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tory grandees sharpen n Letters and debate workern Media’s role their knives after May’s n scotland and indy 2 fatal miscalculation n DUP bigots No 1159 thursday June 15 2017 towards a Communist Party of the european Union £1/€1.10 tHiNGs HAVe JUst Got eVeN Better 2 weekly June 15 2017 1159 worker letters

Letters may have been from many of those present) - all of and united action was delivered on unelectable, no action when they are in sets one up in Poland, do you defend shortened because of which will be necessary in order to take November 30 2011. That saw the power because that will help the Tories the right of the displaced workers here space. Some names power away from the ruling class. We biggest strike, with 1.4 million workers and media get Labour out! There will to ‘follow the investment’ and stand  may have been changed have a lot of political education to do. out, since the General Strike of 1926. never be a right time to join the Labour outside that factory and undercut the A minimal motion from Pete Firmin And, instead of building for an even Party to fight to make Labour more local Polish workers queuing up to Gagging order was carried, after discussion, by bigger strike after PCS had proved leftwing. work for the new lower wages? Should The Labour Representation majority vote, to circulate information that workers are inspired by united, Since Corbyn became leader, has they join the local union and demand Committee’s June 10 members about the June 17 discussion meeting common action, what happened? The the Labour left increased in size and a fair chance of getting those jobs? meeting - announced only five days for the left, convened by Grassroots major Labour-affiliated unions made strength? Has Jeremy made overtures or Should the local Polish trade union earlier as an “open discussion of the Momentum. As Pete and several others their own shabby settlements, leaving assisted the Labour left? Labour Party shop steward tell his fellow Poles to general election result (whatever it were at pains to emphasise, the proposal PCS high and dry. Are you seriously Marxists are also moribund, as are the accept that ‘fair competition’, even if it is) and the implications for the tasks was not to support GRM, merely to suggesting that the fight would have Labour Representation Committee. means most locals do not then get a job facing the left” - attracted over 30 circulate information. carried on had PCS been affiliated to Jeremy knows best and is now as because the Brits, let’s say, are ready comrades, mainly from London, while Graham Bash summed up the the Labour Party? Had that been the unassailable as he is unaccountable. and willing to work longer hours, for “members in Scotland, Wales and the discussion with three action points: case, PCS would not have made that He much prefers mollifying the more output, for less wages with the North of England will be looking to 1. Build and change the party, including call - or if they had, they’d have been Parliamentary Labour Party than the boss knowing that? arrange similar opportunities in the organising left caucuses in each jumped on and silenced. Labour left/LPM/LRC/Momentum. Some Poles over here boast they days following the election”. Having constituency. If all the unions currently affiliated Like Tony Benn before him, Jeremy work seven days a week, 12 hours a day. arrived a little late, I must apologise 2. Recruit new members to the party, to the Labour Party haven’t pulled it never resigned from the Labour Party, I doubt they are in a union - that is their to comrade Mick Brooks for missing especially the new young activists. left, if the creation of the super-unions no matter what it did. What about the competitive advantage over workers his ‘Time to set the world alight’ 3. Put the party on an immediate has not pulled it left, what are the expulsions and membership bars during born here and living here and they know rip-roaring opening speech. general election footing: organise open chances that PCS, plus the RMT and the coup? Has Jeremy demanded these it. They are proud to compete against Personal reports from a range of selections now. NUT can do so? What would actually be overturned? What about allowing each other for title of hardest worker constituency campaigns built up a As one comrade noted, it has been happen is that PCS would be told to left organisations into the Labour and they regard unions as socialistic. picture of unprecedented numbers promised that parliamentary candidates shut up, not to spoil Labour’s election Party? Not a word. Deny many east Europeans are racist, of pro-Corbyn members, along with selected in a hurry for this election chances and, like all the rest, we I had previously mentioned the homophobic and anti-socialist. All dozens of unorganised youth, who by an NEC panel will face an open would be expected to subordinate our further unique barrier to PCS affiliating welcome here? turned up on polling day, winning the selection process for the next. But, members’ interests to those of whatever to the Labour Party is the principle Where’s their solidarity with day for anti-Corbyn candidates imposed of course, as Keith Dunn suggested, is deemed electorally best for Labour. (and conduct policy) of civil service workers here? You don’t go to another by Labour HQ - the “ungrateful let’s not wait till another snap election I have written before about how the neutrality. The RMT and NUT do not country and scab - undermining their bastards”, as one comrade put it. allows the junking of that promise. last Labour government treated the have to consider that barrier; PCS does terms and conditions. During the campaign, Tulip Siddique The friendly atmosphere of the lower-paid civil servants - job cuts, pay and it is formidable. Dave Vincent reportedly told a Green Party meeting, meeting was marred at the end by restraint, regional pay in the ministry of So, for all these reasons, PCS should email “We will get rid of Jeremy”. comrade Mike Phipps, international justice, office closures, outsourcing ... not be affiliating to the Labour Party Simon Hewitt emphasised editor of the LRC’s Labour Briefing, Peter seems to have forgotten it wasn’t any time soon. Just like all the current Republican unity the need to organise the surge of complaining that I was taking notes and the Labour left that powered Corbyn affiliated unions, we wouldn’t be able It was a great, indeed incredible, victory young people towards Labour and would probably report what was said by onto the ballot paper in the first Labour to pull Labour leftwards. In fact, the secured by Jeremy Corbyn’s Labour to implement a major programme comrades in the meeting. As if political leadership contest. Corbyn put himself reverse will happen - PCS would be Party over the Tories. Theresa May of political education, particularly discussion should be kept secret - an forward and needed the patronising tamed by the super-unions, as they would be sitting on the opposition socialist economics. Camden Unison unhealthy, patronising, bureaucratic nominations of MPs like Margaret have in turn done to their own activists. benches, having been made to resign branch secretary George Binette culture. Some comrades seemed to Becket to be able to stand. No-one, PCS has the best politically aware by her own party, if it wasn’t for the drew attention to the continuing fall think an account of political discussion including Corbyn himself, expected activists of any union because we are bonkers Tory constitution. in trade union membership and the can be rendered without mentioning him to win. not affiliated to the Labour Party. No Nobody understands how the Tory difficulty of organising under the Trade who said what, but this only works if As Peter well knows, as Weekly other union leadership is under the constitution works. It is a great national Union Act, and asked how we can you are dispensing pre-digested pulp, Worker, in detail, told us, Momentum control of the left. A party that even mystery. I think it is a complex Heath mobilise extra-parliamentary action and fails to develop the critical faculties was neutered to prevent it being any under Jeremy does not encourage new Robinson machine, in the basement to hasten another general election to of the readers, or draw them into the kind of vehicle for the left to transform members to be socialists or to make of Tory HQ. The Tories feed in the oust the Tory-Democratic Unionist discussion. In short, hiding points of the Labour Party. It simply exists to get demands on the party, but just to deliver results, then - hey presto - it translates Party reactionary coalition, which view does not constitute much needed members to get the vote out - Corbyn votes for Labour (no matter how bad into seats in the Commons and prints threatens a reduction of abortion rights. political education. today, whichever Labour leader in in future), is not for PCS to affiliate to. a letter from the queen, on goat skin, Gerry Downing of Socialist Fight After I declined to promise self- future. Momentum has not made any A test - let us see the proceedings at inviting one of the party leaders to visit hailed the “return of class politics”, gagging, Jackie Walker proposed that demands on the Labour Party - the the next Labour Party conference, let Buckingham Palace. with any other than the two main I be excluded from future LRC and democratic deficit imposed by Blair us see what is allowed to be debated. May got the letter and drove parties marginalised, and pointed to Labour Briefing meetings. However, still stands. Corbyn is absolutely Let us see the calibre of delegates from immediately to the palace. Her the need for industrial action to resist as this was not a national committee against mandatory reselection of MPs. a party now 800,000-strong. Majesty was not amused. This great welfare cuts being implemented by meeting, it remains to be seen whether After the June 8 results and humble pie Peter also criticises me for opposing miscalculation had damaged the value local councils, including those run by this proposed gagging of democratic eating by most of the backstabbers, open borders. Where anyone concerned of her shares. It might even mean Labour. reporting will be carried through. Labour is now united behind their about the unprecedented levels of missing royal Ascot. But the Tories My contribution to the discussion Stan Keable leader. immigration is not dubbed a racist by clung on to May as the only person to was to remind comrades that elections London Labour Party membership is now the left, it seems we have a lesser form save them from political meltdown. enable us to measure our strength - not 800,000. One million may be achieved. of name-calling: “national socialist”, Not a peep of criticism could be just by the number of votes cast, but PCS affiliation However, even one million members “social chauvinist” or the milder heard from Tory MPs, once the central also by the content of the manifesto I respond to Peter Manson’s challenge to is not a movement if they are passive put-down, “sectionalist”. It comes decision had been taken. It is the type and the nature of campaign. In this me in his article, ‘Left should not stand rather than active. They have no down to this - do indigenous peoples of discipline any Leninist could be campaign the strength of socialism on sidelines’ (June 8). I had reported in influence if they are to simply deliver have any rights over those coming into proud of. Once again it was Heath amongst the working class was not detail the manipulated debate held at the the vote for whoever is leader. If they their country or must all be welcomed Robinson to the rescue. By keeping measured, because the manifesto was Public and Commercial Services union do not attend constituency meetings and accommodated, no matter what the Northern Ireland in the British union, not socialist and there was barely annual delegate conference in May, (let alone have any understanding of resources available? the Democratic Unionist Party could a socialist candidate to be found. where the Socialist Party-dominated the rules and constitution to try to effect Peter and the other open borderists keep the Tories in office. Labour’s election manifesto was only national executive committee and change), how does the left influence are complete utopians (there - have Those who felt Corbyn could not “radical” compared to the recent past. general secretary Mark Serwotka did them or the party? an insulting label back). Under world win on a programme of restoring the I warned against Labour under Corbyn not want to be put in a position where Given the deliberate neutering of socialism there wouldn’t be wars. social monarchy have been proven taking government office prematurely PCS policy would recommend that its Momentum and the likely near total Everyone would have a house, a job, wrong. After 10 years of austerity, (an unpopular view, albeit Marxist 185,000 members vote for Corbyn’s inactivity of the new younger members enough food to eat and decent public the social monarchy has proved orthodoxy), when the left is weak and Labour Party - but without being clear (in terms of their making any demands services. Under capitalism many widely popular with young people. divided, the working class majority to delegates that that was in fact their on the party), what kind of delegates are countries cannot cope with huge, But if the crown doesn’t invest in has yet to be won for socialist politics, position. we likely to see at the next Labour Party sudden influxes. It is banal to argue the social monarchy then the whole and the trade unions and the party are Peter asks me: “Don’t you think conference? Starry-eyed youngsters, immigrants are not responsible for show is in danger, as the vote to leave ruled by an overpaid, self-serving that militant, fighting unions could keen to become MPs, who do not make council house shortages, job cuts and the European Union indicated. The bureaucracy. We are grateful for Len play an active role in determining awkward demands on the party. public-service cuts, when the fact is, message from this election is that the McCluskey’s crucial support for Labour’s state, Dave?” (I had said it And the pay of MPs is what attracts whilst that is true, they are responsible Tories cannot keep strangling the goose Corbyn, but we should not be dependent was no use PCS considering affiliating all the careerists to become Labour for greatly increasing demand. The that lays their golden eggs. on the whim of a privileged trade until we saw the state of the Labour MPs. The Chartists’ demand for MPs over-supply of cheap labour welcomed Left Unity has been called the union bureaucrat. We must combine Party after June 8.) This argument has to be subject to instant recall and to be by the remainers, the bosses, the republican wing of the Corbyn a struggle to win affiliation from the always been used to justify trade unions paid an ordinary worker’s wage have bankers, the ruling class is one way. It movement. That seems like an RMT, NUT and PCS unions, which affiliating to the Labour Party. I’d bet been continually resisted precisely in undermines collectivised labour. Arthur exaggeration to me. But to their credit must be democratised - Unison general the argument was even more used to order to give leaders the well proven Scargill and Bob Crow were right to LU has taken an anti-unionist stance secretary Dave Prentis, who “didn’t justify the creation of the so-called corrupting powers of patronage. question the ‘free movement of labour’. which is a necessary precondition know” about the misdemeanours of super-unions (Unison, Unite, GMB), And now, when it is realistically I have never followed the stupid for any serious republicanism. It his minions and is trying to walk away so they’d have even more influence on possible Corbyn could win the next argument that, because bosses can is goes without saying that British from the Unisongate scandal squeaky the Labour Party. general election and be prime minister, transfer millions of pounds anywhere, republicanism is a complete fake. It is clean, must be ousted. And what happened? It is stark even more will be the denunciations of so workers should also be able to go nothing less than a sordid attempt to The increased Labour vote measured how the Labour-affiliated ‘super- any left demands. Others will loudly anywhere. It is easy to put millions of mislead and deceive the working class. support not for socialism, but for unions’ have been super-tame. They proclaim, ‘Not now!’ or ‘Don’t you pounds into a bank account or build The idea that Left Unity is the Labour’s popular welfare manifesto never mounted united action over know you’re helping the media attack a factory in another country, but way republican wing of the Corbyn promises - not for abolition of the pay, or job losses, or privatisations Corbyn’, ‘You’ll will frighten off the harder to accommodate hundreds of movement is a contested idea, not monarchy and Lords, disestablishment and outsourcing - no doubt because wavering voters’. This is the same trick thousands of workers just turning up. an established fact. Left Unity began of the church, replacement of the most councils were Labour-controlled. employed by the Labour-affiliated A question for you, Peter - applying life in 2013 as a party of left social standing army with a people’s militia PCS led the call for united action over unions - no strike action when Labour that principle, answer me this: when monarchism in the ‘spirit of 45’. But (as expected, this brought telling laughs the attacks on public-sector pensions is out of office for fear of making them an employer here closes a factory and it adopted a republican position in the BCM Box 928, London WC1N 3XX l 07704 903382 l www.weeklyworker.co.uk l [email protected] weekly 3 worker 1159 June 15 2017

