CHARTIST

For democratic socialism September/October 2013 #264 £2 Britain’s Euro sclerosis

Franziska Brantner MEP and Greg Barnes EU futures Linda Kaucher, Philip Whyman and Mark Baimbridge Social Europe Follies Frank Lee Statistics Andy Gregg Immigration Mary Southcott Turkey

ISSN - 0968 7866 ISSUE

www.chartist.org.uk CONTENTS CHARTIST Pamphlet Series FEATURES Editorial Policy The editorial policy of CHARTIST is to *Pamphlet Four* promote debate amongst people active in radical politics about the contemporary Socialising Transport EGG ON HIS FACE? relevance of democratic socialism across by Paul Salveson Peter Kenyon sees a Labour leader licking the spectrum of politics, economics, 8 self-inflicted wounds science, philosophy, art, interpersonal Foreword by Maria Eagle MP relations – in short, the whole realm of social life. DEFICIT DENIAL OF DIFFERENT KIND Our concern is with both democracy and 9 Andy Morton dissects the EU’s democratic socialism. The history of the last century deficit and presents options has made it abundantly clear that the mass of the population of the advanced UNSOCIAL EUROPE capitalist countries will have no interest Philip Whyman and Mark Baimbridge give in any form of socialism which is not 10 thoroughly democratic in its principles, Europhiles food for thought on the European its practices, its morality and its ideals. Social Model Yet the consequences of this deep attach - Debating EU futures: pages 9 to 18 ment to democracy – one of the greatest are dedicated to the EU A HOLY UNION? advances of our epoch – are seldom reflected in the discussion and debates Greg Barnes surveys the meeting point amongst active socialists. 12 between trade union interests and the EU CovercartoonbyMartinRowson Also CHARTIST is not a party publication. It brings together people who are interested available: TRADING ON OUR FUTURE? CHARTIST in socialism, some of whom are active the pamphlets Linda Kaucher lifts the lid on a dangerous free Labour Party and the trade union move - 14 FOR DEMOCRATIC SOCIALISM ment. It is concerned to deepen and 1 to 3 on trade agenda extend a dialogue with all other socialists Number 264 September/October 2013 and with activists from other movements Europe, MORE EUROPE? involved in the struggle to find democrat - Housing and ic alternatives to the oppression, exploita - 16 Franziska Brantner MEP says citizens need a REGULARS tion and injustices of capitalism and the ‘better’ rather than ‘more’ Europe class society Big Society ERODING EURO GAINS IN EIRE OBITUARY 4 In memory on Clarence Chrysostom Editorial Board *Available now* 18 Lily Murphy sees the successes of EU membership eroded by austerity CHARTIST is published six times a year OUR HISTORY 50 by the Chartist Collective. This issue was 4 Kier Hardie - From Serfdom to produced by an Editorial Board consisting Order with £2 cheque from Turkey: page 19 DEMOCRATIC OR AUTOCRATIC? Socialism 1907 of Brendan Bird, Duncan Bowie (Reviews), Chartist PO Box 52751 London EC2P 2XF Mary Southcott maps Turkey’s troublesome Peter Chalk, Mike Davis (Editor), David OR - view online at www.chartist.org.uk/about/pamphlets 19 EDITORIAL relationship with democratic principles Floyd, Don Flynn, Roger Gillham, Ian Sent free to CHARTIST subscribers 5 Re-engage Johnson, Peter Kenyon (Treasurer), Frank Lee, Dave Lister, Andy Morton SOMALIA POINTS AND CROSSINGS (Production Editor), Mary Southcott, Cat Dan Thea on the continuing problems of a 6 Paul Salveson on radical clubs Smith, Rosamund Stock, James Grayson, Follow us on Twitter at 20 Patricia d’Ardenne and Rebecca Korbet- war-torn country RIGHTS WATCH Wootton. @Chartist48 7 Amy William’s first of a new column BREAKING UP BRITAIN on human rights politics Signed articles do not necessarily represent the views of the EB Contributions and letters deadline for 21 Steve Freeman reports on UK nationalisms MARGINAL NOTES 25 Keith Savage on the geo-politics of Published by HS2 Chartist Publications CHARTIST #265 PO Box 52751 London EC2P 2XF 10 October 2013 LIES, DAMNED LIES AND STATISTICS BOOK REVIEWS Frank Lee looks at the role of crooked 26 Nigel Watt on South Africa, Rory Printed by People For Print Ltd, Unit 10, Riverside Park, Chartist welcomes articles, of 800 or 1500 words, and 22 O’Kelly on the welfare state, Patricia statistics in economic reporting Sheaf Gardens, Sheffield S2 4BB – Tel 0114 272 0915. letters in electronic format only to:[email protected] d’Ardenne on Lincoln, Jon Taylor on Email: [email protected] the apocalypse, James Grayson on the Receive Chartist’s online newsletter: send your email address to [email protected] IMMIGRATION MADNESS west and development, Pam Morris on Website: www.chartist.org.uk Andy Gregg takes apart a Goodhartian view morals and markets, Frank Lee on Blog : www.chartistmagazine.org.uk Chartist Advert Rates: 23 radical theory and Duncan Bowie on Email: [email protected] that is far from progressive Russia. Twitter: @Chartist48 Back cover £300 Cooking the books: economics and Newsletter online: to join, email Full page £200; 1/2 page £125; 1/4 page £75; 1/8 page £40; 1/16 page £25; small box 5x2cm £15 single sheet statistics on page 22 YOUTH VIEW [email protected] insert £50 32 Dermot Neligan on cafeteria politics We are also interested in advert swaps with other publications. To place an advert, please email: [email protected] September/October 2013 CHARTIST 3 OBITUARY EDITORIAL Quiet man of revolutionary politics Mike larence Chrysostom, and others who were leading a He also maintained friendships one of the founders of pro-Labour Party group in 1968- in Sri Lanka. One day the Sri Re-engage Davis Chartist in 1970, has 69. This group evolved with oth - Lanka embassy limosine pulled on a died aged 92 after a ers into Chartist. He was editor of up outside his flat in Swiss short illness. He was the early duplicated Chartist pub - Cottage: the occasion a visit from n the late 1980s Jacques Delors threatened to government while Dan Thea provides an eye on founder of the quiet man of socialist revolu - lications which covered a range of an old LSSP friend who was now Sceptics imbue the European project with a bonafide Somalian developments that few others are report - Ctionary politics. He wasn’t a topics from Vietnam to the May a government minister. Besides ‘social dimension’ and with it convinced ing on. Chartist leader, a great activist or theo - events in France 1968, sometimes leading LSSP members he also and swathes of the political left to back European Returning to Britain, Labour is tripping over the retician, but his strength lay in writing brief introductions. made good friends with veteran Europhiles integration. Since the great Frenchman’s immigration issue. Shadow Minister Chris Bryant’s what he was, a living link with He was a member of the socialists Frank Ridley and retirement 18 years ago a great deal has changed. recent effort to set a new course was messy. But as the Sri Lankan LSSP that Labour Party for most of his time Trinidadian revolutionary author alike must, IThe nature of the EU has become increasingly neo- Andy Gregg shows, in his excoriating review of expelled the Stalinists from their in Britain. He was active in CLR James. liberal in nature as its impact on national life has Director of Demos David Goodhart’s book on immi - ranks through to his days with NALGO and participated in Perhaps coming from a period with a deepened. This has left parts of both the Europhile gration, faux liberal views can do more harm than the journal Revolutionary marches and meetings. He was an when Trotskyism was a mass and sceptic left views looking rather dated. good to working class unity. History. active internationalist and anti- organization and in government, referendum Although this should not lead to any concession to a This issue also links to Europe and is why UKIP He was born in Kandy, Sri racist. He was involved in solidar - the rest of his life in the UK was Conservative sceptic view laced with xenophobia, it seeks to make the two issues inseparable. It also Lanka, 10th January 1921, one of ity work against the suppression a gradual downhill road looming, does make clear that the democratic left needs to leads to the damaging ‘Go Home’ poster campaign three sisters and four brothers. of Tamils in Sri Lanka 30 years politically. He outlived his con - re-engage renovate its approach to the European project and vans trialled by the government in six boroughs. He came to politics early. He ago. temporaries and was saddened by before EU Referendum battle lines can be drawn. What Labour needs is a forthright defence of was a member of a revolutionary He was a loyal friend to Al the civil war and government with a Critically, the EU’s neo-liberal turn demands that immigration on economic and moral terms: that it minority opposing the coalition of Richardson. When Al became dis - atrocities in Sri Lanka over the the left-Europhile view must now be based upon builds the economy, that it is good for development the LSSP with capitalist parties illusioned with Chartist in the last decade. He was more san - subject that what the EU can do rather than what it currently and that we have duties and responsibilities to in 1964. Around this time he late 1970s he helped form guine about prospects for work - does. Left eurosceptics on the other hand need to European workers, as argued by Amy Williams in decided to move to England. Socialist Platform publications ers’ power here, but always inter - has left both better place those positive aspects of EU employ - her new column, and to aid asylum seekers and Following a brief period with and then the Revolutionary ested and enquiring about the ment law within their account that emphasises the refugees beyond our own borders. Gerry Healy’s Socialist Labour History project. He was business fate of the left and the prospects camps negative aspects of ‘the project’. Both camps need to Labour should demand British jobs with a living League he soon realized its sec - manager of the bi-annual journal for socialism. Despite increasing looking out re-engage with this subject and with each others’ wage, incomes that keep pace with inflation. Fire tarianism was not for him and which adopted the task of map - memory loss he maintained his arguments. should be directed at the Coalition for turning joined the International Marxist ping the history of the world-wide warmth, his openness, his impish of date This Social Europe Britain into a low wage Group, befriending Al Trotskyist and revolutionary chuckle and smiles to the end. focused issue of Chartist economy with a casu - Richardson, Keith and Val Veness movement. is dedicated to this theme The nature of the EU has become alised workforce, where of re-engagement. In increasingly neo-liberal in nature as its over a million are on this vein committed spe - zero hours contracts. As cialists have been invited impact on national life has deepened. Frank Lee explains ISTORY 50 to present a range of This has left parts of both the Europhile governments are OUR H views on the European manipulating jobs and project. and sceptic left views looking rather income statistics to German Green MEP show unemployment is Franziska Brantner dated. Although this should not lead to down when it is up and Keir Hardie - From Serfdom to Socialism (1907) provides a positive but any concession to a Conservative paint a rosy picture of not uncritical view of the an economy where eir Hardie was the first independent State. … To the Socialist the community represents a EU’s problems and sceptic view laced with xenophobia, it income and wealth dis - socialist MP elected to parliament, the huge family organisation