Labour Party Marxists

labourpartymarxists.org.uk Free - donations welcome Why Israel is a racist state Any colonial-settler project must involve systematic discrimination against the indigenous population. Moshé Machover calls for the deZionisation of Israel

hat Israel is a racist state is a well- and to carry out such settlement according what became the United States, except that established fact. On July 19 2018, to the plan, and under the direction of a the Zionist organisation insisted explicitly it enacted a quasi-constitutional committee, selected by this Congress …. and deliberately on denying employment nationality bill - ‘Basic law: Israel This committee to be appointed to non-Jews.14 Tas the nation-state of the Jewish people’1 to superintend and direct all matters In the US Declaration of Independence, - which has been widely condemned as of colonisation; it shall consist of ten the freedom-loving founding fathers - institutionalising discrimination against members, and have its seat in London.11 only some of whom were slave owners Israel’s non-Jewish citizens. As many have - complain that the king of Great Britain observed, this law merely codifies and The Congress also resolved to establish a “has endeavoured to bring on the inhabitants formalises a reality that long predates it.2 bank to finance the activities of the Zionist of our frontiers, the merciless Indian Within its pre-1967 borders, Israel is an movement. The bank was duly incorporated savages whose known rule of warfare is an illiberal semi-democracy. It defines itself as in London in 1899; its name was the Jewish undistinguished destruction of all ages, sexes “Jewish and democratic”, but, as its critics Colonial Trust.12 Well into the 20th century, and conditions.”15 In today’s terminology point out, it is “democratic for Jews, Jewish Zionists continued to describe their project they would no doubt be described as for others”. In the territories ruled by it since unabashedly, in a perfectly matter-of-fact ‘terrorists’. The Palestinian Arabs are Israel’s 1967, Israel is a military tyranny, applying way, as one of colonisation. Later in the “merciless Indian savages”. one system of laws and regulations to Jewish 20th century this usage became a public When viewed against the background of settlers and an entirely separate one to the relations liability, and the term was replaced the history of this type of colonisation, Israeli indigenous Palestinian Arabs. by various euphemisms. But the practice racist ideology and practices are par for the The ways in which Israel exercises of colonisation of Palestinian land has course. The annals of colonisation certainly racist discrimination are too numerous to continued unabated and is going ahead at have grimmer chapters, such as the total list here. Adalah, the Legal Centre for Arab full steam to this day. extermination of the people of Tasmania, Minority Rights in Israel, lists over 65 Israeli This context makes Israel’s racism to mention an extreme example. Zionist laws that discriminate directly or indirectly quite ‘natural’, in the sense of conforming colonisation is, however, exceptional in being against Palestinian citizens in Israel and/ to a general law. Every colonisation of an anachronistic: it continues in the 21st century or Palestinian residents of the Occupied already inhabited territory is accompanied the kind of thing - settler colonialism - that Palestinian Territory (OPT).3 In addition by racism. This is the case whether or not elsewhere ended in the 19th. to these laws there are countless unofficial the colonisers arrive with preconceived To conclude: apart from its anachronism, bureaucratic practices and regulations, by racist ideas. Colonisation invariably meets there is little that is exceptional about Israel’s which Israeli racist discrimination operates resistance by the indigenous people. This racism. It is rooted in its nature as a settler in everyday life. was clearly understood, for example, by state. Uprooting colonialist racism requires a The conclusion cannot be denied: the state Vladimir Jabotinsky (1880–1940), the change of regime, decolonisation - which in of Israel is structurally racist, an apartheid founder of the Zionist current that has been the case of Israel means de-Zionisation.16 l state according to the official UN definition Khan al-Ahmar: Palestinians resist Israeli expansionism politically dominant in Israel for the last 41 of this term.4 years. In his seminal article ‘The iron wall’ Notes to statements made by two senior Israeli earlier this month that this racism is “akin (1923) he wrote: 1 en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basic_Law:_Israel_as_the_ Shocking comparison politicians, members of the ruling coalition, to Nazism in its early stages.” I think it is Nation-State_of_the_Jewish_People. Bezalel Smotrich (deputy speaker of the Nazism in every way and fashion, even Every native population in the world 2 Thus, for example, Bernie Sanders remarked in In Israeli public discourse, racist speech Knesset, Israel’s parliament) and Miki Zohar if it comes from the school of the victims resists colonists as long as it has the passing that “the recent ‘nation state law’ ... essentially is extremely common even at the highest (chair of one of the Knesset’s most important of historical Nazism. slightest hope of being able to rid itself codifies the second-class status of Israel’s non-Jewish citizens”. (‘A new authoritarian axis demands an echelon of politics. Some of this high-level committees). These statements, Sternhell of the danger of being colonised. That is international progressive front’, The Guardian, 13 racist discourse is almost casual, such as writes, “should be widely disseminated on He concludes that “if a racism survey were what the Arabs in Palestine are doing, September 13 2018). Benjamin Netanyahu’s infamous “Arabs all media outlets in Israel and throughout the held in western countries like the one on and what they will persist in doing as 3 https://www.adalah.org/en/content/view/7771. voting in droves” video on election day, Jewish world. In both of them we see not just anti-Semitism, Israel would be near the top long as there remains a solitary spark 4 en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crime_of_apartheid. March 17 2015;5 or the “we are not Arab a growing Israeli fascism, but racism akin of the list.”10 of hope that they will be able to prevent 5 “The right-wing government is in danger. Arab 8 voters are heading to the polling stations in droves. lovers” declaration of Isaac Herzog, leader to Nazism in its early stages.” the transformation of ‘Palestine’ into Left-wing NGOs are bringing them in buses.” 