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We Need a New Clause Four

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We Need a New Clause Four Labour Party Marxists labourpartymarxists.org.uk Free - donations welcome We need a new clause four James Marshall says that instead of fostering illusions in Fabian socialism, the task of Marxists must lie in winning the Labour Party to … Marxist socialism lause four - rewritten under Tony The more stubborn sections herded into Blair in 1995 - carries a totemic “human sorting houses” to be trained for status for partisans both of the work. Those who refused would be packed right and left. But should the off to semi-penal detention colonies. Cleft seek to raise the 1918 Lazarus from its The Fabians were committed pro- grave? Or should we leave behind a flawed imperialists. According to their Fabianism past and audaciously reach out for another, and empire (1900) tract, Britain needed better future? That is the question. to get its fair share of the spoils from the John McDonnell told the 2018 Liverpool division of the world: conference that “the clause four principles are as relevant today as they were back The partition of the greater part of the then.”1 There are also groups such as globe among such [great] powers is, Socialist Appeal, British section of the as a matter of fact that must be faced, International Marxist Tendency, who are approvingly or deploringly, now only a fully committed to what is, in fact, an anti- question of time; and whether England working class tradition.2 Its Labour4Clause4 [sic] is to be the centre and nucleus of campaign has garnered support from one of those great powers of the future, the likes of Ken Loach, the leftwing film or to be cast off by its colonies, ousted director, and MPs Karen Lee, Dennis from its provinces, and reduced to Skinner, Ian Mearns, Chris Williamson, its old island status, will depend on Dan Carden and Ronnie Campbell. the ability with which the empire is Alongside them there are like-minded governed as a whole, and the freedom trade union leaders such as Steve Gillan of of its governments and its officials the POA, Ian Hodson and Ronnie Draper from complicity in private financial of the bakers’ union, and Mick Cash and interests and from the passions of the Steve Hedley of RMT. newspaper correspondents who describe Thankfully, Jeremy Corbyn is more our enemies as ‘beasts.’9 open-ended: “I think we should talk about what the objectives of the party are, whether Fabian socialism valued politeness and that’s restoring the clause four as it was good manners on all occasions, even in the originally written or it’s a different one …. midst of a voracious imperialist war. Over I’m interested in the idea that we have a the years 1899-1902, as good patriots, the more inclusive, clearer set of objectives.”3 Fabians backed Britain’s war against the Either way, a discussion is underway Boer republics: the “native races” must be and that can only be for the good. “protected despotically by the empire or abandoned to slavery and extermination.”10 History The British empire was portrayed as a Our February 1918 conference agreed a benevolent bringer of democracy to the new constitution. Clause four (objects) white dominions and a saviour of the ‘lower committed the Labour Party to these aims breeds’. The best interests of ‘black, brown (subsequently amended in 1959): and yellow’ peoples lay in being ruled over by young men fresh out of Britain’s public 1. To organise and maintain in schools. Under this guiding hand they parliament and in the country a political Jeremy Corbyn: “I think we should talk” would eventually be led to “adulthood.”11 Labour Party. Interestingly, as an aside, the Fabians 2. To cooperate with the general council exchange, and the best obtainable system Sidney Webb, its principle author, Fabian could not possibly entrust this “gigantic thought that the South African war of the Trades Union Congress, or other of popular administration and control guru and quintessential philistine - had task to the raw proletariat alone”. Engels demonstrated the “superiority of a militia” kindred organisations, in joint political of each industry or service. no thought, no wish, no intention of concluded that “[f]ear of revolution is their system over the professional army.12 An or other action in harmony with the 5. Generally to promote the political, promoting genuine socialism. Parliament, guiding principle.”5 idea that much of the contemporary left party constitution and standing orders. social and economic emancipation of the courts, enlightened civil servants and The real class war was denounced by refuses even to contemplate. 