in which the strong should prospects and the greater parities are greater first leader of the Independent Labour employ their gifts in promoting the weal of all, instead of role the European does make clear that the democratic left than at any time for Party and the first chair of the parliamen- using their strength for their own personal aggrandise - Parliament can play needs to renovate its approach to the over a hundred years. tary Labour Party. He was a leading mem- ment. In like manner the community of States which within this. Her piece New figures from the ber of the Socialist International and the leading compose the world, and making full allowances for the illustrates a number of European project House of Commons KBritish socialist of his time. A Scots miner, in 1886 he difference of environment, of tradition and of evolution, the EU’s structural and Library show the real became secretary of the Ayrshire Miners he regards as a great comity which should democratic problems. Andy Morton takes up this value of wages has fallen by 5.5% in Britain since Union and then of the Scottish Miners be co-operating for the elevation of the race. theme of the EU’s democratic deficit and sees the recession began—one of the largest falls in Federation. He founded a paper, the The economic object of Socialism is to remedial action to correct it as central to any demo- Europe. Miner, which was renamed the Labour make land and industrial capital common cratic socialist response. Greg Barnes and Linda Miliband must now roll up his proverbial sleeves, Leader and became the official journal of property, and to cease to produce for the Kaucher in their pieces use EU trade and procure- demands Peter Kenyon , and make the case for an the ILP. In 1886 he unsuccessfully contest- profit of the landlord and the capitalist and ment policy to demonstrate important but subtle end to austerity, nail the lie that Gordon Brown cre - ed the mid Lanark parliamentary seat as to begin to produce for the use of the com - linkages between global and national policy-making: ated the mess and lay down some key campaign an Independent, being successfully munity. Socialism implies the inherent Barnes in highlighting the challenges for the trade policies. The economy may be moving out of reces - returned as Labour MP for West Ham in equality of all human beings… Holding union movement and Kaucher in exposing the evils sion but that should not reduce Labour’s attack on 1892. He lost his seat in 1895, before being this to be true of all individuals, the of a global trade and liberalisation agenda to which the narrow nationalist politics of Cameron and co. returned for Merthyr Tydfil in 1900. He Socialist applies it also to all races. Only by the EU has given more than a helping hand. They don’t want Labour to talk about living stan - was a vigorous opponent of the Boer war. a full and unqualified recognition of this A similarly critical view is taken by Philip dards and low wages…so this should be Labour’s In 1906 he was elected chairman of the claim, can peace be restored to the world. Whyman and Mark Baimbridge , who view the line of attack wedded to a defence of Social Europe. newly founded Parliamentary Labour Socialism implies brotherhood, and broth - potential furthering of the European Social Model As we move into the conference season time is Party. Hardie was a suffragist and actively erhood implies a living recognition of the through the EU as fanciful at best. Lily Murphy running out for Miliband to set a new course with campaigned against the moves towards fact that the duty of the strong is not to hold introduces a necessary note to the perils of austerity some clear policies: in an international context war in 1914. the weak in subjection, but to assist them to and raises EU demands for cuts in Ireland as a where we are seen to work with European and trade “Socialism is much more than either a political rise higher and ever higher in the scale of humanity, and demonstration of the risks austerity pose to past union allies. This could help restore Labour’s wilting creed or an economic dogma. It presents to the modern that this cannot be done by trampling upon and exploit - benefits won through EU membership. standing in opinion polls and shift the terms of polit - world a new conc eption of society and a new basis on ing their weakness but by caring for them and showing This issue of Chartist’ s international focus does ical debate on to firmer ground for victory. which to build up the life of the individual and of the them the better way” not end with Europe. Mary Southcott reviews the dwindling democratic credentials of Turkey’s 4 CHARTIST September/October 2013 September/October 2013 CHARTIST 5 P&C S RIGHTS WATCH Making the case for A club of one’s own human rights Paul he early socialist movement understood tive a breathing space to raise £100,000 to buy the the importance of having your own place. building. That’s no easy task and the co-op will be Amy ome things are self-evident. Vans with ‘go those in power to privilege the rights of the many Salveson Whether it was the radical clubs of launching a fund-raising campaign shortly. It is home or face arrest’ sprawled across them over the rights of the few remains as real today as London or the socialist rooms in the indus- talking to several national trades unions about get - Williams driving around London boroughs will then. trial North, they were a key part of build- ting help from them to cover the capital costs of pur - divide communities. Legal protection of But what if the judges get it wrong? The second reviews ing a new politics. It’s one of the great tragedies of chase and has benefited from free advice from the on divisive human rights is a good thing. Not so fast. key point conveniently not mentioned by Tthe modern labour movement that so few clubs sur- national co-operative movement. Owen Jones has recently suggested that Labour has Conservative critics of the HRA and their allies in radical vive. Many ‘labour clubs’ long since became nothing The first public event that the club is organising Tory vans Sa communications problem. The Tories successfully the press, is that under the HRA it is still parlia - clubs in more than cheap drinking dens and most have suc- will be an afternoon ‘People’s Party’ on Bank instil mantras like ‘we're clearing up Labour's mess’ ment (in reality the government), and not the cumbed to competition from even cheaper booze Holiday Monday, August 26th. There will be live into the national psyche, yet a well-rehearsed unelected judiciary, that has the final say on rights. points from supermarkets. music, free food and general bonhomie. Labour retort is lacking. He's got a point. It's no The HRA was drafted to make sure that politicians But all is not lost. What is proba- Part of the club’s ideas is to visit good dubbing the vans driving round London's eth - can have the last word. and bly the oldest surviving socialist club other places that are doing similar nically mixed boroughs 'hate vans', as many on the It is true that individuals now have the advan - in Britain, at Milnsbridge in the things and have faced the same chal - left did, without explaining that the message on the tage of being able to challenge the government on crossings Colne Valley near Huddersfield, is at lenges of funding and finding a new vans is clearly for the 'indigenous' audience, human rights grounds in court, and judges have a the heart of a revival of radical poli- direction. Not far away is Bradford’s designed to pitch sections of society against each much greater role in assessing law and policy for tics in an area where socialist poli- 1-in-12 club which has similarly other. Without succumbing to sound bite politics, human rights compatibility; they can read words tics struck deep roots, leading to the inclusive radical politics. Just up the the left needs to up its communications game. It into statutes, provided they do not fundamentally election of socialist firebrand Victor line is Hebden Bridge’s highly suc - needs to do so fast where human rights are con - change their meaning. Where a judge finds a statute Grayson in 1907. Milnsbridge cessful Trades Club, one of the cerned. cannot be read in a Socialist Club was once surrounded North’s most acclaimed music The Conservative rights-compatible by a thriving textile industry; the venues. Both are overtly political, 2010 General way, he or she can town had dozens of mills employing without being tied to one party Election manifesto merely declare this thousands of workers, many of whom organisation. Across the Pennines is pledged to repeal to be the case under flocked to the new socialist organisa- Bolton Socialist Club, founded in Labour's Human the HRA. This decla - tions that sprang up around here in 1895 and still going strong as a good Rights Act (HRA), ration has no legal the 1890s. The club opened in 1892 example of united left activity. hailed by Jack Straw effect; it does not and hosted speakers including Another venerable survivor is the as ‘the first bill of invalidate the law in Christabel Pankhurst, Kathryn West Yorkshire has a rich marvellous Clarion House set in mag - rights this country question. Bruce Glasier, Victor Grayson and socialist traditions that are still nificent countryside on the slopes of has seen for Of course, the Philip Snowden. It even had its own celebrated today Pendle Hill. It was built in 1912 and three centuries’. idea was that follow - socialist brass band which used to was recently featured on Radio 4. It Comfortably ing a judicial finding perform at trade union and socialist demonstrations opens every Sunday and is a haven for cyclists and restrained by their of incompatibility and on the annual May Day procession. A photo- walkers, run by a small group of dedicated social - Liberal Democrat there would be con - graph of the band still adorns the club’s concert ists. Coalition partners, siderable political room. Milnsbridge was one of many socialist clubs in I’d love to hear about other examples of socialist- who remain Taxpayer-funded Tory hate vans pressure on the gov - the Colne Valley. inclined clubs around the country. Perhaps there are committed to the ernment and parlia - Their programme of social events, regular speak- more than I think but there doesn’t seem to be any HRA, senior Conservative members of the govern - ment to change the law as required, but the scheme ers and discussions and providing a base for Clarion sort of network. The old National Union of Labour ment have ratcheted up the anti-human rights of the HRA provides for parliament to say 'no, we cyclists and choirs pro- and Socialist Clubs is rhetoric since. UK withdrawal from Churchill's lega - disagree' to the courts. So in February 2011, when vided an essential It’s one of the great tragedies of the more for traditional cy, the European Convention on Human Rights the Home Secretary told the House of Commons infrastructure for a labour clubs and does - (ECHR), to which 46 other countries are signed up, that she was obliged under the HRA to change the hugely successful social- modern labour movement that so few clubs n’t even have a web - including Turkey and Russia, has been floated as a law to allow sex offenders to appeal their inclusion ist movement. Britain’s survive. Many ‘labour clubs’ long since site as far as I can see. serious possibility by figures including the Prime on the Sex Offenders' Register, this was simply not first socialist county Creating a lively, Minister himself. “There's a dogma on the left that if the case. councillor, George became nothing more than cheap drinking inclusive