#302 working_01 cover 02/01/2020 02:17 Page 1 CHARTIST For democratic socialism #302 January/February 2020 £2

Don Flynn Disunited Kingdom Duncan Bowie Mary Southcott Tom Miller Bryn Jones GE19 ANALYSIS Glyn Ford Julie Ward Europe after Peter Cole Climate Emergency Sam Tarry New MPs Ricardo Salva Chile erupts plus Book Reviews & Regulars ISSN - 0968 7866 ISSUE

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Contributions and letters deadline for Editorial Policy CHARTIST #303 The editorial policy of CHARTIST is to promote debate amongst people active in 10 February 2020 radical politics about the contemporary Chartist welcomes articles of 800 or 1500 words, and relevance of democratic socialism across letters in electronic format only to: [email protected] the spectrum of politics, economics, science, philosophy, art, interpersonal Receive Chartist’s online newsletter: send your email address to [email protected] relations – in short, the whole realm of social life. Chartist Advert Rates: Our concern is with both democracy and socialism. The history of the last century Inside Full page £200; 1/2 page £125; 1/4 page £75; 1/8 page £40; 1/16 page £25; small box 5x2cm £15 single has made it abundantly clear that the sheet insert £50 mass of the population of the advanced We are also interested in advert swaps with other publications. To place an advert, please email: capitalist countries will have no interest [email protected] in any form of socialism which is not thoroughly democratic in its principles, its practices, its morality and its ideals. Yet the consequences of this deep attach - ment to democracy – one of the greatest advances of our epoch – are seldom reflected in the discussion and debates Editorial Board Contacts amongst active socialists. CHARTIST is not a party publication. It CHARTIST is published six times a year Published by Chartist Publications brings together people who are interested by the Chartist Collective. This issue was PO Box 52751 London EC2P 2XF in socialism, some of whom are active the produced by an Editorial Board consisting tel: 0845 456 4977 Labour Party and the trade union move - of Duncan Bowie (Reviews), Andrew ment. It is concerned to deepen and Coates, Peter Chalk, Patricia d’Ardenne, Printed by People For Print Ltd, Unit 10, Riverside Park, extend a dialogue with all other socialists Mike Davis (Editor), Nigel Doggett, Don Sheaf Gardens, Sheffield S2 4BB – Tel 0114 272 0915. and with activists from other movements Flynn, Roger Gillham, Hassan Hoque, Email: [email protected] involved in the struggle to find democrat - Peter Kenyon, Dave Lister, Patrick ic alternatives to the oppression, exploita - Mulcahy, Sheila Osmanovic, Marina Website: www.chartist.org.uk tion and injustices of capitalism and Prentoulis, Robbie Scott, Steve Carver Email: [email protected] class society (Website Editor), Mary Southcott, John Twitter: @Chartist48 Sunderland. Signed articles do not necessarily represent the views of Newsletter online: to join, email the EB Production: Ferdousur Rehman [email protected]

Putney Victory Robbie Scott on how Putney became Labour’s only Tory scalp

f we were going to be suc - growing tensions between small or internal party grouping, there cessful in Putney, we would C conservative voters and the was something for you to do. A have to run one of the most government. First on their aus - leaflet you’d like - a canvass or innovative campaigns since terity agenda and as the cam - task you’d be keen to help with. the ‘Battle for Barking’ paign gathered pace on Brexit. Targeting voters is a well-known Iwhen we destroyed the BNP in This helped steer local opinion campaign technique. Our volun - East London. We achieved this in and secure the endorsement of all teers were organised in precisely three main ways. the tactical voting websites in a the same way. 1) We embedded ourselves in constituency that overwhelmingly We had the bodies to expand local community groups before voted to Remain. Robbie Scott was our core and reach out to new the election was called. An active 3) We effectively managed agent and support, to squeeze the Lib Dem community approach was essen - thousands of volunteers through - campaign and Green vote and develop rela - tial. We talked up Labour’s trans - out the campaign. We knew the organiser for tionships with swing voters by formative manifesto, our record lion's share would probably come Putney Labour’s canvassing the same streets mul - in government, at City Hall and from and it did - but tiple times with the same volun - the achievements of our local given all of the other high profile won with 4,774 teers. The word soon got out that councillors. Our parliamentary races across London that majority and a in Putney we did things a little candidate was part of a larger wouldn’t be enough. The cam - 6.4% swing to differently. After that things Labour team who was already paign had to be broad. This was Labour. He is also exploded with hundreds of volun - delivering for residents. by far the most tricky aspect to a member of teers a night and an Election Day 2) We relentlessly exploited the manage. Whatever your politics Chartist EB run by over 1,000 volunteers. #302 working_01 cover 02/01/2020 02:17 Page 3

CONTENTS

FEATURES

GE19 AFTER THE DELUGE 8 Don Flynn surveys the electoral wreckage VISIBLE REMINDER Apsana Begum MP challenging racism and 9 reaction GE19 RETROSPECT AND PROSPECTS Duncan Bowie argues Corbyn and advisers let 10 Labour down LABOUR WALES SETBACK Pete Rowlands on lessons from losses Climate emergency warning- Page 14 11 Cover by Martin Rowson BREXIT NOT DONE 12 Glyn Ford on Europe without the UK CHARTIST GE19 AFTER DARKNESS, LIGHT FOR DEMOCRATIC SOCIALISM 13 Tom Miller outlines a route out for left Number 302 January/February 2020 REGULARS CLIMATE HUNGER STRIKE Peter Cole explains why he starved for the planet OUR HISTORY 88 14 4 The Socialist Challenge

TORY ECONOMIC POPULISM EDITORIAL Bryn Jones on prospects for a Labour 5 Labour’s long haul 15 counter-offensive POINTS & CROSSINGS 6 Paul Salveson on northern lessons for TRADE TALKS THREAT Labour Nick Dearden on dreams and nightmares GREENWATCH 16 7 Dave Toke on nuclear fantasies Sanchez scrapes back in Spain – Page 20 GE19 LABOUT MUST REGROUP YOUTH VIEW 24 Alice Arkwright on domestic violence Sam Tarry MP on fire-fighting the Tories 17 FILM REVIEW 25 Patrick Mulcahy on Parasite CHILE UPRISING Ricardo Salva looks behind the turmoil BOOK REVIEWS 26 Duncan Bowie on Legacy of Empire, 18 Treason, Otto Bauer, Ellen Wilkinson; l Peter Kenyon on Miserablism ; Glyn SOCIALISTS IN SPAIN Ford on Mindf..k; Don Flynn on Walter Sanchez leads weaker coalition says Brian O’Leary Rodney; Nigel Watt on Dag Hammarskjold, Mike Davis on William 20 Godwin

TRUMP CHALLENGE STRASBOURG VIEW Paul Garver looks at Democrat presidential 32 Julie Ward says keep the Euro flag 21 hopefuls flying Subscribe to CHARTIST : GE19 CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION £18 ordinary subscription Mary Southcott calls for a democratic £35 supporter subscription Ending domestic violence Page – 22 revolution (6 issues) Page 24 Visit POLL TAX LESSONS www.chartist.org.uk/subscribe for details Simon Hannah looks back on 30th 23 anniversary January/February 2020 CHARTIST 3 #302 working_01 cover 02/01/2020 02:17 Page 4

OUR HISTORY

OUR HISTORY - 88 Stuart Holland The Socialist Challenge (1975)

tuart Holland was an Oxford educated economist, story of the rise and fall of the new economic policy is told in with degrees in history and economics, who on John Medhurst’s That Option no longer Exists , published in graduating worked with the economist Thomas 2014. Balogh and then in the cabinet office for Harold “What is the socialist challenge? Essentially, it is the claim Wilson in 1964. After a research fellowship at that we can transform the injustice, inequality and inefficien - Sussex University, he then in 1974 became advisor to Judith cy of modern capitalism. In Britain in the early 1970’s the Hart, the Minister for International Development. In 1972 he Labour Party shaped a radical new strategy for the begin - had published a study of ‘The State as Entrepreneur’. This led nings of such transformation. The programme for extended to his involvement in develop - public ownership, strategic ing the Labour Party’s economic planning and workers’ democra - strategy while Labour was in cy opened the feasibility of a opposition, submitting a num - genuine transition to socialism ber of papers to the National in a democratic society. For the Executive Committee and its first time since the immediate sub-committees, with many of post-war period, the socialist his ideas being incorporated challenge moved from theory to into the Labour Programme the politics of a mass party in 1973 and the manifesto for the government.” February 1974 election. “ The main dimensions of In 1979, Holland was elected Labour’s socialist challenge as MP for Vauxhall in London. include not only a penetration He stood down in 1989 to return of the commanding heights of to academia, moving to the modern capitalism in the meso- European University Institute economic sector, but also a in Florence. Having taught at a simultaneous transformation of range of universities and writ - the prevailing class structures ten numerous books and arti - which concentrate economic and cles, Holland, now 79, is social power in the hands of a attached to the University of largely self-perpetuating oli - Coimbra in Portugal. garchy. This can never be a Holland challenged the complete or final process. There mixed economy perspective pre - is no socialist utopia at the end sented by Anthony Crosland in of a specific programme for his Future of Socialism and transformation.” subsequent works, which domi - “ Socialism is the creation of nated Labour Party economic a society in which it is easier to thinking until the early 1970’s. secure self-fulfilment through Holland was influenced by the serving society than through French experience of economic the exclusive pursuit of self planning and the Belgian alone. .. It is a society in which socialist Prime Minister Paul people are both practical and Henri Spaak and President of idealists.” the European Steel and Coal “Progress to socialism should Community and was involved in be an on-going process, but one the development of Labour in which the critical centres of Party policy on the Common capitalist power and class were Market in the 1960’s and the transformed by a socialist gov - development of the Treaty of ernment, backed by the trade Rome. He now focuses mainly unions. It is a key premise of on European and international this analysis that such transfor - economics. He has maintained mation can be achieved trough an interest in international democratic processes. Without development, having served as shadow Minister between 1983 such democratic change, transition to socialism could prove and 1987, under Kinnock’s leadership. He has written a book less a controlled transition in the public interest, an explosion on Eritrea. of social resentment and political counter-reaction challeng - The Socialist Challenge , published in 1975, set out the theo - ing freedoms which are rightly held dear even in a economical - retical basis and the programme that was to become known as ly unjust society. On the other hand, such democratic reforms the Alterative Economic Strategy. At the time the Labour must be effectively revolutionary in character. In other words, Party NEC and the shadow cabinet were dominated by a left- they must reverse the current dominance of capitalist mods of wing group which included Tony Benn, Ian Mikardo, Eric production and capitalist motivation into a dominance of Heffer, Judith Hart and Albert Booth. Tony Benn as Secretary democratically controlled socialism. They must transform cap - of State for Industry tried to implement the strategy, but was italist society rather than try ineffectively to alleviate its moved to Energy secretary where he had less influence. The implicit injustice.”

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EDITORIAL

Long haul for Labour

abour suffered a heavy defeat on 12 th December. Labour’s shift to a People’s Vote was all too little, too late Identifying the reasons for failure to unseat a Tory and too ambiguous. Earlier fence-sitting proved disastrous. government presiding over nine years of austerity As Julie Ward and Glyn Ford argue, highlighting the will rightly occupy some time. Reasons include negatives of Brexit and framing our socialist alternative in Brexit, personally, the wrong time, Euro-internationalist colours should have happened much Lan overfull manifesto lacking in clear priorities, a poorly earlier with more vigour. Essentially Labour tried to ride organised campaign, a hostile media, Conservative lies and two horses and got pulled off both. many more. Now we are in new territory. Barring a political miracle Labour achieved 10.5 million votes, more than Gordon Brexit will happen on 31 st January. But Brexit will not be Brown in 2010 and more than in 2015. But the done then. The transition period until the end of 2020 will 80 seat Tory majority was the worst Labour loss since 1935. see fevered negotiations to secure a trade deal and many We lost in Leave voting areas and failed to achieve key target other arrangements. The symbolic vote by parliament not to seats in Remain voting areas. One factor stands out: Labour seek an extension is fantasy politics. Trade deals take years lost significant votes in traditional working class heart - to negotiate and involve much more than tariffs as Nick lands—the North East, the Midlands and north Wales, not to Dearden explains in a chilling unmasking of the threat to mention a near wipe-out in Scotland, which raises the workers’ rights, food and environmental standards with pri - prospect of the break-up of Britain. Labour held votes among vatisation and corporate free-for-alls. With of Trump’s youth and those in cosmopolitan centres. The loss of numer - ‘America first’ policy we can be sure he’ll be giving no ous seats held by Labour for decades—Bolsover, Workington, favours to Johnson. Blyth, Sedgefield illustrates that class can no longer be a sure Brexit and the election result also throw up huge ques - predictor of voting intention. tions on the constitution. Northern Ireland is set adrift with Don Flynn looks at this factor and how Corbynism ener - a sea border and a floundering devolved Stormont raising gised a whole new generation while looking at the spectre of a united Ireland while Scotland’s ways to sustain and build allegiance. Paul overwhelming vote for the SNP pushes a Salveson explores in more detail the further independence referendum up contrast in Tory promises and the the agenda. Mary Southcott looks reality for northern towns. at the inequities in the election Similarly, Bryn Jones finds result that gave disproportionate opportunities for a Labour numbers of seats to the Tories counter-offensive against and puts the case for a broad Johnson’s economic populism. constitutional convention to Ever since the deindustriali - This is a reactionary Tory look at votes at 16, further sation of the Thatcher years, local devolution, House of areas of the north have suf - Lords and above all a PR fered a slow economic and government. Don’t believe voting system. social decline. The Blair years Duncan Bowie is more did little to rebuild infrastruc - critical of Corbyn’s leadership ture and more importantly the one-nation hype and the role of his key advis - working class culture in these ers, pointing to his unpopulari - shattered communities. Young ty among the wider electorate, people migrated to the cities leav - including many traditional Labour ing an aging population vulnerable to supporters and the widely held view the siren calls of the Brexiteers with that he was unfit to be Prime Minister. their scapegoating demonisation of Brussels Jeremy Corbyn is standing down and a and Europe and foreign migrants. leadership election process is underway. The years of neoliberal economic policies offered the Chartist will be examining the merits of various candi - concession to wage earners that there would be ‘British jobs dates on our website and we urge readers to submit their for British workers’. Whatever meant with thoughts to the Labour Together coordinated review of this utterance it was understood to be a continuation of where Labour went wrong. Labour has a huge task to Blair’s promise to be tough on asylum seekers, while Ed rebuild support. The consequences of this electoral defeat Miliband underscored this with his ‘control immigration’ will be severe for British people and the Labour Party. mugs. A platform has been built on which the Tories erected Elsewhere in this issue Ricardo Salva reports on the their hostile environment policies. The truth is free move - convulsions engulfing Chile with over 40 days of strikes and ment and migrant labour has benefited the country by sus - protest against a right-wing regime. In Spain Brian taining the, admittedly feeble, economic growth of the last O’Leary reports on the re-election of Socialist Party under decade and providing the social and cultural diversity needed Sanchez, with a smaller majority and assesses prospects for to stay abreast in the modern world. the alliance with the radical Podemos. Paul Garver looks Nevertheless what transpired from the General Election at Democrat presidential hopefuls and the battle to unseat was that however much Labour tried to refocus on a domestic Trump. policy agenda, on the NHS, on nationalisation, on ending aus - This is a reactionary Tory government. Don’t believe the terity and boosting public services the question of Europe and one-nation hype. The only nation we’ll hear a rising drum - Brexit kept coming up. And Labour’s answer was ambiguous: beat for is England. But it won’t be the best of England—its a renegotiated softer Brexit, another referendum with a multiculturalism, social solidarity, creativity and culture. Remain option and a neutral leader. Johnson’s Get Brexit Rather it will be the narrow, nasty, xenophobic, divisive and Done cut through as a simple mantra. Yes, more voters sup - democracy-threatening nationalism that characterised the ported Remain parties (54% to 46%) but in the wrong places Brexit campaign. Be prepared for much more of the same as to shift the parliamentary arithmetic. the Boris Johnson show hits the road and starts to unravel.