2015 general election and had a change committee came out in opposition. clear that Lenin and Trotsky led that of mind on British unionism in 2016 This grieved me deeply. Thus, the revolutionary struggle and not Lars T’s after the Scottish referendum. question of power has been posed for pathetic conciliators. With the first victory of Corbyn a long time. Couldn’t we now renounce Gerry Downing London Communist Forum in the Labour Party, most of the LU’s it because of the disagreement on Socialist Fight Sunday June 18, 5pm: Weekly political report from CPGB Provisional left social monarchists went off to join the part of Zinoviev and Kamenev? Central Committee, Calthorpe Arms, 252 Grays Inn Road, London Labour. For most of them it felt like The insurrection was [objectively] We dig coal WC1. Followed by open discussion and reading group: study of August going home, after their house had been necessary. Comrades Zinoviev and Responding to Eddie Ford’s ‘Growth Nimtz’s Lenin’s electoral strategy from Marx and Engels through the stolen by Blair, who had thrown them Kamenev began to agitate against the for the sake of growth’ (Weekly Worker revolution of 1905. This meeting: chapter 1, ‘What Marx and Engels out on the street. insurrection, and we began to look upon June 8), I would say that tens of bequeathed’ (continued). Every forward march of Corbyn them as strikebreakers. I even sent a thousands of former miners and their Organised by CPGB: www.cpgb.org.uk; Labour poses the question of whether letter to the central committee with a families - and tens of thousands more and Labour Party Marxists: www.labourpartymarxists.org.uk. LU should liquidate into the Labour proposal to expel them from the party. in those communities thrown on the Party. If Left Unity is indeed the “I expressed myself sharply in the scrapheap - would actually quite like Radical Anthropology Group republican wing of the Corbyn press when Kamenev made his speech to dig coal. Tuesday June 20, 6.45pm: ‘Size matters!: the scalability of modern movement in England and Wales, in the All-Russian Central Executive The achievement of massive and hunter-gatherer animism’. Speaker: Nurit Bird. but a different dynamic is at work in Committee of the Soviets. [On August speedy carbon emission reductions are Next steps for Labour Ireland and Scotland, then the answer 6 (19), he also spoke on the subject of not incompatible with the re-expansion Friday June 16, 8pm: Meeting, Shern Hall Methodist Church, is no. There has to be an independent the Stockholm International Socialist of the deep mine coal industry or a Shernhall Street, London E17. Speakers include Jenny Lennox, Matt working class republican party, ‘strong Conference, which the conciliationists greater percentage share for coal power. Wrack and Seema Chandwani. and stable’ enough to resist the siren proposed to convene in the summer of As a matter of fact the only dramatic Organised by Waltham Forest LRC: call from Her Majesty’s Labour Party. 1917 for the purpose of expediting the way to reduce carbon emissions and www.facebook.com/Waltham-Forest-Labour-Representation- With the ongoing crisis of British conclusion of peace by the socialist still keep the lights on is through the Committee-1637916753090748. exit, people will eventually conclude parties exerting pressure upon their global adoption of carbon capture that we need something better than the respective governments] … Kamenev and storage (CCS) systems. The best Renewables are here Tory’s Heath Robinson constitution to spoke in his own name in favour of of these, such as the one which was Saturday June 17, 10.15am to 5pm: Conference, Conway Hall, 25 decide who gets the keys to Downing participating in the conference [despite scheduled for Hatfield Main colliery, Red Lion Square, London, WC1R 4RL. Anti-nuclear, pro-renewable Street and gets access to crown powers, the decision of the central committee would have seen the building of a coal event with high-profile speakers. which are constructed to govern the of the party not to participate in the power station with zero emissions Organised by CND: www.cnduk.org. many on behalf of the few. Stockholm conference] to assume a and almost 90% of all other emissions Despite crashing into the EU severe attitude toward them … caught and recycled. Transform Labour! iceberg, the Titanic is still afloat, with “And now, at such a moment, when The scheme being developed at Saturday June 17, 2pm to 5pm: Meeting of Labour left, Student Captain Corbyn ready to take command we are in power, we are faced with a Drax, which was aimed at taking Central, Malet Street, London WC1. on the bridge. Even more people want split. Zinoviev and Kamenev say that almost 50% of carbon emissions Organised by Red Labour and Grassroots Momentum: info@ to get on board. We are tilting but not we will not seize power [in the entire out of the process (the White Rose grassrootsmomentum.com. yet sinking. Does anybody know on country]. I am in no mood to listen to scheme), wasn’t anywhere as good, People’s Assembly which decks the lifeboats are stored or this calmly. I view this as treason. What but if adopted on a worldwide scale Saturday June 17, 12 noon to 4pm: National Assembly, Hamilton do we have to build our own? do they want? Do they want to plunge would have dramatically and rapidly House, Mabledon Place, London WC1. Steve Freeman us into [spontaneous] knife-play? reduced the amount of C02 going into Organised by People’s Assembly: www.thepeoplesassembly.org.uk. Left Unity and Rise Only the proletariat is able to lead the the atmosphere. The Tories vindictively country. pulled the plug on both as ‘the final Myths of war Pathetic “As for conciliation, I cannot even solution’ to those pesky miners and Sunday June 18, 7pm: Live anti-war performance with Mark Rylance, In my final reply to Lars T Lih I will speak about that seriously. Trotsky long their union. But China, India and other Park Theatre, Clifton Terrace, Finsbury Park, London N4. concentrate on two incidents. First, the ago said that unification is impossible. developing countries are not going Organised by Stop the War Coalition: www.stopwar.org.uk. recovery of the session of the Petersburg Trotsky understood this, and from to stop mining and using coal - hell, No to war committee of the Social Democratic that time on there has been no better Poland and Turkey have both said Sunday June 18, 6.30pm: Peace festival, All Saints Parish Church, Labour Party of Russia (Bolshevik), Bolshevik.” the same and I’m not sure Trump will Victoria Terrace, Leamington Spa, Warwickshire. November 1 (14) 1917; and, second, the During the period of the United actually do anything to make deep Organised by Leamington Peace Festival: http://peacefestival.org.uk. revelation of Zinoviev that the struggle Opposition - 1925-27 - Zinoviev mining attractive again in the USA against ‘Trotskyism’ was planned by revealed how they had planned the after the slaughter of their deep mined Peace pagoda him, Stalin and Kamenev in 1923-24. rewriting of the history of the revolution coal industry, but the fact is coal will Sunday June 18, 10.30am: Cross-cultural peace ceremony, Brickhill There was an attempt to wipe from and the vilification of Trotsky. This is be mined, and burned. That being the Street, Willen, Milton Keynes MK15. the historical record the struggle within Trotsky’s account of what was revealed case, we need the most effective and Organised by Peace Pagoda: http://stopwar.org.uk/index.php/events/ the Bolshevik central committee by in The Stalin school of falsification: rapidly deployed means of reducing other-anti-war-events/2549-18-june-milton-keynes-peace-pagoda. deleting that whole day’s minutes “After the formation of our bloc emissions - and that means CCS and the and then having to renumber the with the Leningrad group, during one development of other schemes (which Tension, Trump and the two Koreas Wednesday June 21, 7pm: Public meeting, committee rooms 3 and 4, pages to cover this up. Unfortunately of the conferences, in the presence we had in the pipeline and were well Council House, Birmingham B1. Speaker: Billy Hayes. for the falsifiers, they forgot to alter of several other comrades, I put down the road of development in the Organised by Birmingham Stop the War Coalition: the previous day’s minutes which substantially the following question 70s and early 80s - like the fluid bed www.facebook.com/BStWC. scheduled the next day’s meeting to Zinoviev: ‘Could you please tell combustion system, producing massive and they did not manage to destroy me whether the so-called literary intense heat from tiny amounts of coal Red banner, green rosette the rushes of the minutes of that day, discussion against ‘Trotskyism’ would with minimal emissions. Thatcher Thursday June 22, 7pm: Launch of David Douglass’s new book, which fell into Trotsky’s hands. And have taken place, if I had not published pulled the plug on that one). Holly Hill social club, Benson Terrace, Felling NE10. Followed by it is obvious why they had to alter The lessons of October?’ Without the It must be said that climate change concert - music from Ireland and the Tyneside coalfield, with the this record: it gave the lie to all their slightest hesitation, Zinoviev replied: is hard-wired into the planet - it always Geordie Shamrocks and Tony Corcoran Band. Entrance £3. attempts to slander Trotsky. ‘Yes, indeed. The lessons of October has been and always will be. Our Organised by Follonsby (Wardley) Miners Lodge Association: https:// Trotsky tells us: “We publish served only as a pretext. Failing that, human contribution to it, through all en-gb.facebook.com/follonsby. herewith the minutes of the historic a different motive would have been forms - including meat consumption, session of the Petrograd committee found, and the discussion would have transport, forest devastation and Living on the edge of the Bolsheviks held November 1 assumed somewhat different forms - carbon fuels - may be as much as Monday June 26, 9am to 4.30pm: Conference, Congress House, (14) 1917. The conquest of power had nothing more.’ 50%, although less hysterical evidence London WC1. ‘The rise of job insecurity in Britain. already been achieved - at any rate, “… At the joint plenum of the suggests it is somewhat lower than that, Organised by TUC: www.tuc.org.uk. in the most important centres in the central committee and the central but the point is, it doesn’t help. Unlike Social histories of the Russian Revolution country. Within the party, however, control commission of July 14-23 1926, the perfectly natural cycle of climate Thursday June 29, 6.30pm: Discussion meeting, Birkbeck, University the struggle over the question of Zinoviev said: ‘I have made many change endemic to the planet, we can of London, 26 Russell Square, London WC1. ‘The working class and power had far from terminated. It had mistakes. But I consider two mistakes do something about it, but crying ‘Stop the first five-year plan, 1928-32’. Speaker: Don Filtzer. merely passed into a new phase. Prior as my most important ones. My first the world - I want to get off’ or ‘The Organised by Social Histories of the Russian Revolution: to October 25, the representatives of mistake of 1917 is known to all of sky is falling’ doesn’t help. https://socialhistories1917.wordpress.com. the right wing (Zinoviev, Kamenev, you ... The second mistake I consider The reason why third-world Rykov, Kalinin, Lunacharsky and more dangerous because the first one countries are disproportionately Happy Birthday NHS others) argued that the uprising was was made under Lenin. The mistake of effected is purely and simply poverty. Saturday July 1 and Wednesday 5, all day: Street parties followed by premature and could lead only to defeat. 1917 was corrected by Lenin and made If Holland was a third-world country national day of action in support of the NHS. Nationwide. ‘No Cuts | After the victorious insurrection, they good by us within a few days with the it would be underwater. What’s the No Closures | No Privatisation’. proceeded to argue that the Bolshevik help of Lenin, but my mistake of 1923 difference between Nicaragua and See for details: http://www.thepeoplesassembly.org.uk/saturday_1_july. Party would be unable to maintain itself consisted in ...’ Holland? The answer is wealth and National Shop Stewards Network in power unless the Bolsheviks entered “… In this manner, Zinoviev technology, which is the way humanity Saturday July 1, 11am to 5pm: Annual conference, Conway Hall, 25 into a coalition with the other socialist admitted his mistake of 1923 (in will survive change, not going back to Red Lion Square, London WC1. Open to all trade union and anti-cuts parties - ie, the Social Revolutionists waging a struggle against ‘Trotskyism’ the caves. So-called ‘renewable energy’ campaigners. Speakers include: Len McCluskey, Ronnie Draper, Steve and the Mensheviks. During this and even characterised it as much more and nuclear power are at this stage of Gillan, Chris Baugh, Sean Hoyle and Linda Taaffe. Entrance: £6. new phase, the struggle of the right dangerous than that of 1917 - when he development not going to substitute Organised by National Shop Stewards Network: www.shopstewards.net. became exceptionally acute, and opposed the October insurrection!).” for coal and gas and are either unviable terminated with the resignation of the Of course, Zinoviev and Kamenev in most parts of the world (China’s Not one more day representatives of the right wing from reverted to their old tricks, once the massive expansion of renewables in Saturday July 1, 12 noon: Protest against continued Tory government. the Council of People’s Commissars United Opposition fell apart, when they this field, probably the greatest in the Assemble BBC Broadcasting House, Portland Place, London W1, for and from the central committee of the capitulated to Stalin in 1928 and denied world, amounts to 4% of its energy march to parliament. party. It should be borne in mind that their own too-honest confessions. total) or else unsafe and undependable Organised by People’s Assembly: www.thepeoplesassembly.org.uk. this crisis occurred only a few days I think everyone must acknowledge (uranium will run out long before coal after the conquest of power.” this is Lenin in his best fighting or gas). CPGB wills This is Lenin’s furious response: revolutionary form handing out a So, aye - dig coal, generate CCS- Remember the CPGB and keep the struggle going. Put our party’s name “The question of the armed insurrection merciless ear-bashing to the rights, produced wealth and power, and make and address, together with the amount you wish to leave, in your will. If was raised at the October 1 session of whom Lars T Lih would like to try sure its fairly distributed worldwide. you need further help, do not hesitate to contact us. the central committee ... However, to persuade us were the real heroes David Douglass certain [old] members of the central of the Russian revolutions. It is South Shields 4 weekly June 15 2017 1159 worker MeDiA BAttLe Bloodied, but not broken Paul Demarty examines the media’s role in May’s humiliation

s the dust settles after the June 8 Labour even under Blair (despite the (That The Times and Sunday Times election, wrong-footed pundits latter’s most strenuous efforts). Its role took different lines on the Brexit A(including your humble, and is far from the vanguard of the electoral vote is perhaps a bellwether of how humbled, correspondent) scramble for battle, deep in the psychology of the unpredictable British politics had explanations, and anonymous ‘senior core Tory voter: that bigoted petty already become.) The idea that the Tories’ sharpen their best stabbing bourgeois obsessed with civilisation’s power of the press empires is somehow knives, a story is doing the rounds, most decline. Its power is to denounce certain absolute was always reactionary: it especially in the liberal media. Tory leaders for their modernism, their signifies either a Blair, deciding that The story is one of hubris, but not of friendliness to liberal causes like gay Murdoch’s consent was indispensable, Theresa May’s - rather of her snarling marriage; the picture it paints is of a or the sort of comfortable failure of cheerleaders in the tabloid press. The world dominated by a metropolitan those whose projects would have calumnies against Labour, increasing liberal elite, living in a smug little been perfectly successful ‘if it wasn’t in venom with every passing day, echo-chamber, whose ranks - the horror! for the biased media’. The advent of seemed to make no difference at all. - extend deep into the Tory leadership. new technology does not change this The intervention of Islamist terrorists (Just as The Sun has a bizarrely perfect either way. in the final weeks provided an excellent working class lineage, so the Mail opportunity to rehash Jeremy Corbyn’s is evergreen in its petty bourgeois transformation? old Provo sympathies, but it came enragé extraction, having begun in quite So far as the latter goes: the kernel of to naught. The Daily Mail’s final that fashion a century or so ago and truth in our optimists’ assessments is contribution was to hand off no less notoriously been a supporter of Hitler, that we genuinely are at a moment of than 13 pages to foaming vituperation Mussolini and Mosley.) It is less the transformation in the history of the against the Labour leadership, rehashing Mail’s influence over potential Labour media. We do not need to belabour its classic accusation against Stephen voters, then, but rather its ability to make the point with the sort of starry-eyed Lawrence’s killers beside a picture of mischief within the Tories, that is the descriptions of the internet that serve Corbyn, John McDonnell and Diane source of its true power. charlatan futurologists so well today. Abbott: “Apologists for terror - the Like the members of the Holy Trinity Existing business models for the capitalist Mail accuses this troika of befriending - and alongside other papers with whom media are in crisis. The trivial ease with Britain’s enemies and scorning the we shall not deal in detail, such as The which all other media productions can institutions that keep us safe.” The Times, which supposes itself to speak be shared, legally or otherwise, and Sun settled for the “shock revelation” directly for ‘British interests’, but is, returned to repeatedly, has had a real that Corbyn had spoken at a rally also of course, a weapon in the hands of its effect on the ability of the press to live attended by Anjem Choudhary and his proprietor - these gutter rags are distinct down its errors and blatant untruths. merry band of Salafist trolls, recently in their narrow purpose and mode of The problem is that this phenomenon linked to the London Bridge attack. No intervention, but united in their essence is identified as a matter of technology matter - Labour, though not victorious, Sun lost as an ideological pillar of bourgeois rule. in the narrow sense. It is ‘the internet’ so radically outperformed expectations Thus we must proceed, as the Athanasian (or, more narrowly, ‘social media’) that you could almost be forgiven for Creed puts it, “neither confounding the that has broken the power of the press expecting to see Corbyn in Downing This interpretation of the election Britain please turn out the lights?” Persons nor dividing the Substance”. barons. In reality, of course, social Street after all. result has two parts - a positive claim on the morning of the April 9 1992 This is important in the current media companies are - by definition All this has been interpreted, around that social media platforms offer a vastly election day; and then a triumphant connection because the turning point of - media companies, just like News and about the left and liberal media, as more fertile terrain for progressive “It’s The Sun wot won