and finan - it says 'human rights', it must be untouchable” Thirdly, and perhaps most importantly, the HRA Garside, was elected in cially viable centre for Amy Williams is Justice Secretary Chris Grayling recently told the and the ECHR protect everyone in the UK. Colne Valley and dens and most have succumbed to the left is no easy a researcher on Sun newspaper. It isn't dogma, our human rights Prisoners, foreigners, members of 'unpopular Grayson’s 1907 victory competition from even cheaper booze from challenge. But it is the Human laws must be untouchable, at least for now. Here groups' like Gypsies and Travellers and asylum sent shock waves vital if we want to Rights Futures are three reasons to help explain why. seekers can all claim the rights listed – freedom through the establish- supermarkets rebuild a radical and Project based at First of all, legally enforceable human rights pro - from slavery, freedom from torture, the right to life ment. democratic politics. the LSE. tection is about providing a check on state power - and so on. There isn't a vast catalogue of rights – But heritage on its own is no guarantee of salva- It’s partly about having somewhere friendly and why it is considered a child of liberal, rather than healthcare and social security are nowhere to be tion. Milnsbridge Socialist Club faced all the same accessible to meet. But it’s also about networking This is the first socialist, political thought (a fact conveniently for - seen for example – and many of the rights, like free problems that social clubs have had to deal with in with people from other political groups and working of a new column gotten by the 'small state' Tory critics of this ‘dogma expression or privacy rights, can be limited on pub - the last few years: changing habits, an inability to together and running joint campaigns. A very posi - on human rights- on the left’)? Statutory regulation of the Security lic interest grounds. It is the universal application of appeal to a broader market, rising debts. It closed tive feature about the Red and Green Club has been related issues Services resulted from a decision of the European these minimal rights that lurks behind much of the its doors in June and the future looked bleak. the way that activists from the Labour Party, Left today and writes Court of Human Rights, for example. The burden is opposition to our human rights laws. However, a group of local socialists, greens and Unity, Greens and local anarchist groups – as well in a personal on the state to prove that a person who is mentally Echoing the deserving and undeserving welfare anarchists have got together to save the club and as non-aligned socialists - are working together in a capacity ill needs to be detained, rather than on the individu - rhetoric, there is a drive to exclude certain people or create a new and more inclusive venue for a wider friendly and positive way. The next few months will al to prove he/she should be released, thanks to a groups – Abu Qatada, convicted prisoners, even rel - area, but also attract local community involvement. decide the future of our venture.. decision under the HRA. In our age of party whips atives of convicted prisoners – from the scope of the The club has been re-christened ‘The Red and Green and political patronage, this check against the 'human' in 'human rights'. This is perhaps the Club’ and a co-operative has been formed to buy the Paul Salveson is a Labour councillor on Kirklees Council 'tyranny of the majority' is vital. That was certainly hardest sell. We owe it to our ancestors who were building from its current owners, which it is renting and general secretary of the Hannah Mitchell Foundation the rationale behind the drafting of the ECHR after de-humanised, including the subjects of the 'hate to the end of the year. That gives the new co-opera- www.paulsalveson.org.uk the horrors of National Socialism, the potential for vans' of previous generations, at least to try. 6 CHARTIST September/October 2013 September/October 2013 CHARTIST 7 LABOUR EUROPEAN UNION The Miliband muddle In an era of deficits Andy Morton Peter Kenyon invites Labour's leader to focus on 'kinship', not 'kingship' argues that the European Union’s democracy problems are deepening and abour's leader is in a opportunity to capture the public must be acknowledged, but not on Tory terms muddle. He hasn't got imagination was lost in stage “Socialism and democracy are two to alter substantively EU law are into EU governance, courtesy of long to plot. The 2013 management that disabled debate sides of the same coin” met only by piecemeal and lowest the ‘Yellow Card’ procedure, was Annual Labour Party and banned votes. common denominator outcomes in a much vaunted innovation of the Conference is his last There will be frenzied activity ith any attempt to response. Given the powers of Lisbon Treaty. Here national chance to seal a deal with the in some Constituency Labour define a ‘Social unelected institutions like the parliaments can come together Lelectorate to improve his party's Parties committed to democratic Europe’, democrat - Court and the Commission to under the auspices of the chances of winning the next socialism. They are the ones that ic legitimacy, make EU policy and law it is Committee of the Regions to General Election. There has been submit resolutions (or did I mean social rights, important that directly elected reject Commission legislative pro - no shortage of summery advice – motions? Whatever!) for debate at accountability and distribution of bodies can repeal or substantively posals. This ‘rejection’ is not bind - welcome or otherwise. Conference. All to little avail. The Wpower must be a fundamental alter these. Currently this is very ing however and building upon Two themes stick out: nail the Conference Arrangements part. Social Europe enthusiasts difficult at the European level this new feature in this way lie – there was no mess when Committee, an elected body with too often however find themselves and completely impossible at the would enhance the democratic Labour lost the 2010 election; and a majority of trade unionists, has in a muddle when dealing with national. This points to a critical credentials of the EU and partly secondly: Ed Miliband needs to rigged the Conference agenda the EU’s democratic credentials. generational aspect to the EU’s correct its top-down nature. This speak human again and set out with remarkable aplomb and Conservative sceptics have seized democratic deficit: European constitutes a middle way between the stories people will appreciate. saved the Leadership's blushes ownership of a debate concerning legislation passed in year one the current ‘Yellow Card’ proce - Guardianistas have been drafting for the last 15 years or more. the EU’s ‘democratic deficit’ as cannot be repealed later at the dure and the ‘red card’ procedure mini-manifestoes in desperation There is no reason to suppose they’ve successfully, albeit partly national level and, again, is William Hague favours that pro - of the Leader's apparent silence – 2013 is going to be any different. erroneously, conflated concerns of virtually impossible to substan - poses that a single national par - simple statements setting out So it falls to the Leader, in his ‘sovereignty’ and ‘democracy’. tively alter through negotiation liament can veto European legis - common values that could be keynote speech, and the more Denials of the EU’s democratic with other member states. It is lation. Hague’s idea would make Labour's. recent innovations of platform deficit are very hard to sustain. fundamental to any electoral the EU’s legislative process Why the muddle? Just when Q&A sessions, with invited audi - Pointless duels: Ed’s unneccesary fight with the unions Not only will a bonafide Social notion of democracy that genera - unworkable, which if this is the the electorate is increasingly ences, to project messages to the hurts him, the unions and the Labour Party Europe never be formed without tions are not bound by laws of a goal then advocate leaving the hungry for an anti-Coalition the EU’s democracy problems previous generation—a concept EU rather than pretending to narrative, our Ed allows himself Why the muddle? Just when the in the Westminster bubble. But being corrected, but the democrat - also fundamental to the British make meaningful suggestions. to get embroiled in a typical that is Ed Miliband's weakness. ic left will be placed on very dan - constitutional principle Introducing a substantive role Blairite melodrama with the electorate is increasingly hungry for He knows little else. His political gerous territory. It must also be ‘Parliament is Sovereign’. This for national parliaments raises party's affiliated unions, and courage - standing against his accepted that there are a number has been put into an uncertain the spectre of subsidiarity—the challenges them to a duel. It is a an anti-Coalition narrative our Ed brother and winning in 2010 is of potential remedies available position with regard to EU mem - principle in EU law that posits distraction. He is risking both allows himself to get embroiled in a not in doubt. But for what pur - within as well as outside the EU. bership. But whereas that the lowest and most party morale and cash. Expect pose? He sacked Nick Brown MP There are some very pertinent Conservative sceptics claim an appropriate level must be where the issues to be quietly buried to typical Blairite melodrama with the as chief whip, and stripped the questions as to how viable these EU exit is the only response, it is competence is assigned. This avoid undermining morale among party's affiliated unions, and Parliamentary Labour Party of its remedies are. In any event, non- worth considering - in the name principle has nonetheless been Labour's core supporters – vital right to elect members to the engagement with the EU’s pro - of proper engagement these greatly ignored by EU for campaigning and getting out challenges them to a duel shadow cabinet. Not achieve - nounced democracy problems is issues - what other options are institutions, themselves far more the vote in May 2015. Labour ments to boast about to democrat - no longer an option. available. concerned with the advancing nerds will savour the way in electorate via television, and web - ic socialists. But it demonstrated internal market law. Subsidiarity which this farrago has put Labour casts. Will anyone be listening? strong leadership, his apologists The EU’s democratic deficit All Bad? Remedies can be placed on an equal footing First, championed by John Not many, apart from the media, argued. Fine, if you want to per - with internal market law, either Spellar MP and serial PPC Luke assembled chatteratti and the petuate ‘kingship’ through the The fleeting and superficial Many will correctly point to the through the creation of a new Akehurst, representing the other political parties campaign leadership of the Labour Party. regard the British political class European Parliament as a beacon subsidiarity court, appeals pro - Labour Right into bed with the strategists eager to farm the pro - But the Labour Party was built pays to issues of European of the EU’s democratic credentials cess using the Parliament and as Campaign for Labour Party ceedings for gaffes – the feedstock on 'kinship', and that's how it will integration is part of the reason and buttress to Council and a legal basis for all of potential Democracy, championed by of modern politics. prosper for another 100 years. why the impact of the EU on Commission overreaching. Its remedies above. shouty old Labour leftie Pete That's the bit of Labour's history national