, called Il Patto del his own personal and political ambition, just under 2,000 have drowned or died Nazareno. This outlined electoral changes, at the cost of the impoverishment of the en route. including the redefinition of the upper middle classes. The blog finished by flying The second boat story appeared in chamber to base it on the regions. Ber- a list of past political figures who Renzi The Economist (Aug 30 - Sept 5th), lusconi’s support props up what is now should use as examples of moral and which featured a cover: That sinking only nominally a centre-left government social sensitivity - an odd bunch: Leon Blum, Winston Churchill, Luigi Einaudi, feeling (again) with a “fotomontaggio” of Renzi. Nominally centre-left, because significant numbers of Renzi’s party, as Willy Brandt, David Lloyd George and of a paper-hat type of ship...made from Franklin Roosevelt. He dismisses Renzi a €20 note. It was obviously sink- well as smaller groups on the left, detest his reforms, which appear to be developed saying that everyone will know he will ing while Mario Draghi baled it out during phone calls with Berlusconi. They recite the gag of the ice cream cone while “freneticamente” with a wastepaper dislike his personal ambitions, the betrayal the country slides, or presumably melts basket. In the prow stood the straight- of their ideals and he neither gets their away in the sun. backed Merkel and Hollande dwarfing support or votes. It must be added that And Pellizzetti is very disillusioned with a very tiny Matteo Renzi, the Italian many Deputies are also worried that they Europe. His end of August blog mentioned Premier. And, as one of the Corriere may lose their seats if there is an early that day’s choice of “Mrs Nobody” Fed- della Sera’s commentators said, he election. erica Mogherini to the European Foreign looked like a small child who had just Is there a connection between the recent Affairs seat. - chosen via machinations acquittal and Berlusconi’s centre-right that are jiggled to ingratiate or displease, been given an ice cream so that he depending on the political expediency. support for Renzi’s government’s reforms? wouldn’t disturb the grown ups. Cor- After Pellizetti’s ice cream blog, Beppo And, if there is a connection, what does riere della Sera featured the cover, and Grillo gave him a spot on his own blog yes, it is “impudent” (as someone said), Berlusconi want in return? Is it anything as Blogger of the Day. Strange because it could also seem funny, depending on other than a continuing exercise of power? he must have known that he would be your position in the political spectrum. Unlikely. Berlusconi is no altruist and will nasty. He was. He wrote that it gave him But no one likes being laughed at, and wring for himself the maximum possible enormous anguish to think that 200 years Italians have been discomforted by this benefit. It is interesting that the President of European intellectual and political of Italy, Giorgio Napolitano, nicknamed depiction of their Premier as a child- development had resulted in people such “the cadaver,” will be 90 next year. as Grillo being elected to make decisions like figure clutching a cornet. Renzi has been working hard to push Comments by Corriere readers on on our behalf. Pellizetti didn’t leave out through these enormous changes to the Grillo’s Euro Group leader: a man close the Economist’s cover inevitably and structure of the upper and lower houses of to homophobic, xenophobic British allies, quickly made mention of Silvio Ber- government and has barely taken a holiday. the “worrying oddity” Nigel Farage. lusconi. His twenty years in politics Not for him were photo opportunities in have left their mark and some com- fish shops and on beaches. This man is mented that the decline and recession determined to pave his path with compli- had happened while he was in power. ant colleagues. Meanwhile there was a

Labour Affairs 17 No 250 September 2014 Parliament Notes Dick Barry War Graves and History Learning Site, Military hundred tonnes of the chemical A question from Conservative casualties of World War Two--- dimethyl phosphite (DMP) in 1983 backbencher David Amess on estimate that in the Great War there and a further export of several hun- 2 July on Commonwealth War were 956,703 deaths of military dred tonnes in 1985; several tonnes Graves elicited an odd response personnel from the British Isles of trimethyl phosphite (TMP) in from Defence Minister Anna plus Australia, Canada, India and 1986; a smaller quantity of hydro- Soubry. Amess asked (1) “how other Commonwealth countries. gen fluoride (HF) in 1986 through many graves are maintained by the And in World War Two there were a third country. All these chemicals Commonwealth War Graves Com- 452,000 killed from Great Britain have legitimate uses, for example mission, by (a) cemetery and (b) and the Commonwealth. A total in the manufacture of plastics and country; (2) which cemeteries are figure some 300,000 fewer than pharmaceuticals. However, they maintained by the Commonwealth the figure of 1.7 million provide can also be used in the production Graves Commission, by country; by the Minister. of sarin. DMP and TMP can also and if he will make a statement. be used for the production of the This was Soubry’s reply: The Supply Of Dual Use nerve agent VX. That