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P&C

Grim up North Paul Salveson on the challenges of rebuilding the red wall

here’s very little with MPs and indeed Tony Blair, are which to console our - already calling for a return to ‘the selves following the centre ground’ to win back the General Election. Labour heartlands, or rebuild the Labour did particularly so-called ‘red wall’ which has bTadly in the North of England, crumbled in the North of and there was little evidence of England. the progressive vote switching to I don’t think that’s the answer. the Greens, Lib Dems or civic Labour needs to be radical but regionalists like the Yorkshire much more inclusive. Working Party. The results can be put with other progressive forces isn’t down to a number of factors, just about tactical advantage, it’s Brexit being almost certainly the showing that you’re a grown-up most significant, closely followed political force that shies away by Corbyn’s unpopularity. The from tribalism and sectarianism. correlation between leave-voting Yet both characteristics have Northern constituencies who have plagued Labour these last few traditionally voted Labour which years. I’m sick to death of hearing showed marked swings to the people talk about such-and-such Tories, is too obvious to ignore. being ‘a true Socialist’ whilst In some places, it could be someone else isn’t, as though argued that the other progressive Socialism is some sort of theologi - parties helped the Tories win. In cal belief and the slightest devia - my neighbouring constituency, tion from the canon risks consign - Blythe Valley abandons Labour, signalling a trend across Bolton North-East, the Tory had ing you to the burning fires of the North a majority of 337 votes. The hell. Greens picked up a miserly 689 Alongside a cultural shift with - pletely silent on many areas of votes and the Lib Dems 1,847. in Labour, the party needs to ‘democratic’ policy. Nothing on PR, Did they cost the highly respected embrace voting reform. The tide nothing about bringing the voting former shop steward, David has shifted away from traditional age down and an absence of any - Crausby, his seat? binary politics yet the voting sys - thing concerning regional devolu - Should the Greens have stood tem continues to prop up the tion, such as making city-region down (as they did in neighbouring crumbling edifice. It’s reasonable mayors more accountable. Labour marginal Bolton West, in 2017)? to assume that a proportional vot - under Corbyn seems to accept that They’re a legitimate political ing system would result in a the current British political sys - party with radical and imagina - strong Green presence in tem is the best of all possible tive policies. Labour has done Parliament. Small civic regional - worlds. Many would disagree. them no favours and stood a can - ists such as the Yorkshire Party Back in 2012 I argued in didate against in might be able to make more head - Socialism with a Northern Accent Brighton. The party has been way. It could also mean that that Labour needs to address averse to any semblance of pacts fringe right-wing parties win issues around English regional or alliances and it could be argued some seats – an argument often identity and build a politics which that they got what they deserved. used by Labour to oppose PR. But is inclusive and radical. We don’t But, to paraphrase Neil Kinnock that’s democracy. You don’t seem to be any nearer that, with when he said ‘Scargill and oppose the far right by excluding some on the left still pursuing the Thatcher deserved each other, but them from the political process. case for an ‘English parliament’ the country didn’t deserve either’ Many on the pro-Corbyn left that would further marginalise the – the rest of us didn’t deserve to will argue that some of Labour’s North. Why not have devolution be saddled with an arrogant Tory policies were popular, e.g. rail within Labour and build a semi- Government that can now act nationalisation. Yet how radical autonomous Northern Labour? with impunity for at least five were Labour’s proposals? Despite The coming year, including the years, and maybe longer. The rhetoric about ‘new forms of own - Labour leadership election but not very clear message in England, ership’ what seemed to be on the just that, will hopefully see a flow - specifically, is that Labour cards was a very traditional post- ering of radical ideas which remains the dominant force in 1945 model of state ownership. Labour can mould into a progres - progressive politics and that’s not Corbyn’s populist call for a third sive politics that chimes with the likely to change very fast. But we off rail fares would have caused times. It means accepting Brexit need a different sort of Labour chaos on a rail system struggling and trying to make the best of Party from what it has become if with already-overcrowded trains. what may well be a bad job. But it is going to recover lost ground. It isn’t that wanting fare reduc - let’s look for opportunities, not By the time this issue of tions is wrong – but it needed obstacles. It also means being Chartist appears, Labour will be thinking through in terms of much more collaborative, working in the throes of a leadership cam - more trains, staff and extra Paul Salveson’s constructively with other progres - paign which will sap energies but infrastructure. All of which would blog is at sive forces including the burgeon - is obviously needed. Politicians take years, not a few weeks. www.paulsalveso ing number of non-party move - like Alan Johnson, many defeated Labour’s manifesto was com - n.org.uk ments, often at a very local level. C

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GREENWATCH

Nuclear fantasy Dave Toke says Government plans for a programme of small nuclear power stations is a costly non-starter

he Government is busy reactor were to turn out close to construction time, but they are pushing ‘small modular what Rolls Royce claim (£500 mil - counterbalanced by the lack of reactors’ (smrs) as one lion) it would require an addition - economies of scale. Indeed, the of its key means of al several hundred £million for size of the proposed Rolls Royce boosting jobs in the the rector design to go through SMR is roughly the size of the NTorth. During the election the the required 'General Design UK's first grid connected Government attempted to link a Assessment' (GDA) required of all 'Magnox' reactors. The number faltering and unlikely 'small mod - new reactors (by the Office for and scope of safety measures ular reactor' (SMR) nuclear pro - Nuclear Regulation). As if this required for new reactors has gramme with target seats in the was not enough, I understand increased dramatically since the North. The (so-called) SMR pro - that Rolls Royce have demanded, 1950s (extra containment, redun - gramme seems highly unlikely on as the price of going through a dancy in primary and secondary financial grounds alone as it GDA, a Government commitment safety injection systems, back up would require a massive to effectively underwrite several diesel generator sets etc), so intu - Government commitment, and on reactors requiring a Government itively a smaller reactor does not top of that engineering questions commitment to raise several £bil - seem the way to go. undermine the credibility of the lions before there is any chance of Ordinary engineering rules programme. any power ever being generated. suggest that costs will not be The Government has now This financial background lower per kW. For example, you issued a press briefing naming alone suggests that this SMR still need to make the same num - Dominic Cummings as favouring plan is a fantasy that is even less ber of many of the parts (e.g. the technology as being a means credible than Boris's plans for a reactor pressure vessels) even of boosting the North. Like many Thames Estuary airport or even a though the parts may be smaller. of Boris Johnson's schemes, this bridge between Scotland and Hence savings in cost do not particular promotion has little Ireland. reduce proportionately to size. grounding in reality but is However, basic engineering Rolls Royce plans, whose own designed to stoke populist fan - questions also suggest that the projections of cheap generating tasies about how the Government SMR plans will go nowhere very costs must be treated with a can cut through problems and slowly. The idea of building what wagon-load of salt, are highly achieve simple solutions. is, in historical terms, a medium unlikely to go very far, apart from The UK's SMR programme, sized nuclear power plant (440 uselessly soaking up a few tens of such as it is, is neither modular MW), defies the logic of nuclear £millions of Government funds. or small or, for that matter, much power development since WW2. We can expect a lot more of in existence. The Government are This has involved building steadi - this bull and fantasy as time goes backing plans by Rolls Royce, and ly bigger reactors in order to, on. Yet eventually, like the other have promised an initial £18mil - apart from anything else 'calcu - great objectives this Government lion, but in reality even to build late down' (in the words of Mycle Dr David Toke is has us believe are going to hap - one prototype plant would require Schneider) the costs of nuclear Reader in Energy pen, (rescuing the NHS, deliver - Government to commit to spend - safety measures. Politics, ing a post Brexit boom) people ing over a billion pounds. This is Smaller reactors may (or may University of may realise that the rhetorical because even if the cost of the not) reduce expensive delays in Aberdeen fantasy is just what it is, fantasy. C

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LABOUR DEFEAT

After the Deluge Don Flynn assesses the Corbyn legacy

orbyn’s most important achievement is that he gave a political voice to a generation destined to exist as 21st century cCapitalism’s exploited working class. Considering the need for the politi - cal representation of this new prole - tariat as neoliberal globalisation moves deeper into crisis is the criti - cal next step for the Labour party. Does the scale of Labour’s defeat in the unwanted December general election mean the end of Corbynism? How much of the reduction of the party’s share of the vote is down to its four years of dal - liance with left wing socialist stand - points which the electorate has shown decisively that it is not pre - pared to support? What about Corbyn himself? Portrayed in the mainstream media as a London bubble politician, indecisive on key issues and tainted with the charge decades, done the most to adapt to principled opposition to the turbo- of antisemitism; was he the reason the conditions that prevailed in charged version of global capitalism why so many so-called traditional competitive, individualised labour that had been favoured during the Labour voters couldn’t bring them - markets. In the jargon of the time, years of the Blairite ‘third way’. selves to vote for the party this they had invested in themselves by Corbyn was to the forefront of this time? undergoing extensive periods of small band. Getting a sense of the tasks higher education, taking on the risk With a party membership now which now have to be taken on by of a huge debt overhang in the hope suddenly rising to the half million socialists in the party means, in the that they would reap the rewards of mark the question was whether this first instance, understanding what well-paid, skilled professional new enthusiasm for left wing poli - Corbynism was and why the pack - employment. tics could translate into success in age constructed around the man The Great Recession that fol - the electoral arena. Corbyn’s cen - and his principles were insufficient lowed the debt crisis showed what a trist and Blairite critics thought ‘no to get Labour into power this time hollow hope this was for a large pro - way’ and the sound of their jaws round. portion of these young people. The crashing into the floor was one of Corbynism is best understood as jobs market was increasingly con - the most memorable things that a delayed political response to the figured around the principle of pre - came out of the general election of earthquake that hit globalised capi - carity which replaced the vista of 2017. Rather than providing them talism seven years previously. The well-paid employment with years of with a disaster which they could crisis that exploded in 2008 unpaid internships for those trying demand Corbyn took ownership of imposed an all-hands-to-the-pump to get into the creative industries, they saw voting support for the emergency response to the collapse and zero-hour and Uber-style jobs party rise to a point where it was of banking credit on all the major for the rest. Meanwhile asset infla - nearly on a par with that won by parties. Support quantitative eas - tion – a direct consequence of the the Conservatives. The years of ing, direct bailouts for the banks state support given to sectors which hung Parliament politics opened and austerity-driven cuts to public had caused the crisis in the first out as a result. services was embraced across the place – led to soaring house prices Depriving Theresa May of the board with Labour scarcely distin - which ended the dream of owning a majority she craved seemed like a guishing itself from the home, or even that of affordable victory for Corbyn’s Labour party Conservative party’s demands for renting. that was worth celebrating. In fact, deep cuts to the living standards of It was this large group of people it simply created the conditions that the working and lower middle class - who saw sense in the demands were most inimical to the left con - es. being formulated on the left of the tinuing its uncomplicated march Millennials take the biggest hit Labour party for major structural towards government driven by the Over the immediately following reform which would give a leading anger and frustration of millenni - years one section of the population role to democratic political proce - als. It was in this hung Parliament among the worst hit by these mea - dures and institutions in shaping a that Brexit became the absolute log - sures began to put together a politi - better society. In turning in that jam that prevented serious consid - cal response which challenged the direction they came across a small eration of the policy measures need - assumptions behind austerity poli - group of leftist politicians who had Don Flynn is ed to overcome austerity and begin cies. This was the younger age spent decades on the fringe of the Chartist’s the restructuring of the economy. It cohorts which had, in previous party precisely because of their managing editor also exposed the divisions in the

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NEW MP VIEW

progressive camp as the debate heading for the better prospects of growth back into the economy, around leaving the EU pushed peo - London and the South East. The implementing everything required ple into the extremes of Brexit and loss of this segment from communi - under the terms of the ‘Green Deal’, Remain. ty life in the affected areas meant bringing the provision of homes The team immediately round an end to the renewal of working back into the realm of public policy, Corbyn saw the dangers for Labour class culture, particularly that part and turning the tide on inequality if it tried to resolve its dilemma by of it that was conducive to resis - across British society was drowned simply coming down on one side or tance and struggle against elites. out in the noise. the other. Its initial instinct in The dispute over the UK’s mem - What next? Dismissing the calls seeking to honour the referendum bership of the EU suddenly offered by the right wing and centrists in vote by arguing for the softest people who had lost the habit of dig - the party who think that a leader Brexit possible had to confront the ging in and fighting back the chance with charisma is all that is needed brutal fact that this would mean the to at least take sides in an argu - will be the easiest thing to do as the alienation of its newly won support ment that was driven by splits in elections for Corbyn’s successor get from young voters, who largely the ruling class. Rebellion in pur - underway. Socialists will need to favoured remain. The long period of suit of its own interests had ceased counter banality of this sort with attempting to square this circle led to be a part of the daily life of these the demand that post-Corbyn to disaffection among pro-Brexit communities, but at least they could Labour continues to engage with working class voters in Wales, the now take on a foot soldier’s role in the generation of newly politicised Midlands and the smaller towns of someone else’s revolt. The vicarious people who are going to spend the the North. But even more, the vacil - pleasures to be got from identifica - next decades of their lives strug - lation weakened Labour’s appeal tion with other people’s victories, so gling for security in their employ - among people of more cosmopolitan strongly present in the fanaticism ment, searching for affordable inclination causing a drift of over a that goes with supporting football homes, and trying to raise families million votes to the Liberal teams, was present in the backing in the choking smog of the country’s Democrats and Greens. given to the Faragist insurgency congested cities. The conundrum this created for against Europe. Viewed from this standpoint the party’s strategists was under - What next? Corbynism did not fail. Whilst the scored by the realities of the inter - In retrospect it seems inevitable leap into government office was nal migrations of British citizens that Corbynism would come to grief beyond it at this moment in time, it over the past forty years which have because of its inability to transcend has forged a bond with the social come about from the deindustriali - the dilemmas imposed on it by hung forces that will grow stronger and sation of the Midlands, the North Parliament politics. With identity more combative in the coming and South Wales. The young and politics mobilised to full screaming years. The next Labour leader has educated were leaving the parts of pitch, the case for a democratically to be someone with the vision and the country which had been plunged accountable government to take the strategies for building on this into bleak economic dead ends, leading role in getting sustainable achievement. C A visible reminder Apsana Begum is newly elected Labour MP for the East London constituency of Poplar and Limehouse. She has made history by being the first hijab wearing Bengali woman to be an MP. Here she recounts her first week in the House of Commons:

nduction happened over the to do more to create an environment The diversity of Labour’s 202 weekend (preceding the sit - in meetings which are less hostile MPs was in striking contrast to the ting of the HoC). We were and where we communicate differ - lack of diversity on the Tory bench - briefed by different depart - ences in a more civil way. We had es. [Labour has 51% women MPs; ments on parliamentary ser - little time for reflection. 20% of its MPs are from BAME vIices, personal security and so on. I Outside the House I joined backgrounds]. Many of the new got a parliamentary buddy. and MPs are rooted in their local com - Then before I knew it we are in other MPs on an RMT protest munities having been born and the Chamber and being sworn in. against Tory plans to restrict the raised there—as I was in Poplar & The first week was pretty intense right to strike. Limehouse. with a lot of information to digest in As a hijab wearing Bengali I So there is a lot to celebrate and a short time. noted heads were turned when I be proud of. As a Bengali woman it is a bit like was first introduced. MPs on the signals to the Tories that we’re just Hogwarts. Easy to get lost in the Tory benches were thumbing as much in public spaces as in oth - many corridors. through the little Members ers and we can represent all people. Then there were the first votes. I Directory book, checking ‘who’s I’m proud to be someone who can be voted against the EU Withdrawal that’. I wore my id lanyard all the a visible reminder to Boris Johnson Bill. It didn’t take long after the time so I didn’t get the reaction Apsana Begum that we are here and not going any - Queen’s Speech to find pre-election had which was a num - was elected with where. Hopefully this gives confi - pledges being broken. Quite dis - ber of Tory MPs thinking she was a 38,660 votes, a dence to others. We’ll call out heartening. cleaner. I got comments, irrelevant 28,904 majority racism and discrimination every - The new intake MPs were wel - questions that you wouldn’t be with 63.1% of where, especially in government comed at the PLP meeting. We need asked in a job interview. the vote policies. C