life is not fully grasped. powers have risen sharply since Some of these and other Willsman. Simple messages that Ed has yet to prove he The EU’s considerable powers - Maastricht and possess an suggestions need to be considered understands. Labour's future is for better or for worse - hasn’t yet important role in the EU’s legisla - if there is any interest in correct - What does Labour stand for? But these are precious and rare not about individual choice and been balanced with sufficient tive process. This does not itself Andy Morton is a ing the EU’s democratic deficit. moments to win over potential personal prejudice. It is about col - means of public and democratic correct the top-down nature of the PhD researcher Those on the pro-EU left need to None of that will matter a jot Labour voters, enthuse members lective action and the common control. Citizens feel an increas - EU, nor can it correct the specialising in acknowledge this and then can with the voters. They want to and supporters. It just needs the good. ing disconnect from a complex, Commission’s own profound EU policy, is expose the phony credentials know: what does Labour stand creation of those simple mes - That was what was so absurd opaque and distant EU political legitimacy and accountability Chartist ’s Conservative sceptics have on for? sages; you were conned by the about his ‘personalised’ message system; a conclusion given validi - problems. Directly electing the Production Editor this issue. Modern Tories are no On the basis of current showing Coalition, Labour showed growth to members after the staged fight ty given that there is no Commission or, as Franziska and heads up EU more a democrat on this issue – not a lot. Oh, there are the was possible, austerity is the poli - with Unite the Union leader Len ‘European government’ people Brantner on page 16 recom - policy based than they were on the poll tax. chroniclers of policy initiatives tics of despair, Labour councils McCluskey. If you really want to can throw out, despite the wide mends, tying European website called The reason we know this is that if able to list commitments entered are showing the way – paying a revive a mass-membership party, powers the EU’s executive - the Parliament elections to its EUropean- the EU’s democratic deficit were into by the Labour Front bench living wage, building council just remember political parties European Commission - enjoys composition are important responses.com corrected they would still be since the 2010 General Election. houses, creating apprenticeships are collectives, egos have to be over national policy and practice. remedial ideas that should have complaining about loss of But no ordinary mortal can – despite the Tories and LibDems moderated for the common good. While many celebrate the been considered long ago; plus the sovereignty. More critically, remember any of them. Worse, best efforts to prop up privileges As Leader of Her Majesty's Loyal intricate negotiation fora at the Parliament still needs greater engaging with the problems the there was a National Policy and provide tax-breaks for their Opposition, please set a good European level, spearheaded by assent powers. EU has is essential for any demo - Forum less than three months supporters – the 1%. And so on. example, Ed. There's a good chap. the Council of Ministers, serious The introduction of national cratic socialist. ago at the end of June. But the It's not difficult if you don't live problems emerge when demands parliaments in structural terms 8 CHARTIST September/October 2013 September/October 2013 CHARTIST 9 SOCIAL EUROPE

plays lip service to the ESM, but social and welfare policies. For ic elements of the ESM pro - the emerging ‘Brussels-Frankfurt those former communist nations, gramme were introduced immedi - consensus’ is profoundly neo-clas - where a considerable proportion ately. However, sanctions are not sical in nature. It adopts concepts of social support was dealt with credible if no-one believes them to such as pre-commitment to fiscal via employing organisations, the be real. For example, trade union Whither Social Europe rules, rather than counter-cyclical shift to capitalism and market strike threats only work if man - discretion and accepts uncritically solutions have stripped-out most agers believe that this has the The left needs to respond the neo-liberal reality of the EU and accept that the Social theories such as the neo-liberal of this former system without, in potential to disrupt productive Philip B. Whyman and Mark Baimbridge explanation of inflation and many cases, replacing it with a activity. Europe idea is on its knees argues unemployment, which places system of social support compara - A third alternative is to con - labour market (i.e. wage) issues ble with more established EU clude that the European integra - ver the past decade at the heart of explaining the nations. Hence, the suggestion tion project offers little for ordi - the left has increas - existence of unemployment, that harmonisation of social mea - nary working people, as opposed ingly embraced rather than a lack of effective sures could form the basis for an to big business, and opt to develop European integration demand in the economy. Thus, if ESM is unrealistic. Indeed, recent better national solutions. This as a bulwark to global - Europe has a weak competitive developments in the social protec - will require the construction of isation. However, the view that position, it should create better tion systems in a variety of estab - sufficient electoral support to Othe EU provides the potential for allocative efficiencies through lished EU member states would make this a reality, but this is realising a progressive social and reducing wages or the social wage appear to reinforce this. what left-of-centre political forces economic policy is problematic. and promote market solutions. As So, where does this leave pro - should be doing in any case. The creation of a 'Social Europe' such, there is a fundamental con - gressive opinion? If the ESM is Moreover, to the extent that EU is patchy in both coverage and flict between the economic infras - unlikely to be enacted in any kind rules and regulations impede generosity, because at least four tructure and the social super - of meaningful way beyond the developing this new approach, variants of the European Social structure of EU policy. minimal welfare base line that for creative solutions would need to Model (ESM) exist. Moreover, the It is against this growth in EU be identified. neo-liberal framework associated neo-liberal economic orthodoxy Moreover, the recent neo-liberal drift in For example, if a more active with Economic and Monetary that the ESM is supposed to pro - industrial policy falls foul of the Union (EMU) requires the vide a counterweight. But how? strategy espoused by the European EU’s competition law, then if this separate formulation of monetary Tax revenues are coming under cannot be changed within EU policy by the independent increasing pressure, as certain Commission implies that, either the membership, or support for cer - European Central Bank (ECB) EU economies act as tax havens Left has to redouble its efforts in a tain industries cannot provide from nationally determined fiscal for global transnational corpora - real support without appearing to policy, itself constrained by the tions. Moreover, social policy struggle within the EU to realise a offer anything looking like a sub - Stability and Growth Pact (SGP), becomes less a means of decom - fundamental reform of its institutions sidy, then EU membership itself leading to a lack of policy coordi - modification and more an instru - comes into question. Similarly nation prejudicial to the construc - ment of reinforcing market solu - and policy framework, or else consider with macroeconomic policy; if the tion of a progressive economic Much of the pro-EU left have received their inspiration from a Delorsian ‘European Social Model’, tions; for example, enshrining the EU persists with its current framework. Hence, this approach one that is scarcely part of the current European Commission blue print for Europe work principle, cutting pensions other, more nationally-orientated orthodox approach, and the UK or is the antithesis to traditional and other programmes to main - alternatives any other nation wishes to pursue democratic socialist objectives. tion of free market forces. In the freedoms’, one of which being the tain competitiveness. Enshrining a Keynesian and/or more regula - ESM alternative, European citi - free movement of capital, thereby trade union participation in deci - most EU nations represents a tory approach, then membership Neo-liberal drift zens benefit from comprehensive preventing future governments sion-making seems a shallow race to the bottom in social terms, will have to be re-examined. social protection, wage regulation from exercising democratic con - prize, when this has little impact where does that leave support for The Lisbon process has provid - Moreover, the recent neo-liber - and social partnership. trol over capital movements. This upon economic orthodoxy at the further integration and support ed the ESM with a problem that al drift in strategy espoused by Additionally, trade unions play an has proven to be a problematic macroeconomic level. This is for continual membership of the Philip B. Whyman may prove difficult (if not impos - the European Commission important part in the manage - decision, not only in preventing underlined when firms are EU? is a Professor at sible) to solve. On the one hand, implies that, either the Left has ment of the labour market, rather many of the steps that could have increasingly seeking to introduce the University of the EU is committed to develop - to redouble its efforts in a strug - than being marginalised by the been taken to prevent the conta - individualised payment systems Keep the faith? Central ing a more participatory, citizen- gle within the EU to realise a fun - growth of individual wage gion experienced during the within human resource manage - Lancashire & friendly form of social and eco - damental reform of its institu - formation. Consequently, many recent financial crisis, but also for ment systems that offer less scope One option might be to keep Mark Baimbridge nomic governance, involving tions and policy framework, or adherents dream of corporatist those advocating an alternative for active trade union representa - the faith and trust that, if or is a Senior employees in decision-making else consider other, more nation - solutions, or Euro-Keynesian economic policy utilising tion of their members’ interests. when new member states catch- Lecturer at the within the workplace and creat - ally-orientated alternatives. macroeconomic policies, even Keynesian and/or active industri - Furthermore, the enlargement up with more established EU University of ing a form of economics centred However, to facilitate such strate - though these have not been real - al policy instruments. of the EU, whilst desirable in nations, the potential for equali - Bradford upon maintaining a high level of gies the nature of membership istic alternatives for two decades many respects, reinforces this sation of social protection and employment. However, simulta - per se is called into question in or more. However, given the pre - Little choice position. Since wages in new wages can occur. However, this The arguments neously the EU is committed to terms of alternatives that might vailing drift towards more market member states are so much lower will be a long and painful wait for contained in this an economic