is why the “The Commonwealth Graves Chemicals To Syria export of such goods is strictly Commission ensures that the 1.7 In a statement on 9 July, Foreign prohibited under the UK export million people who died in the Secretary William Hague attempted regime introduced since the 1980s two world wars will never be for- to explain how and why British and progressively strengthened.” gotten. The Commission cares for business have supplied dual use “From the information we hold, cemeteries and memorials at 23,000 chemicals to Syria. we judge it likely that these chemi- locations, in 153 countries. It is “Following Syria’s accession to cal exports by UK companies were therefore not possible to list every the chemical weapons convention subsequently used by Syria in cemetery in this answer. Detailed (CWC) last year. and as part of the their programme to produce nerve and searchable information on the process to eliminate its chemical agents, including sarin. Some of numbers of graves at each location weapons (CW) programme, Syria the companies no longer exist. in every relevant country is avail- provided a confidential declaration Furthermore, some of the chemi- able on the Commission’s website: to the Organisation for the Pro- cals in question may have been www.cwgc.org (my emphasis). hibition of Chemical Weapons sourced by a UK chemical trader, The question was specifically (OPCW), which lists a number rather than produced in the UK. related to Commonwealth War of states from which it obtained The review of our records also Graves, so Soubry’s reference to supplies of goods used in its CW confirmed an export of ventilation the 1.7 million who died in the programme. The information in fans by a UK company to Syria in two world wars omits the deaths Syria’s declaration is classified 2003. The fans were not controlled of non-Commonwealth combatants under the terms of the CWC. How- goods. Following an enquiry by the on the allied side, such as Belgium, ever, I wish to inform the House exporter, officials considered the France, Italy, Russia and the United that a review of our own files sug- export under licensing procedures, States. And it omits all those who gests that there were a number of and insufficient grounds for refusal were killed among the Central Pow- exports of chemicals to Syria by were found. Syria appears to have ers. This applies also to the deaths in UK companies between 1983 and diverted these fans for use in a World War Two. It is difficult to be 1986 which were likely to have chemical weapons facility.” accurate about casualty figures, but been diverted for use in the Syrian “In the early 1980s, the exported two sites---The Long, Long Trail; programme.” chemicals were not subject to any The British Army in the Great War; “These exports were: several international or UK export controls.

Labour Affairs 18 No 250 September 2014 However, knowledge of these ex- by the UK in 2000 and updated in company for use in industrial proc- ports, and growing concerns that March 2014. The criteria set a clear esses. The chemicals were sodium Iraq under Saddam Hussein was basis for the assessment of export fluoride and potassium fluoride. developing a chemical weapons licenses. This is undertaken on a These chemicals have legitimate capability, helped prompt the in- case-by-case basis taking account commercial uses---for example, troduction of tighter controls, both of all available information. sodium fluoride is used in the in the UK and internationally. The Today, the UK is playing its full fluoridation of drinking water and export of goods (control) order was part in the international effort to the manufacture of toothpaste; and amended to control DMP in July eliminate Syria’s programme. As potassium fluoride has applications 1985, and TMP and HF in June the House is already aware, the in the metallurgical industry and the 1986. There has been a complete UK is accepting 150 tonnes of B manufacture of pesticides.” overhaul of export control legisla- precursors from the Syrian chemi- But, Lowry wrote, “The Busi- tion, policy and practice since the cal stockpile for destruction. I can ness Secretary tellingly added: 1980s, designed to ensure that such today also inform the House that ‘However, they could also be used exports could not happen today. in addition to those chemicals, a as precursor chemicals in the The UK operates a robust export further 50 tonnes of the industrial manufacture of chemical weapons control regime, and takes interna- chemicals hydrogen chloride and which is why they are included tional obligations on this issue very hydrogen fluoride will also be de- on the Australia Group chemical seriously.” stroyed in specialised commercial weapons precursors list.” “Key instruments and legislation facilities in the UK. We expect the Lowry stated that “these licences include: ship transporting all these chemicals were only revoked on 30 July 2012, The chemical weapons conven- to arrive in the UK next week. The well into the Syrian civil war.” And tion. The Chemical Weapons Act Members of Parliament in whose stated further, “A statement pub- 1996 implements the provisions constituencies destruction will take lished to accompany the publication of the convention which imposes place have been informed.” of the Report last month on 17 July specific controls