January/February 2020 CHARTIST 9 #302 working_01 cover 02/01/2020 02:17 Page 10

LABOUR FAILURE

GE 2019 Retrospect and prospects In anger as well as sadness Duncan Bowie reflects on failure and lost opportunities

osing the election was not how London centric the Labour Labour may have hoped the BREX - just a consequence of a Party has become and it is the IT party would split the Leave vote, failure of Labour strategy membership not just the MPs and but in practice much of the Leave over the last few weeks National Executive who need to vote in Labour ‘strongholds’ went to but the perhaps widen their perspective. The party the Conservatives, while in London Linevitable consequence of an inabili - may have the largest ever member - and the wider South East some ty to face up to the reality of the ship, but this does not mean we are Remain votes went to the LibDems political context in which we found any more representative of the and the Greens – though not as ourselves and to present a convinc - wider electorate, as is demonstrated many as we had feared as the ing political position. We failed to by the fact that this is the worst LibDem ‘Revoke article 50’ position convince the electorate that we result for Labour since 1935 in was seen as undemocratic and as could be a party of government. We terms of seats won. While many the ‘remain alliance’ with the failed to demonstrate that Labour London constituencies might be Greens and proved actually had the answers to the able to send out hundreds of largely ineffective. questions the electorate was asking activists to canvass and leaflet, in Labour however should have – and the key question was from many of the so-called safe Labour spent the last three years not con - those who had suffered most from a seats elsewhere, candidates were templating its position on BREXIT decade of austerity, could we actual - struggling to find activists to get out but dealing with the causes of ly improve their quality of life. The on the streets. Labour does not BREXIT – the growing inequality fact that it was in those constituen - deserve votes where it has been between London and the wider cies that the electorate were most inactive and has no local basis. South East and the Northern and disadvantaged, that the swing away BREXIT of course gets much of Midlands regions. We did not from Labour was greatest is an the blame. Given the divisions understand how fed up people were indelible stain on the record of our within the electorate as well as with what they saw as London cen - party and movement. The fact that within the Parliamentary Labour tric elitist politics which had forgot - people who had suffered most from Party and wider party membership, ten them. The rhetoric of blaming a decade of austerity, and a longer it was difficult for the Party to the Conservatives for austerity was period of abandonment by develop and maintain an approach not enough. The fact that so many ‘Westminster‘ politicians, actually which avoided further divisions. people believed that the Tories still had most to lose, had more con - Labour’s failure to adopt a consis - could ‘make Britain great again’ fidence in a Conservative govern - tent and united position, did us and that Johnson was a ‘One-nation ment led by a right-wing upper- major damage. The position of ‘con - Conservative’ in the Disraelian tra - class charlatan shows the depth of structive ambivalence’ or ‘sitting on dition, who understood the ‘ condi - our failure. Let us be clear. The the fence’, while calling for a second tion of England’ question, and that Labour Party’s failure has betrayed referendum and arguing that Labour could not and did not, repre - the next generation as well as the Labour could somehow negotiate a sents a change in the political current generation. better deal with the EU, which we Duncan Bowie is dynamic of the country which may Those of us in London and the would then neither advocate or Chartist Reviews be irreversible. Labour can no wider South East need to recognise oppose, was just not credible. Editor longer claim to be the party of the

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WALES

working class. quently taking difficult decisions division of the party into This returns us to the issue of the and responsibility for them has ‘Corbynistas’ and those critical state of the Labour Party and the been somewhat of a new experience. of/opposed to ‘Corbynism’, had nega - failure of leadership. I supported His past associations have left him tive consequences. The socialist case Corbyn’s nomination for the party open to criticism, much of it grossly cannot be linked to a single individ - leadership because I wanted Labour unfair. Criticising the Israeli state ual, whether it be Lenin, Stalin, Party policies to shift to the left. I does not make him an anti-Semite, Mao, Castro, Chavez or Corbyn (or had hoped that a more democratic but the impression that he is weak for that matter any potential new party would lead to a leadership on controlling the behaviour of his leader). We must move to a more closer to the membership and to a historical associates, to whom he collectivist leadership, using a range more collaborative way of working feels an obligation of loyalty, howev - of experience and talents which we at all levels within the party. I was er much they discredit his and the have within the Parliamentary wrong. We have had increased fac - Labour Party’s position has done Labour Party. If the left is to make tionalism within the party to the untold damage, and he has to take a more positive contribution, and I extent that the electorate as a whole some of the responsibility for this. include Momentum in that designa - sees us as fighting among ourselves The antipathy to Corbyn was tion, let us focus on developing poli - rather than fighting for them. We however not just related to this cies which are both socialist and have had far too little discussion of issue – he was widely seen as some - potentially popular, and spend a bit policy options (how the manifesto, one really who did not have much of more time promoting them to the which was actually far better than I a clue about the lives and aspira - wider electorate, and a bit less ener - expected, was written remains a tions of working-class people. Given gy on internal powers struggles, fac - mystery) and too much focus on per - his relatively humble lifestyle this tion fights, compiling slates and sonalities and internal power strug - may seem unjust. The fact that the slagging off and slandering fellow gles. The cliquism and nepotism party leader was more unpopular party members. You cannot blame around the Corbyn leadership is than the party as a whole is an the media, when you supply the unforgivable and resulted us in appalling basis for an election cam - media with its ammunition. marginalising good left politicians paign, and Corbyn would have Hopefully Chartist will help to because they happen to disagree given his greatest service to the contribute to an improved culture with Corbyn or have fallen out with party if he had stood down some within the party and the wider one of his acolytes. I do not doubt months ago, so we could have select - movement and desist from seeking Corbyn is a very principled individ - ed a leader who was a positive to attach the future of the British ual. Unfortunately, he remains a rather than negative factor - by the socialist movement to the promotion protest politician – he has after all time the election was called it was to leadership of one or two specific never had to run anything (other far too late. individuals. Leadership is impor - than the Labour Party) and conse - The notion of ‘Corbynism’ and the tant to the future, but so are we all. C Labour falters in Wales Peter Rowlands on Tory gains in north and holds for Labour in south

he election result in the old coal valleys were, like those they had regained in a by-election Wales was similar, if in the north, post industrial, more only three months before. slightly worse for depressed than the north and The next big electoral test in Labour, than the election strongly Leave voting, but although Wales is the election for the Welsh in the UK. In Wales both the Tory and the Brexit Party Government in May 2021. The LTabour lost 8% of its previous vote vote increased substantially in all Tories will be looking to take those share and six seats out of 28, all to theses seats the strength of the seats they have recently captured, the Tories. However, there was a Labour vote was much stronger while Labour and Plaid will obvi - clear contrast between north and here than in the north-east, pre - ously fight to at least retain what south. In the south seats thought to venting a Tory break-through. they have, if not better it. Hopefully be vulnerable like Gower, Cardiff Although the combined Tory and the Brexit Party will disappear North and Newport West were Brexit Party vote was greater than from the Assembly, where they retained, with the loss of only the Labour vote in Torfaen, as it have been a complete shambles. Bridgend. All except one of a group was in the two Newport seats and Labour must obviously seek to of five Labour held seats in the Alyn and Deeside, the only Labour reconnect with the large numbers north-east, fell to the Tories. These seat in the north that the Tories that deserted it in the Leave voting seats were in many ways typical of didn’t take. areas, as it must in England. the seats that fell to the Tories in It was a bad election for Plaid The future is uncertain. A key the North and Midlands of Britain. Cymru also, despite mounting problem will be the replacement, if The Tories also took Ynys Mon interest in Welsh independence. that is to happen, of the large (Anglesey), a strange three way They retained the four seats that amounts of EU aid that Wales marginal. they held, but their vote share receives, which the Tories might It is possible that the result in dropped by about 5%, and they not see fit to replicate. And without part reflected problems with the should have taken Ynys Mon, a favourable trade deal the Welsh local health board, which had been which they hold for the Assembly. economy, because of its higher vol - in special measures for some time, The LibDems didn’t do as well as Peter Rowlands ume of trade with the EU than the and blamed on the Welsh Labour in England, as Wales was more tilt - is a member of UK as a whole, is particularly vul - Government. ed to Leave, and they lost their only Swansea East nerable. It’s likely to be a bumpy In the south most of the seats in seat, Brecon and Radnor, which CLP ride. C

January/February 2020 CHARTIST 11 #302 working_01 cover 02/01/2020 02:17 Page 12

BREXIT

BREXIT after Johnson’s victory Glyn Ford says Johnson will be torn between machismo and pragmatism over Brexit

ecember 12th deliv - Sweden. In Brussels the negotia - ered a solid majority tions - to the great disappoint - for Johnson and the ment of Phil Hogan the Irish Conservative Party. Commissioner responsible for All 632 Tory candi - Internal Trade - will be led by dDates were required to sign a Michael Barnier reporting directly pledge to back Johnson’s Brexit to Commission President Ursula Deal in the House of Commons by von der Leyen. He will strike a voting for the Withdrawal hard bargain. Von der Leyen Agreement if elected. The process hopes the European Council will is already underway and will be give her a flexible negotiating concluded well in time for the mandate. She may be disappoint - United Kingdom to leave the EU ed. If the UK wants to re-open on January 31st. Despite the 54- long closed chapters so may coun - 46 vote for Remain over Leave tries like Poland and the rest. Parties there is no question of the There is a real prospect that the House of Lords blocking the pas - two sides may not be able to make sage of the Bill with ‘Getting and ratify any Agreement and Brexit Done’ virtually the entirety what is absolutely clear is this of Johnson’s election campaign. won’t happen in the mixed compe - Remain and a Second Referendum tence areas around investment were always deliquescent and transport which require not Johnson - torn between machismo and pragmatism demands. The future for the inter - only ratification by qualified nationalist left will be REFORM, majority in the Council and by the with the anticipation of the begin - REVOLT, REJOIN. European Parliament (EP), but ning of the end of the English Once we leave there will then unanimity in Council and also by Empire with the break-up of the be a ‘transition’ period until 31st the EP and the 27 Member States UK. On December 12th the Tory December 2020 when the UK is National Parliaments plus in writ ran neither in Scotland nor outside the EU and its some cases Regional Parliaments. Northern Ireland. The Institutions but remains tied to This ratification process in itself Independence Referendum in EU law and regulation. This peri - in the past has taken up to five Scotland in 2014 was intended to od, now dramatically shrunk by years to complete. be a once in a generation event, May and Johnson’s earlier Brexit Johnson will be torn between but that logic is demolished by travails and the consequent machismo and pragmatism. The Brexit. One key argument used to delays, was designed to provide golden vistas of an FTA with the hold back the late swell of support the space for the EU & UK to USA beckon. From 1st February for independence was that a ‘yes’ negotiate a Free Trade Agreement the UK will be free to enter into vote would leave Scotland (FTA). This is now an impossible negotiations with potential trade marooned outside the EU. Now calendar unless the Tories settle partners, but few - and especially Brexit sees Scotland, that voted for a minimal ‘dirty’ deal limited Washington - will signal the dot - overwhelmingly remain, dragged to goods plus freedom of move - ted line until the UK’s future out of the European Union ment for business, leaving ser - trade relationship with the EU is against its will. The fact that the vices to be tidied up later. The clear. An ideological Johnson will SNP won 48 out of 59 seats in decision not to seek any further close early negotiations with the Scotland provides an unanswer - extension from Brussels means EU to reap the supposed rewards able mandate for a second chronology strangling content and of Washington and their chlori - Referendum, and impossible to resuscitates the prospect, at nated chicken. All will prove more deny if revalidated in the 2021 worst, of a ‘No Deal’ Brexit and, at gruelling than anticipated. Japan, Scottish Assembly elections. best, the most brutal Brexit with Canada and Korea, who already On the island of Ireland the all the consequences that follow. have FTAs with the EU, will not 1998 ‘Good Friday Agreement’ We have to hope Johnson con - be offering their current terms to provided for, in appropriate cir - tinues to be duplicitous and London. They will be looking for cumstances, a Referendum on treacherous. For the only way out deals leaning more in their favour Irish Unification. Johnson’s EU is to do an interim deal - rather as they lose the economies of scale Deal chooses to draw a regulatory than transitional deal - for ser - of dealing with the EU. The situa - and customs border down the mid - vices, particularly financial ser - tion is not helped by the fact that dle of the Irish Sea rather than vices, that maintains the status Whitehall will be struggling with between the Republic of Ireland quo while the base FTA is filled capacity problems with scarce offi - and the North. This creates an out for additional agreements. cials capable of trade negotiations economic union that alongside the The timing will be tight event after more than forty years of the social changes in the south makes for a ‘dirty’ deal and all the more UK having no competence in an inexorable logic of future politi - so as the UK seeks to sharply trade matters. cal union. The triggering made all diverge from current regulatory Johnson's majority gives him the more predictable when for the alignment with the EU as Britain the full five years, save for some Glyn Ford was a first time ever the Nationalist seeks to model tax, economy and extraordinary event. However the Labour MEP for Parties just outpolled the labour market with Singapore not promise is hidden in plain sight over 20 years Unionists in the North. C

12 CHARTIST January/February 2020 #302 working_01 cover 02/01/2020 02:17 Page 13

ELECTION BLUES

After darkness, light Tom Miller reflects on the reasons for defeat and identifies seeds for renewal

t is difficult to imagine more painful circumstances in which to be writing. Labour under a socialist leadership has suffered a dIefeat so fundamental that even many areas which are core to our Party’s sense of self are lost to us. Boris Johnson has secured a hege - mony for a substantial bloc of nationalist voters, ranging from right to left on the economy, who had previously voted for Labour, the Tories, and UKIP. It may endure for a decade. Labour has been unable to rally a rival alliance around a social- democratic internationalism, trapped by party rivalries, a hos - tile media, a fragmenting elec - toral system, internal strife, and declining historic base. Left strug - gling with these obstacles, our leadership team has looked out of Antonio Gramsci - “The old is dying, but the new cannot be born” touch, poorly managed and organ - ised, ignorant or hostile to outside floor, dithering and splitting in with Corbyn pose the same ques - critics, and supportive of bureau - media appearances once it was tion: when stuck, why couldn’t we cratic centralism inside the party. done, only added to this. adapt? The 2019 election is a coffin with We can change what brought us Perhaps the most over-used a hundred nails. here. quotation in politics is from Despite popular policies, we These failures a symptom of the Antonio Gramsci, namely that proven ourselves to be fundamen - deeper cause for Labour’s defeat, “The old is dying, but the new tally not up to the task of keeping which is that it is far too slow to cannot be born”. But our job is existing support, winning new listen and change, and far too precisely to make sure that the people over, or introducing a real quick to applaud itself for wherev - new is born; as such, we need to strategy for either. er it currently is. make maximum use of the oppor - It is true that the Party’s Brexit The years that have followed tunity in defeat. We cannot sim - position has cost it much support Corbyn’s election to office have ply repeat the experience – we with ‘Labour leave’ voters. But we been marked by central control of must make deep reaching also lost more ‘Labour remainers’ campaigns and policy. A single changes. to the Lib Dems and Greens than loyalist slate dominates the NEC, We hold a unique opportunity the Labour/Tory gap in many of all of our policy making struc - to preserve Corbynism’s best these seats. We lost a large num - tures, and has been free to select aspects (democracy, popular and ber of seats to the remain-friendly candidates itself and impose them transformative policy), and cast SNP. over the will of local parties. A aside the contradictory urges that It now matters little, but the structure of social media outriders hold the left back (top-down sec - fact is that there was never an and trench mentality rhetoric in tarianism, unwillingness to listen adequate Brexit position for local parties both invoke the lead - or adapt, refusal to put strategy Labour to take, and it was always ership to stifle debate and diversi - first). at a disadvantage following the ty. By embracing a more open and seamless alliance between the Since the election, those who flexible model of politics, Brexit Party and the Tories. benefit by preserving this setup Corbynism has the chance to Labour’s Brexit position devel - have tried to exclusively blame evolve into a broader left, capable oped so slowly that it left us mere Labour’s Brexit position for los - of being more responsive to criti - weeks to persuade people of the ing. This does nothing to interro - cism, promoting party unity, and policy we settled on. It represent - gate the statistics or to explain generating much wider appeal. ed a concession to the People’s the scale of the defeat. It is unde - This requires both the defensive Vote campaign which would have niable that low public trust in the trench mentality held on part of never come about if Labour had leadership overall, some of the Momentum left and the worked earlier to counter Theresa Jeremy’s past, anti-Semitism, the prospect of a return to liberal cen - May’s framing of what Brexit large volume of policies requiring trism to be decisively rejected, meant, and had instead advocated big spends and our image as a Tom Miller is co- and quickly. Now is the time for early for a model like Norway+. A party filled with sectarians all chair Open open minds, open political culture, commitment to fighting (often played a role. Labour and a and the return of socialists to a Corbynite) activists on conference Both Brexit and discontent Brent councillor politics of hope. C