agenda seeking to produce more egalitarian results. solutions, it is not surprising that Furthermore, the establish - than for the EU as a whole, there many EU citizens. Moreover, the article are raise productivity through market Consequently, we also outline a those with more progressive incli - ment of EMU amongst a majority is no realistic prospect of trying to concept of convergence is not discussed at determination in the social and number of these policy options nations are so attracted by the of EU member states ties partici - equalise wages through regula - automatic, as can be evidenced by greater length, in labour market spheres. One and evaluate their potential bene - ESM. Unfortunately, it is only a pants to a single monetary policy tion or trade union supranational observing the economic develop - Whyman, P.B., vision of the future takes as its fits and costs from a broad politi - mirage. operated by the ECB; based in bargaining, nor is the establish - ment of Spain, Portugal, Ireland Baimbridge, M. basis a quasi-Keynesian negotiat - cal economy framework. There are a number of reasons Germany, the EU’s dominant ment of European minimum and most obviously, Greece. and Mullen, A. ed economy model, whereas the One of the main reasons why for this conclusion. The first economy. Its design means that wages very likely. The unification A second alternative would be (2012) The other has supply-side neo-liberal social democratic and trade union relates to the fact that the EU participants, once they become of East and West Germany to adopt a ‘trade union’ approach Political foundations. To prevent cognitive constituencies tend to favour was founded as an economic uncompetitive, have little choice demonstrated what damage could to EU membership and/or support Economy of the dissonance, the EU needs to deeper European integration organisation, focused upon pro - but to deflate their economies by be inflicted upon a less productive for further European integration. European Social either demonstrate how it can derives from their enthusiastic moting integration through trade. squeezing wages and/or cut public economy, when wages were In any negotiation, each party Model, square this particular circle, or support for the espace social It approached this through the spending in an attempt to reduce equalised too quickly. operates a system of sanctions Routledge, else decide which approach it européen . This vision is typically removal of internal trade barriers internal costs. The Lisbon Unsurprisingly, the new member and rewards; therefore, progres - Abingdon wishes to pursue. counter-poised against a neo-lib - whilst retaining them against the Agenda, adopted by the EU in states could not sustain this solu - sives might wish to consider eral, ‘Anglo-Saxon’ model, charac - rest of the world. The founding 2000 and intended to enhance tion. Similarly, many new mem - threatening to remove their sup - terised by the unfettered opera - Treaty of Rome established ‘four Europe’s competitive position, ber states have under-developed port for integration, unless specif - 10 CHARTIST September/October 2013 September/October 2013 CHARTIST 11 SOCIAL EUROPE

National union movements for this possibility. The US has have attempted to use ‘soft’ coor - been careful to protect its borders, dination of their groups in the and has stated that the rights of European sphere. It could be said workers will not change following that they have been unsuccessful this agreement. at real cross border operation. The free movement of workers A tale of two This is a result of the direct in the EU has not been realized in transactional relationship with its the manner it was originally membership and the consequent intended either. There are national focus. In this sense, instances where some states trade unionism appears elitist in (notably the UK) have seen large unions nature. It defines itself, its princi - numbers of migrants for unskilled Greg Barnes ples, and the desired results by work, but a mass transnational surveys the problems and prospects for trade unions’ relationship with the that which it is not. So it is the employment market still seems European Union workers against the management, remote. Language and cultural the members against non-mem - barriers conspire to alienate for - he European Union is bers and an industry against its eign workers, while the monetary in the process of negoti - competition. Trade unionism has costs of moving from one country borders, they are unlikely to join ating a new agreement consequently been linked with to another prohibit this practice Unions in the new state into with the United States. protectionism and a desire to for many sectors of society. Other which they move. In 2004, the The Transatlantic retain Western industrial produc - practices, such as the need to German based European Migrant Trade and Investment tion against Far Eastern out - have a bank account in the same Workers union was formed from TPartnership (TTIP) promises to sourcing. the Building, Forestry, found a new economic relation - The flip side of this discussion In establishing this agreement, key Agriculture and Environment ship with the United States, and has seen the political left effec - Union. Development of such lead to prosperity for both. This tively use the supranational level issues regarding the rights and groups is of crucial importance innovation was lead by the EU to access power at a systemic when considering the further and ushers in a new era of level. This access has offered a movement of workers arise. Will this extension of global free trade. It is ‘Western Integration’. In Britain, route to avoid the partisanship of integration offer an even greater crucial therefore to determine a economic integration with, or national legislatures. Therefore non-elitist ideological focus for through the EU is always con - the political left has had a route challenge, and how may the political the left and unions to allow for tentious, and the publication of to realize some of their goals – left respond to this new development? their national level structures to the Coalition’s review of EU hence some of the protections transcend to the transnational powers has brought it front and enshrined in the Social Chapter level. When seen from this per - center once more. The review’s despite neo-liberal protestations. state for the payment of wages spective, an extension of economic conclusion is that EU member - The challenge is now to look (particularly prevalent in integration to such a scale provid - ship has led to a positive impact beyond national borders to France), construct further techni - ed by this new TTIP is a signifi - on the UK economy. The TTIP embrace a universal international cal barriers. cant threat to an uncoordinated should result in further positive labour and integrate the direct European labour force. growth for the UK and makes EU The partnership between the trade union movement and the European Union is essential for a patronage associated with union - TTIP and international labour Greg Barnes is a The political left has a range of membership even more attractive Social Europe ism. The principle of European PhD researcher fora available to press these economically. citizenship offers one route to So, even if the TTIP were to at the University issues, but none at a high enough In establishing this agreement, ent standards were therefore larly defined by two factors. this. It has not been widely include these principles, it is of Leeds whose level to have leverage. Groups key issues regarding the rights needed to ensure that these Firstly a humanitarian ideologi - accepted. unlikely they would be successful, research focuses such as the International Labour and movement of workers arise. workers were treated in the same cal perspective derived post- particularly with the geographical on European Organisation (ILO) work on just Will this integration offer an even manner across the participating enlightenment. This ideology is Movement of Workers distance of the US. Therefore, the Union political these issues, but I would argue greater challenge, and how may area. principally secular in nature, and possible unemployment caused by economy - that without either a sense of uni - the political left respond to this There are then two main prob - sought a redress to the imbal - Secondly, without the ability to aspects of the TTIP such as in versality or a direct relationship new development? lems with the expanded rights ances of a monarchical and rebalance employment through agriculture would remain unre - to union members any ‘soft’ coor - One of the main explanations mentioned above in the integrat - patronage based society. Later, free movement of workers and solved. Groups such as the dination in this way is likely to for increasing social integration ed market. the trade union movement real - reciprocal workers rights, a free Farmers Alliance have highlight - flounder. This can only be in the EU is that when the ized some of these principles, but trade area with the US will break ed these issues and the erosion of resolved through greater direct economies are more closely inte - National trade unions differed in others. Having arisen one of the fundamental principles CAP support that may be includ - coordination through a transna - grated, subsequent market in large industries in the 19th of the EU. The TTIP in its initial ed. tional union movement. failures and disparities will Firstly, the lack of a coherent century, bargaining was predomi - proposed form does not provide Where workers do move across emerge among member states. trade union movement across the nantly local, and it took a deal of These are only resolvable through EU has restricted the ability of time before it could be said to further close working and harmo - workers to coalesce preferences have developed to transcend local nization. An example of this prin - regarding working practices at a and regional boundaries. These ciple in practice is the ‘freedom of supranational level. This is unions sought to derive direct movement of people to work’ despite the large number of benefit for their members through established in the 1958 Treaty of companies that operate across their collective power rather than Rome. The intention was that if Europe either through nationally a more universal, transnational market imbalances should occur bounded subsidiaries, or as part aspiration. With the development across the market, then job seek - of a single supply chain. There of improved communications, ers could move from one state to are instances where cross border acceptance of unionism more another easily to follow these new action has occurred, with Airbus widely, and the foundation of the opportunities. Thus imbalances in supply chain in 2007 would be Labour party, the union move - the integrated economy may be one notable exception, but ment was able to reach beyond resolved. This is also the accepted widespread and systemic engage - these regional boundaries and logic behind the ‘Social Chapter’. ment has not taken place. become national. Similar stories With the granting of free move - But why? Taking the UK as an and processes are found across ment of workers in the EU, coher - example, the political left is popu - Western Europe. 12 CHARTIST September/October 2013 September/October 2013 CHARTIST 13 EU TRADE