on the transfer of Did Hague feel slightly queasy said: “The Committees welcome the certain chemicals including DMP when admitting that the UK sup- Foreign Secretary’s statement that and TMP. plied dual-use chemicals to Syria ‘we will not issue licenses where The development of the Australia in the 1980s when his heroine Mar- we judge there is a clear risk the Group, of which the UK was an garet Thatcher was PM? And why proposed export might provoke original member in 1985. As a did he omit to inform the House or prolong regional or internal matter of routine, all changes to that in August 2013 the House of conflicts, or which might be used the Australia Group control lists Commons Committee on Arms Ex- to facilitate internal repression’. are reflected in UK national export ports Control accused Ministers in However, the Committees adhere controls. It controls trade in HF as its report of permitting the export to their previous recommendation well as DMP and TMP. of industrial materials to Syria in that the Government should apply The Export Control Act 2002. Re- the previous few years that could significantly more cautious judge- placing legislation passed in 1939, have been used to make chemical ments when considering arms ex- the current legislation provides for weapons? port licence applications for goods controls on the export and brokering According to David Lowry, to authoritarian regimes ‘which of listed goods and technologies, writing in Our Kingdom, power & might be used to facilitate internal in addition to controls on unlisted liberty in Britain on 7 September repression’ in contravention of the items where it is believed they may 2013: “The Business Secretary Government’s stated policy.” be intended for use in weapons of wrote to Sir John Stanley, chair- Lowry concluded: “It is manifest mass destruction programmes. man of the joint committee a year that ministers have utterly failed to Furthermore, the EU has de- ago stating: “Chemicals used for deliver this recommendation as it veloped EU-wide controls on the industrial/commercial processes- assisted Syria’s chemical weapons export of dual-use goods, including --two Standard Individual Export programme. It has abrogated any chemicals. Our ability to control Licenses (SIEL). These licenses moral right it may have had to ob- exports is underpinned by the were issued on 17 and 18 January ject to Syria breaching international consolidated EU and national arms 2012 and authorised the export of norms against chemical weapons export licensing criteria, adopted dual-use chemicals to a private while assisting President Assad in

Labour Affairs 19 No 250 September 2014 making them.” at least 173 Palestinians have been in Egypt, with the support of the killed and 1,230 injured. The UN international community. All those Gaza: Hague’s Final Act estimates that 80% of those killed with influence over Hamas must William Hague resigned as For- have been civilians, of whom a third use it to get Hamas to agree to end eign Secretary on 15 July to take are children.” rocket fire.” (my emphasis). up the post of Leader of the House “The whole House will share our “We are in close contact with of Commons. His final statement deep concern at these events. This is Israeli and Palestinian leaders and as Foreign Secretary touched on the third major military operation in our partners and allies. The Prime Israel’s attack on Gaza, although Gaza in six years. It underlines the Minister spoke to Prime Minister he accused Hamas of being initially terrible human cost, to both sides, of Netanyahu on 9 July, and in the past responsible. According to Hague, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and few days I have spoken to President Hamas (militants in Hague’s it comes at a time when the security Abbas, to Israeli Foreign Minister vocabulary) simply fire rockets situation in the middle east is the Lieberman and Strategic Affairs indiscriminately against civilians, worst it has been in decades. The Minister Steinitz, and to Egyptian whereas Israel carefully target people of Israel have the right to Foreign Minister Shukri. As Arab their missiles. In his statement he live without constant fear for their Foreign Ministers meet tonight, I constantly refers to the violence security, and the people of Gaza have just discussed the situation perpetrated by Hamas, while under- also have the fundamental right to with the Foreign Ministers of Jor- stating that on the part of Israel. live in peace and security. There are dan and Qatar.” Mr William Hague: hundreds of thousands of extremely “On 10 July the UN Secretary- “The House is aware that despite vulnerable civilians in Gaza who General told the Security Council intense efforts by US Secretary of bear no responsibility for the rocket that there was a risk of an all-out State John Kerry, talks between fire and are suffering acutely from escalation in Israel and Gaza and Israelis and the Palestinians broke this crisis; and the Israeli defence appealed for maximum restraint. down at the end of April and are forces estimate that 5 million Is- He had been in contact with leaders currently paused. Since then, there raeli civilians live within range of on both sides and other international have been several horrific incidents, the rockets fired from Gaza. Israel leaders, underlining his concern including the kidnap and murder of has a right to defend itself against about the plight of civilians and three Israeli teenagers and the burn- indiscriminate rocket attacks, but it calling for bold thinking and crea- ing alive of a Palestinian teenager. is vital that Gaza’s civilian popula- tive ideas. On Saturday we joined We utterly condemn these barbaric tion is protected. International hu- the rest of the UN Security Council crimes. There can never be any manitarian law requires both sides in calling for a de-escalation of the justification for the deliberate to distinguish between military and crisis, the restoration of calm and murder of innocent civilians.” civilian targets and enable unhin- the reinstatement of the November (my emphasis). dered humanitarian access.” 