January/February 2020 CHARTIST 13 #302 working_01 cover 02/01/2020 02:17 Page 14

EXTINCTION REBELLION

Hunger strike against global inaction Climate emergency hunger striker Peter Cole explains why he and others took dramatic action in the UK and worldwide

n 18th November Extinction Rebellion (XR), a peaceful civil disobedience move - ment, began a one Oweek Global Climate Hunger Strike (GCHS) to highlight the world’s gov - ernments inaction on the Climate and Ecological Emergency (CEE) and to demand climate justice. It linked current food shortages in the global south with food vulnerability everywhere through the slogan “No Food, No Future”, with 820 million hungry and billions threatened with starvation unless we Act Now. Hunger Strikers chose to forgo their privileged access to food to highlight our shared food vulnerability and to pressure governments to act. Those contemplating striking consulted their doctor. More than 520 people participated worldwide, more than 260 in the UK. They took Peter Cole (left) Extinction Rebellion hunger protest water and some vitamin and miner - al supplements (e.g. vitamin B1, emissions by 2025; and for a change to the world’s children. “I potassium, magnesium and phos - Citizens Assembly to determine the am a rebel so that I can look my phate). The GCHS was flexible, policies to achieve this, based on a grandchildren in the eye”, stressed with people able to join for 24 hours deliberative consideration of the sci - this author. The UN reports 1000 or the full week, or do ‘rolling ence. children die daily (mainly in the hunger strikes’ with 24 hours or Non-engagement of the global south) from climate change, more of fasting interspersed with Conservative party and their mani - this figure increasing as feed-back eating. festo seeking carbon neutrality by loops accelerate emissions to a tip - Some strikers chose to prolong 2050 means mass death as science ping point when irreversibility their strike in the USA (2), shows. It is akin to calling the fire results in the 6th Mass extinction. Palestine (1), Australia (1), Ghana brigade in 30 years’ time when one’s Extinction Rebellion Tells the (1) and UK (5). In the UK this coin - house is now on fire. Marko Truth of social as well as climate cided with the General Election, so Stepanov said “A green revolution science, using mobilisation through hunger strikers sat in front of the will change the economic and social actions which are disruptive, non- main political party headquarters landscape. These people behind us violent, respectful, having an ele - (HQs) seeking to secure their lead - (sic Conservative party) are afraid ment of self-sacrifice. It has incon - ers’ support for a CEE Bill to be of losing their vested interests, their venienced the public to draw media adopted in Parliament. The Green privileges and their entitlements.” attention to the CEE and build a party, Plaid Cymru, Labour and Three UK hunger strikers mass movement but there must Liberal Democrats engaged to vary - (Julian May, Marko Stepanov and always be a balance between caus - ing degrees but the Brexit and Peter Cole) completed 26 days feel - ing disruption and building popular Conservative parties failed to do so. ing no hunger after three days. support. Hunger striking inconve - Hunger strikers were ejected from Slow thought and speech, progres - niences ourselves rather than the the latter two HQs on attempting to sive weakness and weight loss in public, is socially and psychological - deliver invitations to discussions. the region of 10 to 15 Kg ensued ly rather than economically disrup - Seven invitations were issued to and cold, wind and rain took their tive, and can help mobilise ‘people Conservative Party leader and toll but morale was boosted by XR power’ against inaction of the gov - Prime Minister Boris Johnson - in supporters. Blood tests monitored Peter Cole is a 76 ernment. vain. electrolytes, kidney and liver func - year old emeritus Parliament declared a CEE on Extinction Rebellion is ‘beyond tion. Infection during, and re-feed - professor of 1st May 2019 but failed to act with - politics’ but sought the support of all ing at the conclusion of the strike respiratory in six months. The CEE Bill is a MP candidates for the Bill, with 220 are the greatest dangers to life - medicine at response to this. We urge everyone pledging their support (15 now mortality of World War 2 concentra - Imperial College, in the UK to lobby their MP until elected MPs). The Bill has three tion camp prisoners increased when London. He was sufficient cross party support for the demands: for the government to liberated and given free food. Re- active in the Bill enables it to become law. If Tell the Truth about CEE to the feeding is gradual over 3-4 weeks. south of the USA there is insufficient progress on the public through the media; for the Motives for adopting a hunger during the Civil Bill by Spring 2020 disruptive government to Act Now, committing strike varied but we unite in our Rights marches rebellion will occur, including to halting nature loss and carbon alarm at the threat of climate of 1963/4 GCHS. C

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NORTHERN ECONOMY

Johnson’s economic populism Bryn Jones finds the Tories adaptation to state intervention is an opportunity for a Labour counter offensive

ollowing the Tories’ sweeping gains in Labour’s northern and midlands heartlands, Boris Johnson’s pledges tFo these ‘left-behind’ areas has become a major post-election focus. One that is also crucial to reverse Labour’s electoral fortunes. For it represents a major test of the new Tory paradigm. Put simplistically, this is akin to the challenge dogging Donald Trump’s similar form of eco - nomic populism: how to maintain a free-market neoliberal framework whilst simultaneously using state intervention and fiscal levers to raise incomes and standards for the economically – usually working The Preston Model that has grown and revitalised that area’s economy class – disadvantaged. Many believe that Trump repaid actually be country-wide, rather offensive. If and when the planned political debts to his finance capital than focussed solely on blighted ex- capital investment could take years backers by reinforcing the neoliber - Labour constituencies. to regenerate run-down areas while al dimension with tax cuts and Such capital may generate some the bidding for ‘new towns’ funding deregulation (e.g.in health care) at jobs but it will do little to raise the could trigger new political rifts and the expense of measures that could abysmally low wage rates in these conflicts. Labour needs to have reduce working class deprivation. areas, where routine services, call alternative policies to promote Trump’s popularity partially centres and distribution depots are through aggressive campaigns root - endures because tax cuts have typical sources of employment. ed in social movements and local boosted general economic activity, Conservative pledges promised to communities. for a while, and protectionist and raise the national living wage - One such counter-strategy could anti-immigrant policies play well to based on a two-thirds proportion of utilise the successful Preston Model many working class voters. With median wages - from £8.21 to that has grown and revitalised that the UK as a supplicant in post- £10.50 per hour for those aged over area’s economy by focussing large Brexit prospective trade talks with 21; theoretically putting another 90 anchor institutions’ spending on the USA, EU and others, such clout odd pounds a week in full-time goods and services from local sup - and tactics are not at Johnson’s dis - workers’ pockets and purses. But pliers. If, as often follows a general posal. there are catches. Many low paid election, the party in government Some modest income tax relief workers, especially women, are in loses control of councils in subse - did feature in Tory manifesto part-time jobs with proportionately quent local elections, Labour’s promises. However, it also promised lower weekly earnings. Moreover national party organisation needs to to reverse a planned cut in corpora - the timetable for the higher rate be ready with beefed-up versions of tion tax and to boost public spend - stretches over five years; which the Preston model, and similar poli - ing on health and education ser - would mean average, annual rises cies, to expose the feebleness of Tory vices. Although these sums are rela - of only 47 p per hour, or £18.80 per measures for run-down northern tively small they still need to be week for full-time workers. There is and midlands towns. funded. Johnson’s post-election tour no mention of inflation-proofing Tory attempts to ride the two of his new, northern client con - these rises and, as the TUC com - horses of neoliberal free trade and stituencies re-iterated Manifesto ments, if Brexit cost inflation hits publicly funded, infrastructure pledges for a ‘Northern Powerhouse the economy, the median rate for all development are highly likely to Rail’ between Leeds and workers will fall. In turn this will come unstuck. Their ‘escape’ from Manchester, followed by Newcastle, reduce the rate of the living wage. the EU into the sunny uplands of Tees Valley, Hull, Sheffield and Without the regularisation of gig deregulated international free Liverpool links. It also promised a economy work that Labour trade, is essentially an attempt to ‘new deal for towns’, rebranding and promised, many employers may breathe new life into neoliberal slightly expanding the previously also transfer workers into self- globalism. However, inherent socio- introduced £3.6bn Towns Fund to: employment, to evade wage regula - economic contradictions in this com - regenerate towns, ‘produce thriving tion. bination of economic populism and high streets, give young people a Johnson’s strategists see their neoliberalism may undermine future . . . safer streets, safer towns, conquered Labour strongholds in Bryn Jones is a attempts to build a solid electoral new civic infrastructure, community the North and Midlands as poten - political base in ex-industrial Labour heart - ownership and community spirit.’ tially permanent pillars of Tory sociologist and lands. They could instead provide Utopia awaits. Unfortunately it rule. Yet this focus offers Labour officer of Bath sources for a more credible Labour seems likely that this fund will considerable scope for a counter- CLP alternative. C

January/February 2020 CHARTIST 15 #302 working_01 cover 02/01/2020 02:17 Page 16

TRADE DEALS

Free market nightmare Nick Dearden on the danger of Johnson dancing to Trump’s tune on trade

oris Johnson is in office and moving with great speed to embark on a number of post Brexit trade deals, deals Bwhich could fundamentally and irreversibly shift of the balance of power and wealth in favour of cap - ital. An ‘independent’ trade policy has always been at the heart of Tory Eurosceptic vision of Brexit. Partly this comes from their impe - rial fantasies, in which Britannia will once again use her control of the seas to impose free trade on the rest of the world. But there’s a hard reality to their trade obses - sion too – trade deals today are mammoth agreements which can effect massive changes across an economy with no parliamentary accountability and the force of international law to hold them in place. As such they are a key Big US Pharma mechanism for deregulation, liber - alisation and corporate rule. hard to reduce labelling standards get higher and more stringent Johnson’s prize is a US deal, of under a trade deal. And perhaps under trade deals. Trump calls us course. This suits Donald Trump more importantly, British ‘freeloaders’ off US drug research down to the ground – he’s spent farmer’s ability to compete because we don’t simply allow the the last three years using trade against this industrial scale agri - market to dictate what the NHS policy to undermine the economies culture depends on us too adopt - should pay for new medicines. In of the US’s main competitors – the ing lower standards and ‘getting trade deals, he’s trying to force EU and China. As leaks from the big or getting out’. countries to remove the ability to US trade talks have shown, US Second is services. Trade deals regulate medicine prices, poten - negotiators are desperate for the are increasingly about ‘trade in tially raising medicine costs to the hardest possible Brexit, moving services’ and ensuring that sector NHS astronomically. And this is Britain away from EU standards is as liberalised as possible. This not all one way – Johnson’s gov - and protections both as a way of includes everything from energy ernment will attempt to do very increasing the penetration of US services to financial services to similar things in trade deals with capital in the British economy, telecommunications, insurance, developing countries, potentially and weakening the EU economy and much of what we’d regard as threatening access to medicines as a whole. The changes which ‘public services’. Once liberalised, for millions of people across the Johnson has already made to the it’s a one-way street – trade deals world. EU Withdrawal Act are dancing have ‘standstill’ clauses to ensure A new innovation in trade deals to Trump’s tune. countries cannot ‘un-liberalise’ is the so-called ‘e-commerce’ agen - So what does the US want from services and ‘ratchet’ clauses to da. This is really about setting a trade deal with Britain? First it ensure that any policy change new global rules governing digital wants regulatory changes. At the goes in the direction of more liber - trade. Sadly, the current push – moment, industrially produced alisation. for US and British governments - US agriculture is often blocked So taking public control of ener - is setting those rules in the inter - from EU markets because of the gy, telecommunications, broad - est of the Big Tech industry. This quantities of antibiotics, steroids, band, contracted out bits of the makes it much more difficult for hormones and chlorine used. The NHS, are all extremely difficult governments to hold Big Tech US is demanding these prohibi - under these clauses. True, you companies to account – it makes it tions are removed. This wouldn’t can opt out services from these more difficult from them to control necessarily change British stan - liberalising disciplines, but it’s where Big Tech can hold your dards, but it would mean these not as easy as it sounds. You can’t data, impossible for them to scruti - US goods appearing on our super - opt out services that don’t yet nise source code and algorithms, market shelves. exist (think NHS online services), and harder for them to tax and This is how modern trade deals and it relies on having a govern - regulate Big Tech giants. US nego - put downward pressure on stan - ment that actually wants to tiators have told us that a digital dards and protections across the exclude certain services from services tax would be impossible board. In case you think, ‘well, it’s trade deals. Nick Dearden is under a US trade deal. Doubtless up to the consumer what they eat’, Related to this is intellectual Director of Global public broadband would be too. remember that the US is pushing property provisions, which also Justice Now Trade Secretary Liz Truss won’t

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REGROUP

mind – she’s already said we are “a nation of Airbnb-ing, Deliveroo- eating, Uber-riding freedom fight - Regroup and learn the ers”. Finally, modern trade deals often include a parallel legal sys - lessons tem only open to foreign-based big business. This ‘corporate court’ system allows corporations to sue Sam Tarry MP on threats and challenges facing the Labour Britain for doing almost anything they don’t like – environmental movement protection, regulating finance, renationalising public services, he week after the elec - anti-smoking policies – you name tion was an incredibly it. These things already exist in proud and humbling numerous international deals and one for me as I began have seen tobacco giants suing my work as the Member countries for putting cigarettes in oTf Parliament for South. plain packaging, water companies Not every Member has the suing when governments raise the opportunity to represent the con - minimum wage, and, recently, an stituency they grew up in, had energy company suing when a gov - their first job in, went to school in, ernment promised to phase out and first got involved in politics in coal use. - I’m determined to repay the While such tribunals exist trust the electorate has put in me, already, they don’t currently exist because it’s my community, my between the US and European friends, and the people that I’ve Union. The potential for thou - grown up with that I’m now repre - sands of the biggest corporations senting. Sam Tarry with London mayor Sadiq Khan on campaign trail in the world to sue the British gov - But that elation and pride has ernment for practically anything been severely tempered by the of reforming the BBC, boundary they don’t like is a chilling sadness I felt for many friends changes, ID checks on voters prospect indeed. and comrades who either lost their known to suppress working class Trade deals today aren’t just seats or fell far short of being communities and even rumoured massive. They’re also incredibly elected to Parliament. Their ener - plans to re-examine the Supreme secretive. In the EU we spent gy and ideas will be a huge loss for Court. Make no mistake - they many years fighting for a relative - our Party, but I’m confident they’ll have a plan to re-shape Britain ly open and democratic trade nego - continue the fight in every corner that is every bit as radical as that tiating process. In Britain, we of our country. which Labour put forward from a haven’t even started to have that The General Election result was progressive point of view. fight. That means that as things catastrophic for the Labour move - What’s clear in my first few stand, MPs have no right to see a ment, and a devastating outcome days in office is how aggressively government’s negotiating objec - for millions of people, a vast pro - this Tory government plans to cut, tives, no right to see the negotiat - portion of whom will now be facing privatise and roll back even more ing papers and an ability to stop a a further five years of deteriorat - of the gains made by previous trade deal that they don’t like. ing living standards, whilst our Labour governments. Whether it Trade deals will be negotiated welfare state and public services be reneging on commitments to under royal prerogative. While are further dismantled. EU rights standards, underinvest - Theresa May relented to parlia - The already downtrodden and ment in the NHS, the outlawing of mentary pressure and promised hardest up will continue to bear strikes, or the failure to deliver on some accountability to MPs in the brunt of ideologically-driven many of its promises, such as the negotiating an EU-UK deal, Boris austerity cuts that have slashed planned increase in the national Johnson has removed those com - billions from the public sector bud - living wage. This Tory government mitments. get, held back private sector will not stop with its ideological So our ability to stop these deals investment and R&D, failed to brutality. Many on their benches will be won or lost by campaigns, create well paid and long term see this as their opportunity to in the media, and on the streets. It jobs on a serious scale, whilst this reignite the fires of Thatcherism is possible. Trade deals have been new Government will likely fur - for the 21st century. defeated by campaigning before – ther demonise refugees and They won't be unopposed most recently the US-EU deal migrants - in particular the though. Despite being reduced in TTIP. But we need to make crystal Muslim community, and move number, we must now regroup clear what these deals mean – quickly to extend the privatisation and learn the lessons of why we both for us and for others, as we of our National Health Service, lost the General Election, being will discover when Johnson starts dismantle rights at work and to truly honest and leaving no stone negotiating in earnest with continue to cut taxes for the super unturned as we plan to regain African, Asian and Latin rich and large corporations. Neo- power and rebuild our movement. American countries. Trade is not liberalism will be unshackled, and In Parliament we will challenge primarily about eating more inter - driven deeper into our economy and scrutinise the callous legisla - esting foods from far-flung corners and culture. tion the Government has set out in of the world. Deals like the US-UK With an unstoppable majority Sam Tarry is the Queen’s Speech. We will deal is about handing vast they'll attempt to rewrite the newly-elected always argue the case for a better swathes of our society over to big rules. I expect to sees attacks on Labour MP for alternative for every citizen in this business. We can and must stop it. C democracy itself under the guise Ilford South country. C