6 of Israel’s Labor Party. At the most obscene This shocking comparison with Nazism Role of racism the ‘Land of Israel’ .… https://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/mar/17/ end of the range there are statements by senior is endorsed by Daniel Blatman, professor Colonisation can have only one binyamin-netanyahu-israel-arab-election. politicians containing barely concealed calls of history at the Hebrew University of Exposing Israel’s racism is all too easy. aim, and Palestine Arabs cannot accept 6 ‘We are not Arab lovers – Israeli Labor’s bankrupt for ethnic cleansing. Jerusalem, whose book The death marches: Mere denunciation, without explanation this aim. It lies in the very nature of efforts to stave off decline’, Middle East Eye, 25 April Some of the harshest condemnation the final phase of Nazi genocide won him things, and in this particular regard 2016, https://www.middleeasteye.net/columns/when- of its underlying context, may actually be israels-main-opposition-party-has-problem-countrys- of Israel’s racism is voiced by two Israeli in 2011 the Yad Vashem International Book misleading if not counterproductive; it nature cannot be changed. palestinian-citizens-1878921672. academics, who, as recognised experts on Prize for Holocaust Research. In an article may appear as singling Israel out for some Zionist colonisation must either 7 en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zeev_Sternhell. the history of fascism and Nazism, speak published last year he commented: “deputy peculiar and exceptional moral defect of stop, or else proceed regardless of the 8 ‘In Israel, Growing Fascism and a Racism Akin to with considerable authority. speaker Bezalel Smotrich’s admiration for the its leaders or, worse, of its Jewish majority. native population. Which means that Early Nazism’, Ha’aretz January 19 2018, https:// Professor Zeev Sternhell is emeritus head biblical genocidaire, Joshua bin Nun, leads In fact, racist structures and attitudes, it can proceed and develop only under www.haaretz.com/opinion/.premium-in-israel- growing-fascism-and-a-racism-akin-to-early-nazism- of the department of political science at the him to adopt values that resemble those of wherever they occur, are part of the legal the protection of a power [ie, Britain - 1.5746488?=&ts=_1537002401268. 9 Hebrew University of Jerusalem and one of the German SS.” and ideological superstructure and cannot MM] that is independent of the native 9 ‘The Israeli Lawmaker Heralding Genocide Against the world’s leading experts on fascism.7 In an Blatman returned to this topic in a more properly be understood in isolation from population - behind an iron wall, which Palestinians’, Ha’aretz May 23 2017, https://www. article published earlier this year, he referred recent article: their material base. the native population cannot breach.13 haaretz.com/opinion/.premium-the-israeli-mk- In the case of Israel, that material base heralding-genocide-against-palestinians-1.5475561. The biblical reference is to the book of Joshua, which Deputy Knesset speaker MK Bezalel is the Zionist colonisation of Palestine - a In their conflict with the ‘natives’, the settlers contains a mythical account of the conquest and ethnic Smotrich … presented his phased plan, process of which Israel is both product and tend to develop a racist ideology as self- cleansing of the land of Canaan (Palestine) by the according to which the Palestinians in the instrument. That the Zionist project is all justification. Israelites. The account is of course purely fictitious, occupied territories (and possibly Israeli about the colonisation of Palestine by Jews We can say more. Racism in general but is taken as inspiration and virtual blueprint by the citizens, too) would become, in the best is, once again, an indisputable fact. It is how comes in many different variants, and likes of Smotrich. political Zionism described itself right from colonisers’ racism takes different forms, 10 ‘International Holocaust Remembrance Day: case, subjects without rights with a status An Israeli Hypocrisy’, Ha’aretz January 28 2018, that reminds us of German Jews after the the start. Thus, the second Zionist Congress depending on the type of colonisation. In https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/.premium- Sept. 20 passage of the Nuremberg Laws in 1935. (1898) adopted the following resolution colonisation based primarily on exploiting the international-holocaust-remembrance-day-an-israeli- To the extent that they do not agree to the (supplementing the Basel programme adopted labour-power of the indigenous people, the hypocrisy-1.5768945. plan, they will simply be cleansed from at the first Congress a year earlier): latter are usually depicted by the colonisers 11 www.jewishencyclopedia.com/articles/2612-basel- No.021 here. If they refuse to leave, they will be as inferior creatures deserving no better fate program. 12 www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jewish-colonial-trust. uprooted violently, which would lead This Congress, in approval of the than working for their conquerors. 13 ‘The iron wall’ (O Zheleznoi stene), published to genocide. colonisation already inaugurated in But in colonisation based on excluding November 4 1923 in the Russian-language journal 2018 Another elected official from the Palestine, and being desirous of fostering and displacing the ‘natives’ rather than Rassvyet (Dawn); English translation https://tinyurl. ruling coalition, Likud’s Miki Zohar, did further efforts in that direction, hereby incorporating them into the colonial economy com/m8dp3le. not hesitate to state that the Arabs have a declares, that: as workers, they are usually depicted as 14 See the 1929 constitution of the Jewish Agency, https://tinyurl.com/ycq3nqpo. problem that has no solution - they are not For the proper settlement of dangerous wild and murderous people who 15 http://www.ushistory.org/declaration/document/. Jews and therefore their fate in this land Palestine, this Congress considers it ought to be ethnically cleansed. Zionist 16 See my article ‘The decolonisation of Palestine’, cannot be the same as that of the Jews .… is necessary to obtain the requisite colonisation belongs to this category. In this Weekly Worker June 23 2016, https://weeklyworker. Prof Zeev Sternhell wrote in this paper permission from the Turkish government, respect, it is not unlike the colonisation of co.uk/worker/1112/the-decolonisation-of-palestine/. LPM SEPTEMBER 20 2018 Democracy Against referendums Jack Conrad puts the Marxist case for rejecting referendums as a matter of principle