it” the following May’s campaign must undoubtedly be Corporation. They are, in many cases, a nail in the coffin of the press barons. politics, allowing left politicians to Saturday, when John Major’s continued the infamous manifesto launch, which poorly-run media companies - Twitter Once they had the sort of power that address their audiences relatively premiership was assured. If not in so saw widespread outrage at the so-called is an egregious example - and they have left politicians cowering, but that power directly; and a negative claim that the many words, that assessment of events ‘dementia tax’, which was to expand the not yet been put very much at their has been eroded by new technology, press barons are in perhaps terminal was shared by many in the Labour number of people liable to pay for social proprietors’ direct political service, and new generations of people (those crisis. Both these ideas have elements right’s upper echelons, and when Tony care (surely dead in the water now, with although the increasing readiness of ‘tech-savvy millennials’ so beloved of of reality to them, but are rather too rosy. Blair scrambled to the leader’s job, he not a Tory in parliament sad to see it go Twitter, Reddit, Facebook and the like marketing gurus and the sub-caste of immediately courted Rupert Murdoch after last week’s result). One aspect of to declare it their solemn intention to journalists wholly subsumed into the Press barons to avoid a repeat showing. It seemed this interests us here: The Sun supported banish the absurd racist verbiage of marketing Weltanschauung) have grown To take the power of the press barons first to work, and Blair won three elections the government, but the Mail did not. the alt-right and ‘fake news’ from their up with a streak of impudence towards of all: it was certainly a poor day at the with the backing of the Murdoch papers; It was pressure from the Mail, above platforms suggests that this may be the gutter rags of their elders and betters. races, on the face of it. If we make the Labour left office only after it lost the all else, which spooked sufficient Tory starting to change. Suzanne Moore writes, in The Guardian, assumption - empirically unimpeachable, good graces of the Australian mogul. MPs to force a U-turn; after that the polls The incentives, underneath it all, that the attack-dog tabloids’ “power over surely - that the best outcome for the The phone hacking affair provoked started to tighten. are actually the same: in the narrow, politics is broken”: bourgeoisie on June 8 was a majority a severe curtailment of the Murdoch That tells a story of the power, not the pounds-and-pence sense, both old and Tory government (that is, a government empire’s power over the political class, weakness, of the traditional media: the new media are advertising-subsidised The sudden thrust in the direction of the party of the state also directly in but one that ended up being pretty brief. Mail, after all, convinced much of the and thus in hock to the capitalist class as of the future, youth and possibility the pockets of the capitalists), then we The Sun is the very avatar of the Tory core vote that their homes were at a collective purchaser of marketing space; means that the dictum that politicians have to say that the press has, indeed, idea of the salt-of-the-earth reactionary, risk. Just as the Tory front bench might and in the more expansive sense, the likes have to crawl to the Sun or the Mail is failed in its job. Thus we must take the opposed to the liberal elite - anti-Marxist have toughed it out regardless, the Mail of Twitter are a very tempting potential overturned ... Increasingly it appears oddly personal execration of Theresa May as in anti-matter, an equal and opposite might not have raised a fuss. Media platform for influence-mongering, for people may look at the pregnancy- and in the pages of the press currently as at view of the working class in toto. organisations are not some demiurgic anyone with the readies to buy it (a cellulite-policing of the sidebar of least in part an exercise in blame-shifting According to Nick Davies, Kelvin anonymous power, but agents, capable private-equity raid would surely make shame for a laugh, but have no truck (after all, who among them was calling MacKenzie - who edited the paper in its of making mistakes, of using their short work of that malfunctioning noise with the actual politics of [the Mail].1 May a tedious robot in the actual course terroristic pomp - had a very clear idea power erroneously. Thus the Mail’s generator). Murdoch was ahead of the of the campaign?). of who its idea reader was: “the bloke reflex-twitch into petty bourgeois curve on this one, splashing out for John Cassidy strikes a similar note on It seems to many that this represents you see in the pub, right old fascist, rabble-rousing presented an unexpected Myspace 10 years ago; that was a disaster, the website of The New Yorker: a major change. After all, 25 years ago, wants to send the wogs back ... afraid of gift to Corbyn and his supporters. The to be sure, but future moguls will learn The Sun ran its infamous one- the unions, afraid of the Russians, hates nature of that gift was merely a crack from his mistakes. To circumvent a largely hostile print two punch of front-page the queers and the weirdos and drug in the consensus, that May was a The conclusion, despite all this, media, he relied on social media headlines - “If Kinnock dealers.”4 This status is appropriate, (yawn) “strong and stable” leader - an ought to be encouraging. It is not the and television appearances. That wins today, will the since The Sun - in its ancient impression basically laughable after case that the mainstream media was didn’t prevent the Tory newspapers last person to leave prehistory - started life as a strike the dementia tax U-turn. Everything once powerful, but is currently weak; from trying to smear him ... [but] in bulletin, of all things, which subsequently cited as a weakness of it was always powerful, and still is, but defying such gutter tactics, Corbyn became a paper of the labour hers goes back to this; her avoidance it can be defeated anyway. The idea demonstrated the limits of Fleet movement. of leaders’ debates, for example, did of declaring independence from it, Street’s influence in a fractured The Mail is a somewhat her no harm until she seemed to have meanwhile, is a good one, but it must media age.2 different case, something to hide. go further than merely enthusing about having never The point is simple. It is true that (say) YouTube videos, which are not in By moving the centre of gravity of their gone over to the traditional media is under serious the end a replacement for the mainstream campaign away from the mainstream support for strain; but its key weakness in the media, but a new mainstream medium, media, Corbyn’s allies were able recent campaign was actually a long- as yet imperfectly ‘socialised’ into the to better master their message. standing one, which is that its power decorum of its older siblings l Momentum full-timer Emma Rees and foresight has never been absolute boasted to the Financial Times or beyond challenge. Part of Murdoch’s [email protected] that the group’s YouTube genius, as he drives the political lines videos “had been viewed of his papers, is being on the winning Notes by nearly a quarter of UK side without revealing how much that 1 . www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/ Facebook users in the last is a matter of creating the outcome and jun/09/tabloids-crush-corbyn-power-politics-sun- week, [showing that] slick, how much a matter of anticipating it. mail-labour. timely content that speaks to He is not careless, and knows that he 2 . www.newyorker.com/news/john-cassidy/ jeremy-corbyns-achievement. the issues people care about rupert Murdoch: needs the politicians as much as they 3 . Financial Times June 10. can match the millions the still a power need him; his demands of them are 4. N Davies Hack attack: how the truth caught up Tories are spending.”3 forthright, but never unmanageable. with Rupert Murdoch London 2014, p84. weekly 5 worker 1159 June 15 2017 PersPeCtiVes

Huge Corbyn rally in Gateshead Things have just got even better The unexpected general election result has considerably weakened the Tories and strengthened Jeremy Corbyn’s position. The left has a real chance of transforming the Labour Party into a united front of a special kind, says James Marshall of Labour Party Marxists was firmly convinced that the Tories Labour too benefited from Ukip’s time. However, when it comes to the as a consequence, hit the rocks. It was Party and the Greens getting together were heading for a clear majority collapse. over-65s, the picture almost reverses: necessary therefore to try and lower to “co-create a new politics”.6 iand the Labour Party would almost Northern Ireland’s politics are 58% Tory, only 23% Labour.2 expectations in the short term with a Of course, there was no increased certainly lose seats. You can therefore ever more polarised. The Democratic What this reflects, however, is view to securing the long-term goal. Tory majority. Nor was there a appreciate my emotional state on elec- Unionist Party gained two seats, as not a generational war: rather class And, of course, that is what the polls ‘Progressive Alliance’. Thanks to Tory tion night. Delight mixed with surprise, did Sinn Féin. In parliamentary terms retrogression, the proletarianisation, were telling us. In the couple of weeks blundering, May’s cowardice, Corbyn’s as soon as the joint BBC-ITV-Sky exit the official Ulster Unionist Party and the de-petty-bourgeoisification of before June 8 polling companies were wonderfully successful town and city poll was announced. The Tories were the Social Democratic Labour Party the younger generation. They might reporting that, while the gap between rallies, his more than competent media on track to be the biggest party … but suffered complete wipe-out. be attending university, or already the two main parties had narrowed, it performances, the alternative Labour with no overall majority. have graduated. But they come out was still considerable. ComRes gave machine in the form of Momentum From our viewpoint the results were Nature of election of full-time education burdened with the Tories a 12% lead (down from and a huge army of individual members almost without exception excellent. Was June 8 a second EU referendum? huge debts, and then they can only 21% when the election call was first canvassing and campaigning - not While the Tory share of the vote was Was it chiefly about Europe and Brexit? secure precarious or comparatively made). ORB put the Tories at 44% least by Facebooking, Tweeting and 42.4%, humiliatingly they lost 13 That is what pundits suggested when the low-paid jobs. As for the dream of and Labour 38%. On the day of the Snapchatting - Labour did remarkably seats. Labour’s share rose to 40% and general election was first called. And, home ownership, it is likely to remain election, Lord Ashcroft produced well. we gained 30 seats. No less pleasing, obviously, that is what Theresa May just that: a dream. They have to stay estimates giving a Tory majority Seemingly, the Labour surge took the Scottish National Party suffered a and her Tory strategists intended. The with aged parents, pay exorbitant rents ranging from 52 to 96. Given past place with the finishing line already significant setback - down by 21. True, same can be said of Paul Nuttall and for tiny, often shared, flats. Sociologists performances in by-elections and in sight. According to Lord Ashcroft’s as we have long warned, there was an Ukip, and Tim Farron and the Liberal insist on classifying them as middle the recent round of council elections, post-election analysis, unlike the Tory always present danger of a Tory rebirth Democrats. However, unless they could class, but of course they are no such such figures struck me as quite likely. vote, Labour’s took some time to firm north of the border. Ruth Davidson now not help it, that was never going to be thing. They are working class. They Labour was also plagued by a rightwing up: 57% decided to vote Labour in the has 13-strong group of Scottish MPs. the case with Jeremy Corbyn and John have to get up in the morning and sell anti-Corbyn campaign that amounted last month, 26% in the “last few days” But Labour is back too. Having been McDonnell. Their position on the EU their labour-power. Even those who to out-and-out sabotage. Labour MPs of the campaign.7 reduced to a single MP in 2015, we now was, and is, deliberately equivocal. still aspire to make it into the middle habitually briefed against Corbyn, And there has been another mass hold seven seats in Scotland’s central They campaigned ‘remain’ in 2016, but class bitterly oppose the Tories - their staged coordinated resignations and influx into the party. Hundreds of belt. Those on the left who pathetically now they say they respect the 52:48% austerity, their anti-migrant national regularly demanded his resignation. thousands have joined. It should be trail the SNP - eg, Socialist Workers ‘leave’ vote. Moreover, they want a chauvinism, their warmongering, Rank-and-file leftwingers were subject said, moreover, that the majority Party, Socialist Resistance, Scottish Brexit that protects British jobs and their amorality and their worship of to vile charges of anti-Semitism, of them stand instinctively, albeit Socialist Party, etc - and wanted to British industries, while simultaneously the market. Newly qualified teachers, intimidation and even assault. vaguely, to the left. They soaked up “make” June 8 an “independence making noises about reducing the junior doctors and young techies alike Thousands were expelled or suspended. Labour’s policies from the social election” have had their answer.1 And flow of labour from abroad. A classic voted Labour in huge numbers. Corbyn While, of course, no rightwing Labour ether … and interpret them as far in Wales, instead of the Tories gaining, left-nationalist fudge. chimed with them, exited them. MP actually wanted to lose their seat, more radical than they actually are. it was Labour. Here the Lord Ashcroft analysis of without exception they expected Tory propaganda also had its own, With good reason we can say that the general election makes fascinating Predictions Labour to do badly. Therefore the altogether unintended, effect. Corbyn there is a return to two-party politics. reading. Six out of 10 of those who Ever since Jeremy Corbyn looked like he “working the tearooms” in preparation was denounced as a communist, a Not that it ever really went away. were for ‘leave’ in 2016 voted Tory this was going to win the Labour leadership for a new leadership challenge.3 Yvette Marxist, a friend of extremism, an Capitalism, the existence of two main time. Only 25% of them voted Labour. contest in 2015 - certainly since the Cooper and Chuka Umunna were advocate of class war. The Tories classes, the first-past-the-post system Meanwhile, amongst ‘remainers’ 25% Brexit vote and Theresa May became widely touted. So was Clive Lewis repeatedly showed old pictures of - all tend to produce two great camps: voted Tory, 51% Labour and 24% prime minister - Marxists arrived at (thanks to Owen Jones). him standing alongside Gerry Adams. one of capital, the other of labour. Liberal Democrat. In other words, in five main conclusions: Hence, it was more than reasonable They repeatedly showed old pictures So what about the other parties? terms of electoral base the Conservative 1. The Labour right would fight an to take a sober approach. Opinion polls, of him speaking in Trafalgar Square Frankly, I expected a minor Liberal Party is solidly pro-Brexit, while that unremitting civil war against Corbyn recent election results, ongoing Labour in opposition to the Iraq war. Democratic revival. They are, after of the Labour Party and Lib Dems is and the left. Party divisions and historical parallels, This hugely expensive media and all, ideally placed to hoover up opposed to Brexit. Certainly, taken as 2. We had a once-in-a-lifetime’s chance such as 1931 and 1983, are certainly advertising campaign totally backfired. discontented remainers because of their a whole, this bloc has no wish to see a to transform the Labour Party. a lot more reliable than subjective Nowadays many people, especially the manifesto promise to oppose Brexit hard Brexit. That said, when it comes to 3. There would be no Brexit - definitely impressions derived from the last young, are looking for an alternative and the offer of a second referendum. reasons for voting, while Tory and Lib no hard Brexit. person one happened to talk to on the to capitalism. They no longer fear True, they gained four seats. However, Dem voters rated Europe as their key 4. Whatever May was saying about bus or at the train station. socialism. They positively yearn for their share of the vote fell to just issue, Labour voters were much more waiting till 2020 and the fixed-term Terrified by the prospect of an fundamental change … and they are 7.4% - an all-time low (see note 20). likely to be motivated by education parliament act, she would eat her words increased Tory majority Jon Cruddas, looking to Jeremy Corbyn to deliver. An additional bonus: Nick Clegg lost spending, NHS cuts, student grants, and call a snap election over Brexit. Clive Lewis, Helena Kennedy, Hilary What about the Iraq war? The Tories in Sheffield Hallam - the final coda to poor housing, low wages and opposing 5. The Labour Party would come out Wainwright, Tulip Siddiq, etc, pleaded attacked Corbyn for suggesting some the Cleggmania that swept the country wars of foreign intervention. Given of the general election in no position for Labour to stand aside for the Greens causal link between what has happened just before the 2010 general election. how well Labour actually did, certainly to form a government. in Brighton Pavilion and the Isle of to Muslims in the Middle East over the The UK Independence Party when it came to poll predictions, it I make no apology about warning Wight.4 In line with this, Compass - a last couple of decades and Manchester, now looks to be heading in the same is clear that June 8 was not a Brexit about a bad Labour result. The danger “leftwing” pressure group, once aligned London and other recent examples direction as the British National Party. election. was that a Tory landslide and Labour with the Labour Party, but now uniting of home-grown Islamic terrorism. And it wasn’t Stand Up To Racism Arguably it was a generational being reduced to a parliamentary “people across different political parties Well, there is a link. That is not to what done it. Theresa May stole Ukip’s election. The figures are startling. rump would demoralise the hundreds (and those with no party affiliation)”5 excuse the bombings, the car attacks, programme. This helps to explain why Of those aged 18-24 a massive 66% of thousands who had joined or - promoted its ‘Progressive Alliance’. the stabbings. It is merely to state the Tories could increase their overall went with Labour; a mere 18% for rejoined the Labour Party because of This popular front involved tactical the obvious … and it served to bring total vote to 13.6 million. Nevertheless, the Tories. And this cohort came out Jeremy Corbyn. The strategic goal of voting and Labour, the Lib Dems, attention to Tory cuts in police numbers especially in the north of England in record numbers. Many for the first transforming the Labour Party could, Plaid, the SNP, the Women’s Equality in pursuit of their austerity agenda. 6 weekly June 15 2017 1159 worker perspectives