Secrecy allows the Trade that can then be incorporated into tries destroys labour power but is Commission to be increasingly the multilateral WTO. Thus, this highly profitable. The EU does ambitious. Now we face the trade deal is intended to achieve provide free movement both of newly-launched (1) but long the global neo-liberalism that the workers and services, but this has Trade betrayal planned US/EU Transatlantic WTO Doha Round has not. been used by firms to transfer Trade and Investment There are concurrent negotia - workers to undercut wages, a Partnership (TTIP) (2). tions, for the same overall aims, development underlined by The undemocratic assault from a global trade agenda is bearing poisonous fruit in the form It is part of the secrecy and on a Transpacific Partnership European Court of Justice(7) Linda Kaucher spin to misleadingly emphasise (TPP) and an international interpretations of EU directives of EU trade and procurement law argues potential trade-in-goods tariff Trade-in-Services Agreement in favour of corporations, overrid - he main business of the reductions when US/EU trade-in- (TISA)(5). ing workers’ rights. EU is its external trade goods tariffs are already minimal Corporate rights to access pub - EU internal provision is mir - agreement agenda, yet and most of the EU’s trade is now lic procurement, that is all gov - rored in secretive Mode 4 provi - this agenda and its in services. Trade-in-services lib - ernment spending at all levels, is sions in all EU trade deals, allow - importance are almost eralisation gives corporations now a top ‘trade’ priority, provid - ing firms, both transnational and entirely hidden from the public. It rights to: operate in a country ing on-going ’rent’, as with NHS from the partner state, to move Talso dominates internal EU and while reducing the state’s rights contracts, when other forms of numerically unlimited, skilled, member states’ policy-making. It to control how they operate; be investment are less reliable. The temporary labour into the EU. contradicts the faux ‘social treated as well as domestic firms, Global Procurement Agreement These effectively permanent pro - Europe’ concept to which many on including access to subsidies (3); (GPA) (6) is another means to visions discriminate against host the left continue to cling whilst while prohibiting the state from achieve this, in addition to bilat - country firms but mostly host democracy is eradicated and cor - limiting the number of providers eral trade deals. So this jugger - country workers, disregarding porate rights entrenched in inter - and the range of services they naut of corporate power is apply - displacement or unemployment. national trade law. offer (4). ing pressure at all levels for irre - Movement of labour is a major Its purpose is to permanently The US/EU trade deal however versible corporate rights, and the capitalist strategy hitherto fix corporate-driven neo-liberal - goes beyond the liberalisation of EU is a main mechanism for this. unrecognised and unaddressed by ism, within the EU and interna - trade-in-services, central to most much of the UK left. The unani - tionally, via trade agreements. trade deals, prioritising ‘regulato - mous 2011 Trade Union Congress Any reassertion of democracy ry harmonisation’ between the US Even if outcomes of the NHS changes vote to publicise and oppose the within the EU structure or mem - and the EU. Insofar as a country EU/India free trade agreement, ber states is prevented by legally is defined by its legislation and are disastrous, ISDS will effectively which is largely about cheap binding international trade law. regulation, the US and the EU disallow any attempts by any future UK labour movement, was not imple - This agenda is driven and effec - A Global trade agenda has moved far beyond ships and crates and includes. It now includes subtle will become more similar, with mented. tively controlled by transnational but powerful mechanisms to infiltrate national politics. The EU is a big player in this agenda regulations and standards ‘har - government, to reverse the changes The EU is not a fixed entity corporations, especially transna - monised’ to the lowest levels to and it continually expands to tional financial services corpora - realities, thus effectively castrat - plain packaging legislation. benefit transnational corporations Problems of Procurement include low wage countries. The tions. ing itself. Dissemination of infor - Immediately, the Ukraine, host - that can utilise trade agreements. TTIP will be similarly amor - Internal EU policy, mirroring mation on this agenda is urgently ing a Phillip Morris subsidiary, (Solely domestic firms cannot). Transnational corporate power phous. Its framework will allow it external trade policy, is formulat - needed to overcome secrecy and raised a World Trade Preliminary TTIP documenta - in Brussels is not particularly to change, its provisions deepen, ed to fit and facilitate that wider inform debate. Organisation (WTO) dispute tion, including the Commission’s ‘European’. The UK government, and non-‘transatlantic’ countries agenda. Member states’ national In 2005 the EU’s trade agree - against Australia in relation to leaked mandate, recognises that acting for London-based transna - to join, even after it is signed. policies are similarly formulated ment focus shifted from the the WTO Trade Related ‘harmonisation’ is most effective tional financial services, financial These are urgently needed: public to fit to this model, especially that stalled multilateral World Trade Intellectual Property (TRIPS) with new regulation, ensuring services lobbying via the information on the international of the UK which hosts the major Organisation Doha Round to agreement. WTO trade disputes that it is corporate-friendly as it’s European Services Forum, and trade agenda: exemption for the transnational financial services bilateral and regional trade have to be state-to-state. being formulated. the US Chamber of Commerce all NHS from the TTIP; and recogni - centre and takes the neo-liberal agreements. The EU has now The UK, unrelentingly ‘free have major roles in the EU trade tion that the EU, rather than lead in the EU. completed, is negotiating, has trade’, could hardly enact ‘anti- The NHS under threat agenda. Firms gain from both being ‘social’, is a mechanism for launched, or is considering trade free trade’ legislation, and effec - sides’ concessions in trade deals global corporate takeover. The bigger picture agreements with most of the tively support Australia in this An example is provided by the while people on both sides lose. world. globally significant dispute, espe - UK Health and Social Care Act Proposed reforms to EU procure - Linda Kaucher Links In this liberalisation agenda, The EU now includes ‘investor cially while pursuing the massive and its regulations that will ment regulations will force mem - has reaserched states’ powers are subordinated to protection’ or Investor State US/EU trade deal. Who reminded define the future of the NHS. It ber states’ into global bidding the EU's 1. Launched at the G8 (17 June transnational corporate power. Dispute Settlement (ISDS) in its Cameron of this and their finan - effectively enforces competitive procurement processes so international 2013) Democracy, states’ abilities to trade deals. In addition to state- cial interests are important ques - tendering, and thus privatisation transnational firms, via the EU trade agenda for 2. Called the Transatlantic Free control corporations and connec - to-state trade dispute mecha - tions, but more significant is the and liberalisation i.e. opening to mechanism and trade deals, can 14 years and has Trade Agreement (TAFTA) in the tions between people and place nisms, corporations will be able to chilling effect of the international transnational bidders - a shift to access government spending else - a broad US are overcome, as are workers’ sue governments directly for any trade agenda on this and all US-style profit-prioritised health where, quid pro quo. background as 3. National Treatment rule rights. Real women’s rights have EU, member state or even local future UK legislation. provision. Even if outcomes of The EU single market prepares an educator. 4. Market Access rule no place except where profitable, government level action that neg - the NHS changes are disastrous, the way for external trade com - She campaigns 5. Between willing countries with - so e.g. a sector may be ‘feminised’, atively affects their future profits. TTIP ISDS will effectively disallow any mitments made on behalf of to take the lid off in the WTO, aiming to gradually to reduce labour costs, until ISDS is a major factor in making attempts by any future UK gov - European people in the EU, albeit trade secrecy pull more in, towards an eventual cheaper male labour is brought in trade deals irreversible, Because the Gillard Australian ernment, to reverse the changes. without their knowledge. Abusing multilateral agreement. from overseas, or work sent over - inevitably chilling the legislative government excluded ISDS from The WTO Doha Round stalled democracy, the EU now imple - 7.Another plurilateral of willing seas. process. Australian trade agreements, because, in that context, develop - ments trade agreements subse - countries within the WTO, aimed This bigger picture is success - David Cameron’s reneging on challenges have been only ing countries jointly resisted quent to European Parliamentary at eventual multilateral coverage. fully kept from the public by legislation for plain cigarette national and in the state-to-state demands of corporations made via assent but before member state 8.Especially Viking, Laval, means of secrecy, spin and seem - packaging is indicative even WTO. With ISDS included in all Western governments. Further governments’ ratification. Rüffert, Luxembourg decisions of ing trade ‘technicality’. The result before ISDS kicks in, though the new EU trade deals, the UK will stated TTIP objectives are for Supposedly ‘Social Europe’ is the European Court of Justice is that the left continues to swirl UK press failed to identify the be financially vulnerable to legal other countries to be brought, sin - systematically destroying labour around in a mush of wishful international trade context. In action by any corporation, in the gularly, into this ‘transatlantic’ rights. Labour rights have always thinking from old ‘Social Europe’ Australia, the High Court ruled international trade jurisdiction trade deal as they agree to abide rested on limited labour supply. promises and ideological frag - against tobacco companies’ legal the corporation chooses, adjudi - by its corporate-benefit rules, and Moving workers across borders ments that fail to address present challenge to the government’s cated only on ‘free-trade’ values. for trade ‘rules’ to be established from lower to higher wage coun - 14 CHARTIST September/October 2013 September/October 2013 CHARTIST 15 EUROPEAN UNION ‘Better’ rather than ‘more Europe’ Franziska Brantner MEP sees a pro-European argument that must be more responsive to the EU’s problems as well as its strengths