well staffed, well coordinated, article, “I’ve decided that the people ought Liberty have done. So have Dave Prentis Even barring such transparent forms well financed campaign is busy to have the final say.”2 People’s Vote march of Unison, Dave Roache of the GMB and of cheating, say ‘remain’ narrowly won in manoeuvring the Labour Party on June 23 2018 was Manuel Cortes of TSSA with their call for a straightforward two-option referendum, into supporting the demand Flagship dominated by Lib a second referendum at the TUC. what do we expect the 49% (or whatever) - ie, Afor a second referendum. The Liverpool It is still highly unlikely that there will be those who vote ‘leave’ - to do? conference is going to be pivotal. There People’s Vote is, of course, the flagship of a Dems, Labour right a second referendum. Theresa May will not There are those on the left - many of are dozens of Constituency Labour Party veritable organisational armada: European go for it … though she would be exceedingly them good people - who believe that contemporary motions on Brexit and the Movement, Labour for a People’s Vote, Best and Greens. But the glad if Jeremy Corbyn fell into that particular represents an existential threat. Brexit, they EU, many of them following the template for Britain Best for Europe, Healthier IN the whole well-financed elephant trap. Yet imagine, for one moment, say, points squarely in the direction of a low- provided by Labour for a People’s Vote. EU, , , that People’s Vote succeeds. What would the tax, low-regulation, low-rights economy. This ‘grassroots’ organisation is fronted Scientists for EU and Wales for Europe. operation is in the result be? Labour, presumably, is hammered The working class can only but suffer. by Mike Buckley, a former aid worker. All work closely together under the overall interests of big in any subsequent general election: seven in Already Brexit has made Britain poorer, But, of course, Labour for a People’s direction of the Grassroots Coordinating every 10 of Labour’s constituencies voted reduced investment and squeezed the tax Vote is one of the many heads of People’s Group - which also includes the All-Party capital. ‘leave’ in June 2016. Meanwhile, though revenues vital for public services. Migrants Vote. Launched in April 2018 by MPs Parliamentary Group on European Relations. opinion polls show clear majorities wanting and minorities get the blame. So, runs the (Labour), Chuka Umunna is the chair. Tongue in cheek, a “say” on any final Brexit deal, the actual argument, it is vital to fall in behind Chuka (Tory), (Liberal Democrat) this network of ‘grassroots’ organisations result, if there was a second referendum, Umunna, Gina Miller and , in and (Green), People’s Vote has been dubbed ‘project GCHQ’ by its is far from certain. The last two Survation order to defeat Brexit. calls for a referendum on Theresa May’s leading staff. Boris Johnson would polls (September 1 and September 7) could But will the forces of chauvinism and final Brexit terms. However, the campaign boasts offices hardly be narrower: 47% ‘remain’ and 47% xenophobia easily surrender? The Daily On June 23 2018 - the second not in Cheltenham, but on the first floor of win Tory leadership ‘leave’; then 47% ‘remain’ and 46% ‘leave’.5 Telegraph, the Daily Mail, The Sun, the anniversary of David Cameron’s Millbank Tower - just a few minutes’ walk contest by a mile ... Both Tony Blair and Justine Greening Tory right, Ukip, Ulster Unionists, Britain unexpected referendum defeat - People’s from parliament and the TV studios at 4 have, therefore, proposed a three-option First, the Football Lads Alliance will surely Vote took 100,000 people down the 880 Millbank. There are said to be 150 affiliated if he could make it to referendum (obviously in order to guarantee bang the “grand betrayal” drum as loudly yards - an exceedingly short march - from local groups and 500,000 supporters. the final. He is hugely their wanted result). Option one: agree as they can.7 Barry Gardiner, Labour’s London’s Trafalgar Square to Parliament Together The Guardian and with the government’s final Brexit terms, shadow foreign trade minister, has already Square. Speakers included , act as their collective organisers, agitators popular with the ‘fruit- as negotiated with Michel Barnier and the warned that a second referendum would Gina Miller, Vince Cable, , and propagandists. George Soros’s Open cakes, loonies and EU 27; option two: leave the EU without boost the far right and could lead to “civil Caroline Lucas and Anna Soubry. Society Foundation has donated more than an agreement; option three: remain in the disobedience”.8 In a similar vein, Andrew Every People’s Vote move is £800,000 to anti-Brexit causes (including closet racists’ who EU. In other words, soft Brexit, hard Brexit Duff, a former Lib Dem MEP, claims that meticulously prepared, planned and £400,000 to , £182,000 to and no Brexit. another referendum might “even pitch the plotted. Just a few days before the opening European Movement UK and £35,000 to make up the Tory rank Through perpetuating such a blatantly country into a revolutionary situation”.9 Such of the TUC’s Manchester congress, YouGov Scientists for EU).3 Topping that though, and file. dishonest trick, argues David Jeffrey, a fears are not entirely groundless. The far issued its “bombshell” poll finding.1 No Julian Dunkerton, co-founder of the fashion lecturer in politics at Liverpool university, right will passionately argue that the ‘leave’ surprise: members of Unite, Unison and label Superdry, handed People’s Vote a cool it is theoretically possible for just 34% of campaign won the June 2016 referendum the GMB favour a second referendum by a £1 million in August 2018: he wants a voters to decide the “winning option”.6 Such fair and square. That the votes of 17.4 million margin of 2:1. Ask a few thousand people polling blitz.4 a referendum would see two bitterly opposed people have been betrayed, ignored, treated a loaded question and you generally get Clearly no-one on the principled left ‘leave’ camps and a