2012 ceasefire. We are ready to con- “These rising tensions have been “The UK has three objectives: sider further action in the Security followed by sustained barrages of to secure a ceasefire, to alleviate Council if that can help to secure rocket fire from Gaza into Israel. humanitarian suffering, and to keep the urgent ceasefire that we all want Between 14 June and 7 July rock- alive the prospects for peace nego- to see. Yesterday, I held discussions ets were fired by militants into tiations which are the only hope in the margins of the Iran Vienna Israel, to which Israel responded of breaking this cycle of violence talks with Secretary Kerry and my with air strikes. Rockets are fired and devastation once and for all. I French and German counterparts indiscriminately against the civilian will briefly take these in turn. First, to consider how to bring about population, including against major there is an urgent need for a cease- that objective. Once a ceasefire Israeli cities. Israel then launched fire agreed by both sides that ends is agreed, it will be vital that its Operation Protective Edge on 7 both the rocket fire and the Israeli terms are implemented in full by July. Israeli defence forces have operations based on the ceasefire both sides, including a permanent struck over 1,470 targets in Gaza, agreement that ended the conflict end to the unacceptable threat of and over 970 more rockets have in November 2012. Reinstating that rocket attacks and other forms been fired towards Israel. Two agreement will require a concerted of violence against Israel.” (my hundred and forty Israelis have effort between Israelis, Palestinians emphasis). been injured. In Gaza, as of today, and others, such as the authorities “Secondly, we will do all we can to

Labour Affairs 20 No 250 September 2014 help alleviate humanitarian suffering or whether it will continue to use is terror and the operating logic in Gaza. At least 17,000 Gazans are violence and terror with terrible of Israel is deterrence, then pleas seekingshelterwiththeUN.Hundreds consequencesforthepeopleofGaza. by the international community for ofthousandsaresufferingshortagesof The Palestinian Authority should restraint alone will be insufficient? water, sanitation and electricity, and show leadership, recommitting itself Today, the risk of an all-out escalation stocks of fuel and medical supplies to dialogue with Israel and making in the conflict and the threat of a full are running dangerously low. More progress on governance and security ground invasion are still palpable.--- than half the population was already for Palestinians in Gaza as well as the and preventable,ifHamasstopsfiring living without adequate access to food west bank.”(my emphasis). rockets.” (my emphasis). before the crisis, the large majority “In all these areas, the United There were strong words of condem- reliant on aid and many unemployed. Kingdom will play its role, working nation of Israel from former Foreign The UK is providing £349 million for closely with US and European col- Secretary Jack Straw. humanitarianrelief,state-buildingand leagues, encouraging both sides back Mr Jack Straw: economic development for Palestin- todialogue,supportingthePalestinian “The whole House condemns the ians up to 2015, and providing about Authority, keeping pressure on Hamas killing of the three Israelis and the £30 million a year to help the people and otherextremists, and alleviating burning of the Palestinian, and none of of Gaza.” the humanitarian consequences of the ushasanytruckwithHamas.However, “We are the third biggest donor to conflict. There can be no substitute, for all the vacuous words of the Israeli the UN Relief and Works Agency though, for leadership and political Government and the Israeli defence generalfund..Oursupporthasenabled will from the parties concerned. The forces spokesman, is it not clear that it to respond to the crisis by continu- world looks on in horror once again they have no regard for international ing to provide health services to 70% as Israel suffers from rocket attacks humanitarian law; that they place a of the population, sheltering 17,000 and Palestinian civilians die. Only completely different and much lower displaced people, and distributing a real peace, with a safe and secure value on Palestinian life than Israeli almost 30,000 litres of fuel to ensure Israel living alongside a viable and life; and that the cycle will go on as that emergency water and sewerage contiguous Palestinian state, can end long as the international