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CHILE

UPRISING IN CHILE Ricardo Salva says the recent turmoil in Chile heralds the beginning of a potential revolutionary transformation

he political, economic and Tear gas, mass arrests and No+AFP in 2011, the women's social system in Chile is water Cannons, also known as movement, NI UNA MENOS and in crisis. An historic and ‘Guanacos’, shooting people at head the resistance by the Mapuche peo - concurrent crisis of the level with hundreds blinded, have ple against discrimination. post-Pinochet economic evoked painful memories. The A mass movement that started in aTnd social ‘stability’ era, and a crisis crackdown has reminded people of October in Santiago has been trans - of representation by the current the time when on the 11 September formed into a revolutionary move - political parties in Government and 1973, the former socialist president, ment not seen since the Pinochet by the leadership of the ‘opposition’ Salvador Allende was overthrown years. More and more protesters parties, is taking place. by armed forces under the com - have become organised. More than In a country where there is a mand of General Augusto Pinochet. 50 workers’ and social organisa - deep political mistrust of the insti - The US-backed coup led to political tions, including the Chilean TUC, tutions, opportunities and spaces repression, during which the army were united in calling for a General have arisen where new formations executed or ‘disappeared’ thousands Strike in September with more than within the labour movement and of political opponents. Now, in spite 200 organisations participating. social organisations are becoming of the clampdown, daily marches, Alameda Avenue and Plaza Italia, instruments for the protesters’ women dancing in unison in the renamed “Plaza Dignidad” by the demands. Under the banners of streets, to the song of “A Rapist Is protesters, rang with the cries of “Chile has woken up” and for a In Your Way", street barricades, cit - “Chile has woken up", “Piñera “Free and Sovereign Constituent izen assemblies and other actions Renuncia” and calls for the estab - Assembly”, Chile has become are continuing. lishment of a Constituent Assembly. engulfed in mass rallies, hundreds Background to mass protests Much of the indignation can be of public protests and events, citizen Social unrest across the region traced back to Chile’s role as the assemblies (‘Cabildos’, usually held had been simmering for years. It is original testing ground of authori - in public places) for more than 40 tempting to search for a common tarian neoliberalism where a free- consecutive days. Protesters have reference, for regions or places with market economy was protected from faced heavy-handed police and mili - a different character and context. democratic and workers' demands. tary intervention backed by new As result of the international finan - This resulted in one of the most far- and draconian anti protest-legisla - cial crisis of 2007/8, the world econ - reaching privatisation programmes tion. omy has entered a stage of financial known and one which was also As 2019 ended Chileans are and commercial clashes not seen enshrined and legitimised in an counting the cost of weeks of mass since the Second World War. undemocratic constitution. protests and once the street barri - At the same time popular upris - Following the transition to cades have been removed, many ing in Bolivia was growing. On 11th Democracy, after 1990, this neolib - protesters will be asking them - November 2019, Evo Morales, eral model was left largely selves where their central demand Bolivia's populist president for untouched. The ‘Concertaciòn’ coali - for a Sovereign Constituent almost 14 years, was deposed. tion governments of the 1990s and Assembly has gone? The ruling Social and political unrest had been 2000s not only maintained right-wing governing alliance and stirring elsewhere, apart from Pinochet's Constitution, but also the opposition political forces Venezuela, in Ecuador, Perù, Brazil deepened the privatisation initia - offered a compromise, a 12-point and Central America. Chile’s unrest tives. As a result, most of the public “Agreement for Social Peace and a has spread to Colombia as well. goods and services are now provided New Constitution". This new agree - According to the online Financial by private companies or public-pri - ment was made with the aim of Times (04.12.19) “Unlike the vate initiatives, making them unaf - calming popular indignation and Russian and Asian crisis that fordable for the mass of the popula - restoring public order in a clear engulfed the emerging world in the tion. attempt to escape political account - 1990s, contagion this time is not Response to the uprising ability. primarily a financial market phe - The demand for a Constituent From mid-October, provoked by nomenon". The article ironically Assembly has been an important an increase in metro fares, the concluded that this is due to the fact collective goal together with streets of Santiago have been alight that “populations are much more demands related to wages, health, with student protest, the most aware than in the past". education and pensions. Initially the important social explosion that has In Chile the current political government's plan was for the work happened in Chile since the end of unrest started in October 2019. to be done in Congress, but this was the military dictatorship. A violent However, as far back as 2006, sec - widely rejected. The 12-point police response, in which nearly 30 ondary school students revolted “Agreement for Social Peace and a people were killed, thousands against the cost of education in a New Constitution" outlined a new wounded and detained, inflamed movement which become known as constitution with citizen participa - popular indignation, and the “The Revolution of the Penguins", a tion. This will be subject to a demonstrations swelled into a revo - reference to the colours of their plebiscite to be held on 26th April lutionary revolt against social school uniform. Since then, other Ricardo Salva in 2020 where Chileans will be able to inequality, the rising cost of living, social movements have joined them, a member of vote whether they want a new con - and a call for the establishment of a such as the movement against the Bethnal Green stitution and if so, whether they Constituent Assembly. privatised pension scheme, and Bow CLP want it to be drafted by a mixed citi -

18 CHARTIST January/February 2020 #302 working_01 cover 02/01/2020 02:17 Page 19

AFRICA & DEBT

zen-legislator convention or one Thanks to the support provided Votes of the opposition parties and entirely comprising elected citizens. by the opposition parties, the right- those representatives on the left Who will control these agreements wing Government has gained an were divided in supporting the politically and how they will move intermission, a necessary respite Security Agreement measures, forward are obviously key concerns from the continuous uprising. Last some abstained (including the for protesters. week the Council Leader from Communist Party’s elected parlia - “This is an historic night for Estaciòn Central, Rodrigo Delgado, mentarians) and only a small Chile" said Jaime Quintana, publicly expressed a qualified sup - minority, voted against it. The President of the Senate during a port to The Agreement saying that Agreement between the right-wing joint announcement by the ruling “The most valuable aspect of it was government and the opposition par - and opposition party leaders early to reach an agreement amongst the ties shows that even when the on Friday 29 November 2019. The political parties". Yet, in its refusal Chilean right’s ability to face the apparent reversal of the govern - to recognise the depth of indigna - national crisis collapses rapidly, the ment's and the political opposition's tion amongst the mass movement, bureaucracies and centre-left par - position on a potential Constituent the Government has attempted to ties are acting in defence of the sys - Assembly is seen as an important apply an old formula of simultane - tem in an attempt to halt the mass victory by some, while others have ously taking away with one hand movement. criticised it and rejected it. The what they claim to be giving with Social Unity (Unidad Social), Agreement for Social Peace and a the other. Gonzalo Brunel, the the main umbrella organisation New Constitution is seen as an Home Secretary, has pointed out involved in leading the social escape route for a government the necessity to re-establish public uprising, comprising more than which continues with a free-market order as a condition for reaching 200 groups, trade unions and economic programme, the longest “Not just the Social Pact, but also social organisations is calling for neo-liberal programme applied to the Constitutional Agreement and an active opposition to the any country anywhere, and one the economic recovery agenda". Agreement, and to continuing which has validated a government As a result, a ‘Security mobilisation, Cabildos and with blood on its hands. This Agreement’ approved by the govern - protests. A recent statement Agreement has allowed the govern - ment and opposition parties enables issued by Unidad Social (04.12.19) ment to avoid facing responsibility criminalisation of the social protests regards the Agreement for Social for the serious human rights viola - with draconian sentences. These Peace, as the opposite, a declara - tions committed during the protests are measures openly directed to tion of war against the mass of the last months. make the right to protest illegal. protest movement. C The Money Drain Sunit Bagree shows how Southern Africa faces massive debt injustice

n August 2019, Action for Africa remains immense. For Southern Africa (ACTSA) example, the youth unemployment the successor organisation to rate is 31%, 5.4 million people are the Anti Apartheid undernourished, there are at least Movement, published a 617,400 new HIV infections a year Imajor new report; “The Money and more than 40% of the popula - Drain: How Trade Misinvoicing tion in 12 countries do not have and Unjust Debt Undermine access to basic sanitation services. Economic and Social Rights in After engaging in trade misin - Southern Africa”. voicing by falsely declaring the The report finds that the price, quantity or quality of a good Southern African Development or service on an invoice submitted Community (SADC) region loses to customs, criminals can use US$8.8 billion in trade-related intermediaries in secrecy jurisdic - illicit outflows and US$21.1 billion tions to capture and divert illicit in external government debt pay - profits to tax havens. The report ments per year. These huge finan - estimates that South Africa alone cial outflows severely diminish is drained of at least US$5.9 billion resources for realising economic a year due to trade-related illicit and social rights in Southern outflows. Africa. While the external debts of gov - While SADC governments are ernments are not necessarily prob - primarily responsible for realising lematic for their citizens, some of the economic and social rights of the region’s external public debt is Sunit Bagree is invoicing is fragmented and slow, their citizens, the governments of illegal, some is odious, and some is Senior and virtually nothing has been rich countries have significant illegitimate. The report calculates Campaigns achieved to ensure debt justice. legal and moral obligations to sup - that Angola alone is drained of Officer for The Money Drain contains 12 rec - port these efforts. US$12.1 billion a year in principal ACTSA. The full ommendations to address these The report demonstrates that and interest payments on public report can be problems and promote economic the scale of unrealised economic debt. found on and social rights in Southern and social rights in Southern Progress on tackling trade mis - www.actsa.org Africa. C

January/February 2020 CHARTIST 19 #302 working_01 cover 02/01/2020 02:17 Page 20

SPAIN

Spanish Socialists walking a tightrope Brian O’Leary reports on a narrow victory for Spain’s Socialist Party with separatist and economic challenges facing the coalition

n the general election in last ties in condemning the outcome economy, welfare state, environ - November the Socialist and renewing their demands for ment and citizen rights, but also Party (PSOE) again became the right to self-determination. includes: the largest party and has Meanwhile the positions on the i. Solutions to the Catalan finally agreed to form a right ranged from claims that crisis would have to be sought “… Icoalition government with the left Sanchez was still too conciliatory within the bounds of the radical grouping Unidas Podemos and a firmer restoration of law Constitution” (UP). However as they are still and order was needed, to Vox ii. Control of Public expendi - only the largest minority block in stoking up extreme nationalist ture to ensure fiscal balance. the Parliament they need the sup - demands to end regional autono - These are effectively Sanchez’s port or abstention of smaller, my and freedoms along Francoist red lines. Iglesias, leader of mainly nationalist parties from lines. Podemos, has agreed to these con - the autonomous regions, for suc - Secondly, Spain experienced ditions to enable a coalition as he cessful investiture. mass feminist demonstrations believes it “...will be the best vac - In comparison with the May condemning violence against cine against the far right”. election, after which the PSOE women, domestic and otherwise, Nevertheless, there are problems. avoided any serious attempt to and demanding legal changes. The Constitution of 1978 includ - link up with the UP, both parties High profile rape cases and farci - ed concessions by the PSOE at the have lost ground in their number cal trials further inflamed belief in time of the “…transition to democ - of seats. On the other hand there the ingrained misogynist nature of racy” to the political remnants of has been a realignment and Spanish society. Again Vox tried Franco, including the military. strengthening of the right, with to exploit the situation by calling Besides the monarchy itself, arti - not only a partial recovery of the for the actual repeal of gender vio - Pedro Sanchez cle 2 guarantees “…the indissolu - corruption ridden conservative lence laws “… that discriminates ble unity of the Spanish nation”. Popular Party (PP) but also a dou - against one of the sexes”, hoping This remained unchallenged sub - bling of representation for the to co-opt the support of as many sequently by the PSOE and is ultra-conservative racist party macho bigots as possible. obviously a roadblock to resolving Vox, making it the third largest. The continued migration crisis Catalonia. UP, while supporting What had happened between in the Mediterranean, with the right to self-determination, has the two elections to weaken the increased landings in Spain itself, previously advocated a federal two main left parties? was also used by the right to stoke solution. However, now that Vox is The main reason was Catalonia. xenophobic fears, including attacking the Constitution for con - During the summer the trial for Islamophobia. Sanchez to his cred - ceding devolution and wants the rebellion, sedition and misuse of it offered Spain as a safe haven for scrapping of all autonomous public funds of the separatist lead - ships blocked by Salvini. rights, the left along with the cen - ers of the independence referen - Then just before the November tre right have pointedly and jointly dum of 2017, forbidden by the poll on 24th October, after a legal celebrated its 41st anniversary. It Constitution, came to a conclusion fight, permission was given to is unlikely that a coalition can suc - in the Constitutional Court. The exhume and relocate Franco’s ceed in the investiture unless at Catalan President at the time body from The Valley of the least the left leaning ERC Catalan remained on the run in Belgium. Fallen, a monstrous granite monu - separatist party offers its coopera - Although they were cleared of ment celebrating his Civil War tion, despite the Constitutional rebellion nine were found guilty victory. For the PSOE straightjacket to its independence on other counts and sentenced col - Government and the left his con - and Republican ambitions and the lectively to a sum total of nearly tinued burial there was an affront imprisonment of its leader for 13 100 years in prison. Spain, and to democracy. The fascist right years. indeed Western Europe, now had was livid and saw it as a moral The Constitution, amended its first political prisoners in living outrage against their national recently by the PP, requires by law memory! Unsurprisingly, while hero. Beyond them it symbolically that the Euro Area’s Stability and independence protesters had stirred unspoken and unresolved Growth Pact is adhered to. Doing always previously been peaceful, memories and anger on both sides so will constrain Sanchez’s ability now violent confrontations with in a country that has encoded in to tackle years of austerity and its the riot police erupted. law the forgetting of all the crimes social and economic consequences. Sanchez, the Prime Minister of the dictatorship. Once formed any left govern - and leader of the PSOE, main - Which brings us to the recent ment would therefore be walking a tained that the independence of election result, with Sanchez tightrope. Survival cannot just rely the judiciary and the Constitution undertaking a U-turn by trying to Brian O’Leary is a on precarious parliamentary arith - itself had to be respected, form a left coalition government. member of metic but also on organising, although he called for dialogue. The coalition pre-agreement Chingford and empowering and mobilising the UP joined in with separatist par - includes laudable aims on the Woodgreen CLP Left’s extra-Parliamentary base. C

20 CHARTIST January/February 2020 #302 working_01 cover 02/01/2020 02:17 Page 21

USA

Impeached President Trump re- elected? Paul Garver on the challenge for rivals aiming to stop Trump in 2020

n Chartist 282 (Sep-Oct in sufficient numbers to enlarge the 2016), I wrote that Hilary electorate nor, crucially motivate Clinton, then leading Donald them to be politically active over the Trump by double digits in the long haul. polls, might yet be defeated if Elections in our highly polarized Ithe Democrats continued to support polity are often won by increasing free trade treaties, neglect the frus - turnout and enthusiasm rather tration of formerly unionized work - than by persuading a shrinking pool ers in the industrial heartlands, and of ‘swing voters’. The Left in and campaign against Trump without around the Democratic Party, with promoting a convincing program of a different vision from that of the their own. My worst fears were real - ‘pragmatists’, fights for sweeping ized when Trump rode to victory by programs to energize the progres - edging out the Democrats in former sive base of democratic activists, industrial areas where disgruntled attract fresh support, particularly white voters voted out their frustra - National polls show Sanders as the only potential candidate to from people of colour and younger tion. For the 2020 presidential elec - lead Trump voters, and eliminate the influence tion, I fear the path to hell is easier of wealthy donors. Higher partici - for the Democrats to follow. Deval Patrick, a former cautiously pation has accompanied such pro - In December, Trump was progressive governor of gressive victories as Alexandria impeached in the House of Massachusetts, appears to be hop - Ocasio-Cortez over a long-term New Representatives for abusing his ing to become the ‘next Barack York Democratic incumbent, office to win political favors from Obama’ following the withdrawal of Ayanna Pressley in a Boston area Ukraine. The Republican-majority Kamala Harris and Cory Booker. Congressional seat and DSA mem - Senate will probably acquit him, so Obama himself is an open advo - bers to Chicago City Council and he will remain in office. Following cate for a moderate who can beat state legislatures around the coun - every twist and turn of this distract - Sanders/Warren in the primaries try. ing story, the media circus will only and then defeat Trump in the gen - On the presidential nomination relent after Trump declares full vin - eral election. The big Democratic the ‘Squad’ is split, with Tlaib, dication to his supporters. The real donors, national party apparatus Ocasio-Cortez and Omar supporting crises facing Americans – climate and their propagandists in the mass Sanders, while Pressley has disruption, a dysfunctional health media (e.g. NY Times, MSNBC) endorsed Warren. DSA, PDA and system, persecution of refugees, appear consumed by the same Our Revolution support Sanders; growing inequality and racism - will search. This presumes that Trump, the Working Families Party endors - stay in the background. emerging unbowed from the es Warren. Up to and beyond the Struggling for attention, numer - impeachment hearings with his 2020 presidential election, any pos - ous candidates in the Democratic hardcore base intact, will be suffi - sibility of success will depend on primaries soldier on. Bernie ciently discredited among durable collaboration between Sanders and Elizabeth Warren Independents and swing voters that democratic socialists and progres - evenly share the more progressive he can be defeated, even in the sives, both electorally and in the half of Democratic primary voters. Electoral College, where political streets. If Sanders, Warren or a Both are financed by huge numbers geography favours Republicans centrist Democrat became of individual donors, supporting with their reactionary, racist and President, it would require massive ambitious programs like the Green xenophobic appeals to older white mobilizations of progressive social New Deal, Medicare for All and free voters. The most difficult problem is movements to secure radical higher education, based on higher that some 35-40% of the electorate reforms. But a Trump (or Trump taxes of the super-rich. appears committed to Trump clone) victory would jeopardize Many other candidates are vying regardless of (or because of) his democracy and the rule of law: to be the ‘moderate’ alternative to many transgressions. much of our political work could be the democratic socialism of Sanders We on the Left cannot simply dis - forced underground to survive. and the anti-corporate progressive miss the argument that the Recent national polls show populism of Warren. Joe Biden is Democrats should nominate whoev - Sanders as the only potential candi - the sentimental choice of tradition - er can defeat Trump by carrying date to consistently lead Trump. alists, invoking the good old days of most of the so-called ‘purple’ states That many of the huge crowd in cautious presidents Bill Clinton and won by Obama but later by Trump. Iowa recently were there more for Barack Obama. Pete Buttigieg However, the ‘pragmatic’ Ocasio-Cortez than for Sanders is seems to be emerging as the most Democratic strategy of opposing no problem. He long carried the viable of the younger ‘moderates’. Trump without a strong reform pro - Paul Garver is a torch for democratic socialism in Billionaire Michael Bloomberg now gram to combat inequality failed for member of relative obscurity but now he is aims to buy his way into this role. (I Clinton in 2016 and probably would Democratic joined by a much younger, more think he is planning a run as an again in 2020. It would neither Socialists of diverse cohort with sweeping goals ‘independent’.) African-American motivate younger voters to turn out America for transforming American society. C January/February 2020 CHARTIST 21 #302 working_01 cover 02/01/2020 02:17 Page 22