Moreover, the electorate was bills”, “abolish non-dom status”, to reformist socialism … which holds any unacceptable government. Yet For equality for women, extending popular usefully reminded by the Tories that “value” trade unions as an “essential out the seemingly plausible prospect of the many innocently proclaims that control over all aspects of society, Corbyn was one of the tiny minority of force” in society, to “reduce tuition fees ending capitalism though introducing “Democracy is founded upon the rule devolving power downwards, a federal MPs who consistently stood against the to £6,000” annually, invest in health socialism in one country at a time of law and judicial independence.” A republic, Irish unity, abolishing the imperial interventions in Afghanistan, and education, put in place a national through piecemeal legislative change. classic liberal formulation. And, apart monarchy, the second chamber, MI5 Iraq, Libya and Syria … and the hell rail body and encourage “public-sector For the many accepts capitalism, from calling for an elected second and disestablishing the Church of on earth they created. Not only has operators”, build “at least” 200,000 does not mention socialism, wants chamber, a “more federalised country” England. The shortage of housing the ‘war on terror’ cost the lives of homes, “cut the deficit every year”, to reconcile antagonistic classes. In and a vague phrase about “inviting should be ended through a massive “as many as two million people” “replace” the House of Lords with fact, for those willing to see, there are recommendations about extending programme of council house building. (Physicians for Social Responsibility).8 an elected “Senate of the Nations and many tell-tale formulations within democracy”, the existing constitutional Flats and houses must, of course, be of The conditions were created for al Regions”, and “build an economy that it, designed to appease the openly order is accepted. a high quality and rents set at a token Qa’eda, Ansar al-Sharia, al-Nusra, works for working people”.11 pro-capitalist right. No wonder in the The same goes for capitalism. For level. Allocation should be on the basis Islamic State, etc. As for Gerry Adams, For the many promised to eliminate aftershock of June 8 one rightwing the many believes that capitalism, the of need. State secrets should be ended, British ministers now regularly meet the “government’s deficit on day- Labour MP after another has gone to economic system, can be managed along with all forms of censorship. The and greet him. Sinn Féin is integral to-day spending within five years”, TV and radio studios to sing its praises. for the benefit of the many. But it pharmaceutical industry, the power, to the constitutional arrangement put “invest in cutting-edge” industries The opening section of For the simply cannot be done. Capitalism is water and transport infrastructure, land, in place by the 1998 Good Friday and to “upgrade our economy”, bring many includes the revealing statement a system of exploitation based on the the banks and financial services must agreement. As for being pictured back into “public ownership” the that Labour “will support businesses”. endless self-expansion of capital and be nationalised. Judges should be not alongside Gerry Adams - Charles rails, establish “publicly-owned water Big capital is given the assurance that a generalised wage-slavery. Individual be appointed from above, but subject Windsor, Bill Clinton, Nelson Mandela companies”, no new “private prisons”, Corbyn Labour government will keep capitalists and top managers can to popular election. and Tony Blair have all posed for the “regain” control over “energy supply corporation tax “among the lowest of have their dividends heavily taxed Marxists certainly oppose Brexit and world’s cameras, smiled and duly networks”, “review laws on trade union the major economies”. And then there and their salaries capped. But capital instead demand the democratisation of shook hands with the great peacemaker. recognition”, “repeal the Trade Union is the pledge to “put small business at has to expand through extracting the European Union - moving towards Act”, “ban zero-hour contracts”, a the centre of our industrial strategy”. surplus value from workers … without an indivisible Europe under a council Brexit crisis programme to build a “million new As for ‘back to the 1970s’, in truth that capital will cease to be capital, of ministers elected by the European The general election greatly diminished homes”, a Britain “for the many, not it is more like ‘back to the 1980s’. stay as money, find its way abroad, parliament. And, while Marxists would Theresa May. She is a shadow of her the few”, etc. Margret Thatcher thought that rail etc. In fact, the “creation of wealth” advocate specific measures to protect former self. Her remaining time as In other words, a pro-worker privatisation was a step too far. What is not, as For the many maintains, small businesses and farms from prime minister is surely very limited. Keynesianism that was tried, tested of prisons? Did she ever seriously “a collective endeavour between exploitation by banks and monopolies, Already her trusted aides, Nick Timothy and failed in France with the socialist- envisage wholesale privatisation? No, workers, entrepreneurs, investors we have no wish to preserve this sector and Fiona Hill, have been forced to communist government under president the most that was considered to be and government”. Wealth is created in aspic. Indeed its destruction is fall on their swords. Leading rivals François Mitterrand. Having begun politically viable was allowing private not by so-called entrepreneurs, not historically progressive. retain their ministerial posts and have in 1981 with the mildly leftwing companies to tender for contracts and by investors, not by government. No, For the sake of human survival we demanded one token concession after policies of the common programme, building prisons through the so-called wealth is created by workers … and must put a stop to the degradation of another. The proposed “confidence and he presided over the so-called tournant private finance initiative (continued by nature. nature in double quick time and seek supply” deal with Arlene Foster and her de la rigueur (austerity turn) two years the Blair-Brown Labour governments). Past Labour leaders have promised to preserve what remains. Native Democratic Union Party is a recipe for latter. Capital went on strike, inflation Indeed, sadly, it is worth noting much in opposition … but once in office animal and plant species should be weak and unstable government. May’s shot up and French competiveness that For the many internalises many they always side with the interests of reintroduced. In short, the connection allies are sectarian, bigoted, eccentric, slumped. That For the many is in fact aspects of Thatcherism. Take the capital … typically disguised with the between town and country must be crazed ... and unreliable. Expect to see thoroughly Mitterandist did not stop the programme of building a million coded phrase, used by For the many, placed on new foundations. Huge farms MPs transported to the Commons by economistic left going into rhapsodic homes. Nine-tenths of them are of putting the “national interest first”. and urban sprawl have to be replaced ambulance. Expect desperate government overdrive. projected to be private. Only a tenth And in the “national interest” they keep by an urbanised countryside and cities bribes. Expect by-election defeats. A Labour Briefing editorial called council and housing association. A down wage rises, attack irresponsible full of gardens, small farms and open Indeed, so slim is the government’s for “Labour to power” and somehow Corbynite take on the Tory ideal of the strikes and back British capitalists spaces. Trade unions must be freed legislative majority, so fractured are managed to claim that this amounts property-owning democracy: a cynical against foreign rivals. from state control. They are voluntary the Tories, that the prospect of a hard to “a clear socialist message”.12 The attempt to undermine working class Therefore the real significance of associations. We fight for complete Brexit has been reduced to zero. At least Labour Representation Committee, consciousness by getting mortgage For the many lies not in how leftwing democratisation and measures to that is my considered opinion. the mother ship of Labour Briefing, slaves to imagine themselves little it is. No, it encapsulates the political combat bureaucracy in the trade union The Brussels bureaucracy, the EU welcomed the manifesto as a “a capitalists. drift, the taming of Jeremy Corbyn movement. 27, crucially Germany and France, will programme which would help begin Nato membership goes unquestioned and John McDonnell. Once they were When it comes to the armed forces, play hard ball. British negotiators will the socialist transformation of Britain”. and there is the boast that the last left reformists; now they seem to have we demand that officers be elected. be treated with contempt. After all, The LRC even gave For the many its Labour government “consistently” reconciled themselves to the existing There should also be full trade union Theresa May did not get the mandate own subtitle: A socialist manifesto spent above the 2% benchmark. constitutional order and the system of rights and the rank-and-file soldiers she asked for. She was rebuffed, for Britain. That though the word Indeed it is claimed that the Tories are capitalist exploitation. Obviously the must be encouraged to mutiny if they thwarted and punished by the British ‘socialism’ never appears anywhere putting “Britain’s security at risk” by same applies to the main authors of For are given orders that run counter to the electorate. in the actual text. “shrinking the army to its smallest size the many - reportedly Andrew Fisher, a interests of democracy, the working True, the Great Repeal Bill that Socialist Worker fulsomely since the Napoleonic wars”. We are former darling of the LRC, and Seumas class and the struggle for socialism. parallels Brexit could be presented welcomed Labour’s manifesto as a also told that “the scrapping of Nimrod, Milne, a former Straight Leftist. Of course, we want to see the end of to parliament as a one-line motion. “shift to the left” and, crazily, urged HMS Ark Royal and the Harrier However - and it cannot be stressed the standing army and its replacement Politically, however, that is impossible. Corbyn to embrace the cause of jump-jets have weakened our defences too strongly - for the ruling class, by a popular militia. There are too many factions, too Scottish independence.13 and cost British taxpayers millions”. for the political, business and state Unless we can carry out such a many conflicting interests, too many Peter Taaffe, general secretary of the Unlike the Labour 1983 manifesto, elite, Jeremy Corbyn remains totally programme in full, which would, hobbyhorses. Meanwhile the two-year Socialist Party in England and Wales, For the many commits Labour, not to unacceptable as a potential prime obviously, require international clock is already ticking away. The announced that it would fight “for a a “non-nuclear defence policy”, but minister. His past statements on coordination, we cannot countenance March 2017 vote on article 50 saw to Jeremy Corbyn-led government with renewing the Trident missile system. Marxism, the monarchy, Nato, nuclear forming a government. Meantime our that. Therefore, with an unprecedented socialist policies”.14 Bizarrely, this is proposed in the name weapons, the Soviet Union, Iraq, task is to act as a party of extreme mass of legislation to steer through Paul Mason, formerly a leading of fulfilling Britain’s “obligations” Zionism, Palestine, etc, rule him out opposition. parliament, in all probability the Workers Power member, now a right- under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation as a safe option. No wonder, as soon whole Brexit process will simply grind moving “Momentum activist”, said Treaty. So building the next generation as he was elected Labour leader, there Ten-point platform to a halt. Tellingly, both president that we can “elect the Labour Party on of SSBN submarines, together capable were rumours of unnamed members of There has been much silly media talk Emmanuel Macron and the German a socialist platform”. of obliterating 172 cities, is meant to be the army high command “not standing of a PLP split and MPs resigning the finance minister, Wolfgang Schäuble, Socialist Resistance - otherwise a step towards “a nuclear-free world”. for” a Corbyn government and being Labour whip and sitting as independents have recently stressed that the EU is known as Resisting Socialism - praised No genuine leftwinger, no genuine prepared to take “direct action”.18 Prior until Corbyn quits as leader. Frankly, “open” to a British change of heart.9 Corbyn for presenting a “radical socialist, no genuine Marxist could to that, the normally sober Financial it is not going to happen. To this day, Big business frets mightily over alternative” ... and in that spirit called possibly support For the many. Our Times ominously warned that Corbyn’s the right is haunted by the ghosts of the uncertainty. The June 23 2016 EU for an “anti-austerity alliance” uniting motto remains “For this system, not leadership damages Britain’s “public Ramsay MacDonald and the Gang referendum came as a terrible shock Labour, the Greens and the SNP.15 Class one man, not one penny” (Wilhelm life”.19 of Four. MacDonald, twice a Labour for the core representatives of capital. politics is a long forgotten concept for Liebknecht speaking in the German Despite that, the majority who voted prime minister, led what he called the Now they have the June 8 2017 general these comrades. Reichstag in 1871). The working Labour on June 8 did so not because of National Labour Organisation into a election. A double whammy. Note, Ironically, the economistic left class should, as a matter of elementary what For the many actually says, but thoroughly unequal coalition with the Moody’s is already casting doubt over found confirmation in the hard right principle, oppose the standing army, because what they believe For the many Tories in 1931. The Gang of Four of Britain’s stability and its Aa1 credit print media. Except, of course, that not regret its reduced size. We are for says. Hence, while there is the distinct Roy Jenkins, David Owen, Bill Rodgers rating. Understandably, desperate their hopes are turned into nightmares. a popular militia, not weapons of mass danger that Corbyn and McDonnell and Shirley Williams broke away voices are being raised calling for a The Daily Telegraph described the destruction. will steer further to the right, in the exactly 50 years later to form the Social “national unity government” made up Labour manifesto as “a tax raid on Nor are socialists purveyors of the attempt to secure PLP unity and victory Democratic Party. The NLO instantly of ministers from both main parties. Of the middle class” and a recipe to myth of Britain’s “long established at the next general election, there is became a tame Tory slave - it finally course, as the Financial Times readily “take Britain back to the 1970s”.16 democracy”. Britain’s quasi-democracy also a real chance of transforming the dissolved in 1945. As for the SDP, it admits, in the “real world” it will not A “socialist programme”, fumed the is in historic terms recently established. Labour Party into a united front of a merged with the Liberal Party in 1988 happen.10 Corbyn has no apparent Daily Mail, that is “red in tooth and And every democratic advance has special kind ... and equipping it with and shared the same richly deserved appetite for a coalition and is obviously claw and dripping with class envy”.17 been won from below in the face of the minimum-maximum programme fate. From the early 1970s, even till relishing the prospect of a decaying The Sun, Express, The Times, etc, could fierce opposition from above. Male of classical Marxism. the late 80s, of course, the political Conservative Party and outright victory be quoted along similar lines. workers only got the vote in the late centre enjoyed something of a revival. in the next general election. However, as we have seen, there is 19th century. Women in the 1920s. Programme No longer.20 Despite May’s hard Brexit precious little that is genuinely leftwing And, of course, the capitalist press, The minimum programme, it should be stance providing an open goal, the Lib about For the many. Certainly it has the media, the education system ensure stressed, is not concerned with tinkering Dems remain to this day marginalised Labour’s nothing whatsoever to do with genuine that the electorate normally votes for with capitalism: rather readying the and widely despised. manifesto socialism. For orthodox Marxism, as safe, careerist, bribable candidates working class to become the ruling Given the results of June 8 and Yet the fact of the matter is that Labour’s everyone knows, socialism begins with (eg, a clear majority of Labour’s 262 class. So the minimum programme is the punishing logic of the first-past- For the many, not the few manifesto is a fundamental break with capitalism - MPs elected on June 8). Moreover, both the maximum the working class the-post system, only a complete only a tad to the left of Ed Miliband’s socialism being the rule of the working the country is a monarchy, where the can achieve under capitalism and the fool would now expect Tom Watson 2015 offering. Britain can be better class and the transition to a classless, privy council, the secret service, the minimum terms the workers’ party sets to play Ramsay MacDonald, Sadiq promised a ban on “exploitative” stateless, moneyless society. But For bureaucracy, the army high command for forming a government. Khan to step in for Philip Snowden or zero-hours contracts, to “freeze energy the many does not even adhere to a and the judges can legally dispose of Hence demands such as genuine Iain McNicol to make an appearance weekly 7 worker 1159 June 15 2017