comparatively aloof with contempt. That Britain remains shackled the answer you want. Though the TUC should have anything to do with People’s ‘remain’ campaign. The prediction being to Europe because of a dastardly conspiracy resolution was a classic fudge (if, if, if …), Vote. Marching alongside the Lib Dems, that on the Brexit side issues of hatched by Brussels bureaucrats, George it will be notched up by People’s Vote as the Labour hard right, Tory rebels and principle will clash and end up Soros, Whitehall mandarins, the self-serving yet another success. Green naives on June 23 2018 was to in a hopeless muddle. political elite, the City, big business, trade With big business safely on board and march in the interests of big capital. If a preferential vote is added union bosses … and their leftwing allies. the Lib Dems loyally serving as the - largely Ditto, promoting subsidiary into the formula, then the Sinclair Lewis chose the ironic title It can’t unrewarded - organisational core, the next organisations - eg, Labour for a least popular option would be happen here for his 1935 bestselling novel. strategic goal is breaking Jeremy Corbyn’s People’s Vote - is to constitute eliminated and there would be The plotline has a charismatic and crazily policy of ‘studied ambiguity’ at Labour’s oneself a junior partner. a count-off between the last two ambitious American politician, Berzelius conference. Hence, right on cue, along But, pathetically, that is questions … and, so ‘remain’ ‘Buzz’ Windrip, promoting traditional with a flurry of convenient opinion polls, exactly what the social would, so goes the calculation, Christian values, winning the trust of the Sadiq Khan is rolled out: “After careful imperialists of the emerge the winner with over wealthy, denouncing Jews, fuelling hatred consideration”, he wrote in his Observer Alliance for Workers’ 50% of the vote. for Mexicans and promising impoverished 2 3 LPM SEPTEMBER 20 2018 AIMS and Principles

1. The central aim of Labour Party Marxists is to transform the Labour electors instant prosperity. In short, America and the Scottish independence referendum third republic - in essence a reformed version emphasis on a working class party - to bring Party into an instrument for working will be made great again. Buzz easily defeats of 2014. All offered a bogus choice. In June of Bonapartism - in the ‘minimum’ section about a situation in which the state is as weak class advance and international social- Franklin Delano Roosevelt in the presidential 2016 Marxists called for an active boycott. of the Programme of the Parti Ouvrier. and the people are as strong and organised ism. Towards that end we will join with race and goes on to establish a horribly Admittedly our results were very modest Here it is explained that the creation of a as possible. He draws a vital distinction others and seek the closest unity of the left inside and outside the party. autocratic regime: Congress and the Supreme - 25,000 spoilt ballot papers. Nonetheless, workers’ party “must be pursued by all the between, on the one hand, ‘the people’ as Court are emasculated. “Irresponsible and David Cameron’s objective was, of course, not means the proletariat has at its disposal, an unorganised mass who do not think 2. Capitalism is synonymous with seditious elements” are physically crushed to give power to the people. On the contrary, including universal suffrage, which will about national or global issues in a coherent war, pollution, waste and production by the Minute Men, a ruthless paramilitary he calculated on outflanking Ukip, wrong- thus be transformed from the instrument of fashion, and ‘the people’ organised into, or for its own sake. Attempts to rescue the force, acting under the direct command of footing Labour, satisfying his Europhobes deception that it has been until now into an by, a workers’ party. One is to be perpetual system through Keynesian remedies the president. Many thousands are interned … and hanging on as prime minister. No instrument of emancipation”. The party will victim of lies, fraud and humbug. The other are diversionary and doomed to fail. and many more flee north to Canada. reason, therefore, to give him any support fight for the confiscation of church wealth; readies itself as the future ruling class. The democratic and social gains of Could it happen here? Following the whatsoever. remove restrictions on the press, meetings, the working class must be tenaciously script carefully crafted by the master of the Antonio Gramsci, writing in June 1921, organisations, etc; and abolish the standing Memory loss defended, but capitalism must be dark political arts, the election ‘guru’, Sir can usefully be cited here: army and replace it with the “general arming superseded by socialism. Lynton Crosby, Alexander Boris de Pfeffel of the people”.13 The reason why the left has largely forgotten 3. The only viable alternative is organ- Johnson - otherwise known by the mononym The communists are … on principle The Marx-Engels position opposing the history of opposing referendums ising the working class into powerful ‘Boris’ - has skilfully blown the anti-Muslim opposed to the referendum, since they referendums became the common sense of the in the name of extending representative and thoroughly democratic trade unions, dog whistle: “letter box” and “bank robbers” place the most advanced and active Second International, including both its far left democracy surely stems from a number of co-ops, and other schools for socialism, in the context of the burka; “suicide vest” in workers, who make the greatest sacrifices, and its far right. Arturo Labriola, the Italian factors. Above all, though, it must be the and crucially into a political party which the context of Brexit negotiations. on the same plane as the most lazy, syndicalist, wrote his Contro il referendum in general decline in our political culture. aims to replace the rule of the capitalist This year or next, Johnson is expected ignorant and idle workers. If one wants 1897. He castigated referendums as a cruel A working knowledge of Marxist theory, class with the rule of the working class. to launch his leadership bid against Theresa direct, individual consultations, then trick. In 1911 Ramsay MacDonald, Labour socialist literature and the history of the 4. The fight for trade union freedom, May. His narrative? Muslims as ‘other’, Brexit this must take place in assemblies, after leader and future prime