CONSTITUTION

No more Labour Red Walls? Polarisation into Brexit and Remain broke Labour’s coalition says Mary Southcott , now we need a constitutional convention and PR to reassemble common ground

f you had one wish for a moved from “Labour heartlands” to replay general election, what university metropolitan cities. to choose? Different Leader, Labour’s members in Red Wall con - EU policy, anti-Semitism or stituencies, often untypical Remain islamophobia, time of year, no voters, didn’t raise Brexit. it would Irain. What about another voting lose votes. The voting system played system, a political culture from a canny role masking the results of doing things for people to empower - Theresa May’s 2017 incursions into ing people to do things together? Labour territory. Many seats were What did Labour say about democ - vulnerable to the 2019 Tory racy? Most people thought democ - onslaught. racy was fulfilling the referendum. Without a decision on our rela - After finding a way to win the next tionship with the EU, Labour was General Election, let’s move from totally vulnerable. To be successful relying on Red Walls to finding Labour needs to nurture its link Labour voters everywhere with a between those who need a Labour PR system. government in the way the 2019 Paul Mason, from defeated Manifesto elaborated and those who Leigh, wrote: “Once Farage stood see the benefit of a more equal soci - down in 317 seats, the only thing ety, what we have in common that could have stopped the Tories rather than what divides us. was (a) an electoral pact between Polarised into Leave and People’s progressive parties, (b) an unprece - Vote broke this coalition. dented turnout by progressive In 2007, the Labour Campaign young voters, or (c) massive tactical for Electoral Reform, wrote a pam - voting”. None of these happened. Jo phlet entitled Reversing Labour Swinson spent as much time vilify - Reading pads’, assumed traditional Retreat. We warned about under ing Jeremy as Johnson. We never Labour voters would either vote registration, overtargeting, bound - mentioned votes@16. And although Brexit or stay at home. We didn’t ary changes which the Tories can the Mirror’s guide to tactical voting knock them up. Had we talked with legitimately implement, the need to would have defeated the Tories, them we might have changed their endorse voting reform while in gov - Labour opposition let the voting sys - minds or alerted ourselves to the ernment. It is high time Labour tem triumph. Now some say: "No future. In seats where Labour was, acknowledged that its membership More Labour Prime Ministers with - they thought, always going to win, is already pro PR. Of 632 Labour out Progressive Pacts and Electoral our Red Wall, voters could make a candidates over a quarter, 163, Reform". difference, protest at being taken for were open in their support and 60 Let’s look back to UKIP winning granted, or blame something and went on to be MPs. Make Votes the 2014 European elections. the EU was as good as anything. At Matter commissioned YouGov Instead of discovering why some red last they had an effective vote, to research showing that seventy five wall ‘working class’ voters were sup - say here I am, have you noticed? per cent of Labour’s membership porting this socially conservative, Where the industrial revolution supports PR. English nationalist party, we told begun, Labour voters voted Leave. We will be working with extra ourselves that they were taking Did we approach them? Or join parliamentary forces while still votes from the Tories, while Lynton their condemnation? being a Westminster response to a Crosby ensured they kept their vot - Regional offices based tactical rabidly right Tory government. Is ers by offering that EU referendum. decisions on polls at the start of the there anything, but money, to stop When the 2015 exit poll gave the 2017 General Election. This mas - us holding a citizens’ assembly on Tories a slender majority with the sively warped the work that was our democracy or a Constitutional loss of all Labour seats in Scotland, being done with people misdirected Convention trailed in our except one, Labour’s first red wall from seats that were won. Labour’s Manifesto? Couldn’t we join up the had collapsed. We blamed the Leadership was fighting for the pop - dots on English devolution, financ - Scottish Independence Referendum ular vote as in a PR system. We ing local government, citizenship but it was just as much about our only have to mention Al Gore or education, votes at 16, registration, safe seat mentality. Hilary Clinton to know that wasn’t Lords replacement. We need to find Straight into the Euro going to work. Our manifesto was a space to find anti Tory consensus Referendum without the aid of a PR one whereas in a general elec - which means working in a non trib - written Constitution which might tion the effective voter is an uncer - al but assertive way with support - helpfully have said, what a Labour tain switcher in a targeted seat who ers of other parties also opposed to or LibDem opposition might have needs constant reassurance while the Johnson agenda. That is the raised, a threshold of fifty per cent the media play on fears of immigra - challenge and to find a leader that of the electorate or two thirds of tion, crime and national security. Mary Southcott is understands why our policy going votes cast, advisory not mandatory. The Labour membership is a member of into the next general election has to The 2016 WARP, ‘without all those skewed to the south and policy Chartist EB be PR. C 22 CHARTIST January/February 2020 #302 working_01 cover 02/01/2020 02:17 Page 23

POLL TAX

Can’t pay, won’t pay 30 years on Simon Hannah on lessons of the battle to defeat the poll tax

t is 30 years since the Poll Tax was introduced in Scotland and this year is the anniversary of the riot in Trafalgar Square that made hIeadline news around the world. The Poll Tax was Margaret Thatcher’s “flag ship” policy, the cul - mination of a decade of sweeping political, social and economic reforms designed to redistribute power and wealth from the poorest to the richest. The Poll Tax - official - ly called the Community Charge - was introduced to replace the rates as a way to pay for local govern - ment. It was controversial because the Community Charge was a flat tax, every adult paid the same. The tax was designed to fix what the Tories saw as a grand iniquity, that lots of poor people bene-fited Poll Tax demo in the 1980s from local government services but they didn’t have to pay towards impris-oned for non-payment. Many that didn’t limit itself to a few token them. For the New Right this only of those jailed were unemployed, marches but actively sought to dis - encouraged feckless lay-abouts to low paid or single mothers with lim - rupt the machinery of state and vote for high spending Labour coun - ited finances. judiciary. cils that would then rinse the mid - The mass non-payment cam - The fight against the Poll Tax not dle classes. If the poor had to con - paign proved to be hugely effective. only won (it was scrapped by 1991 tribute more then perhaps they The slogan ‘can’t pay won’t pay’ after only two years) it also con - wouldn’t be so keen on high spend - summed up the principle - some tributed to the downfall of Thatcher. ing socialist Town Hall administra - people couldn’t afford the new tax, The issue was so politicised that in tions. others could but refused to pay on several by-elections in 1990 previ - In the words of arch Thatcherite- political grounds. Millions of people ously safe Conservative seats fell to Nicholas Ridley “why would a duke didn’t pay their bills, causing a cri - opposition parties, outrage over the pay more than a dust-man? It is sis for local councils and the govern - Poll Tax was front and centre. No only because we have been subject - ment. Tory MP felt safe. This, combined ed to socialist ideas for the last 50 The non-payment campaign was - with the in-ternal divisions over years that people think this is fair.” n’t passive. Thousands of people Europe, led to Thatcher’s resigna - In practice many people simply mobilised to guard homes from tion in November 1990. She was could not afford to pay the new bailiffs and sheriffs, sent by the driven from Downing Street with charge, despite various rebates courts to recover the debts through tears in her eyes as millions cheered available for the poorest. Tax bills seizing goods. When people were in up and down the country. more than doubled overnight. court it meant hundreds of people There are many lessons from the Protests were inevitable. turning out in solidarity, flooding anti poll tax campaign, but a salient Whilst Labour opposed the tax in court rooms, arguing with judges, one is the role of Labour. When principle, the party proved to be pulling fire alarms, anything that movements erupt that seek to over - woefully inadequate when it came would slow down the judicial pro - turn unjust laws, Labour shouldn’t to resisting the new proposals. Neil cess. When people were imprisoned see itself as a party of ‘loyal opposi - Kinnock was hurtling rapidly to the it meant solidarity rallies out-side tion’ wedded to the parliamentary right, desperate to prove to moder - calling for their immediate release. system. It should be a part of resis - ate voters that Labour was not a The mass protest on 31 March tance, throwing its political and radical party of left wing trouble 1990, the day before the tax was social weight on the side of the peo - makers but a sensible party capable due to come into effect in England ple to stand together against the of ruling for the common good. and Wales turned into a full blown tyranny of the bosses and their When the left, led by Militant along - inner city riot with the police fight - political stooges in govern-ment. side other socialists and anarchist ing thou-sands of angry demonstra - Labour failed the test of the poll tax groups, began a mass non-payment tors. The scenes shocked the estab - movement and then lost the 1992 campaign Labour clamped down lishment, as did the huge protests Simon Hannah’s general elec-tion. It doesn’t pay to hard, suspending and expelling outside Town Halls up and down book on the anti stand in opposition to the people activists. Worse still Labour coun - the country as council chambers Poll Tax when the people are fighting back. cils had to implement the tax - this were stormed by locals to prevent movement ‘Can’t That wins you no friends. led to the sight of Labour councillors the Poll Tax levels being set. Pay, Won’t Pay’ As the old slogan goes, “better to imprisoning Labour members and This was a radical movement or is due in March break the law than break the poor.” C voters, thousands of people were resistance, not just protest. One 2020, Pluto Press

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YOUTH VIEW Tories retreat on gender equality Alice Arkwright asks what does the Queen’s speech mean for women?

n the same week as the Queen’s speech, the UK slipped down the World Economic Forum gender equality index by six places Iand an independent enquiry showed that the criminal justice system is failing victims of sexual violence. Young women are the demo - graphic least likely to have voted and the Young Women’s Trust research shows that two thirds have lost confidence in politicians as they struggle to cope with the impact of austerity. The UN report on poverty showed that life expectancy for women in the most deprived half of England has stalled since 2011 and fallen for The Step Up Migrant Women coalition calls for new legistlation to protect migrant women women in the poorest 20% of the population. At a time when changes Women currently stay with perpe - ment to ensure this from day one of are so badly needed for women, trators or end up homeless due to a a job, there is no specific legislation what did this Queen’s speech offer. lack of affordable and social hous - to expand the national living wage The Domestic Abuse bill ing and under Universal Credit one and the government has also begun The speech included reference to benefit payment is made to a to attack trade unions, which are the bill, which has been beset by household rather than separate the best way for workers to ensure delays including due to the unlaw - payments to the individuals in it, their rights. There was also no ful shut down of parliament. The meaning victims can become more mention of the women who will lose bill creates a statutory definition, financially dependent on their out due to changes in the state pen - which states that abuse is not only abuser. sion age and no commitment to a physical or sexual, but can be emo - The government also committed preventative duty that would make tional, economic and include con - to pushing through requirements employers legally responsible for trolling behavior. It also prohibits for voter ID at polling stations. This sexual harassment at work. perpetrators of abuse from cross- will leave thousands of potential At a minimum, the government examining their victims in person voters marginalised from political must commit to keeping the same in family courts and monitors the participation and without a voice, levels of equalities protection that response of local authorities and including many women in abusive we have under the EU including other agencies in tackling domestic relationships who will not have maternity discrimination, equal violence. access to ID. pay and safety at work. Women However, the bill does not Currently three women a week also need real reform of parental address the chronic underfunding die at the hands of a former or cur - leave policies, so it is easier to share of support services for women rent partner. These commitments time off; stronger rights to flexible escaping abuse and violence, are nowhere near enough to end working; more affordable childcare; including refuges. The charity this. increases in statutory parental pay; Refuge has experienced cuts to 80% Workers’ rights and more pressure on employers to of its services since 2011. There is a The UK has dropped down the tackle their gender pay gap. desperate need for investment in World Economic Forum gender Investment in social care infrastructure, especially spe - ranking largely due to inequality in Finally, considering that 80% of cialised services for BME women. the workplace, our gender pay gap paid carers and 60% of unpaid car - Migrant women are also particu - and poor political representation. ers are women, social care is a gen - larly vulnerable as they cannot Worryingly the government has dered issue. However, the commit - access housing benefits, refuge stripped out key protections for ments on social care lacked sub - spaces or private rental because workers’ rights that were included stance. The speech stated minsters landlords are required to undertake in previous versions of the EU will seek ‘a cross-party consensus immigration checks. There are also withdrawal bill. Instead promising on proposals for long term reform of cases of migrant women being that a separate employment bill social care’ but there was no specif - detained when reporting abuse to will enhance and protect workers’ ic social care bill. the police. Given the Conservative’s rights. The Queen’s speech demon - track record on migrant rights, it is The lack of detail means we have strates this government is not seri - hard to believe they will do more to no idea what employment rights ous about gender equality. Their protect these vulnerable women. will be in law by the end of 2020, commitments are not enough to Universal Credit is noticeable for offering little hope that there will reverse the impact of austerity on its absence in the speech. Reforms be improvements for women work - Alice Arkwright women, to prevent violence against to the benefits system are vital to ers. Flexible working has been works for the women or girls or to ensure equali - protect women from violence. included but there is no commit - TUC ty in the workplace. C