community, infrastructure can operate. The Depart- this cycle of violence. And it is only in an effort to be even-handed, fails to mentforInternationalDevelopmentis the parties themselves, with our sup- say to the Israelis that the actions that helping to fund the World Food Pro- port, who can make that peace.” (my theyaretakingarecompletelyoutwith gramme, the International Committee emphasis). the United Nations charter and any of the Red Cross and the UN access Responding for Labour, Shadow idea of how a civilised nation ought co-ordination unit. With our support, Foreign Secretary Douglas Alexan- to behave?” theseorganisationsareprovidingfood der supported Hague’s statement and to insecure people, helping to repair echoed much of his criticism of Ha- Flight MH17: ‘Putin Did It!’ damaged infrastructure, getting essen- mas. The following extracts provide In his last statement, on 21 July, tialsuppliesintoGaza,gettingmedical a flavour of what he said. before the summer recess, David Cam- cases out and delivering emergency Mr Douglas Alexander: eronspokeabouttheshootingdownof medical care. The Minister of State, “Today, a spiral of violence has again flight HM17 and the ongoing conflict Department for International Develop- engulfed Gaza, southern Israel and the between Israel and Gaza. And he was ment, has spoken to Prime Minister westbank,bringinguntoldsufferingto adamant that Putin and Hamas were Hamdallah, and DFID stands ready innocentpeopleinitswake.Ofcourse, respectively responsible. Following to do more as necessary.” I unequivocally condemn the firing of the customary words of sympathy “Thirdly, a negotiated two-state solu- rocketsinto Israel by Gaza-basedmili- for those who died aboard HM17, he tionremainstheonlywaytoresolvethe tants. No Government on earth would directed his anger at Putin and Russia. conflict once and for all and to achieve toleratesuchattacksonitscitizens,and What follows are key extracts from sustainable peace so that Israeli and we recognise Israel’s right to defend his statement. Palestinian families can live without itself.AstheForeignSecretarysetout, The Prime Minister (Mr David fearofviolence.Nootheroptionexists inrecentdayshundredsofrocketshave Cameron): which guarantees peace and security been fired from Gaza at Israel, and at “Alongside sympathy for the victims, for both peoples.” least three Israelis have been seriously there isanger. Thereisangerthatthis “I once again pay tribute to Secre- injured. However, he was also right could happen at all; there is anger tary Kerry’s tireless efforts to secure to acknowledge that, since the start that the murder of innocent women a permanent peace. Of course, the of the Israeli military operations in and children has been compounded prospects for negotiations look bleak Gaza just seven days ago, more than by sickening reports of looting of inthemiddleofanothercrisisinwhich 170 Palestinians have been killed and victims’ possessions and interference civilians are paying the heaviest price, thousandsmorehavebeeninjured.The with the evidence; and there is rightly but it has never been more important UN has reported that more than 80% anger that a conflict that could have for leaders on both sides to take the of those killed were civilians, and that been curtailed by Moscow has instead bold steps necessary for peace. For a third of those killed were children. been fomented by Moscow. That has Israel.thatshouldmeanacommitment Althoughthisconflictcannotandmust to change now.” (my emphasis). to return to dialogue and to avoid all not be reduced simply to a ledger of “In the past few days, I have spoken actionswhichunderminetheprospects casualties, the scale of the suffering in to Presidents Obama and Hollande, for peace, including settlement activ- Gaza today must be fully and frankly Chancellor Merkel, and the Prime ity which does so much to undermine acknowledged, because the life of a Ministers of the Netherlands, Malay- confidenceinnegotiations.ForHamas, Palestinian child is worth no less than sia, Poland and Australia. We are all it faces a fundamental decision about the life of an Israeli child.” agreed on what must happen. First, whetheritispreparedtoacceptQuartet “Does the Foreign Secretary agree those with influence on the separatists principles and join efforts for peace, that if the operating logic of Hamas must ensure that they allow the bodies

Labour Affairs 21 No 250 September 2014 of the victims to be repatriated and “Mm-hmm.” warship Vincennes shot down Iran Air provideuninhibitedaccesstothecrash Question: Flight 655 over the Persian Gulf, kill- site to enable a proper international in- “--as requested by the Iranian Gov- ing all 290 passengers on board. True vestigation of what happened to flight ernment. And actually, officials in the to its pattern of denying any role in the MH17.Secondly,PresidentPutinmust Iranian Government said today that Iran-Iraq war, at first the United States use his influence to end the conflict in they’replanningonacommemoration governmenttriedtodenyculpabilityin Ukraine by halting supplies and train- tomorrow and it would, you know, thedowningofthecivilianairliner.On ingfortheseparatists.Thirdly,wemust show a sign of diplomatic reconcili- July 3 APreported that the ‘Pentagon establish proper long-term relation- ation if the United States