as Benjamin Musgrave. Even with Trigger ballots were a are committed to transforming our wards He seriously says there are more Social Democratic Labour Party. There a bad general election result there is product of the 1990s. Formally and constituencies into vibrant centres important issues … like strikes and was a drawn-out struggle between every reason to believe that Corbyn honouring conference’s “desire to of socialist organisation, education protest demonstrations. Morning Star the Bolshevik, Menshevik and many would have seen off another leadership maintain reselection”, they made it and action. editor Ben Chacko is equally small- other smaller factions. Of course, I am challenge. Obviously, with June significantly “easier for MPs to defend 7. Our goal should be to transforming minded. He sees “a task far bigger not equating the Labour Party, which 8, Corbyn’s position has become their positions”.24 Trigger ballots the Labour Party, so that, in the words than the Labour Party”. Fighting for a can, with its federal structure, only considerably stronger. However, while allowed for a sitting MP to be subject of Keir Hardie, it can “organise the mass revolutionary party? No. Forging become, at best, a permanent united there is every reason to defend Corbyn to a full-scale ballot of the membership. working class into a great, independent the links necessary for establishing a front of the working class in Britain against the right, we must go far But only if they lost the trigger ballot. political power to fight for the coming new workers’ international? No. What - our version of soviets - with the beyond that. Our goal is socialism and 2. We need a sovereign conference once of socialism”.26 Towards that end we comrade Chacko, laughably, wants is highly dedicated, explicitly Marxist, towards that end we must put in place again. The cumbersome, undemocratic need rule changes to once again permit “organising at a local level in groups individual-membership Russian Social and fashion the organisational means. and oppressive structures, especially those left, communist and revolutionary such as the People’s Assembly, Keep Democratic Labour Party. That is why the LPM advocates this put in place under the Blair supremacy, parties to affiliate. That is what we Our NHS Public, Black Activists That said, it is clear, that comrade 10-point platform. must be rolled back. The joint policy mean by a united front of a special Rising Against Cuts and many more”.29 Kimber exhibits a fundamental disdain 1. Fight for Labour Party rule changes. committee, the national policy forums, kind. As long as they do not stand Where we in LPM strive to elevate for the Marxist perspective of elevating Crucially, all elected Labour representatives etc, must go. against us in elections, this can only local struggles to the national and the the trade unionist politics of the must be subject to mandatory reselection 3. Scrap the hated compliance unit “and but strengthen us as a federal party. international level, comrade Chacko’s working class (which, through error, based on ‘one member, one vote’. MPs get back to the situation where people are Today affiliated organisations include sights are set on “saving an A&E or miseducation or sorry conviction, far must be brought under democratic automatically accepted for membership, the Fabians, Christians on the Left, the a youth club”. That he does so in the too many on the left nowadays take control - from above, by the NEC; from unless there is a significant issue that Cooperative party … the Jewish Labour name of Marxist politics and creating as common sense). Comrade Kimber below, by the CLPs. comes up” (John McDonnell).25 The Movement and Labour Business. Allow a mass movement on the scale of the and the SWP serve to degrade Marxist Mandatory reselection, of course, compliance unit operates in the murky the Socialist Workers Party, Socialist Chartists shows an inability to grasp politics to the level of routine trade terrifies the right. It was this, “even shadows, it violates natural justice, it Party in England and Wales, CPGB, even the A in the ABC of communism. union politics. more than nuclear disarmament routinely leaks to the capitalist media. the Morning Star’s Communist Party Having rejected any active Another analogy. OK, we envisage and membership of the European We say, allow in those good socialists of Britain, etc, to join our ranks. involvement in the Labour Party at its the possibility of the Labour Party Community, that became the who have been barred, reinstate those 8. Being an MP ought to be an honour, 2016 conference, what remains of Left becoming a British version of Russia’s main catalyst for the launch of the good socialists who have expelled or not a career ladder, not a way for Unity is also reduced to issuing its own soviets (not that the LPM is calling breakaway Social Democratic Party”.21 suspended. university graduates to secure a lucrative thoroughly unremarkable list: Another for ‘All power for the Labour Party’). Progress, Lord David Sainsbury’s 4. Momentum proved to be an effective living. A particularly potent weapon Europe, Stand Up to Racism, People’s Would the Bolsheviks have been right party within the party, furiously campaigning organisation. An alternative here is the demand that all our elected Assembly demo, etc. No wonder its in 1917 to direct their main energies denounces mandatory reselection as election machine for Corbyn and representatives should take only the entire London membership now meets towards economic strikes, street “a weapon of fear and intimidation”.22 McDonnell to wield, given the sabotage, average wage of a skilled worker - a in the snug little space provided by protests and building fake fronts? Yes, mandatory reselection is viewed bias and limited imagination of Iain principle upheld by the Paris Commune Housmans Bookshop. Hardly. In fact, Lenin, having returned as an affront by every wrecker, every McNicol and the Victoria Street HQ. and the Bolshevik revolution. Our MPs Then there is Charlie Kimber. from his Swiss exile in April 1917, hireling, every parliamentary careerist. But politically the stultifying inertia are on a basic £67,060 annual salary. Showing the SWP’s crisis of leadership, famously presented a perspective of It is worth revisiting the background. imposed on Momentum has proved On top of that they get around £12,000 he is now joint national secretary winning the argument for the Bolshevik Interestingly, and with good reason, to be an own goal. Eg, Jon Lansman in expenses and allowances, putting of the SWP and editor of Socialist programme - sloganistically crystallised we read, on the Progress website, that blocked all Momentum attempts to them on £79,060 (yet at present Labour Worker. Anyway, as might be expected, as ‘Land, bread and peace’. Progress mandatory reselection carries “echoes of oppose the ‘anti-Zionism equals anti- MPs are only obliged to pay the £82 comrade Kimber called for a Labour was, however, judged by the election the Paris Commune, and of the Russian Semitism’ smears; nor did he allow parliamentarians’ subscription rate). vote, but, the more members who leave results provided by the “long slog” and soviets, where delegates were subject Momentum to fight the 2016 purge of Moreover, as leader of the official the SWP, the more he stresses localism, “endless meetings” of the soviets of to recall if they displeased their local leftwing supporters of Corbyn. It is now opposition, Jeremy Corbyn not only ephemeral demonstrations, economic workers, soldiers and peasants. citizenry. It rests on the idea that leaders impossible to transform Momentum gets his MP’s salary. He is entitled to strikes and fake fronts. In his ‘Letter to In the spring of 1917 the Bolsheviks will always be tempted to sell you out, into a democratic organisation - an an additional £73,617.27 a Jeremy Corbyn supporter’, comrade were a not insignificant minority once they get power.”23 Well, surely, that organisation that can educate, activate and Let them keep the average skilled Kimber warned that “there’s a great fraction in the workers’ soviets. By is what history actually shows. empower the rank-and-file membership. worker’s wage - say £40,000 (plus danger that you could be drawn into the summer of 1917 they had gained For decades, sitting Labour MPs - So there is an urgent need for the left to legitimate expenses). Then, however, endless internal battles”. The “crucial majorities in Petrograd and Moscow, certainly those in safe seats - enjoyed organise within Momentum branches they should hand the balance over to the arena” of struggle is not “the long slog” Kiev and Odessa. And, of course, in a job for life (as long as no better offer where they still exist ... but, also, go far party. Jeremy Corbyn, John McDonnell of “endless meetings to (perhaps) get November 1917 the peasant congress came along). They might visit their beyond that by expanding the influence and Diane Abbott ought to take the rid of a rightwinger”. No, according to of soviets voted for the entire Socialist constituency once or twice a year, and organised strength of Labour Party lead in this. comrade Kimber, it is the “fightback in Revolutionary programme of land deliver a speech to the AGM and Marxists. 9. We must establish our own press, radio the workplaces and the streets”.30 reform … plus, the vital Bolshevik write an occasional letter to the local 5. Winning new trade union affiliates and TV. To state the obvious, Twitter and Comrade Kimber’s claim that addition of soviet power. In other words newspaper. Meanwhile they lived a ought to be a top priority. The FBU Facebook, etc, have severe limits. They what really matters is not changing a Bolshevik government l pampered, middle class life, frequented reaffiliated. Excellent. Matt Wrack at are brilliant mediums for transmitting the Labour Party through the long, various London’s gentlemen’s clubs last came to his senses. He took the lead simple, short and sharp messages. hard slog, but the “fightback in the Notes and spent their weekends in the home in reversing the disaffiliation policy. But, when it comes to complex ideas, workplaces and the streets”, is a 1. www.scottishsocialistparty.org/category/news. counties countryside with Lord this and But what about RMT? Especially debating history and charting political Bakuninist, not a Marxist, formulation. 2. http://lordashcroftpolls.com/2017/06/result- Lady that. Despite such evident moral after June 8 we can surely get RMT strategies, they are worse than useless. For the 19th century anarchist happen-post-vote-survey. corruption, they were automatically militants to finally drop their support 10. Programmatically, we should adopt leader, Mikhail Bakunin, strikes and 3. Evening Standard April 20 2017. 4. Letters The Guardian April 30 2017. the candidate for the next election. for the thoroughly misconceived Trade a new clause four. Not a return to the protests were the key to revolution. 5. www.compassonline.org.uk/about. Unless found guilty of an act of gross Unionist and Socialist Coalition project. old, 1918, version, but a commitment to By contrast Marxists have always 6. www.compassonline.org.uk/together-we-win. indecency or had the party whip Not only vote Labour, but reaffiliate working class rule and a society which placed their emphasis on programme, 7. http://lordashcroftpolls.com/2017/06/result- withdrawn, they could do as they to Labour … and exert real influence. aims for a stateless, classless, moneyless consciousness and building solid happen-post-vote-survey. 8. www.middleeasteye.net/columns/unworthy- pleased. And what about the NUT? This year’s society, which embodies the principle, organisation. victims-western-wars-have-killed-four-million- With the insurgent rise of Bennism Cardiff conference saw the executive “From each according to their abilities, In Marxist terms therefore, because muslims-1990-39149394. that situation was increasingly called win an amendment by the narrowest to each according to their needs”. That the Labour Party is historically 9. www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-40267063. into question. The Campaign for (50.63% to 49.37%) majority, which is what socialism is all about. Not a established, because it is a class party, 10. Editorial Financial Times June 10 2017. 11. Labour Party Britain can be better London Labour Party Democracy, founded in effectively ruled out affiliation. This can measly £10 per hour “living wage”, because it involves all big unions, 2015. 1973, committed itself to a range of surely be changed … if we campaign shifting the tax balance and a state because it has a mass electoral base, 12. Labour Briefing May 2017. internal reforms - crucially mandatory to win hearts and minds. Then there is investment bank. No, re-establishing because it has drawn in hundreds of 13. Socialist Worker May 11 2017. reselection of MPs, which was finally PCS. Thankfully, Mark Serwotka, its socialism in the mainstream of politics thousands of new members, what is 14. The Socialist May 12 2017. 15. http://socialistresistance.org/corbyn-presents- agreed by the 1980 conference. What leftwing general secretary, has at last come means committing the Labour Party to now happening within it is a far higher a-radical-alternative/10054. 28 this saw, however, was not a Labour round to the idea. True, PCS affiliation achieving a “democratic republic”. form of the class struggle than mere 16. The Daily Telegraph May 16 2017 Party equivalent of the Paris Commune to the Labour Party will run up against economic strikes, ‘here today, gone 17. Daily Mail May 10 2017. or the Russian soviets - there was no the Trades Disputes and Trade Union Sidelines tomorrow’ protests, let alone fake 18. The Sunday Times September 20 2015. 19. Financial Times August 14 2015. right of instant recall. Nevertheless, Act (1927). Introduced by a vengeful Organisations such as SPEW, the SWP, front conferences. In point of fact, the 20. From a 1951 2.5% historic low point the once in each parliament, our MPs had Tory government in the aftermath of the CPB and Left Unity are having a struggle to transform the Labour Party, Liberal Party enjoyed a revival in the 1970s, to get the endorsement of their local the general strike, civil service unions hard time of things at the moment. Not is a highly concentrated form of the which saw them win 19.3% of the popular vote in general management committee. Note, were barred from affiliating to the only are they haemorrhaging members: class struggle. the February 1974 general election. Despite the Jeremy Thorpe scandal, even in the 1979, 1983 GMCs were made up of delegates Labour Party and the TUC in the name there is profound political disorientation. It is worth noting that Lenin and the and 1987 general elections the Liberal vote stood elected by local party and trade union of ensuring the “political neutrality” Having dismissed the Labour Party Bolsheviks, following in the tradition up at well over 10%. See - en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ branches. They were sizable bodies, of civil servants. The Civil and Public as nothing more than a British version of Marx and Engels, considered the Liberal_Party_(UK)#Electoral_performance. As typically consisting of 100 or even Services Association - predecessor of of the US Democrat Party, having “fightback in the workplaces” - ie, for the Liberal Democrats, their vote has taken this path: 1992, 17.8%; 1997, 16.8%; 2001, more delegates. PCS - reaffiliated to the TUC in 1946. fought for trade unions to disaffiliate, trade union politics - the lowest, the 18.3%; 2005, 22%; 2015, 7.9%; 2017, 7.4%. See - At the prompting of the bourgeois Now, however, surely it is time for the SPEW’s general secretary, Peter Taaffe, most elementary form of the class en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liberal_Democrats_(UK). media and desperately seeking PCS to reaffiliate to the Labour Party. is busily rowing backwards. But if struggle. Bargaining over wages and 21. http://thirdavenue.org. acceptability, Neil Kinnock sought Force another change in the law. he wants his perfectly correct call conditions might be the dawning of uk/a-beginners-guide-to-the-labour-party- rulebook-part-2-reselection-of-mps. to extract trade unions from the 6. Every constituency, ward and other for the Labour Party to be opened up class-consciousness, but, “taken by 22. www.progressonline.org.uk/2015/09/28/the- voting process altogether. He failed, such basic unit must be won and rebuilt once again to affiliation by socialist itself, is in essence still not social price-of-a-seat-in-parliament. but accepted a compromise. A local by the left. Our individual membership organisations to be treated seriously, democratic [Marxist] work, but 23. www.progressonline.org.uk/2015/09/28/the- electoral college for the selection grew from 200,000 in May 2015 to over it is obvious what he must do. Put an merely trade union work”. Lenin price-of-a-seat-in-parliament. 24. http://thirdavenue.org. and reselection of candidates was 500,000 because of the historic opening end to the farcical Labour Party mark elaborates: “… social democracy leads uk/a-beginners-guide-to-the-labour-party- introduced. Ordinary members were provided by Corbyn. And with the two Tusc project. Close it down … the struggle of the working class, not rulebook-part-2-reselection-of-mps. given a direct vote for the first time, general election campaign membership permanently. only for better terms for the sale of 25. http://labourlist.org/2016/02/mcdonnell-and- leaving GMCs with the right to has again rise, this time to 800,000. A However, comrade Taaffe is labour-power, but for the abolition woodcock-clash-over-plan-to-scrap-member- checks. nominate and shortlist only. This million members is within our grasp. a towering genius, compared with of the social system that compels the 26. Independent Labour Party Report of the 18th electoral college system gave unions However, the left must convince the sea Robert Griffiths, the CPB’s general propertyless to sell themselves to the annual conference London 1910, p59. and affiliated organisations up to 40% of new members to attend meetings ... secretary. When not promising to shop rich.”31 27. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leader_of_the_ of the vote, with ordinary members only then can we sweep out the right “entryists” to our witch-finder general, Apply comrade Kimber’s Opposition_(United_Kingdom). 28. Labour Party Marxists July 7 2016. having some 60% (the actual balance from the NEC, the HQ, the councils Iain McNicol, what he displays is a derogatory, typically economistic, 29. Morning Star September 10-11 2016. was different in each seat, depending and the PLP. Elect officers who support completely detached attitude towards remarks about the “long slog” and 30. Socialist Worker September 20 2016. on party and union membership). genuine socialism. Elect officers who Labour’s ongoing right-left civil war. “endless meetings” to the Russian 31. VI Lenin CW Vol 5, Moscow 1977, p400. 