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FILM REVIEW

The Audacity of Hope

Patrick f one film encapsulates the includes a joke about impersonat - is that, although they may have end of the 2010s, it is South ing a North Korean newsreader. competence and education, ‘poor Mulcahy IKorean writer-director Bong The poor fight one another whilst people’ cannot escape their back - Joon-ho’s ‘ Parasite ’. Deservedly the little that the Kim family pos - ground. Park Dong-ik (Lee Sun- on a tense winning the Palme D’Or at sess is damaged by flooding. kyun) complains to his wife of a Cannes in 2019, it portrays with ‘Parasite ’ is both very funny smell he detects whilst sharing a portrait of wit, heart, suspense, pathos and and entertaining. We root for the car with his new driver, Ki-taek horror, the unbridgeable gap Kim family, at least initially (Song Kang-ho). It is the smell of rich and between rich and poor in Korean because we sympathise with their poverty associated with the Kim society. The more culturally spe - impoverishment and their inabili - family’s flooded home. poor in cific a film is, the more universal ty to work. The children under - Joon-ho doesn’t present class South Korea is its message. ‘ Parasite ’ standably want to help their par - difference as a problem to be explodes with universality. It is a ents – they are loyal and respect - solved. Rather it is the lack of film that embodies the title of Barack Obama’s 2006 book of essays, The Audacity of Hope. Our heroes are the impover - ished Kim family, whom we first meet trying to catch an internet signal from their mobile phones, chasing it through the dim enclo - sure of their semi-basement apartment. The free access they have relied upon has been abrupt - ly stopped – their dependence on other people’s wi-fi is a metaphor for their parasitical status. Amidst constructing pizza boxes for a local firm, elder son Ki-woo (Choi Wu-shik) is visited by his well-to-do student friend, Min- hyuk (Park Seo-joon) who announces he is about to go trav - elling. He has a lucrative job as an English teacher to Park Da- hye (Jung Ziso), the daughter of the head of an IT company. Min- ful – even though their strategy is security experienced by the most hyuk will put in a recommenda - unfair. Some scenes have the pre - impoverished that is a major tion for Ki-woo as a means of pre - cision of farce. problem in South Korea. The venting other college boys from The shift in tone is also con - country has functioning social seducing Da-hye – he hopes to summately achieved. The second support schemes for families liv - marry her one day. Ki-woo - and half of the film has both elements ing in absolute poverty, but it also the audience – marvel at Park of horror and Robinson Crusoe. has significant youth unemploy - house for its spaciousness and Normally, such shifts dispense ment and an ageing population. elegance. with what we enjoy. Here, Only degrees from a trio of uni - Da-hye’s mother watches Ki- though, the shift adds depth and versities – Seoul, Korea and woo’s lesson with interest and substance to the idea that howev - Yonsei (the so-called ‘SKY’) – are then mentions her young son’s er far one gets ahead, someone said to guarantee a job for a chae - artistic ‘ability’. Does Ki-woo else suffers. bol or conglomerate such as LG, know a teacher? Ki-woo’s sister, Although the mother, Yeon-gyo Hyundai and Samsung. Students Ki-jeong (Park So-dam) is an is introduced as ‘simple’, Joon-ho with degrees from other universi - excellent forger. She prepared doesn’t parody the rich family. ties struggle to find good jobs. documents to convince the Park Yeon-gyo simply sees the best in Private education, as shown in family that Ki-woo had completed her children’s endeavours. Her the film, is a necessary conse - his college education. Ki-woo pre - young son has a genuine trauma quence of limited access to good sents her as someone unrelated to which is revealed in the second jobs. The real problem is whether him who has a rare talent and half. only degrees from ‘SKY’ are nec - whose services are difficult to At the heart of the film is the essary to guarantee prosperity. secure. Before long, both siblings question: how helpful is it to This is really a question for the have a job, then work to secure aspire to be rich? Both families sixty or so chaebol . One question employment for their father and struggle. Both feature loving rela - not in doubt is that ‘ Parasite ’ is mother, replacing both the chauf - tionships. Money does not confer compassionate, tense and feur and housekeeper respective - happiness – only security. By the thoughtful – one of the few prize- ly. Their plan is executed perfect - end of the film, only the acquisi - winning movies that genuinely ly, until the housekeeper, Moon- tion of excessive wealth will save deserves the hype. gwang (Lee Jeun-eun) returns one of the characters. That’s one rainy evening. where pathos and realism come ‘Parasite’ opens in UK cinemas on What happens next entirely in. Friday 7 February 2020 turns the film on its head – and The other point Joon-ho makes

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BOOK REVIEWS

The Consequences of Balfour Duncan Legacy of Empire: Britain, Zionism and period, despite the rapid increase in the Creation of Israel Jewish immigration. Bowie Gardner Thompson The book considers the failure of SAQI £20 successive administrations , most on the significantly that led by the first ewis Goodall is living proof High Commissioner, the Zionist legacy of Thompson is a colonial histori - Herbert Samuel, to constrain both Lan who has previously written Jewish immigration and the increas - the Balfour on East Africa. He has been brave ing political role of the Jewish Declaration to venture into this territory which Agency. Gardner points out that the is well trodden by specialists and promotion of Zionism was actually which remains highly contentious. incorporated into both the terms of Many previous studies are partisan, the British Government’s 1922 undertaken to the two communities whether Zionist or anti-Zionist, and White Paper and the terms of the in Palestine have been shown to be the lack of partisanship in mandate, which was drafted by the irreconcilable.” Thompson’s work means that the British government, in contradiction A series of attempts to partition Gardner book is actually a very useful contri - of the League of Nations objective of Palestine between Jewish and Arab Thompson will be bution to the debate. Thompson’s working towards self-determination communities had all failed, and the speaking about starting point is on the Balfour dec - by the existing population of a man - boundaries established by the UN in his book at the laration of 1917, but after examin - dated territory. 1947 were soon breached as military Socialist History ing, as many other works do, the Gardner is more sympathetic to action by the new Israeli state occu - Society meeting prehistory and the Zionist campaign the attempt by Sir John Chancellor, pied territory allocated to the Arab on Saturday 25th to win British support, he focuses on High Commissioner from 1928- state, first in 1948-9 and subse - January at 2pm its consequences and on the British 1931, who recognised the inherent quently in 1967 with the occupation in Red Lion Hall, post-war occupation and on diploma - contradiction in the Balfour declara - of the West Bank, Gaza and the basement, cy during the period of the British tion and sought to adopt a more bal - Golan heights. In his conclusion, Tresham House, mandate in Palestine from 1922 to anced approach to the conflicting Gardner comments that the Balfour Red Lion Square. 1948. interests of Jews and Arabs. declaration and the continued entrance via The book therefore examines the Chancellor’s successor, Sir Arthur British commitment to supporting Lamb’s Conduit failure of the British government to Wauchope, High Commissioner the establishment of a national Passage by deliver on the commitment in the until 1938 was to openly favour home in Palestine for the Jewish Conway Hall, declaration that “nothing shall be Zionism, and British support for people at the expense of the second Holborn, WC1R done which may prejudice the civil Zionism was to continue, despite the commitment to protect the rights of 4RE. All and religious rights of existing non- attacks of Zionist organisations such the non-Jewish population bears Welcome Jewish communities in Palestine.” as Irgun, Hagannah and the Stern some responsibility for the divisions He notes that the declaration did not gang, on the British military and in Palestine over the last 100 years, in fact guarantee the political rights civil governance bodies, until Britain and that the centenary of the decla - of the non-Jewish population, who surrendered the mandate in 1947. ration was an opportunity to remained the majority population of Ernest Bevin stated in the British acknowledge this responsibility Palestine throughout the mandate parliament that “the obligations rather than a cause for celebration. Rebel Warriors and Internationalist Traitors Treason by Toby Abse of Ilio Barontini, an Steve Cushion and Christian Hogsbjerg Italian who joined the Ethiopian Socialist History Society £5 army fighting Mussolini’s occupa - tion before becoming a communist Duncan he latest Occasional senator in post-war Italy. There is Publication from the SHS also a poem by David Rovics com - Bowie Tprovides a fascinating insight memorating the Irish battalion into some curious and largely for - who fought in the Mexican war on trans- gotten historical by-ways. The against the United States of 1846-8. booklet includes nine essays on An introductory essay by the national radicals and socialists who fought editors provides an excellent and against their home countries or fully referenced overview from the rebels who supported revolutions in coun - English civil war to the African tries other than their own. The 1950’s. National Congress discussing the range is wide from Jonathan Other essays cover British sup - nature of the nation state and North’s study of Polish deserters porters of Irish freedom in 1916, internationalism. This is an impor - from Napoleon’s army in the communist resistance to Nazism, a tant historical project, rescuing 1800’s, who on being sent to the study of the German Walter some important partisans from the West Indies supported the native Patzold who fought with the Italian archives. The 95 page booklet is revolutionaries against the French partisans in 1943, Germans who well illustrated and excellent value to Ian Birchall on French support - supported the Jewish resistance, for money. It is also an inspiration ers of the Algerian and Vietnamese German and Italian volunteers in for further reading and research on independence struggles in the the French resistance and a study a largely ignored historical theme.

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A Coven of Villains Glyn Ford Mindf*ck - Cambridge Analytica and the ‘Poundshop’ Arron Banks - even Plot to Break the World gets a walk-on part - as on the Christopher Wylie we learn how Cambridge Analytica Random House £20 subverted democracy. There were Electric no red lines the company was not ylie makes a convincing prepared to cross. In Nigeria trying Frontline case that the outcome of to sway the Presidential election Wthe Brexit Referendum against Muhammadu Buhari, a was as much the result of cheating mild-mannered Muslim, they ran and fraud as was Trump’s ‘victory’. stealth ads on Google claiming he Wylie blows the whistle on himself. would introduce sharia law backed He was the mastermind behind with actual footage of a group of Cambridge Analytica’s crimewave. men tying up a woman, drenching He was slow to realise that ‘simply her with petrol and burning her to the electoral radar. It addressed following orders’ was no defence. death. those who had lost the way to the Just as the National Rifle Wylie was on the electronic front - ballot box decades ago or had never Association duplicitously claims line. His insight was to mine data found it in the first place. It worked ‘Guns don’t kill people’ Facebook on millions, with Facebook’s compli - and they got away with it. Not argues it’s a neutral platform ance, merge it with all the commer - enough of the crime happened in abused and misused by a minority. cial and government data that could Britain. One of the managers from It was that complacency Wylie be bought, borrowed and stolen then the incendiary Nigeria project went preyed on. The insight was don’t sort, winnow and dice it into hun - on to the Cabinet Office. change the policies to suit the vot - dreds and thousands of clusters for Surely if paedophiles can be pros - ers, change the voters to match the bespoke attention. This was ecuted for crimes anywhere in the policies. lightyears beyond ‘mosaic’ that world the same should apply to elec - Yet despite all the revelations Labour used at the end of the Blair toral fraud. Those who are caught about technologically enhanced years to segment the population cheating in the Olympics are voter suppression and dirty - and into fifty categories. It was the stripped of their medals. Yet the murderous - tricks, systematic fraud transformation of quantity into Electoral Commission's view is that and foreign interference Labour has quality throwing open the doors to even with an election won with remained indifferent. One knows mass manipulation. The neurotics fraud and illegal financing the why the Tories say nothing. They and conspiracy theorists were seg - result stands. are already long down the mented out and bombarded with What is to be done? Wylie sug - Republican road to winning elec - messages designed to enrage and gests the establishment of a Digital tions on the backs of those who can’t incite - it would be fascinating to see Regulatory Agency with statutory vote or don’t vote. Dame Shirley Cambridge Analytica’s messaging duties for corporations and a Porter was the Tory pioneer - and for Thomas Mair, the lone wolf ter - mandatory professional code of con - poster girl - of voter suppression and rorist who murdered Jo Cox MP in duct for software engineers. I’m manipulation in the late eighties. the shadow of the Brexit referen - sceptical, but better than nothing. She has convictions. Now Boris dum. More importantly we need legisla - Johnson plans to nationalise the Minorities were set at each tion to give us ownership of our own programme with a ground war of other’s throats. The set of racists data. And the right to function in photo IDs required to vote, while and xenophobes running the show the digital world without selling it refusing to tackle the air war of encouraged Asian voters to back and when we do sell it maintain social media manipulation. It’s the Brexit because 'the EU’s free move - control over its onward transition. silence of the lambs. Those about to ment provisions discriminated in Mindf*ck is a salutary warning of be electorally fleeced genuflect to favour of foreigners over their fami - how the alt-right is operating to the myth of voter fraud! lies' while hundreds of other voter undermine western-style democra - Mindf*ck has a positive coven of segments were being fed migration cy. Those who fail to do everything villains, Steve Bannon and Nigel myths encouraging them to vote to stop these imposters and racists, Farage, the creepy Mercer billion - Leave to stop the flood. It was an thieves and fascists are not victims, aires in the US and Britain’s invisible campaign running under but accomplices! Miserablism Peter What's Left Now: The history and future over by an eager author, I promise of social democracy never to review another book Kenyon Andrew Hindmoor again. Oxford University Press £20 An 18-page Introduction never offers a endears me to a book. But I strug - his author asserts that “one gled on. Compared to Paul Mason's very short of the distinguishing fea - Clear Bright Future and Lewis Ttures of the left in Britain is Goodall's Left for Dead , Hindmoor 's perplexed that it holds a remorselessly bleak analysis appears dank and shal - and Miserablist view of our recent low. His final phrase concludes: view political history”. Well, if that isn't “...Sometimes it pays to be cau - an Aunt Sally waiting to be bowled tious”. Indeed.

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BOOK REVIEWS

Thinker and politician

Duncan Otto Bauer supported federal structures. He being divided between a socialist Ewa Czerwinska-Schupp was therefore in conflict with Czech, Vienna and a Christian socialist Bowie Haymarket $28 South Slav and Polish socialists countryside, Bauer nevertheless who sought to secede from the retained his belief in a parliamen - on the auer was the leading theo - Austro-Hungarian empire, and who tary route to power, that is until ‘third way’ retician of Austro-Marxism succeeded in doing so in 1919. 1934. Band leader of the Austrian However, in 1918, Bauer argued He was highly critical of Marxist Social Democratic Workers party that the residual Austria, as a lin - Bolshevism (being close to the through most of the interwar peri - guistically and cultural German ter - Mensheviks, whose exiled leaders od. He served as Foreign Minister ritory should combine with were active in both the Vienna and in the first Austrian republic and Germany. As foreign secretary, labour and Socialist Internationals) was a participant in the Second Bauer advocated the ’anschluss’, but nevertheless founded the International, then the Vienna which was rejected by the Treaty of Vienna international in an attempt international of 1921-3 and finally Versailles. It was therefore difficult to unite socialist and communist in the Labour and Socialist for Bauer to oppose the ‘anschluss’ movements. When this attempt International. Exiled from Austria when it finally occurred in 1938, by failed in 1923, Bauer’s opposition to in 1934, he died in Paris in revolutionary van - 1938. Czerwinska-Schupp is guardism took him and a Polish academic, and the his fellow Austro-Marxists book, which originated as a into the Labour and PhD dissertation, was origi - socialist International. nally published in Polish Bauer therefore did not and then in German. Unlike support the uprising led many studies of Marxist the - by the small Austrian ory, the book is relatively Communist party and the easy to read. As most of socialist paramilitary Bauer’s voluminous writings Shutzbund in 1934, have not been translated though in exile he provid - from German into English, ed support to the this book which is both a Revolutionary Socialist biography and a comprehen - Party, who sought to sive study of Bauer’s theoret - oppose the Nazi led ical work is doubly welcome. administration. It can be read in tandem In his writings in exile, with Haymarket’s recent Bauer acknowledged the two volumes of writings of failure of the socialist’s the Austro-Marxists edited parliamentary strategy by Blum and Smallbone and its failure to develop which includes some of an effective response to Bauer’s most important the growth of both the essays, translated into religious and nationalistic English for the first time. Austro-fascism of Fey and After an introduction to the Heimwehr (whose rise Bauer’s personal and politi - the socialists largely cal trajectory, the book is ignored) or the growth of divided into the themes of Nazism, which given Bauer’s theoretical work: his Bauer’s mistaken support early studies of the material - of the Anschluss, was to ist view of history; his contri - be the greater threat. It bution to the theory of impe - should however be recog - rialism; his writings on the nised that the Austrian national question (generally regard - which time Bauer had been in exile socialists were debarred by the ed as his most significant theoreti - for four years. Austro-fascists, four years before cal contribution); his development The second key issue was Hitler’s victory parade in Vienna, a of a ‘third way’ to socialism Bauer’s attempt to pursue a new parade that was in fact welcomed by (between traditional social democ - approach to socialism. Bauer was a the majority of German Austrians. racy and bolshevism); his writings ‘left’ socialist but was also strongly Bauer accepted a personal on the state, democracy and social - committed to democracy and to the responsibility for the failure of ism; his view of war; and his theory representative parliamentary route Austrian socialism. However, the of fascism. In a short review, I will to socialism. Despite the fact that democratic tradition of Austrian restrict my comments to two key the urbanised working class in socialism was to have its reward in elements. Firstly, Bauer was highly Austria never achieved a parlia - the establishment of a new socialist critical of concepts of nationalism mentary majority and was only led government after the Second and national self-determination. briefly in government as part of a World War. Despite his disappoint - This partly arose from his experi - coalition, headed by the socialist ments and inconsistencies, Bauer is ence within the Austro-Hungarian Karl Renner as Austria’s first post an important socialist theorist and state before the First World War. WW1 president, and the fact that Czerwinska-Schupp, her translator He argued that nationalism was the Austrian socialists did not and publisher should be thanked for cultural rather than territorial and organise in the rural areas (Austria giving him the profile he deserves.