apologised said U.S. Navy forces in the gulf sank ships between Ukraine and Russia; for this incident.” twoIranianpatrolboatsanddownedan between Ukraine and the European Mr McCormack: F-14 fighter jet in the Strait of Hormuz Union; and, above all, between Russia “Mm-hmm.” on Sunday during an exchange of fire.’ and the European Union, NATO and Question: The report also said that, according to the wider west.” “Do you think it sends a positive Iran, the US shot down not an F-14 but “I spoke with President Putin last message if, on the 20th anniversary of acivilianairlinerkillingallpassengers nightandmadeitclearthattherecanbe this incident, the United States Govern- on board. ‘U.S. Navy officials in the no more bluster or obfuscation. I also ment apologised for (inaudible)? gulf’,thereportwentontosay,‘denied madeitcleartoPresidentPutinthatwe Mr McCormack: the Iranian claim.’ expect Russia to end its support for the “You know, to be honest with you, “Subsequently, the US claimed that separatistsandtheirattemptstofurther I’ll have to look back and see the his- the ‘Iranian airliner, in some ways, destabilise Ukraine. No one is saying toryofwhatwesaidaboutthis---about wasnot acting like a passenger plane... that President Putin intended flight theissue.Ihonestlydon’tknow.Look, It was heading directly for the ship, HM17 to be shot down---it is unlikely nobody wants to see---everybody appeared to be descending and was that even the separatists wanted this to mourns innocent life lost. But in terms aboutfour miles outsidethe usual com- happen---but we should be absolutely ofourofficialU.S.Governmentpolicy mercial air corridor’(The Washington clear about what caused this terrible response to it, I can’t---I have to con- Post, July 4, 1988). The Pentagon tragedy to happen. The context for fess to you, I don’t know the history further asserted that USS Vincennes this tragedy is Russia’s attempt to of it. I’d be happy to get an answer wasininternationalwaters,i.e.outside destabilise a sovereign state, violate over to your question.” the territorial waters of Iran, and that its territorial integrity, and arm and CounterPunch reporter: the passenger plane was emitting a train thuggish militias.” “Mm-hmm. Could this be true? military electronic code.” Cameron is an intelligent man, so Could the spokesman for the State “Slowly but surely, all the above when he said that there is anger that Department not know anything about claims were proved to be false. Vin- the shooting down of flight HM17 the role that the US played in the nenceswasnotininternationalwaters, could happen at all, was he genuinely Iran-Iraq war in general and Iranian but in Iran’s territorial waters. The ignorant that prior to HM17 seven Air Flight 655 in particular? Is it pos- Iranian airbus was not heading for the civilian airlines had been shot down sible that the entire US Department shiporevendescendingbutascending. by military fire, including Iran Flight of State is ignorant of that history? Theplanewasnotfourmilesoutsideof 655 by USS Vincennes, an American Is it conceivable that the current US the usual commercial air corridor, but cruiser on 3 July 1988? Counterpunch: policy towards Iran is being made well within it. Moreover, Flight 655 Tells the Facts, Names the Names, a by a host of ignoramuses? This is, was not emitting any military signals US media website, contained a report indeed, a frightening prospect...... but regular transponder signals which in July 2008, twenty years after the The frightening prospect is not helped identified it as a commercial aircraft. incident. The following are key ex- at all by the correction that appeared All these contradictions resurfaced tracts from the report. The full report on the website of the US Department four years later, when on July 1 1992, can be read on: www.counterpunch. of State shortly after the above set of the ABC News program Nightline org/2008/07/11/the-shoot-down-of- questions and answers took place. The broadcast a piece, investigated jointly iran-air-flight-65 correction read: with Newsweek magazine, entitled Iran Air Flight 655 (Taken Ques- ‘The USS Vincennes: Public War, Se- The Shooting Down Of Iran Air tion). Question: cret War.’ Newsweek magazine itself Flight 655 “Does the State Department have published on July 13, 1992, a sepa- “In a daily press briefing on July 2, anything to say on the 20th anniversary rate article by John Barry and Roger 2008, the following set of questions of the accidental downing of an Iran Charles whichappearedunderthetitle andanswerstook place betweenanuni- Air flight? ‘Sea of Lies.’Both pieces showed the dentified reporter and Department of Answer: contradictions in the US claims, four State Spokesman Sean McCormack: “The accidental shooting down years earlier, concerning the downing Question: of Iran Air Flight 655 was a terrible of the Iranian civilian plane” “Tomorrowmarksthe20yearssince human tragedy, and today U.S. of- “Indeed, with regard to the answers the U.S. Navy warship Vincennes ficials at the time expressed our deep provided by the US government to gunned down the IR655 civilian air- regret over the tragic loss of life. We the questions ‘Where, precisely, was liner, killing all 300 people on board, would certainly renew our expression the Vincennes at the time of the shoot 71 of whom were children. And while of sympathy and condolences to the down?’ and ‘What was she doing the United States Government settled families of the deceased who perished there?’ ABC’s Nightline stated that the incident in the International Court in the tragedy.” the ‘official response to those two of Justice in 1996 at $61 million in CounterPunch reporter: The last questions has been a tissue of lies, compensation to the families, they, to major event that brought about the fabrications, half-truths and omis- this day, refuse to apologise-- final capitulation of Iran occurred on sions.’ For example, on the issue of Mr McCormack: July 3 1988. On that day the American the exact position of USS Vincennes