minister, came out in revolutionary movement can no longer anti-fascism, women’s rights, sexual betrayal and the economic magic of free an organised debate, and a vote must similar terms: referendums are “a clumsy and be taken for granted. There is certainly no freedom, republican democracy and trade. If he can secure enough Tory MPs presuppose knowledge of what is at stake ineffective weapon, which the reaction can common understanding of the necessity of opposition to all imperialist wars are 10 to get into the final two-horse run-off - a and a sense of responsibility. always use more effectively than democracy, a minimum programme and emphasising inextricably linked to working class big ask - Johnson would win by a mile. He because it, being the power to say ‘no’, is far the battle to win democracy. political independence and the fight is hugely popular amongst the “fruitcakes, However, it ought to be emphasised, this more useful to the few than the many”.14 Once there were mass Marxist parties: for socialism. loonies and closet racists” who make up the general principle does not translate into Note that the - still widely venerated - now we have leftwing confessional sects. Tory rank and file ... and, given a contest, it is automatically refusing to call for a referendum constitutional theorist, AV Dicey, promoted They produce little or nothing worthwhile 5. Ideas of reclaiming the Labour they who make the final decision. Johnson vote under all circumstances. Nor does it an-all UK referendum in the 1890s as a in terms of ideas. True, Labour has well Party and the return of the old clause will get their votes. Not Sajid Javid. Not translate into a general principle of always means to scupper Irish home rule - Ulster over 550,000 members, but, while it has four are totally misplaced. From the beginning the party has been dominated Andrea Leadsom. responding to a referendum organised by Unionists ran with his referendum proposal always had plenty of socialists in its ranks, by the labour bureaucracy and the Johnson would then be driven to our enemies with a corresponding call for an and demanded that it be integrated into the Labour Party itself has never been a ideas of reformism. The party must be Buckingham Palace, where he would active boycott. To vote this way or that way, the constitution; in 1910 Stanley Baldwin real socialist party. Disgracefully, we are refounded on the basis of a genuinely seek permission from the queen to form to establish an active boycott campaign, etc, included the promise of a referendum still lumbered with the managerial guff socialist programme as opposed to social a government. The monarch, of course, is always a tactical decision. over tariff reform in the Tory manifesto, Tony Blair substituted for the old clause democratic gradualism or bureaucratic retains the constitutional right to choose Eg, Marxists urged a ‘yes’ vote in and challenged the Liberals to do the same four in 1995. However, the old clause four, statism. the prime minister. Ireland’s May 2015 referendum on gay with Irish home rule; in 1911 Lord Balfour agreed in 1918, was socialist in name only. Meanwhile, a Labour Party led by marriage; the same with Ireland’s May 2018 tabled his ‘people bill’ in the House of Lords, What the Fabian socialist, Sidney Webb, 6. The aim of the party should not Jeremy Corbyn - a Labour Party that has referendum on abortion. And, in the UK, allowing 200 MPs to petition the crown for produced was a recipe for a British empire be a Labour government for its own been manoeuvred, albeit against his better while being critical of the Liberal Democrat a referendum and thereby potentially block version of state capitalism: colonial peoples sake. History shows that Labour judgement, into a commitment to hold proposal for reforming the parliamentary unwelcome government legislation; in 1913 would remain nationally oppressed, workers governments committed to managing the capitalist system and loyal to the a second referendum - would surely find voting system, Marxists called for a ‘yes’ Lord Curzon floated a referendum as a would remain wage-slaves. existing constitutional order create itself badly positioned and vulnerable. vote in the May 5 2011 referendum. Despite democratic way to prevent the extension of An unacknowledged Fabian socialism disillusionment in the working class. Prime minister Johnson would, doubtless, the glaring inadequacies, our judgment was the franchise to women; and, as the reform bill survives in the form of Momentum, the call a snap general election in the name of that, on balance, getting rid of the ‘wasted giving women over 30 the vote was passing Labour Representation Committee, Labour 7. Labour should only consider forming establishing a Global Britain. vote’ syndrome would be a “small gain” and through parliament in 1918, 53 peers wrote Briefing (original), Campaign for Labour a government when it has the active provide better conditions for the left to to The Times urging a referendum.15 Party Democracy, etc. Take the all too support of a clear majority of the Undemocratic develop than the first-past-the-post system. However, there were those useful idiots frequent claim that a Labour government can population and has a realistic pros- Needless to say, we are programmatically on the left who were attracted by the idea of deliver full employment, an equal society and pect of implementing a full socialist Not that our objection to a second EU committed to a thoroughgoing proportional referendums and the right of the people to an economy that works for all. Impossible, programme. This cannot be achieved referendum is based on getting Jeremy representation system, party lists and the initiate them. Karl Kautsky, the celebrated of course, without abolishing the capitalist in Britain in isolation from Europe and Corbyn into number 10 or appeasing right of the party to recall MPs, MEPs, pope of Marxism, chose Moritz Rittinghausen, system. And, as can be seen with The the rest of the world. Boris Johnson, Nigel Farage, Ukip, etc. councillors, etc. a German social democrat, as his main World Transformed event, there are good 8. Socialism is the rule of the working True, the popular support base enjoyed The Lib Dems wanted an alternative vote polemical target over the issue.16 intentions, the fostering of illusions, activist class over the global economy created by the Brexiteers has to be won over. It is system. Voters would be asked not to