8 weekly June 15 2017 1159 worker scotland Blow to separatism The Tory revival north of the border exposes the failure of left nationalism, writes Eddie Ford or years we have been told by for that purpose. It was always going most sections of the left that to unite around one candidate - hence FScotland was so much more the crowning of Theresa May. If she advanced than the rest of Britain - a goes soon, which looks likely, then they progressive, Tory-free zone to be will eventually unite around somebody envied and emulated. This sentiment else - not split apart in order to make life was reinforced by the freak result in easier for Socialist Worker journalists. the 2015 general election, thanks to Clearly, we are not going to see the ‘first past the post’ (FPTP) elec- another referendum on independence toral system, which saw the Scottish any time soon - however much National Party scoop up 56 of the Sturgeon might try to ‘rebrand’ it. This 59 seats (95%) with only 50% of completely shoots down in flames the the vote - leaving the other parties SWP’s ‘strategy’, insofar as it had one with only one seat each. There was - in its excitable, day-to-day existence only one direction of movement, it devoid of programme. Now, instead of seemed, and that was towards Scottish attempting to critique its own obviously independence. failed perspective, the SWP pathetically But, of course, that was always informs us that “socialists should take baloney that ignored history and from these results that independence, common sense. In the 1950s, apart which Socialist Worker supports, is not from the ‘red belt’ and a few scattered and should not be the only key fault Liberals, Scotland was a Tory country line for the left” (June 9). Rather, we - the Conservatives won an absolute read that “support for independence majority of the vote in the 1955 hasn’t changed” and that “the surge in general election (50.1%) and not far support for Corbyn’s Labour mirrors off that four years earlier (48.6%).1 the surge in working class support Now, in certain respects, politics in for independence in 2014” - once Scotland shows every sign of returning again deluding themselves. Nothing to type, at least if the results of the ever goes wrong in the SWP’s world: general election are anything to go by. everything is a confirmation of the Indeed, as many commentators have central committee’s infallible line. pointed out, we are seeing the return Ruth Davidson: new face of Scottish unionism If anything, the position of the of two-party politics in all parts of Scottish Socialist Party is even worse - the UK - or in the case of Northern for the first time in 30 years. focus” will be on the forthcoming Rennie, the Scottish Lib Dem leader, more cravenly nationalist. The SSP told Ireland, its first emergence with the The general conclusion from these Brexit negotiations - a “Tory-led hard urged Sturgeon to withdraw a Holyrood us on its semi-moribund website that Democratic Unionist Party and Sinn results is that is that momentum is Brexit is simply not acceptable” in the motion calling for the referendum. the “forthcoming” election (ie, June Féin carving up everything between ebbing away from the SNP and towards wake of the election result, she said. Just as damning, Kezia Dugdale, the 8) has to be made into a “referendum” them except for one seat. This should their opponents - especially the Tories, Sturgeon wants a “short pause” in Scottish Labour leader, said the country on independence, and called upon the not surprise us in the slightest, as who are now enjoying a serious revival the Brexit negotiations and has written “won’t be fooled by Nicola Sturgeon’s SNP to “put independence at the heart two-party politics is predicated on (something that we in the CPGB a letter to Theresa May, in which desperate plan to rebrand her divisive of its general election manifesto”. It FPTP, electorally punishing splits and have long warned was possible). she argues that new proposals are referendum”. boasted about the “100,000 leaflets” breakaways. But it was obvious that, once Nicola “urgently needed” to end the “confusion Scotland’s deputy first minister and distributed throughout the country Anyhow, this time round the SNP Sturgeon announced plans for a second surrounding the UK’s position” - she a former SNP leader, John Swinney, making the case for an “independent was reduced to 35 seats on 36.9% referendum on independence, the repeated her call for Scotland and the also seems dubious about the prospects socialist” Scotland, as it is “essential” of the vote - representing a 13% Tories would be going hell for leather to UK to remain in both the single market for Indy Ref 2. He told the BBC that “Scottish MPs are armed with drop in its share of the popular vote, capture the anti-independence/unionist and the customs union and for the that Sturgeon’s dogged quest for a an unchallengeable mandate for and costing it nearly 480,000 votes vote - with those for Brexit thrown in rights of EU citizens living in the UK second referendum was a “significant self-determination”.5 Effectively the compared with 2015. This result, we for good measure. to be “guaranteed”. Furthermore, she motivator” for SNP losses and the party SSP was for an SNP vote in Glasgow must remember, comes on the back claimed that the Scottish government’s would “have to be attentive to that”. and elsewhere. of last year’s Holyrood elections, Indy Ref 2? Scotland’s place in Europe document, Other senior SNP figures disagreed, But, just like the SWP, the SSP’s in which the SNP failed to secure In fact, the Scottish first minister - not published in December, provides a however, arguing that Sturgeon won “referendum” has completely failed an overall majority, but the Scottish being a fool - has had to admit a “blueprint” for the “way forward” for a “clear mandate” for a referendum in - the majority of Scottish people Tories increased their MSPs by 16 good part of the reason for the result the whole of the UK. In her opinion, the last year’s Holyrood election and in a voted for parties that do not support and overtook Labour as the largest was a backlash against her calls for UK government should “reconvene” a Scottish parliament vote in March - and independence and Indy Ref 2 is almost opposition party. And last week the independence. Sturgeon said she needed joint ministerial committee involving claiming that support for independence certainly off the agenda. Commenting Tories secured 13 seats on 28.6% of more time to “reflect carefully” on the all three devolved governments in is still as high as 47%. upon the election result, Colin Fox, the the vote and were runners-up in nine consequences of the election before Edinburgh, Belfast and Cardiff, and SSP’s national spokesperson, argues other constituencies - very nearly deciding whether to press on with her set up an “advisory group” involving Capitulated that the SNP’s diminution is a “direct doubling their share of the vote quest for another referendum either Sinn Féin to agree a consensual, “cross- The Tory revival in Scotland has exposed consequence of their failure to make from two years ago and getting over towards the end of next year or the spring party, all-government”, approach to the the total bankruptcy of those left groups the case for independence”. Yes, he 300,000 more votes. of the following year, “when the terms Brexit negotiations. who capitulated before Scottish nationalism says, June 8 was a “setback for the Meanwhile, Labour ended up with of Brexit are known” - as she originally Perhaps ironically, Nicola and the SNP. For instance, the Socialist independence movement”, but it also seven seats, gaining six, and 27.1% phrased it. “Undoubtedly” the issue Sturgeon’s appeal for a “pause” in Workers Party crazily argued that Jeremy “clearly demonstrates that support for of the vote - a share broadly similar of an independence referendum was a Brexit talks comes just as the European Corbyn should “champion” Scottish independence is greater than that for to the Tories, but the swing towards “factor” in this election result, she also commission’s chief negotiator, Michel independence in order to boost his then the SNP” - again “underlining the case Labour was only 2.8%, as opposed remarked, but there were “other factors Barnier, warns in the pages of the dismal poll ratings - thankfully he ignored for a reinvigorated broad-based ‘yes’ to 13.7% for the Tories. Moreover, as well”, such as Brexit. Financial Times that Britain risks their advice, otherwise the Labour Party movement”.6 two of them are Corbyn supporters: However, despite Sturgeon facing crashing out of the EU with no deal might still have only one seat north of What was totally wrong to start with Danielle Rowley and Phil Boswell. calls at Holyrood and elsewhere if it wastes any more time - he urged the border. The SWP also wanted us to has now become utterly stupid and And Matt Kerr, another Corbyn to abandon any plans for a second Theresa May to “very quickly” vote Labour in … “England and Wales”. reactionary - the SSP’s commitment supporter, came a narrow second to the independence referendum, Scottish begin the discussions and appoint But not in Scotland, as apparently the to Tartan national socialism coming SNP in Glasgow South West, winning government ministers on June 13 a negotiating team that is “stable, struggle for independence was the top at the expense of working class unity 14,326 votes, just 61 votes short of apparently did not discuss Indy Ref 2 accountable and with a mandate” (June priority. Or, as Charlie Kimber wrote back throughout Britain. If they had any sort winning (those on the left who called in their first meeting since the election, 12). After all, he notes, as from next in March, “we need to fight for [a] new of working class outlook, they would be for an SNP vote in Scotland should and the next day there were a flurry of week it will be three months since the referendum on Scottish independence”, fighting to transform and democratise be considered class traitors). As for stories about how she was planning to sending of the letter triggering article so that “May can be wrecked on the the Labour Party both sides of the the Liberal Democrats, they got four “rebrand” the independence referendum 50 - but no progress yet. shores of Scotland”.4 border - not acting as a nationalist seats on 7.5%, but actually got 40,000 as a vote on the finalised UK Brexit Obviously, Tory, Labour and Lib In other words, the SWP’s rationale pressure group on the SNP l fewer votes than in 2015. Overall, 39 deal - with one SNP MEP, Alyn Smith, Dem leaders in Scotland are stepping up for effectively backing the SNP was MPs were elected with fewer votes telling the BBC’s Good morning the pressure on Sturgeon to finally dump the same as for voting Brexit - it [email protected] than their party polled in the previous Scotland programme that any future Indy Ref 2 - now declared “dead” by will damage David Cameron. Yes, election. referendum “would be on the terms of Ruth Davidson, the Scottish Tory leader comrades, it certainly did that - but Notes 2 1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elections_in_ One consequence of the election, Brexit set against independence”. On and saviour of the party (if it was not for so what? As Kenneth Clarke said, it Scotland. surprising many, was that two of the the same day Sturgeon issued a series her performance on June 8, the Tories was obvious to anyone but a fool that 2. www.thescottishsun.co.uk/news/scottish- SNP’s biggest stars lost their seats. of almost Trumpian tweets stating that would be even deeper in the shit). She Cameron would not “last 30 seconds” news/1144651/nicola-sturgeon-top-lieutenants- Angus Robertson, its Westminster media speculation about her plans for has accused the first minister of having if he lost the EU referendum: we hardly plotting-indyref2-dream-alive. 3. www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland- parliamentary leader and MP for a referendum, or not, was “nonsense” “given up representing Scotland” and need the SWP’s help or advice on this politics-40263711. Moray, was defeated by the Tories - - she would set out the way forward of “turning a tin ear to everyone outside matter, thank you very much. But 4. https://socialistworker.co.uk/art/44196/e+need though he remains deputy leader for “in due course after talking to people the SNP, who just want a break from her the idea, repeated ad nauseam by the +to+fight+for+new+referendum+on+Scottish now - as did Alex Salmond in Gordon, across the SNP”.3 She went on to tell political games” - instead, Sturgeon is comrades, that the Tory Party would +independence. 5. www.scottishsocialistparty.org/snp-must-put- losing out to Conservative Colin BBC Scotland that she would not be now “focused solely on her discredited “shatter” under the weight of Brexit independence-heart-manifesto. Clark. This leaves former SNP leader “rushed into knee-jerk decisions” on and unwanted plan to drag us back to a (or Indy Ref 2) was always absurd - it 6. www.scottishsocialistparty.org/rebuff-may- Salmond without a parliamentary seat a referendum and that her “immediate second referendum”. Similarly, Willie is the party of government, existing makes-second-election-likely. weekly 9 worker 1159 June 15 2017 northern Ireland

Arlene Foster and the DUP ten Pact with the devil? Will a deal with the DUP mean an end to the so-called peace process? Anne McShane investigates heresa May’s reliance on the republicanism is far sharper than that As the founder of the Free in the political culture within the refusing to break with its abstentionism. Democratic Unionist Party’s 10 of her predecessor, Peter Robinson, Presbyterian Church, he stoked up assembly. Outside Stormont, bodies They have insisted that it has a duty to TMPs has led claims that she has and even that of Paisley in later intolerance in thundering sermons and like the Parades Commission, set up take up its seats in Westminster and entered a pact with the equivalent of life - remember the ‘chuckle brothers’ speeches. And, when Catholics rose up under the GFA to settle disputes during prevent a Brexit coalition of the Tories the Taliban or Islamic State. Some and the friendship with Martin against their institutionalised repression the Orange Order marching season, and DUP. But Sinn Féin has refused have even predicted that same-sex McGuinness when they were first in the late 1960s, Paisley and others have also found themselves mired to countenance such an action. Gerry marriage and abortion rights in minister and deputy? It was expected worked with loyalist paramilitary in disagreements. Conflicts almost Adams has made it clear that his party Britain will be under serious threat that, as a member of the Church of groups, including the Ulster Volunteer inevitably flare up every July and the is not interested in operating in the UK and thousands have signed an online Ireland and ex-member of the UUP, Force and Ulster Defence Association, marching season is a time of intense parliament. Its focus is on continuing petition demanding that the Tories she would continue the process of to hold the line against the demands fear for Catholic communities. to win ground both north and south step away from a coalition with bigots compromise apparently central to the for civil rights. Such was the paranoia The divisions along nationalist to secure a united Ireland through and homophobes. Former Labour GFA. However, she took the opposite about being swamped by the ‘taigs’ and loyalist lines were reflected even constitutional means. Party spin doctor Alastair Campbell stance and refused to extend the hand that the UDA released a document more vividly in the general election, There is no doubt that there will be has denounced Theresa May for of friendship to McGuinness. She calling for the repartition of Ireland with the DUP emerging as the clear fresh conflicts in the north because of putting the Good Friday agreement is described as a difficult woman, to create a wholly Protestant Ulster. winner among Protestant voters, with the Tory-DUP pact. However, it is very (GFA) at risk through “a sordid, whose belligerence has inflamed the Sammy Wilson, a future DUP Stormont 10 seats. However Sinn Féin also unlikely that Sinn Féin will abandon dangerous, distasteful deal”. Tory inbuilt antagonisms between the two minister, called it a “valuable return increased its seats by three, taking its the assembly. In fact it has already grandees like Kenneth Clarke and communities. to reality” and lauded the UDA for total to seven. The UUP and the Social called for the recommencement of John Major have joined the fray, with “contemplating what needs to be Democratic and Labour Party both talks for its re-establishment. With warnings of severe ramifications from Loyalism done to maintain our separate Ulster lost out completely. When Stormont is representation almost on a par with the ‘confidence and supply’ deal, and But, while Foster’s personality no identity”. reconvened, the DUP will be in a strong the DUP and strong support behind it, urging May to open talks with other doubt plays a role, it is her dedication As the main opposition to the GFA, position ... because the Westminster Sinn Féin will campaign against British parties. to traditional loyalism which is the key the DUP built on the sense of siege government relies on its votes. This government interference in Northern Missing from this debate is a sense to her intransigence. Here is an ideology and fear among Protestant voters. despite March’s Northern Ireland Ireland. Outside of Stormont it can be of reality. The DUP has appeared like which predates the Six Counties. It On July 12 2006 at an Orange Order election triggered by the ‘cash for expected that the tensions will spill over a bolt from the blue in UK politics, has its antecedents in the colonial march in Portrush, Paisley declared ash’ scandal. The DUP lead over Sinn into the marching season. when in fact it shared power with plantations of the 17th century, when that Sinn Féin was “not fit to be in Féin fell from 10 to just one. DUP now But I very much doubt that it Sinn Féin in Stormont for 10 years the rebellious Gaels were driven off the partnership with decent people. They hold 28 seats and Sinn Féin 27. The signals an end to the GFA despite until March of this year. Before that, land and replaced by Scottish Protestant are not fit to be in the government significance of this lies in the fact that the concerns of many on the left. of course, its deceased founder, Ian farmers. The settlers unsurprisingly of Northern Ireland and it will be it is the biggest party which gets the The Socialist Workers Party and Paisley, was