hile the UK government's national but also European terms. But also do the 'troika' should be abandoned and replaced by the Union needs to remain flexible enough to approach to Europe seems to follow they support European solutions to concrete prob - a democratically controlled body. As a result, evolve. the notion "less is more", on the lems? For instance, almost 90 per cent of EU citi - Europe's response to the euro crisis would become Certain areas such an evolution can lead to continent all major political parties zens agree that EU states should cooperate more much more transparent and the decision-makers more Europe, in other areas to less Europe. – Conservatives, Socialists, closely to overcome the financial and economic behind it much more accountable. Where we might need more Europe today, we Liberals and Greens – argue that "more Europe" crisis. Also, the link between the European might need less of it tomorrow. Objective circum - Wis the answer to the euro crisis. While more How does general support for European cooper - Commission and the European Parliament needs stances and people's convictions change over time, Europe is certainly needed in some areas, pro- ation and shrinking confidence in Europe's insti - to be further strengthened. At the same time the and the division of labour between the Union and Europeans should focus their forces on making tution go together? One explanation may be that European Commission is handed increasingly its states (as well as regions and municipalities), the EU more responsive to citizens. And they two thirds of more power in should adapt to this evolution and always be guid - should realise that sometimes less can indeed be EU citizens overseeing ed by the principle that competences must be more – but combined with a real pro-European believe that national fiscal located at the level at which the given objectives heart. their voice does and economic can best be achieved. Europe is still mired in its deepest economic, not count in EU policies. The social and political crisis since the Second World affairs. Simply Commission More powers War. The global financial meltdown has translat - promising more President needs ed across the European Union into an economic of the same a stronger Brussels certainly needs more powers to stem downturn, social hardship and a growing loss of Europe to the democratic the debt and banking crisis, at least as far as the political legitimacy and trust. The EU and its people won't mandate by Euro area is concerned. But does it really still institutions and powers have increasingly been help address tying his or her need to control what a farmer seeds somewhere in put into the spotlight in the search for ways out of this growing nomination to South East England or whether a restaurant the crisis. disenchant - the results of owner in Napoli puts open olive oil jugs on his Maybe surprisingly (especially for British ment. People the elections to tables? observers), a broad consensus among decision- are not longing the European One would certainly have to be fairly naive to makers has emerged across Europe that the for more or less Parliament. believe that Brussels would voluntarily cede its answer to the EU's existential crisis should be Europe; what Just as the lead - powers, such as in the field of agricultural poli - "more Europe". European Conservatives (which they ask for is a er of the win - cies, back to the national level. It therefore needs do not include the Tories), Socialists, Liberals and better Europe. ning party or mechanisms to ensure that the division of labour Greens have all voiced their support for more eco - And they want coalition of the is not set in stone forever. One solution would be nomic and political integration in order to over - themselves to elections to the to tag EU laws with an expiry date. This would come the EU's dangerous asymmetries: a quasi- have a say in UK House of ensure that every, say, ten or fifteen years there federal monetary union without the economic and what “better” Commons have to be a fresh public debate on whether a political pillars to keep it in balance. means to them. becomes Prime particular issue is best dealt with in Brussels, The situation looks, of course, very different The proponents Minister, the London or at regional level. For many people, this viewed from the United Kingdom, where the pub - of European leader of the would probably make it easier to support "more lic debate on Europe is pretty much disconnected integration, pan-EU Party Europe" where and when it is needed. from that on the mainland. However, even on the especially on Alliance win - While the notion of reviewing EU powers might continent, pro-Europeans should not content the Continent, ning the elec - sound familiar in the UK as of late, it is rarely themselves with the general lip service paid to have so far The Berlaymont, the home of the European Commission: power needs to be distributed better among tions to the heard of among continental advocates of "more Europe". failed to the EU’s institutions European European integration. It is very unfortunate that First of all, this seeming consensus does not go respond to these Parliament will David Cameron's ongoing “review” of EU compe - far beyond the surface since "more sentiments. They have been become Commission President. tences with its ideology-driven Europe" can mean very different too quickly calling for ever- Despite the fact that these People are not longing for more or and blatantly unilateral nature things to different people. Also, Proponents of European integration more Europe while brushing ideas are not new and today enjoy will certainly make it no easier rhetorical commitment to deeper should furthermore accept that “more off valid criticism of actual widespread public support in con - less Europe, what they ask for is a to sell the idea to pro-European integration often goes hand in problems as anti-European. tinental Europe, many national better Europe. And they want circles on mainland Europe. hand with stalling tactics when it Europe” cannot be the answer to each Before calling for more Europe, governments (and their bureau - But the proponents of comes to its practical implementa - and every problem pro-Europeans need to explain crats), whilst paying lip service to themselves to have a say in what European integration, both in tion. This has been exemplified by how citizens can retain owner - the proposals, are reluctant to the UK and on the continent, the hypocritical manoeuvring of ship of the process. The truly share power with MEPs and EU- "better" means to them should not leave this argument Chancellor Angela Merkel and her government historic project of genuinely finalising economic wide political party leaders in to the Eurosceptic and over the past three years. and political union will only be successful if the practice. This includes the United Kingdom, Europhobe camps. Europeans don't simply need citizens feel part of the enterprise. where national in/out referenda seem to be “more Europe”. They need a better Europe, which Positive image regarded as a much better way to bolster the EU's can at times mean more powers for Brussels and Equal footing legitimacy than enhancing popular participation at times less, but must always mean more owner - More worrying for pro-Europeans should be the at EU level. ship for the people. lack of public support for, and trust in, an ever- How can this be accomplished? There are some Proponents of European integration should fur - more powerful Brussels even on the mainland. institutional fixes to this, largely centring on the thermore accept that “more Europe” cannot be the Today less than a third of EU citizens have a posi - European Parliament. The EU Parliament should answer to each and every problem popping up, in Franziska Brantner an MEP from the Baden- tive image of the European Union. This funda - finally be put on a fully equal footing with the EU many areas we actually could well live with "less Wurttemburg region in South West Germany and a mental crisis of confidence is "home-made", i.e. Council of national governments. In particular, in Europe". Europe as a community certainly needs member of the German Green party Die Grunen and the the politicians both in national capitals and in monetary and economic matters, which are often a firm and lasting legal foundation, which pro - European Free Alliance bloc in the European Parliament Brussels have only themselves to blame. For, gen - not of a legislative nature and therefore don't vides citizens and businesses with a unified erally, Europeans are very open to the European fully involve MEPs yet, in the future no major framework, in which common laws are enforced www.franziska-brantner.eu/en idea. Polls show that not only the majority of EU decisions should be taken without Parliament's and common fundamental rights protected. citizens define their own identity not only in full involvement and approval. As a concrete step, Beyond this firm and lasting foundation, however, 16 CHARTIST September/October 2013 September/October 2013 CHARTIST 17 EUROPEAN UNION TURKEY

The benefit of EU membership Turkish democracy rolls on Mary Southcott on why you can’t get off the train eroded by austerity rafalgar, Tahrir, dismantling the military through ism. Lily Murphy Taksim. Those Squares the Ergenekon cases which have The Gesi Park demonstration provides an important Irish view to the benefits of EU membership eroded by and Streets lead us to resulted in life sentences. There brought together disparate ask questions about is speculation that had the Greek groups which the electoral system recent Austerity measures democracy, secularism Cypriots voted yes in 2004 there does not: Kurds, secularists, and islamification. would have then been a coup in Europeanised democrats, reland joined the European in Europe. TThe West wants to justify its Turkey. A new state could be cre - environmentalists, students, Union in 1972, its member - In 1994 over 7% of all US actions by imposing democracy, ated with the police force and trade unionists. So it seems that ship has to date been social - investment in Europe was des - often hand in hand with liberal sympathetic officers in the mili - much will depend on develop - ly and economically benefi - tined for Ireland, this was a economics. As one US ambas - tary. ments in the AKP party itself. cial, but modern day auster - result of Ireland’s attractive loca - sador to Cyprus put it: “markets Erdogan and his Justice and President Gul was much more ity is threatening to erode any tion for foreign investment. Being and votes”. Development (AK) party seem conciliatory to the demonstrators. Iprogress that has been made from in the European Union also gave Seen through the prism of unassailable. Turkish Cypriots it. The aim of EU membership Ireland access to the Common Cyprus, Turkey’s claim to be the say the US gets one thing right. The democracy train was to turn Ireland into a Market, one of the critical ingre - model for the Arab Spring, demo - Their president has only two competitive economy, but was dients in attracting international cratic, secular and Muslim, terms! Erdogan benefits from a Ironically Erdogan got on the also a social experiment of investors to Ireland. Financial always seemed slightly ironic, but voting system which has a ten democracy train to safeguard his modernisation. help from EU structural funds it definitely ran into the ground per cent threshold. This party’s existence. He seems to The adjustment to EU member - became increasingly visual across over the Istanbul conservation - effectively rules out representa - have got off whilst others move on ship has been a drawn out pro - Ireland from 1988 onwards when ists’ move to save Gezi Park. tives of the Kurdish Peace and claiming rights to demonstrate cess. It would take almost twenty the country was designated as an Democracy Party who have to and cover these events. years before the full benefits of objective one region for structural Autocratic stand as independents. Whether Journalists have lost their jobs, or membership materialised when fund money. Those funds also Dublin: once the thriving heart of the Celtic Tiger, now the or not Turkey’s constitution gone on trial, demonstrators have injections of capital from Brussels helped to improve infrastructure, centre of Ireland’s austerity-driven