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Lessons of October for Third World liberation

The Russian Revolution: A view from experiment with cooperative, uja - revolutions of 1917 – March and Don Flynn the Third World maa village structures was seen October – Rodney draws on an Walter Rodney by Rodney as being analogous to extensive list which consists of on an Afro- Verso, £16.99 the efforts made by the Soviet the works of the officially Caribbean Union to solve the problem of the approved Soviet historians whose alter Rodney’s most backwardness of its own rural work circulated outside the coun - Marxist important contribution to sector during the 1920s and 30s. try after the 1930s, contrasted WMarxist thinking about Working with students expected with a wide range of non-Soviet the emergence of global capital - to play a role in sealing the suc - accounts, most of which are hos - ism will forever be How Europe cess of the Tanzanian model, tile to the claims made for the Underdeveloped Africa, also pub - Rodney sought to provide them achievements of the Bolsheviks. lished by Verso as a companion to with a broader context rooted In a chapter devoted to a discus - this volume. With the advantage Marxism which would help the sion of Trotsky’s three volume of his own roots in Caribbean young country along its socialist history Rodney clearly finds it the society he was able to understand path. account he finds most congenial, the phenomenon of under- explaining as it does how a development as the outcome of contest between the classes the aggressive, profit-seeking in a country conventionally regimes imposed on his home presented as backward could region, rather than the inher - lay the basis for a socialist ent backwardness of its people. society based on the authori - His analysis added to the ty of the working class. sketches of the role that capi - All of this must have been talist imperialism played in encouraging for the cadre of transferring resources, future leaders of their coun - entrenching poverty in one try that Rodney was address - place and pooling prosperity in ing back in the early 1970s. others which had been provided The bigger problem was how by Marx, Engels and Lenin. to account for the develop - Dealing with the concrete ment of Soviet society in the example of Africa, Rodney laid decades after the enthusiasm bare the processes through for socialist change following which exploitation worked to 1917. The view that the extract value from the labour - state built by the revolution ing classes in colonial and post- had degenerated into an colonial societies and facilitated oppressive bureaucracy pur - its appearance in the developed suing its own interests – nations, not just as profit, but essentially Trotsky’s inter - also as higher wages, social pretation from the mid-1930s welfare and security for their onwards – is inimical to working class citizens. Rodney’s own wish to demon - But in addition to what strate the continued viability might be thought of as scholar - of the Soviet socialist road. ly work primarily intended to Criticism of the disastrous develop a line of argument, Much of the content of the effects of the collectivisation of Rodney was also an activist who early lectures deals with prob - agriculture, the extensive use of looked for opportunities to work lems of histography. How does forced labour, as well as the subli - alongside others struggling for the researcher access ‘the truth’ mation of worker-led challenges to liberation, across the Caribbean about a particular historical capitalism to the task of support - region, the United States, and event? How much is decided by ing the ‘socialist motherland’, is Africa. the inevitable bias, forged by cul - muted in the final lectures in the The Russian Revolution: A ture, class and prejudice which series. View from the Third World any individual will bring to the Despite these failings Rodney emerged from a series of lectures inquiry? Is there a reliable way himself continued to pursue a revo - given by Rodney during the five to check the tendency towards lutionary socialist line which led to years when he was resident in subjectivity? Rodney’s confidence his role in founding the Working Tanzania and working at the in dialectical materialism as a People’s Alliance in his native University of Dar es Salaam thoroughly scientific approach to Guyana months before his assassi - between 1969 and 1974. At that the study of history sets the scene nation in 1980. His death at the time the newly independent coun - for a scrutiny of the revolution tragically early age of 38 concluded try was trying to forge a version which devolves on what is the activism of a formidable Third of socialism that was relevant to claimed to be the objective fact of World intellectual who sought its circumstances with a predomi - struggle between social classes. always to develop his work in the nantly rural population engaged For the basic material of what service of social movements strug - in subsistence agriculture. The constitutes the ‘facts’ of the two gling for liberation.

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BOOK REVIEWS

Anti-authoritarian pioneer

Mike William Godwin a Political Life when France was in the midst of Thomas points out Godwin was Richard Gough Thomas revolution and political agitation not a revolutionary but sought Davis Pluto £12.99 for social reform and the franchise change through writing and con - were growing in Britain. versation. He also wrote novels, on a illiam Godwin (1756- Famously married to Mary particularly Caleb Williams , histo - philosopher 1836) is claimed by the Wollstonecraft, author of ries and children’s works. Wauthor to be the first Vindication of the Rights of Widowed through king major anarchist thinker in the Women and mother of Mary Wollstonecraft’s early death he Anglophone world—a philosopher Shelley, he lies at the heart of parented the children while falling educator. Godwin could equally be British radicalism and romanti - in and out with the influential cited as an early socialist with his cism. writers and thinkers of the time. seminal An Enquiry into Political Thomas’s book is a well- Thomas divides his life into chap - Justice containing many elements researched, readable study draw - ters: The minister, the philoso - of later egalitarian and democrat - ing on newly compiled letters and pher, the activist, the husband, ic thinking, though with an indi - journals. the father, the pensioner--while vidualist streak. Neither anar - Godwin was anti-authoritarian the philosopher theme runs chism or socialism were recognis - and passionate about humans’ throughout. He died in relative able terms in Godwin’s lifetime. ability to reason and work togeth - obscurity and a bankrupt but his His key writings and work sat er ultimately making laws and literary and philosophical legacy either side of the two centuries government unnecessary. As lives on as this biography testifies. Secular Pope

Dag Hammarskjöld, the United Nations became independent during than a Secretary” - at this point Nigel and the Decolonisation of Africa Hammarskjöld’s tenure and his tried and failed to solve the prob - Watt Henning Melber attention began to be concentrated lem by attacking the Katanga Hurst £30 on them. He saw the UN’s role as forces which were mostly interna - on the “a type of midwife for the birth of tional mercenaries. The situation t has been said that the United newly independent developing was dangerous and in September UN’s saint Nations was not created to countries”– but aid should be for 1963 Hammarskjöld decided to try Ibring us to heaven, but in order an initial period only and multilat - to settle the dispute peacefully by to save us from hell.” This was the eral. meeting the Katanga leader, Moise mission that faced Dag He visited South Africa in 1961 Tshombe in Ndola, Zambia, then Hammarskjöld, perhaps the most making his views on apartheid Northern Rhodesia (the country outstanding and the most contro - clear and earning him the enmity where I had just started working). versial Secretary General of the of that regime. But the latter part His plane crashed before landing. United Nations. A profoundly of his time in office was dominated Crocodile tears were shed in moral man, he took the UN charter by the events in the former Rhodesia, Britain, Belgium and the very seriously and tried to inter - Belgian Congo, where the hastily US. pret it in the context of events, concocted independence settlement The suspicion that it was a plot which meant for him to stand up fell apart within weeks and the and not an accident was given new for all the members of the UN and mineral-rich province of Katanga credence in Susan Williams’ book, thus to stand up to the big powers, seceded with military support from Who killed Hammarskjöld? (see who did not like it. This involved Belgium backed by capitalist min - my review in Chartist in 2011). strengthening the General ing interests. Hammarskjöld, who Soon after this an Inquiry Trust, of Assembly vis-à-vis the Security had created the first UN force for which the author of this book is a Council. During the tenure of Egypt organised a second one member, was created, and, which Trygve Lie, the first Secretary (ONUC), recruited from neutral in turn appointed a formal commis - General, the UN was a creature of countries, which was rapidly sent sion of enquiry, the efforts of which the ‘western powers’ but the to the Congo – but it failed to pre - persuaded Ban Ki-moon to start Universal Declaration of Human vent the capture and death of the official UN investigations. These Rights (1948) and the arrival of Prime Minister, Patrice are described in this book. The UK Nehru and other leaders of the Lumumba. Hammarskjöld said he and US have not co-operated. Non-Aligned Movement changed wanted Lumumba to be part of the This book describes a complex the dynamics. solution but many, including the and sensitive man whose vision Hammarskjöld tried to mediate non-aligned countries, blamed him contributed positively to the devel - in the Suez crisis but the Anglo- and the UN for Lumumba’s death opment of the UN system and who French-Israeli attack went ahead and refuted his claim to have “kept tried to work for a better world anyway. It also led to the UN the Cold War out of Africa.” despite the messy reality of world becoming effectively anti-colonial - Rather, they reckoned he had tried politics. It throws light on a ist: a resolution on the rights of to keep communism out. moment when the UN was trying self-determination for all states The Soviet Union called for his to find its feet, as were the many was passed in 1960 -with Britain, resignation, but most UN mem - new states of Africa, and how the France, Portugal and the US bers supported his aim of ending two interacted. It also provides an abstaining. Katanga’s secession – and update on the question of who Twenty-five African countries Hammarskjöld – “more a General killed him.

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Socialist, Feminist and Internationalist

Duncan Red Ellen when Cripps was expelled. She range of organisations which were Laura Beers became Labour Party chair in within the Communist Front net - Bowie Harvard £24.95 1 9 45 and oversaw the Blackpool works set up by Willi Munzenberg, conference which set the policy for whose main operative, Otto Katz on Ellen emembered mainly for her the 1945-50 Labour Government. was a close friend of Wilkinson’s Wilkinson role in the 1936 Jarrow A lifelong suffragist and feminist, and travelled with her to Spain. RMarch and her book The Wilkinson was not a separatist. A This visit, in the middle of the Town that was Murdered and to a vigorous campaigner on welfare Civil War, also included the anti- lesser extent for her short and not issues such as equal pay and equal fascist Conservative MP, very successful time as Minister of pensions for women, her focus was Kathleen, Duchess of Atholl, who Education between 1945 and 1947, on policies which impacted on the wrote the Penguin Special Wilkinson had a much more signif - working class as a whole. Searchlight on Spain , based on icant role not just in the British A campaigner against unem - information, apparently supplied labour movement but in the inter - ployment and for investment in by Katz. national feminist and socialist what were referred to as ‘the dis - Wilkinson was also an active movements. Wilkinson was proba - tressed areas’, she was also a pro - member of Krishna Menon’s India bly the most important woman lific journalist, writing for Plebs League, which campaigned for socialist in the Labour Party in the and Tribune but also in the Daily Indian independence. Wilkinson 1930’s and 1940’s and was a visited India and co- junior Minister (in charge of authored their Condition of air raid shelters) in the India report in 1934 which wartime coalition before provided a devastating if becoming only the second somewhat partisan critique Labour cabinet minister, of British administration. Margaret Bondfield being Wilkinson, a regular visitor the first as Minister of to Germany, also produced Labour in 1924. one of the earliest critiques It is however Wilkinson’s of Nazism – a pamphlet on earlier and frenetic political the Terror in Germany in life that makes her worthy of 1933, which was followed in this biography. Beers is an 1935 by the book length Why American academic and this Fascism?, written with the biography, which is excel - German communist exile lently researched, gives most Edward Conze. It examined attention to Wilkinson’s role the failure of German social - as international socialist, ists and communists to feminist and anti-fascist - it defend the democratic is only the last 50 pages Weimar republic. which cover her Ministerial While Wilkinson was pre - career – Wilkinson was to die pared to work with the in office, apparently of an Communists in joint cam - (accidental) overdose of paigns, she was no naïve fel - sleeping pills. low traveller and was highly Wilkinson, like many of critical not just of Soviet her fellow party leaders in policies, but also of the the interwar years, came British and German nation - from a working-class back - al communist parties. She ground: active in the dis - was later to become more tributive workers union, she fiercely anti-Communist and was a Manchester city coun - is often seen as moving to cillor, before becoming MP the right politically. This for Middlesbrough in 1924. A Express and Time and Tide . She derives partly from her association member of the ILP from the age of wrote two novels – Clash , which with Morrison and his attempt to 16, she joined the Communist was an autobiographical novelisa - replace Attlee as Labour leader. Party on its foundation in 1920. tion of her experiences as a propa - Wilkinson saw Attlee as weak, but Never married, her intimate gandist in the General Strike of this did not stop her from having friendships included the 1926, which is well worth reading public disputes with Morrison, for Comintern agent Otto Katz, the and a crime novel The Division example when she refused to delay socialist illustrator Frank Bell Mystery , featuring an oil the commitment to raise the school Horrabin and Herbert Morrison. mogul shot in parliament – leaving age, first to 15 and then to Wilkinson should however be Wilkinson was a fan of Agatha 16. judged on her own merits not on Christie, and this is perhaps not In the final years of her life, her relationships. Wilkinson was a the most successful imitation. despite her illnesses, Wilkinson long-term member of the National Perhaps the most interesting returned to the international stage, Executive Committee of the sections of this biography, are attending the founding conference Labour Party, a friend and sup - those covering Wilkinson’s inter - of the UN and in fact chairing the porter of Stafford Cripps’s popular national role, both in international founding meeting of UNESCO, the front movement in the late 1930’s women’s organisations, but also in UN’s Educational Scientific and but choosing to stay in the party anti-fascist bodies and a wide Cultural organisation.

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(LAST) VIEW FROM STRASBOURG Keep the EU flag flying

Julie Ward is a Labour MEP for Julie Ward on taking internationalism to the streets NW England (until January 31) he General Election result was deeply disap - pointing for all those who campaigned to stop Boris Johnson, but the disap - pTointment and dread post December 12th is not just for pro - gressive pro-Europeans here in the UK - it also rings warning bells across Europe. The UK has historically been held in great affection by most of our neighbours who adore our pop stars, watch our television pro - grammes and learn our language course to such an extent that a poll on both sides of the argument. Even from an early age. Quaint British conducted by the HMDT in the lead many of those who voted for us in customs are aped adoringly and our up to Holocaust Memorial Day in 2017 had grown fed up with waiting aberrations usually forgiven. But 2019 found that more than 2.6 mil - for a decisive position, whilst EU27 those watching the regressive lion British people believe the holo - citizens have, quite frankly, felt Westminster political drama from caust is a myth. The survey also abandoned by Labour. across the sea have, like many of us, found that 8% of our population So as we exit a political, econom - continued to hope that somehow we claim the scale of the genocide has ic, cultural and social union that has would find a way to stop the slide been exaggerated. acted as the scaffold for a European into dangerous isolationism outside Aspects of Theresa May's 'hostile peace project and provided a rela - the EU. Barring a miracle that hope environment' echoed the sentiments tive buffer against the worst excess - now seems to have been extin - of 1930s Germany, for example the es of Conservative economic and guished. 2013 'go home' vans. Instead of anti trade union policies we would When the ill-advised referendum countering this Conservative pan - do well to reflect on the future of took place in 2016 the eyes of the dering to right wing populism, the Europe not just the future of a world were upon us. I heard a Labour Party cooked up its own ver - threatened United Kingdom with a touching story from a Lithuanian sion with the infamous anti-immi - resurgent nationalism in Scotland colleague, MEP Laima Andrikien , grant mugs. Instead of boldly cham - and Ireland. whose nonagenarian mother stayeėd pioning the benefits of freedom of The Party of European Socialists up all night to watch the results. movement from the outset the must become more not less impor - Laima did not and awoke on the Labour leadership joined in the hue tant in Labour's future relationships. morning of June 24th to hear her and cry with the ill-advised call for We must take our place within all its mother saying, "We've lost!" "British jobs for British workers" structures alongside comrades from This story has haunted me. The rather than campaign along the Norway, Switzerland, Turkey and collective ownership of British val - lines of 'decent work for all workers'. many of the Balkan states who are, ues by pro-European non-Brits, After years of politicians of all ironically, desperate for accession to S especially by those whose recent colours telling us that the EU was the EU. We must be more present in u memories of totalitarianism and responsible for the problems in our PES Women where people like b fascism remain intact and NHS and our education service, for Barking & Labour coun - s ingrained, is not easily understood increased crime and disorder and cillor, Sanchia Alasia, have already w c by either the British public or our for general interfering in British made their mark. We must stand in w r politicians, many of whom choose society, it's no wonder that solidarity with socialist and democrat ib to remember the far-distant Johnson's simplistic 'Get Brexit LGBTIQA+ comrades through the w e Empire rather than deeply Done' slogan translated into votes PES Rainbow Rose network, and we .c t reflect on the conse - from a certain demographic. must support our young members to h o quences of two world This election was most certainly attend the regular Young European a C wars. There is an about Brexit and it's a shame the Socialists' summer-camps. We must r H appalling absence Labour Party did not face up to that also work at grassroots level with ti A of historical and embrace the opportunity to social partners and encourage net - st R referencing boldly champion its progressive working via organisations such as . T in public internationalist values. The party's SOLIDAR and the European Anti- o I dis - dogged focusing on domestic issues Poverty Network. Like liberation the - rg S whilst shunning the biggest political ologists, our work must now be on . T question of our time, has done it no the streets, visibly on the side of the u a favours. By sitting on the fence for poor and vulnerable, standing with k t the last few years we leaked support all those who are other. C