Labour Affairs 22 No 250 September 2014 when it shot (down) the Iranian airliner, it a “monstrous new crime”. Kingdom does not believe that im- the following exchange between Ted Itavia Flight 870 (1980). posing a blanket arms embargo on Koppel of Nightline and Admiral Wil- On June 27, 1980, an Itavia Airlines Israel would promote progress in liam J. Crowe Jr. took place: flight from Bologna to Palermo with the Middle East Peace Process. All Ted Koppel: But if I was to ask you 81 passengers and crew crashed in the countries, including Israel, have a today, was the Vincennes in interna- Tyrrhenian Sea, near Sicily. The New legitimate right to self-defence, and tional waters at the time that she shot York Times’ Elisabetta Povoledo re- the right to defend its citizens from down the Airbus--- ported that “themost widely accepted attack. In doing so, it is vital that William J Crowe Jr: Yes, she theorybehindthecrash”--forwhichan all actions are proportionate, in line was. Italian court last year said there was with International Humanitarian Ted Koppel: In international wa- “abundantlyclearevidence”--wasthat Law, and are calibrated to avoid ters? a stray missile from an aircraft hit the civilian casualties.” (my emphasis). William J Crowe Jr:No,no,no. She plane,butanyinformationaboutwhich “Export licence applications to all was in Iran’s territorial waters. country’s aircraft it was, or why, is still countries continue to be considered Ted Koppel: Let me ask you again. very much up in the air. on a case by case basis against the Where was the Vincennes at the time Korean Air Lines Flight 007 Consolidated EU and National Arms that she shot down the Airbus? (1983). Exporting Licensing Criteria, taking William J Crowe Jr: She was in KALOO7 was shot down by a Soviet into account the circumstances pre- Iran’s territorial waters. fighter plane on September 1, 1983, vailing at the time of application. In The remaining six civilian planes killing all 269 passengers and crew, in- view of the situation in Gaza, we are shot down by military fire were: cluding Larry McDonald a Congress- keeping all licence applications under Cathay Pacific Airways (1954). man from Georgia then in his fourth review to ensure that all our decisions On July 23, 1954, mainland China’s term. An ardent anti-Communist and remain consistent with our human People’s Liberation Army fighters believerinvariousconspiracytheories rights commitments and all applicable shot down a Cathay Pacific Airways about the Rockefellers, the Trilat- criteria.Ifadecisionistakentosuspend (the airline of Hong Kong, then under eral Commission, and the Council on or revoke licences we will announce Britishcontrol)C-54Skymasterflying Foreign Relations plotting to bring this to Parliament, and where possible from Bangkok to Hong Kong; 10 out about a socialist world government, we will do this in concert with our EU of the 19 passengers and crew died. In McDonald also was president of the partners.” Note: Parliament went into apologising for the attack to Britain John Birch Society, the ultra-right- its summer recess on 22 July. days later, the Chinese government wing conspiracist group. There is no Later that same day, during the stated that they thought the plane was evidencethatwhathappenedwasmore debates session, Lib Dem Member amilitaryaircraftfromtheRepublicof complicated than KALOO7 entering Adrian Sanders asked the Minister China (Taiwan) on an attack mission Soviet airspace and being shot down for Europe, David Liddington: “What against Hainan Island (near where the as an intruder. discussionshehashadwiththeFrench shoot down took place). Siberia Airlines Flight 1812 Government on arms sales to Russia; El Al Flight 402 (1955). (2001). and if he will make a statement. Lid- On July 27, 1955, an EL Al flight On October 4, 2001, 64 Siberia dington replied: from Vienna to Tel Aviv flew into Airlines passengers and 12 crew mem- “TheUnitedKingdomhasalready Bulgarian airspace and was shot down bers onboard a Soviet-made Tupolev suspended all such export licences to by two Bulgarian MiG fighters. All Tu-154 en route from Novosibirsk to Russia where exports could be used 58 people on board were killed. Af- Tel Aviv were killed when the plane against Ukraine. We have discussed ter officially denying involvement, was shot down over the Black Sea by the possibility of an EU-wide arms Bulgaria admitted to having shot the a Ukrainian missile. It took a while and defence exports embargo with the plane down. Eight years after the at- for Ukraine to admit that was what French Government, both bilaterally tack, Bulgaria agreed to pay a total happened, but