3. To give effect as far as possible to the the people, and more particularly of the liberal intelligentsia provided his road the Fabian ladies and gentlemen. The Naturally, come the 1914-18 great war, principles from time to time approved those who depend directly upon their to a reformed British empire. Webb wanted underlying social contradiction in society, the Fabians did their best to serve the by the party conference. own exertions by hand or by brain for a government of magnanimous experts according to them, was not between imperial cause. Europe had to be saved 4. To secure for the workers by hand or the means of life. whose decisions would be no more than labour and capital, but the idle rich and from the Junkers and Prussian militarism. by brain the full fruits of their industry 6. To cooperate with the labour ratified in elections: even referendums the industrious masses ... of all classes However, as the war dragged on and and the most equitable distribution and socialist organisations in the were ruled out as impeding the will of the Managers and entrepreneurs provide an the corpses piled up, any initial popular thereof that may be possible upon the commonwealth overseas with a view educated elite. invaluable service to society. As long as they enthusiasm turned into discontent. The basis of the common ownership of the to promoting the purposes of the Top leaders of the Fabian Society - eg, honestly paid their taxes, fat profits and fat February 1917 revolution in Russia means of production, distribution and party, and to take common action for Sidney and Beatrice Webb, Annie Besant, salaries are fully justified. In other words, galvanised the hopes of many. Workers, the promotion of a higher standard of Sydney Olivier, HG Wells and George original Fabianism amounted to nothing including those in the munitions industry, social and economic life for the working Bernard Shaw - considered themselves more than a form of bourgeois socialism. took strike action. Demands for a negotiated population of the respective countries. social engineers of the highest order, The Fabian Society was not only peace grew and amongst sections of the 7. To cooperate with the labour modern princes, prophets of the future. elitist. Their leaders were thorough-going ruling class there were serious worries that and socialist organisations in other The role of these ever so clever people eugenicists too. Friedrich Nietzsche Britain stood on the edge of revolution. countries and to support the United was to slowly, patiently, courteously provided a warped inspiration. Wells urged Reports came of mutinies in army base Nations and its various agencies and persuade the great and the good of the the death penalty for those suffering from camps and the killing of military policemen. other international organisations for the benefits of ‘socialism’ … hence their “genetically transferable diseases”. Defective June 1917 saw a big labour movement Feb. 7 promotion of peace, the adjustment and organisation’s chosen name (taken from men, women and children were to be dealt conference in Leeds. Famously delegates settlement of international disputes by Quintus Fabius, the Roman general who with by the means of a “lethal chamber”.6 called for a national network of Workers’ conciliation or judicial arbitration, the avoided pitched battles with Hannibal’s As for the “swarms of black, and brown, and Soldiers’ Soviets on the model of Russia. No. 22 establishment and defence of human superior Carthaginian army and instead and dirty white and yellow people”, who did Then came the October Revolution which rights, and the improvement of the social pursued a strategy of attrition). not match his criteria of intelligence and shook the whole capitalist world to its very and economic standards and conditions Unsurprisingly, Marxists have long efficiency, “they will have to go”. It is their foundations. Bourgeois politicians rushed of work of the people of the world. considered Fabianism to be the crassest “portion to die out and disappear”.7 With to make concessions. Hence, Sidney Webb 2018 expression of opportunism. Fredrick that noble end in mind Shaw demanded and the drafting of clause four. These formulations - crucially the fourth Engels showed particular contempt for this that “[e]xtermnation must be put on a By cynical calculation he had three - are too often celebrated as being a “well-meaning gang of eddicated middle scientific basis if it is ever to be carried goals in mind. defining socialist moment. Yet, when class folk.”4 True, he credited them with out humanely and apologetically as well Firstly, his clause four socialism could first mooted in November 1917 - amidst enough wit to realise the “inevitability as thoroughly”.8 Meanwhile, the working be used to divert the considerable rank- the slaughter of inter-imperialist war - of the social revolution.” But the Fabians class was to be lifted out of their ignorance. and-file sympathy that existed for the LPM February 7 2019 Clause four Russian Revolution into safe, peaceful and are regularly rotated. Hierarchy is flattened. would be absolutely safe in their hands. A twofold contradiction, we have a threefold Notes exclusively constitutional channels.
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