an extremely prominent feared and despised the natives. They over our dead bodies if they ever get position of first minister. The second Socialist Party in Ireland, along personality, propagating a blend of saw their own survival as wholly there”.1 Ten months later he was sitting party, if its is designated ‘nationalist’, with many other groups, portrayed Presbyterian fundamentalism and an contingent on the continuation of rule alongside Martin McGuinness in the gets the deputy. the British government initiative overwhelming antagonism towards from Westminster and their continued Stormont administration. The fact that Preventing a hard Brexit is key when in 1998 as a step forward. They Northern Irish Catholics that bordered protection by the crown - loyalism is born Paisley’s intransigence had given way thinking about the likely outcome of the refused to acknowledge that it was on the obsessive. His was the only from dispossession and colonial rule. to compromise in such a relatively short pact. Although the DUP campaigned a rearticulation of imperialist rule in party in Northern Ireland to oppose Ian Paisley was simply one of a time reflects the recognition that the for a ‘leave’ vote, Northern Ireland Ireland. Yes, the majority voted for it the GFA - current leader Arlene Foster long line of evangelical sectarians GFA could not be beaten. voted by 55.7% to remain. However, to make the ceasefire permanent, some was herself a former member of the who fed this siege mentality with But it did not mean an end to the DUP never support a hard Brexit. perhaps hoping that it would bring Ulster Unionist Party, but defected histrionic depictions of the peril posed sectarianism. In fact Stormont is an Foster has argued that she does not want about integration. But, while the GFA to the DUP in 2003 in protest at the by republicanism. With the beginning example of how the GFA hardened any restrictions on exports to the Irish has seen an end to ‘the troubles’, it has GFA. Warmly welcomed into the of the IRA’s failed 1956-62 border the institutional divisions between the republic or any weakening of tourism cemented sectarianism. Catholics and fold by Paisley, she shares many of campaign, the IRA became largely two communities. MLAs (Members initiatives - the cross-border bodies set Protestants in Northern Ireland are still his fundamentalist views. In 2015 dormant, he was amongst those who of the Legislative Assembly) have to up to promote joint economic activity as divided as ever l she demanded (unsuccessfully) that helped form Ulster Protestant Action - a designate themselves ‘nationalist’, should not be undermined. same-sex couples from Northern vigilante organisation armed to defend ‘unionist’ or ‘other’. Important The Irish government is likewise [email protected] Ireland be prevented from marrying in British-Irish privileges and ensure resolutions cannot be passed unless pushing hard to make sure that Brexit Scotland. In the same year she became the continuation of gerrymandering they have ‘cross-community’ support. does not affect its relationship with Notes party leader. and dominance of loyalists in local Despite the election of a People before Northern Ireland and Britain. Various 1. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/ Foster’s hostility towards government. Profit MLA, there has been no shift TDs have condemned Sinn Féin for northern_ireland/5174000.stm. 10 weekly June 15 2017 1159 worker AssessMeNt

May’s fatal miscalculation Corbyn must press home his advantage after June 8, urges Tony Greenstein s with all good fairy tales, the Theresa May is a cautious for a period of political instability constituencies, convinced defeat was wicked witch of Westminster conservative. She is literally the product Knives being such as we have not known for at hand. They kept Corbyn’s name off Awas rumbled before she was of her background - a conservative sharpened: David 40 years ... A Tory government is their leaflets and told anyone who asked able to cast her evil spells. The good vicar’s daughter. Reactionary, Davis, Philip still possible if it cobbles together that Corbyn did not represent the real news is that she is not yet dead. The parochial and small-minded, she is a coalition of the Lib Dems and Labour Party.”4 Not once did it occur to longer she lives, the more damage a bigot for all seasons. What doesn’t Hammond, Boris the Ulster Unionists-DUP. Even a Cohen to question these MPs’ cowardly she is likely to do to the Tory Party. help is that she is both wooden and Johnson, Amber rudd majority Tory government cannot behaviour, still less talk to some real Theresa May’s promise to the 1922 unoriginal. The danger is that Corbyn and Michael Fallon be ruled out.2 people instead of embittered Labour Committee that, having got them into tries to emulate her. MPs. Hindsight is a wonderful thing. “this mess”, she is the best person to The key question is whether or Contrast this with the drunken pundits If he had felt particularly brave, get them out again would, in normal not Corbyn can rise to the occasion. who inhabit the Westminster bubble, Cohen might have ventured into the circumstances, indicate that she had a Even Jesus ... didn’t allow the gospel who competed with each other in their crowds at one of the 90 mass rallies sense of humour. of love to prevent him from driving efforts to describe how badly Corbyn that Corbyn addressed up and down The question for us to understand the money lenders from the temple ... would be defeated. Prime among them the country and asked himself whether is how and why May and her There is everything to win if Labour was Nick Cohen, who writes with all something was happening beneath supporters made such a catastrophic has the courage of its convictions. the passion of a neocon convert for the surface of British politics. Instead political misjudgement and what the the once liberal Observer. In March Cohen, who even today defends the consequences may be. It was not On June 3, five days before the election, Cohen predicted that in the event of a invasion of Iraq and Afghanistan, simply political hubris that led May to when all the polls were predicting that general election: tells us that he “doesn’t swing with call a general election when she had a May’s lead was widening, I wrote: the polls”. Instead he reverts back to workable parliamentary majority for the Labour will get around a quarter of the horrors of the “links between the next three years. There was a collective My initial predictions, that there the vote ... The Tories have gone Corbyn camp and a Putin regime that act of self-deception by the political would or could be a hung parliament easy on Corbyn and his comrades persecutes genuine radicals”, to say class - the talking heads and self-styled was based on my assessment of the to date for the transparently obvious nothing of his support for “an Iranian experts who feed off each other’s situation. This is still quite possible, reason that they want to keep them in state that hounds gays, subjugates delusions. It was taken for granted that as the Tories are widely detested for charge of Labour … In an election, women and tortures prisoners” - and, in a general election Corbyn was a lamb their attacks on the working poor, they would tear them to pieces. They of course, Corbyn’s “indulgence of real going to the slaughter. people on benefits and the continuous tony Greenstein: will expose the far left’s record of anti-Semites (not just critics of Israel)”. Almost alone amongst the political privatisation of the NHS. They are general election excusing the imperialism of Vladimir commentators I predicted the outcome.1 seen as the party of a vicious class predictions spot on Putin’s gangster state, the oppressors New mood The day after parliament voted by 522- rule, which is what austerity is about. of women and murderers of gays in The question is why 99% of the pundits 13 for dissolution and with the polls That does not, however, mean Iran, the IRA, and every variety of and ‘experts’ got it so badly wrong. The showing a lead of over 20% I wrote: that the Tories will necessarily be inquisitorial and homicidal Islamist answer is really not so difficult. Their defeated. People do not vote in movement, Will there be 150, 125, understanding of what is happening in … it was Harold Wilson who said line with their class interests. The 100 Labour MPs by the end of the the country is limited to the latest opinion that a week is a long time in politics. whole purpose of the patriotic card, flaying? My advice is to think of a poll and soundings at Westminster. In Seven weeks is a political eternity. used by a succession of ruling class number then halve it.3 essence what they are doing is testing Theresa May has taken a gamble that scoundrels from Pitt to May, is to whether the ideological broadside of her 21% lead will hold. It is a gamble blind people to their real interests ... Suffice to say, Cohen was faced with the popular press against Corbyn has that she may yet come to regret. The Tory press, of course, is doing having to eat rather large helpings of been successful or not. There is only one direction that its best to foster illusions in Strong humble pie. How did he explain himself? Corbyn’s election was accompanied her lead can go, and that is down. and Stable. Primarily by blaming others! It was all by hundreds of thousands of people Once her lead falls, then a snowball .... The Lib Dems are not going because “the paralysed Tories don’t know joining the Labour Party. Contrary to effect can take over. What is essential to gain enough seats to prop up how to govern or what to do next”. Having the self-deluding nostrums of Labour is that Labour marks out the key another Tory coalition ... By informed us through gritted teeth that Party MPs and the Tory media, this was areas on which it is going to base its ruling out any form of pact May’s electoral defeat “is not only not a far-left takeover. Would that the appeal. The danger is that Corbyn is with Labour under Corbyn, due to the PM’s monumental far left in this country accounted for going to continue with his ‘strategy’ the Lib Dems have incompetence - Corbyn deserves even 10% of these numbers. Corbyn’s of appeasing the right and appealing guaranteed their own credit”, he then tells us, by election was symptomatic of a wider to all good men and women. If so irrelevance. way of an alibi, that “most revulsion at Cameron’s narrow victory that will be a recipe for disaster ... We could be in Labour MPs stayed in their and the years of austerity, cuts to weekly 11 worker 1159 June 15 2017 What we fight for benefits, a housing crisis, the plight of Labour in Kensington, possibly UDA murder of another loyalist in The one issue that never really n Without organisation the of the NHS and the enrichment of the the richest constituency in Britain. Carrickfergus.12 But then some forms of came to the fore, but underlies much working class is nothing; with already rich. The votes in Brighton, Hove and terrorism have always been acceptable of the voting, was the question of the highest form of organisation It is this mood that not only Cohen Canterbury, among other places, to the Conservative and Unionist Party. Brexit. May’s hard Brexit has clearly it is everything. and the media, but also the far left, indicate that this was not just confined It is important that the previous hit the buffers. Labour’s position at n There exists no real Communist has failed to pick up on. The growing to London constituencies. strategy of appeasing the right is not the moment is incoherent. Corbyn’s Party today. There are many disillusion in modern capitalism and There was also the collapse of the pursued. It would be a strategic mistake reference to “managed migration” so-called ‘parties’ on the left. In its inability to provide even a basic and UK Independence Party vote. Unlike to take Chuka Ummuna and Angela during the election campaign and the reality they are confessional sects. acceptable standard of living to people. most received wisdom, I have argued Eagle back into the shadow cabinet. In myth that immigration, rather than Members who disagree with the The fact that young people are forced that the suggestion that Ukip votes a reversal of Lyndon Johnson’s maxim, the erosion of trade union rights, prescribed ‘line’ are expected to to live with their parents because they would go automatically back to the it would be better to have them pissing leads to lower wages, has to be gag themselves in public. Either cannot afford to rent anywhere, the Tories was mistaken. Although we outside the tent rather than fouling the fought. Labour’s stance should be that or face expulsion. food banks and homelessness. The only may not like it, Ukip posed as a party shadow cabinet! clear - Britain should stay in the single n response to growing impoverishment of protest against the establishment - It is essential that Corbyn purges market and the custom’s union and Communists operate according has been to redefine what poverty Farage’s peoples’ army. With its virtual Labour’s civil service. It is absurd it should accept the free movement to the principles of democratic means. collapse at this election, the majority of that the left leadership of the Labour of labour. Corbyn should not pander centralism. Through ongoing debate I campaigned in Brighton working class Ukip voters in the north Party has next to no control over its to the myth that immigration lowers we seek to achieve unity in action Kemptown, a Tory marginal of 690 went back to Labour, not the Tories. unelected staff. This meant that virtually the price of labour. There is already a and a common world outlook. As votes. Every school had displayed Even in the south a large proportion no resources were directed to any seat crisis of a lack of nurses in the NHS long as they support agreed actions, outside it large banners explaining appear to have supported Labour too. that Labour was trying to gain. Under and now there are reports that the members should have the right to how the cuts were affecting them. People voted for Ukip not because they Iain McNicol, Labour’s witch-hunting number coming in from the EU has speak openly and form temporary Robotically quoting figures saying that were racist, but because they believed general secretary, a strategy of defending declined by a massive 96%. or permanent factions. education funding is being increased that immigration was responsible for Labour marginals - especially those The message for the left inside the n Communists oppose all impe- means little when the actuality of their decline in living standards. like Hove, where Progress MPs were Labour Party is that it has to go on the rialist wars and occupations but what is happening in education is very in danger - was pursued. That was why political offensive. We need to deselect constantly strive to bring to the fore different. What next? no help whatsoever was given to crucial large numbers of what were imposed the fundamental question - ending war There was clearly a massive swing What then has been the reaction of the marginals like Brighton Kemptown, candidates. Never again should the is bound up with ending capitalism. amongst young people to Labour. The Labour right? During the campaign the where a Tory majority of 690 was turned Labour machine be allowed to choose n Communists are internationalists. effect of benefit cuts to the under-25s, theme of many - like Peter Kyle, the into a Labour majority of nearly 10,000. the candidates, as happened this time. Everywhere we strive for the closest combined with tuition fees and the MP for Hove - was that a vote for them Labour HQ swallowed the tabloid and Another general election is probable unity and agreement of working class removal of student grants and student was not a vote for Corbyn.5 The Zionist media nonsense about Labour being within a year. The Tory Party is divided and progressive parties of all countries. nurses’ bursaries, have taken their toll. lobby that Corbyn was so assiduous in in for a catastrophic result. What this over Brexit and it is highly unlikely that We oppose every manifestation Labour’s manifesto was genuinely appeasing paid him back with studious meant in practice is that at least 15 seats the present government can continue with of national sectionalism. It is an radical in a number of ways. The contempt. Joan Ryan, chair of Labour that Labour could easily have won were the support of the DUP. John Major has internationalist duty to uphold the decision of the right in Labour Party Friends of Israel, whose sole achievements lost - and with them any chance of a already spoken out against it, following principle, ‘One state, one party’. headquarters to leak it in advance have been to claim the second highest majority. McNicol, if he is not prepared on from the comments of the Scottish n The working class must be ironically worked in favour of expenses of any MP in 2005-06 and to fall on his sword, should be sacked Conservative leader, Ruth Davidson l 6 13 organised globally. Without Labour by giving it nearly a week of the highest amounts in 2006-07, asked for gross incompetence. a global Communist Party, a extra publicity. Corbyn broke with her constituents to elect her “despite As the right in the Labour Party Notes Communist International, the Miliband’s legacy by openly opposing Corbyn” because May would win.7 recover from the shock of Corbyn’s 1. http://azvsas.blogspot.co.uk/2017/04/labour- can-win-if-corbyn-is-bold-key.html (April 20 struggle against capital is weakened the politics of austerity. This was in Jeremy Newmark, the chair of the Jewish performance and take stock, I predict 2017). and lacks coordination. contrast to the Tories’ promises of Labour Movement, the British branch of a renewal of the false ‘anti-Semitism’ 2. http://azvsas.blogspot.co.uk/2017/06/general- more austerity, with the abolition of the the Israeli Labour Party, likewise assured campaign. It is essential that the election-is-labour-on-threshold.html. n Communists have no interest triple lock on pensions, means testing voters that if they voted for him Corbyn compliance unit is wound up, that all 3. www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/ apart from the working class of pensioners’ winter fuel payments still would not win.8 those suspended - including Jackie mar/19/jeremy-corbyn-labour-threat-party- as a whole. They differ only in election-support (March 19 2017). recognising the importance of and the removal of free school meals. For all his attempts to please the Walker, Ken Livingstone and myself 4. www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/ The promise to abolish tuition fees, Zionist lobby, including suspending - are reinstated. At the beginning of jun/10/i-was-wrong-about-jeremy-corbyn-still- Marxism as a guide to practice. and to restore housing benefit to the supporters of the Palestinians and the election campaign Mel Melvin, doubt-him. That theory is no dogma, but under-21s, struck a chord with younger supporting the redefinition of anti- women’s’ officer for Brighton 5. www.theargus.co.uk/news/15296372. must be constantly added to and Kyle__A_vote_for_me_is_not_a_vote_for_ enriched. people. Today no Labour rightwinger Zionism as anti-Semitism, the Zionists Kemptown, was suspended for posting Corbyn_in_Downing_Street. dares defend Miliband’s austerity-lite treat Corbyn with utter disdain. He is a satirical tweet, in response to reports 6. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joan_Ryan. n Capitalism in its ceaseless politics. The promise to renationalise not reliable compared to Tom Watson. of the bullying of Dianne Abbot: she 7. www.theguardian.com/politics/2017/jun/02/ search for profit puts the future back-me-despite-corbyn-as-may-will-win-labour- the railways, post office and utilities Some on the right like Owen said that Abbot should claim Jewish mp-urges-voters. of humanity at risk. Capitalism is 9 was also genuinely popular. Of course, Smith , Chuka Umunna and even Peter ancestry, then action would be taken. It 8. www.thejc.com/news/uk-news/ synonymous with war, pollution, we should call for workers’ control in Mandelson10 have recognised that they would seem that any form of humour, if byers-jeremy-newmark-piece-1.438620. exploitation and crisis. As a global industries that are renationalised, in were wrong in writing off Corbyn as an it involves poking fun at the false anti- 9. www.walesonline.co.uk/news/local-news/ system capitalism can only be defeated-labour-leadership-contender- order that what happened previously - electoral liability, although Mandelson Semitism campaign, is also verboten. owen-13160869. superseded globally. whereby private-sector managers just returned to type pretty quickly with his Mel’s comment was nothing more than 10. www.politicshome.com/news/uk/ n The capitalist class will never moved over from the private to the bizarre suggestion that Labour MPs a satirical joke. political-parties/labour-party/jeremy-corbyn/ willingly allow their wealth and news/86571/i-was-clearly-wrong-jeremy-corbyns. public sector and carried on in the same should prop up May in order to achieve The key Zionist activists in the power to be taken away by a 11 11. www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4592272/ way - does not happen again. a soft Brexit. Others, such as Chris Labour Party have demonstrated that Lord-Peter-Mandleson-urges-Labour-MPs-soft- parliamentary vote. We are not in a revolutionary Leslie, the former shadow chancellor, their first loyalty is to Israel and British Brexit.html#ixzz4jrqe9vXQ. n We will use the most militant situation or anything even approaching complained that, despite the fact that foreign policy. Newmark, Ryan, Gapes 12. www.theguardian.com/politics/2017/jun/11/ it, which is why it is not possible to put Corbyn had been fighting the Tories as and Kyle did their best to undermine arlene-fosters-stance-on-paramilitary-groups- methods objective circumstances brought-into-question. allow to achieve a federal republic forward a demand for nationalisation well as Labour traitors like himself, he Corbyn during the election campaign 13. https://skwawkbox.org/2017/06/10/excl- without compensation and gain any had not achieved an outright victory. and no-one could be more disappointed of England, Scotland and Wales, labour-hq-defunded-marginals-corbyn-achieved- a united, federal Ireland and a measure of support. It is, however, It must be very painful for the with the election result than these this-despite-them-ge17. possible to demand that any Labour right to admit that the Labour Labour Zionist candidates. United States of Europe. compensation paid is linked to the price Party under Corbyn won the highest n Communists favour industrial that the industries were originally sold vote since 1997 and the largest unions. Bureaucracy and class for, minus the profits taken out and, not increase in any party’s percentage compromise must be fought and least, in the case of water, the land that of the vote since 1945. The right’s Fighting fund the trade unions transformed into was sold off by the water companies. whole narrative revolves around the schools for communism. We should also call, in the case of idea that warmed-up Blairism would n Communists are champions of the NHS, for the statutory reversal still prove attractive - despite having the oppressed. Women’s oppression, of private finance initiative contracts lost nearly five million votes between Help needed combating racism and chauvinism, which have enabled private companies 1997 and 2010. Corbyn’s 12.9 million and the struggle for peace and to literally make a killing. We should votes were, with the exception of remarked last week about the So we could really do with a ecological sustainability are just demand that, adjusted for inflation Blair in 1997 (13.5 million), the I surge in online readers, and I’m lot more comrades playing their as much working class questions and say a 2% return, companies which highest for Labour since 1966 (13.1 pleased to say that this week’s figure part - comrades like SS, a reader as pay, trade union rights and have already received their initial million). The right has been forced remains quite a bit above average, in Canada who donated £25 this demands for high-quality health, investment back should not receive to acknowledge that it was Corbyn’s at 3,566. But I’m afraid that hasn’t week. Other comrades who used housing and education. further compensation. We need to be strategy of ignoring the print media and led to an increase in donations - in our PayPal facility were JM, who n Socialism represents victory able to formulate concrete demands using social media that contributed to fact this week’s contributions to our added £10 to the new subscription in the battle for democracy. It is which, though they go against capitalist Theresa May’s defeat. fighting fund are the lowest I can she took out, DB (£7) and JP (£5). the rule of the working class. economic ‘logic’, also resonate with The question for the left though is remember for a long time, with only Finally we received two cheques - Socialism is either democratic or, sections of the class. I have no doubt ‘Where next?’ Of one thing we can £102 coming in. from KN (£20) and BS, who also as with Stalin’s Soviet Union, it that this will be controversial with some be in little doubt. Theresa May is, in That takes our running total for added a tenner to his subscription. turns into its opposite. on the far left, but it is also necessary the words of George Osborne, a dead June up to £594, but the bad news But we definitely need a lot to link one’s demands to existing woman walking. There can be no is we need £1,750 and almost half more like them stepping in to help. n Socialism is the first stage consciousness. future in her putative alliance with the the month has gone. So now some That’s where you come in. Please of the worldwide transition to I also have little doubt that Brexit Democratic Unionist Party. The DUP is sharp acceleration is called for in write us a cheque, click on our communism - a system which played a major part. The reason that the not simply anti-gay and anti-abortion: the second half of the month. PayPal button or - best of all - make knows neither wars, exploitation, Liberal Democrats did not benefit from it is above all a racist, sectarian party The main problem is that the last a transfer from your online bank money, classes, states nor nations. the support of remainers was that they of Protestant supremacy. It was created seven days have coincided exactly account (sort code: 30-99-64; Communism is general freedom were not a credible electoral vehicle, in reaction to the formation of the civil with the least productive part of account number: 00744310) l and the real beginning of human especially after they explicitly ruled out rights movement by Catholics in 1969. the month in terms of the standing Robbie Rix history. supporting a Corbyn-led government. It has strong links with loyalist terror orders we receive - just two came The Weekly Worker is licensed by We saw two conflicting tendencies. groups, including the Ulster Defence in, from DV (£20) and RP (£5). No Fill in a standing order form November Publications under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial First, Labour clearly benefited Association and its death squads. Only doubt next week will see something (back page), donate via our 4.0 International Licence: http:// from pro-European Tories who were a few days ago its leader, Arlene Foster, above average, but I’m not sure it’ll website, or send cheques, creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ alienated by a hard Brexit. There is met with Jackie MacDonald, a senior be enough to put us back on target. payable to Weekly Worker legalcode. ISSN 1351-0150. no other explanation for the victory leader of the UDA, in the wake of the No 1159 June 15 2017 Momentum weekly played vital role in Hallam worker victory Parallel campaign delivers win One the greatest upsets of the election took place in Sheffield Hallam, where a pro-Corbyn candidate defeated Nick Clegg. Carla Roberts of Labour Party Marxists reports heffield Hallam is one of the richest constituencies in the country and had never previ- S 1 ously been in Labour hands. Yet on June 8 Labour’s Jared O’Mara, a member of Momentum, defeated former Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg. Oddly enough, it was also an upset for the regional Labour Party too. The campaign was underfunded, understaffed and would have not have got off the ground without the help of local Momentum supporters. No cash was allocated from the regional party office for Hallam’s campaign, and so the entire £4,000 spent (compared to the maximum of £12,000 per constituency) was raised locally. This leaves Hallam rather short financially, especially when it comes to sending delegates to annual conference in September. Was this just the result of the defensive campaign run by the Labour HQ - an effort to protect Labour seats Nick Clegg (third left) beaten by Jared O’Mara (second right) rather than take the fight to the Tories? That is what is being argued now. out all the stops to make it a successful together at a crucial CLP campaign responsibility for austerity - as well acceptance speech! Alas, we can reveal But The Skwawkbox reports similar campaign. It was an uphill struggle meeting a week after the election as their role in privatising a lot of that this is not true: he was wearing his underfunding problems in other parts against the Labour bureaucracy: for days was called. Over a hundred people services across Sheffield, when they dad’s jacket and a black pair of jeans. of the country2 - including in areas after the election was called there were turned up and it became clear that a were the largest party in the local Despite our well-known criticism with marginal Labour seats held by no leaflets, no web presence and hardly majority was not happy with the official council. Luckily, most people ignored of the Lansman coup in Momentum,6 leftwingers, such as Wirral West. any official support for the campaign. mantra being put out by most of the the ‘advice’ of the agent to stick to I have to admit that Momentum But how come any leftwingers were Residents in Hallam were bombarded local leadership that ‘Hallam could the script and left the training session nationally was most helpful. Once they chosen to contest in this election in the with one glossy, pre-produced Lib Dem not be won’. Momentum supporters enthused and equipped with some were informed by local members that first place? We know that candidates leaflet after the next, while the scruffy and other leftwingers in the meeting useful ‘persuasion techniques’. The Hallam was indeed a marginal seat - were selected in backroom deals black and white numbers produced for disagreed and encouraged others to video is now online.5 and one contested by a pro-Corbyn between Corbyn’s people and the Jared looked like something the cat at least try and run a campaign to win After that, the left continued candidate - they really pushed for national executive. But the allocation had dragged in. Large areas of Hallam the seat. to organise, mainly via email and Momentum supporters across the area of funds, resources and manpower is were entirely left out of the ‘campaign The ball really got rolling when Facebook (all Labour Party meetings to come out and help (and surprisingly organised via regional Labour Parties plan’ and no effort was made to leaflet Momentum organised a canvassing were, of course, suspended). It took went against the instructions of the - ie, full-timers appointed by general or canvass there. training session in Hallam at the some effort to convince other lefties local Labour Party). Local Momentum secretary Iain McNicol and co. It was Momentum members who beginning of May with a campaigner from across Sheffield to come to supporters from across Sheffield It seems to us that what happened first got together with Jared to take from Bernie Sanders’ team. For three Hallam. Incredibly, many of them had report receiving several phone calls in Hallam has indeed been part of some photographs of him, plan the hours the importance of actually followed the Labour HQ instructions and text messages urging them to get an organised, Britain-wide attempt campaign and discuss how to make it as talking to people was discussed, to try and went to campaign for Angela involved. by Labour HQ to undermine Jeremy vibrant as possible. It was Momentum and convince them to vote for Labour. Smith. But many of them eventually In that sense, Jared O’Mara really is Corbyn, prop up the vote of rightwing members who drove Jared to leafleting That sounds like an obvious thing to joined us in Hallam and on polling day Momentum’s first MP. Can you imagine MPs - and accept that marginal seats sessions and events, because his official do, but the official election agent - who more than 200 people crammed into the what kind of impact an organisation with leftwing candidates would be agent was hardly ever around. came along for a Q&A and to hand campaign headquarters. like Momentum could make it if it were lost. If that is indeed the case - and the At times, almost a parallel campaign out material for the first canvassing There was an incredible buzz on a democratic, members-led campaign? evidence is mounting up - then heads had to be organised, bypassing official session of the campaign - insisted that June 8. Campaigners drove around But I am not sure Momentum is up for must now roll: McNicol must go. Labour structures. Sometimes it felt as “everybody has to stick to the script”. Hallam in a decorated car with a doing what is now necessary: helping Sheffield Hallam was not identified though the bureaucracy was hell-bent Of course, the so-called national megaphone, playing ‘Liar, liar’ to get rid of the saboteurs in the Labour as a marginal that would be worth on sabotaging things. Right until the “script” consists of nothing more than and ‘The magic money tree’, and Party - and not just in Sheffield Hallam fighting for. The regional Labour end, even volunteers from Hallam asking people on the doorstep which calling on people to vote Labour. l Party - no doubt under instruction itself were encouraged to campaign for party they will vote for and which one Groups of teenagers waved back and from Labour HQ - had decided that Angela Smith. Campaigners were told they voted for last time. This is called shouted ‘Vote Labour!’, while passing Notes all fire should be concentrated on not to drive around with a megaphone, ‘voter ID’ - a hangover from the Blair drivers raised their fists in support. 1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ supporting the rightwing Progress not to produce specific leaflets to years which needs to be got rid off. Campaigners started to believe they Sheffield_Hallam_(UK_Parliament_constituency). 2. https://skwawkbox.org/2017/06/12/proof- supporter, Angela Smith (who has hand out outside schools and not to Clearly, if you want to build a could actually win the seat - although it labour-hq-funnelled-resources-away-from-pro- called for Corbyn’s resignation many organise any public meetings or even real party of the working class, then still came as a shock to many when the corbyn-marginals. times and will undoubtedly do so a fundraising event. But leftwingers speaking to people is a pretty basic result came through. The story goes that 3. www.youtube.com/watch?v=EtVoeTOAp2U. again3), in Penistone and Stocksbridge in Hallam did most of those things necessity. Momentum’s fact sheet Jared was so convinced he would come 4. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jared_O%27Mara. 5. www.youtube.com/ constituency to the north of the city anyway and some were eventually provided people with arguments to second that he had to shoot off in the watch?v=TpOfgUIzjxg&t=180s. and directed volunteers from across adopted by the campaign. take on the Liberal Democrats over middle of a night to a nearby 24-hour 6. http://labourpartymarxists.org.uk/ the other five Sheffield constituencies The left really started to get its act their U-turn on tuition fees, their Tesco to buy himself a new suit for his yes-to-a-momentum-opposition-no-to-a-split. to that area. Hallam was effectively written off, despite the fact that in 2015 Subscribe Name:______Standing order Nick Clegg only won the seat with a 6m 1yr Inst. To ______Bank plc ______margin of just over 2,500 votes. Address:______UK £30/€35 £60/€70 £200/€220 Branch address ______Jared O’Mara has a very low profile, Europe £43/€50 £86/€100 £240/€264 4 ______to put it mildly. He is a disability Rest of £65/€75 £130/€150 £480/€528 Post code ______Account name ______world campaigner with cerebral palsy, has run ______Sort code ______Account No ______twice - unsuccessfully - for the local New UK subscribers offer: council and is treasurer of the small 3 months for £10 ______Please pay to Weekly Worker, Lloyds A/C No 00744310 sort code 30-99-64, the sum of ______every month*/3 months* Sheffield City Labour Party branch. ______UK subscribers: Pay by standing order and until further notice, commencing on This replaces any previous order from this account. (*delete) In effect he was regarded as a mere Tel:______save £12 a year. Minimum £12 every 3 Date ______paper candidate. months... but please pay more if you can. Email:______Signed ______Name (PRINT) ______But, once local Momentum members and others on the Labour left heard that Send a cheque or postal order payable to ‘Weekly Worker’ at: Sub: £/€ ______Address ______a fellow Corbyn supporter had been Weekly Worker, BCM Box 928, ______selected as the candidate, they pulled London WC1N 3XX Donation: £/€ ______