opt Kautsky’s Parliamentarism, direct training … and turning a blind eye to what by capitalism and as such is antithetical surely stupid to dismiss the 51% who voted for a single candidate, but tick candidates legislation by the people and social is going on. Hence, no place for debating to all forms of British nationalism. ‘leave’ in June 2016 as a single reactionary off in an order of preference - 1, 2, 3, etc. democracy (1893) was designed to shoot the ongoing witch-hunt, the ‘anti-Zionism Demands for a British road to socialism bloc. The same goes for the 49% who voted Faced with an election held under such a down referenda nostrums and uphold equals anti-Semitism’ lies, the silencing of and a withdrawal from the European ‘remain’. They do not constitute a single system, we would advise voting along strict the strategic perspective he outlined in pro-Palestine activists, the backtracking on Union are therefore to be opposed. progressive bloc. class lines: no vote for petty bourgeois or his hugely influential commentary on the Trident, let alone mapping out a vision of 9. Political principles and organisa- Referendums, by their very nature, are bourgeois parties. True, calling for a ‘yes’ Erfurt programme, known in English as transforming the Labour Party. tional forms go hand-in-hand. The undemocratic. They bypass representative vote lined Marxists up with the Lib Dems, The class struggle. Even if referendums could We in LPM are absolutely clear. Our goal Labour Party must become the umbrella institutions and serve, in general, to fool the Greens, Ukip, Sinn Féin and Plaid replace existing representative institutions, is a Labour Party that, in the words of Keir organisation for all trade unions, enough of the people, enough of the time. Cymru. Labour adopted no official position, as extreme ‘against elections’ advocates still Hardie, can “organise the working class into socialist groups and pro-working class And yet referendums have the great virtue of while Respect, the Socialist Workers Party, want, this would represent not a step forward a great, independent political power to fight partisans. Hence all the undemocratic appearing to be the epitome of democracy. Socialist Party in England and Wales and for democracy, but a step backward. for the coming of socialism”.17 bans and proscriptions must be done That explains why Harold Wilson, Tony the Morning Star’s Communist Party of Kautsky fields three main arguments. Towards that end it is worth taking up away with. Blair and David Cameron have used them. Britain supported the Tory ‘no’ campaign. Firstly, he stresses that there are very few the slogan of a much less notable Labour 10. The fight to democratise the Labour Complex issues are simplified, drained of However, our principled opposition to situations where there is a simple binary leader. The slogan is ‘Education, education, l Party cannot be separated from the fight nuance, reduced to a crude choice that cuts referendums stands. They are not a higher choice in politics. Eg, even assuming that education’ to democratise the trade unions. Trade across class loyalties. Hence, today, one half form of democracy than the election of there is a straightforwardly ‘right thing to do’, union votes at Labour Party conferences of the working class is found in the ‘leave’ well-tested working class representatives, it is rarely obvious what the right thing to do Notes should be cast not by general secretaries camp. The other half is in the ‘remain’ camp. Marxist politics and extensive public debate. is. Very frequently, there is not a choice to 1 The Guardian September 8 2018. 2 The Observer September 16 2018. but proportionately according to the Our objections to referendums are Referendums, on the contrary, tend to divide be made between option 1 or 2, but options political balance in each delegation. principled and long-standing. Marxists the working class, weaken its party spirit 1 to 7 and within these options, 1 (a) (i), 3 The Guardian February 11 2018. 4 The Guardian August 18 2018. 11. All trade unions should be encour- opposed the operation in relation to the ‘Vote and produce the strangest of bedfellows. 1 (a) (ii), 1 (b) … and so on and so forth. 5 https://whatukthinks.org/eu/questions/should-the- for the crook, not for the fascist’ presidential In terms of our tradition, things To reach a decision, then, it is necessary united-kingdom-remain-a-member-of-the-european- aged to affiliate, all members of the election in France in 2002. Before that unmistakably date back to Karl Marx and to reduce the range of options. That is, of union-or-leave-the-european-union-asked-after-the- trade unions encouraged to pay the Marxists urged an active boycott of Tony Frederick Engels. The Marx-Engels team course, why Kautsky advocates extending referendum. political levy and join the Labour Party 6 www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-44847404. as individual members. Blair’s 1997 referendum in Scotland. Then knew all about the undemocratic nature of representative democracy and the process of 7 www.ukipdaily.com/the-grand-betrayal. the 1998 Good Friday referendum in Ireland referendums, given the bitter experience of debate, motions, detailed votes and binding 8 BBC Radio 4 Today August 21 2018. 12. The party must be reorganised from Louis Bonaparte and his ‘self-coup d’état’ in legislation. 9 www.libdemvoice.org/the-dangerous-nonsense-of- top to bottom. Bring the Parliamentary 1851, and then his self-elevation to emperor Secondly - and this is no less important the-peoples-vote-58261.html. Labour Party under democratic control. Labour Against the Witchhunt in 1852 (each autocratic power-grab being - Kautsky wanted to strengthen the system 10 A Gramsci Selections from political writings 1921- The position of Labour leader should legitimised by a referendum). Bonaparte of party politics. In the transition period 1926 London 1978, p50. be abolished along with the national BCM Box 8932, London WC1N 3XX 11 V Hugo Napoleon the little London 1852, p144. Tel: 07817 379 568 went on to impose press censorship, restrict between capitalism and communism, it policy forum. The NEC should be 12 G Sand The letters of George Sand Vol 3, New York unambiguously responsible for drafting Email: info@ demonstrations and public meetings, savagely is, he said, vital for the broad mass of the NY 2009, p192. repress political opponents (mainly red population to think about, to organise 13 