after pressure from andatEuropeanCouncilandCouncilof of $195,000 ($1.5 million in current Russian investigators, Ukraine’s then- Ministers meetings.” (my emphasis). dollars) to Israel, having already com- president, Leonid Kuchma, accepted MrSanders: “I urge the Minister to pensated non-Israeli passengers. thattheUkrainianmilitarywasatfault. press the French and other EU countries Libyan Arab Airlines Flight 114 From2003to2005,Ukrainepaid$15.6 more on that, because it really is time (1973). milliontofamiliesofvictimsfollowing we all put principles ahead of short- On February 21, 1973, a Libyan Arab a deal with the government of Israel. term economic interest and stopped Airlines (a wholly owned part of the arming the Russian regime.” (my Libyan government) Boeing 727 fly- Double Standards emphasis). ing from Tripoli to Cairo got lost and The following exchanges took flew over the Sinai peninsula, which place on 22 July. In the first, (Written had been under Israeli control since Answers session), Labour’s Roger the Six-Day War in 1967. After giv- Godsiff asked the Foreign Secretary Even in literature and art, no man ing signals to land and firing warning “If he will introduce an embargo on who bothers about originality will shots, Israeli jets shot down the plane, the export of weapons to Israel.” To ever be original: whereas if you killing 108 of the 113 people on board, which Foreign Office Minister Ell- simply try to tell the truth (without and leaving four passengers and a co- wood replied: caring twopence how often it has pilot alive. Defense Minister Moshe “We remain deeply concerned about been told before) you will, nine Dyan called the event an “error of the situation in Gaza. We call for an judgement”andtheIsraeligovernment immediate de-escalation and restora- times out of ten, become original compensated the families of victims. tion of the November 2012 ceasefire, without ever having noticed it. Libya condemned the attack as “a to avoid further civilian injuries and C. S. Lewis criminal act” while the Soviets called the loss of innocent life. The United

Labour Affairs 23 No 250 September 2014 It’s A Fact Scotland – 760,000 (39%); – 154. Wales – 428,000 (36.7%). Year 2011, The number of people aged 18 to PWA 7/7/14. Murder – 343; 24 claiming jobseeker’s allowance Manslaughter – 173; in each region of the UK at May Number of defendants found Infanticide – 0; 2014 was: guilty at all courts for murder, Death by dangerous driving – East of England – 17,295 manslaughter, infanticide and 114. (3.5%); causing death by dangerous driving, Year 2012, East Midlands – 18,505 England and Wales, 2003 to 2013 Murder – 343; (4.2%); Year 2003, Manslaughter – 166; West Midlands – 28,705 Murder – 277; Infanticide – 1; (5.3%); Manslaughter – 244; Death by dangerous driving – London – 28,830 (3.6%); Infanticide – 0; 116. North East – 17,065 (6.6%); Death by dangerous driving – Year 2013, North West – 32,165 (4.7%); 233. Murder – 314; South East – 19,090 (2.5%); Year 2004, Manslaughter – 171; South West – 13,835 (2.9%); Murder – 361; Infanticide – 1; Yorkshire and the Humber – Manslaughter – 265; Death by dangerous driving – 29,440 (5.5%); Infanticide – not available; 109. Northern Ireland – 12,880 Death by dangerous driving – PWA 8/7/14. (7.4%); 241. Scotland – 24,455 (4.8%); Year 2005, The prison population aged 60 Wales – 16,465 (5.5%). Murder – 394; and over, by age group, England and Parliamentary Written Answer Manslaughter – 260; Wales, at 31 March 2014 was 30/6/14. Infanticide – 2; Age 60 to 65 – 1,791; Death by dangerous driving – Age 66 to 70 – 967; The number of people claiming 255. Age 71 to 75 – 489; jobseeker’s allowance by age, at Year 2006, Age 76 to 80 – 228; May 2014, United Kingdom, was Murder – 372; Age over 80 – 102. Under 17 years – 195; Manslaughter – 212; PWA 21/7/14. Aged 17 years – 1,130; Infanticide – 1; Aged 18 years – 25,685; Death by dangerous driving – The average weekly amount Aged 19 years – 39,165; 223. in payment of employment and Aged 20 to 24 years – 193,875; Year 2007, support allowance, November 2008 Aged 25 to 29 years – 160,250. Murder – 369; to November 2013, was: PWA 2/7/14. Manslaughter – 219; November 2008, Infanticide – 2; All ages - £61.17, Number and percentage of people Death by dangerous driving – Aged over 50 - £64.20. aged 50 and over in employment, 233. November 2009, April 2013 to March 2014 Year 2008, All ages - £73.66, East of England – 926,000 Murder – 439; aged 50 and over - £76.40. (42.4%); Manslaughter – 248; November 2010, East Midlands – 646,000 Infanticide – not available; All ages - £81.71, (39.2%); Death by dangerous driving – Aged 50 and over - £83.76. West Midlands – 759,000 221. November 2011, (38.6%); Year 2009, All ages - £90.55, London – 885,000 (41.8%); Murder – 376; Aged 50 and over - £91.73. North East – 341,000 (35%); Manslaughter – 219; November 2012, North West – 905,000 (36.6%); Infanticide – 1; All ages - £103.02, South East – 1,348,000 Death by dangerous driving – Aged 50 and over - £104.17. (42.9%); 225. November 2013, South West – 843,000 (40.1%); Year 2010, All ages - £109.97, Yorkshire and the Humber – Murder – 346; Aged 50 and over - £111.83. 722,000 (38.5%); Manslaughter – 209; PWA 22/7/14. Northern Iterland – 221,000 Infanticide – 2; (37.7%); Death by dangerous driving

Labour Affairs 24