www.marxists.org/archive/marx/ works/1880/05/ Labour Party manifestos. labouragainstthewitchhunt.org parti-ouvrier.htm. Web: www.labouragainstthewitchhunt.org republicans) and force thousands into exile around and to vote for competing party 13. The NEC should be elected and - amongst them the celebrated writer, Victor outlooks. That has the advantage of bringing 14 See L Morel and M Qvortrup (eds) The Facebook: https://www.facebook. Routledge handbook to referendums and direct accountable to the annual conference, Hugo. Initially a supporter, Hugo furiously to the fore class divisions. Referendums, com/Labouragainstthewitchhunt/ democracy Abingdon 2018. which must be the supreme body in the denounced Bonaparte’s referendums as a on the other hand, have the disadvantage 15 See V Bogdanor The people and the party system: party. Instead of a tame rally there must Twitter: @LabourAW 11 means to “smother men’s minds”. In the of blurring, overriding, deflecting the the referendum and electoral reform in British be democratic debate and binding votes. Individual membership: £10 per same defiant spirit, George Sand (Amantine fundamental conflict in society between politics Cambridge 1981, pp9-94. annum, £5 (unwaged). Lucile Aurore Dupin), damned them as “an class and class, and the respective conflict 16 See B Lewis, ‘Referenda and direct democracy’ 14. Our elected representatives must Affiliates: Local or Regional: £25pa. infamous snare”.12 between party and party: precisely the Weekly Worker September 18 2014; K Kautsky, ‘Direct be recallable by the constituency or National: £100pa legislation by the people and the class struggle’ Weekly other body that selected them. That Marx and Engels, along with their opposite of what Marxists want to see. Worker March 31 2016. includes MPs, MEPs, MSPs, AMs, co-thinkers, Jules Guesde and Paul Lafargue, Thirdly, Kautsky stresses the point that 17 Independent Labour Party Report of the 18th councillors, etc. Without exception presented their alternative to the post-1871 Marxists strive - particularly through their annual conference London 1910, p59. elected representatives should take only the average wage of a skilled worker, the balance being donated to furthering 2 3 the interests of the labour movement l LPM SEPTEMBER 20 2018 Programme Transform the Labour Party The democracy commission’s recommendations fall far short of what is needed. James Marshall presents LPM’s 12-point alternative

Mandatory reselection is crucial, though it terrifies the right. We read that this, “even more than nuclear disarmament and membership of 1the European Community, became the main catalyst for the launch of the breakaway Social Democratic Party” in March 1981.1 In that same treacherous spirit as the founders of the SDP, Progress - current board members include Peter Mandelson, Gloria De Piero, Alison McGovern and Phil Wilson - furiously denounces mandatory reselection as “a weapon of fear and intimidation”.2 Yes, it is viewed as an affront by every rightwing wrecker, every hireling, every parliamentary careerist. It is worth looking at the background. Interestingly, and with good foundation, we read on the Progress website that mandatory reselection carries “echoes of the Paris Commune, and of the Russian soviets, where delegates were subject to recall if they displeased their local citizenry. It rests on the idea that leaders will always be tempted to sell you out, once they get p ow e r.” 3 Well, surely, that is what history actually shows. For decades, sitting Labour MPs - certainly those with safe seats - enjoyed a job for life (or as long as no better offer came along). They might deign to visit their constituency once or twice a year, deliver a speech to the AGM and write an occasional letter to the local newspaper. Meanwhile they lived a pampered, middle class life, frequented various London gentlemen’s clubs and spent their weekends in the home counties with Lord this and Lady that. Despite such evident moral corruption, We desperately need our own media they were automatically the candidate for the next election. Unless found guilty of nominate and shortlist only. This electoral barred or expelled for having supported etc. That way, our CLPs can be made into to complex ideas, debating history and an act of gross indecency or having had college system gave unions and affiliated leftwing organisations and publications. vibrant centres of socialist organisation, charting out political strategies, they are the party whip withdrawn, they could do organisations up to 40% of the vote, with The compliance unit operates in the murky education and action. worse than useless. We should provide as they pleased. ordinary members having some 60% (the shadows, routinely leaks to the capitalist 9. We need rule changes to once again time and space for controversy and the With the rise of Bennism, that totally actual balance was different in each seat, media and makes rulings in a completely allow left, communist and revolutionary whole range of different opinions within unacceptable situation was called into depending on party and union membership). biased manner. We want to welcome into groups and parties to affiliate - as long as the party. Without that our media will be question. The Campaign for Labour Party Trigger ballots were a product of the our ranks those excluded by the compliance they do not stand against us in elections, dull, lifeless, pointless. We should also Democracy, founded in 1973, committed 1990s. Formally honouring conference’s unit. Many of them are good socialists with this can only but strengthen Labour as a take full advantage of parliamentary itself to a range of rule changes – the “desire to maintain reselection”, they made a proven record. federal party. immunity to circumvent the oppressive mandatory reselection of MPs was finally it significantly “easier for MPs to defend 6. Those expelled from membership ought 10. Being an MP ought to be an honour, not libel laws. Then we can say the unsayable. agreed by the 1980 conference. What this their positions”.4 They allowed for a sitting to have the right to reapply - not after five a career ladder - not a way for university That would prove to be electric in terms saw, however, was not a Labour Party MP to be subject to a full-scale ballot of years, but in just one year. All disciplinary graduates to secure a lucrative living. A of shaping and mobilising public opinion. equivalent of the Paris Commune or the the membership. But only if they lost a procedures should be completed within particularly potent weapon here would be a 12. We should adopt a new clause four. Russian soviets. There was no right to trigger ballot. three months, at which point suspensions rule requiring all our elected representatives Not a return to the old 1918 version, but instantly recall. Nevertheless, once in We say, all elected Labour representatives must be automatically rescinded. Endless and officials to take only the average wage a commitment to working class rule and each parliament, our MPs had to secure must, by rule, be subject to one-member, delay violates natural justice. of a skilled worker - a principle that was the aim of a stateless, classless, moneyless the endorsement of their local general one-vote mandatory reselection. All must 7. We need a rule that commits the NEC to indeed upheld by the Paris Commune and society, which embodies the principle, management committee. Note: GMCs be brought under democratic control - from securing the affiliation of all trade unions the Bolshevik revolution. Our MPs are on a ‘From each according to their abilities, to were made up of delegates elected by local above, by the national executive committee; to the Labour Party. The FBU has already basic £77,379 annual salary. On top of that each according to their needs’ l party and trade union branches; they were from below, by branches and Constituency reaffiliated. Excellent. But what about the they are paid an allowance to employ staff sizable bodies too, typically consisting of Labour Parties. RMT? Let us win RMT militants to finally and expenses to travel and, if necessary, 80, 90, 100 or even more delegates. 2. We urgently need a sovereign drop their support for the thoroughly secure accommodation for themselves Notes At the prompting of the bourgeois conference once again. The cumbersome, misconceived Trade Unionist and Socialist in London. On average this takes them to 1 thirdavenue.org.uk/a-beginners-guide-to-the- labour-party-rulebook-part-2-reselection-of-mps. media, Neil Kinnock, desperately seeking undemocratic and oppressive structures, Coalition project. Instead reaffiliate to well over £80,000 annually (yet at present 2 www.progressonline.org.uk/2015/09/28/the-price- acceptability, sought to extract trade unions especially those put in place under the the Labour Party. And what about the Labour MPs are only obliged to pay the of-a-seat-in-parliament. from the voting process altogether. He failed, Blair supremacy, must be abolished. The National Education Union? Then there is £82 parliamentarian’s subscription rate). 3 www.progressonline.org.uk/2015/09/28/the-price- but accepted a compromise. A local electoral joint policy committee, the national policy the PCS. Thankfully, Mark Serwotka, its Moreover, as leader of the official opposition, of-a-seat-in-parliament. college for the selection and reselection forums, etc, have to go. leftwing general secretary, has come round Jeremy Corbyn not only gets his MP’s salary: 4 thirdavenue.org.uk/a-beginners-guide-to-the- of candidates was introduced. Ordinary 3. We are against the idea of electing the to the idea of affiliation. Yes, that would he is entitled to an additional £73,617.6 labour-party-rulebook-part-2-reselection-of-mps. 5 labourlist.org/2016/02/mcdonnell-and-woodcock- members were given a direct vote for the general secretary through an all-member run up against the Trades Disputes and Let them keep the average skilled clash-over-plan-to-scrap-member-checks. first time, leaving GMCs with the right to ballot. The NEC should elect all national Trade Union Act (1927), introduced by a worker’s wage - say £40,000 (plus legitimate 6 en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leader_of_the_Opposition_ officers. Therefore the post of Labour vengeful Tory government in the aftermath expenses). Then, however, they should (United_Kingdom). leader should be replaced by the post of of the General Strike. Civil service unions hand the balance over to the party. Even NEC chair. We favour annual elections were barred from affiliating to the Labour without a rule change Jeremy Corbyn, with the right to recall at any time. As a Party and the TUC. The Civil and Public John McDonnell and Diane Abbott ought london communist forum matter of basic principle, Marxists oppose Services Association - predecessor of the to take the lead here. Your financial support is needed - all forms of Bonapartism. PCS - reaffiliated to the TUC in 1946. 11. Relying on the favours of the capitalist Sundays, 5pm: Weekly political please pay into the lpm bank account: 4. In Scotland and Wales, Labour’s executive Now, however, it surely is time for the PCS press, radio and TV is a fool’s game. Yes, meeting and study group sort code 30-96-26; account number: 22097060 committees should likewise elect their own to reaffiliate to the Labour Party. Force it worked splendidly for Tony Blair and organised jointly by Labour Party officers, including their representatives another change in the law. Alistair Campbell. But, as Neil Kinnock, Marxists and CPGB. Details in on the all-UK NEC. We are against a 8. There has to be a shift in the party, Gordon Brown and Ed Miliband found to OR SEND CHEQUES PAYABLE TO ‘LPM’ Weekly Worker. single individual in Scotland and Wales away from the HQ, regional officers, the their cost, to live by the mainstream media LPM, BCM BOX 8932, LONDON WC1N 3XX. having the right to appoint themselves, leader’s office, the Parliamentary Labour is to die by the mainstream media. Venue: or a trusted clone. Party, etc. CLPs must be empowered. The NEC should, by rule, establish The Calthorpe Arms, 5. Scrap the hated compliance unit “and Towards that end there has to be proper and maintain our own press, radio and OR CONTACT US VIA EMAIL: 252 Grays Inn Road, get back to the situation where people are financing. CLPs should be allocated 50% TV. To state the obvious, Facebook [email protected] London WC1X 8JR automatically accepted for membership, of the individual membership dues. That and Twitter have severe limits. They unless there is a significant issue that comes will help with producing publicity material, are brilliant mediums for transmitting up” (John McDonnell).5 hiring rooms, paying for full-time officers, simple, short and sharp messages to the There must be an amnesty for all those providing transport, setting up websites, already converted, but when it comes 4