nightmare At the end of July, Turkish been accused of being terrorists, helped build the foundations of water treatment plants, rural Cypriots held early elections for Ironically Erdogen got on the the train moves on. Democracy is the Celtic Tiger. EU modernisa - development and heritage sites. cation system also benefited their Assembly. A vote of no democracy train to safeguard his not a train that you can get off tion also influenced the social Rural Ireland benefited from pro - greatly from EU membership as confidence in the main right wing when you reach the station you spectrum of Irish life. jects co-funded by the EU, receiv - projects such as the Erasmus pro - governing party was precipitated party’s existence. He seems to have want. It rolls on. Irish women in particular have ing up to 2bn Euro, but these gramme gave EU citizens easy by the split between supporters of The EU is not going to accept gained greatly from the EU. As a have been subject to austerity- access to education across the Turkish Cypriot leader, Dr got off whilst others move on claiming Turkey any time soon with so condition of EU membership, driven cut backs. boarders. Dervish Eroglu, President of the rights to demonstrate and cover these many journalists in prison. The Ireland had to remove the mar - Another benefit of EU member - unrecognised Turkish Republic of US is no longer following riage ban that mandated married Austerity ship lay in the accessibility to Northern Cyprus (TRNC) and events...Democracy is not a train that Erdogan’s advice in Syria – the women could not work in the civil work without a visa in other EU Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Turkey’s you can get off when you reach the Sunni alternative seems no better service. Before entry to the EU Ireland now sees high rates of member states and this has made increasingly autocratic prime than Assad. With better coverage Irish women experienced other suicide as austerity measures are it much easier for many young minister. station you want. It rolls on of Turkey, the Kurds and north - social inequalities such as restric - making it harder for people to Irish to migrate in search of work Turkish Cypriot trade unions ern Cyprus, without the US and tions on jobs and pay. With EU meet basic needs. In particular, a across Europe. organised ‘human standing’ emu - changes from parliamentary to UK’s uncritical support, it may be membership women’s rights were sharp rise has been reported in Youth unemployment has lating the ‘Man Standing’ in presidential, it is doubtful the in Turkey’s interest to have a set - recognised through anti-discrimi - the amount of young males taking reached its highest since the Taksim Square. They protested Republican People’s Party (CHP) tlement in Cyprus and that is nation legislation and in the 1974 their lives. In 2011 of the 525 1980s prompting ever more to against Turkish policies of in the Socialist International, can what will save the Turkish Equal Pay Directive gave women reported suicides in Ireland, 165 migrate across Europe but many demographic change. wrest back power from this large - Cypriot community from extinc - equal pay in the workplace. were men under the age of 30. more are taking flight for places Islamification and decision mak - ly compassionate conservative tion. Irish women in the labour force One such group who have suf - like Canada and Australia. The ing by Turkey’s military and Sunni Muslim party. This lack of rose from 27% to 42%. The con - fered from a spike in suicide rates number of under-25s emigrating Ambassador. a left alternative is partly the cept of a one earner household are junior doctors who have in 2004 stood at approximately The liberalisation of the result of past military coups but gradually disappeared. Today the recently spoken out against the 15,000 but doubled to 30,000 in economy, including selling of mainly a need to recover from dual-earner household is retreat - long working hours, some claim - 2009. This is a brain drain state assets, as is happening in their nationalistic stance. ing back to a single-earner house - ing to have worked 71 hours a Ireland can ill afford. the south following the Troika In northern, Cyprus the hold due to high unemployment week while others told of how In 2010 Ireland accepted an bailout, has an added dimension military supported the late Rauf among males that has resulted in they work 36 hours without a EU/IMF bailout amounting to 85 in the north where the Turkish Denktash, as it did in Turkey. clear role reversal for many Irish break. Billion Euro. Austerity soon fol - Cypriot-owned public sector is His son Serdar leads the demo - men and women. Austerity has also hit the uni - lowed resulting in a drop in the transferred to Turkey’s private crat party, which was the benefi - Irish farmers have also benefit - versity sector. Higher education standard of living. sector. As the north becomes ciary of a split in the main party. ted from the EU, becoming the institutions positively gained Basic minimum income has Turkey most of what Cypriots Some explain the initial posi - biggest financial winners from from EU membership through been cut which reverses the had in common is lost. tives of Erdogan because he was EU membership through the funded research programmes progress in equality made since Yet Greek Cypriots focus on a democrat and a Muslim. He price support system supplied by receiving in excess of 6bn Euro 1973. Social welfare has also been Erdogan’s opening of the Green needed the European democratic the Common Agricultural Policy from the European Social Fund. cut while higher taxes have been Line in 2003, when he became framework to protect his party (CAP). Generous CAP payments College fees were abolished in the introduced. prime minister, following the which grew out of the outlawed have to date amounted up to 44bn mid 90s which made it easier for We are told that these austeri - successful Cavit An case at the Welfare Party when he was jailed Euro. After the economic turbu - everyone to go onto further educa - ty measures are meant to combat ECHR against Turkey who had to for reciting a poem, but now finds lence of the 1980s Ireland became tion, but in recent recessionary recession but it just seems that compensate him for preventing democratic openness a frustra - the poster child for EU prosperity times fees are creeping back thus the cure is much worse than the his meeting his Greek Cypriot tion. His support for the in the 1990s when it became one reserving third level education for disease. medical colleagues. Greek Palestinians, although welcomed, Former democrat, now autocrat, Turkish Prime Minister of the best performing economies the privileged few. The Irish edu - Cypriots also credit Erdogan with is a facet of his Sunni national - Recep Tayyip Erdogan 18 CHARTIST September/October 2013 September/October 2013 CHARTIST 19 SOMALIA REPUBLICANISM Somalia on the mend Politics of reinvention Dan Thea on a legacy of colonialism and rebirth Steve Freeman reports on the English and Scottish questions found with the Republican omalia, the semi-arid invasion ended in 1978 with the Socialist movement country occupying the virtual destruction of the previ - Horn of Africa, with ously powerful Somalian army, n 6 th July the evolutionary terms we should ‘Independence-lite’ proposals (or Kenya, Ethiopia and and marking the beginning of Republican Socialist predict that at some point ‘Independence within the Union’), Djibouti as neighbours, Barre’s down fall. Internal rivals Alliance organised its Labourism will be negated by a which accept the Union and the was carved out of the territory of took advantage of the military first Day School on the new form of Chartism – a more Crown Powers, the Bank of Sthe nomadic Somali ethnic people disaster, harassed and pursued theme of the national advanced or higher form. England and participation in the during the colonisation of Africa him to Mogadishu. Barre finally question in the UK with the main British High Command and by Europe at the end of the nine - fled the country in 1991, after Oemphasis on England and Crown Powers NATO, represents the self-deter - teenth Century. Somalian ended about 21 years in power. Scotland and how the left could mination of a wannabe Scottish up under five different govern - Thus the first 30 years of inde - take up constitutional issues. Allan Armstrong, from the ruling class. ‘Independence-lite’ ments: French, British, Italian, pendence, mainly under the Steve Freeman spoke about Republican Communist Network represents a continuation of the British (again) and Ethiopia. ‘strongman’ Barre, were a part reinventing English identity. (Scotland), and member of old Home Rule tradition, but for a Even when the Independent and parcel of the ‘failed state’ sta - Allan Armstrong spoke about cur - Radical Independence Campaign world dominated by the global Somali Republic was established tus of Somalia! Major General Siad Barre was at the centre of Somalian rent developments in Scotland welcomed the development of the corporations and US imperialism. in 1961, the tragic divisions Similarly, the two decades or troubles from 1961 to 1991 with the referendum next year. Republican Socialist Alliance. For socialists, self-determina - remained, with those Somali in so since have witnessed precious Corrina Lotz outlined the aims of Unlike so many on the Left, the tion in Scotland must reflect Ethiopia, (4.5 million), Kenya (2.5 little development, with a virtual and drove the Al-Shabaab out, as the ‘Agreement of the People’ RSA appreciates the importance working class interests. This million), and Djibouti (0.5 million) absence of central government well as from the nearby campaign. of the constitutional monarchist means a complete break with the cut off from their kith and kin in prevailing. Overall, the tradi - Kenyan/Somalian border area. The first session was called nature of the UK state, and the Crown Powers, with the Bank of the new republic. Today, sub - tional clan rule took over across However, Al-Shabaab is still ‘Remaking the English working formidable anti-democratic England and with NATO. During stantial numbers are also found the country, though with fluid strong in the area, although inter - class’, a reference to E P nature of the Crown Powers. the nineteenth century Marx and in Yemen and elsewhere in the boundaries. In the north the for - nal strife seems on the increase. Thompson’s history of the English These powers cloak the Engels saw Tsarist Russia and its Middle East, Europe and North mer British Somaliland broke Between Barre’s flight in 1991 working class. The left must operations of the British ruling Hapsburg Austrian ally, as the America. This is tragic for the away, named itself Somaliland and 2000 Somalia had no national ‘grasp the nettle’ of the national class’ ‘hidden state’ and the activ - two principal upholders of estimated 19 million Somalis. and declared independence. At government. The 2000 question in England. England ities of the City of London. For reaction against democracy in On top of all that, Somalia has, the Horn, Puntland declared Transitional National govern - and Scotland are bound together republicans, opposition to these Europe. Today the UK plays the almost from independence, been a itself autonomous, while in the ment was replaced by the in a political and constitutional Crown Powers is of greater signif - role of ‘Hapsburg Austria’ to the ‘failed state’. In 1969 the young Mogadishu region the hard-line Transitional Federal Government union. The Scottish question (will icance than opposition to the US’s ‘Tsarist Russia’ in upholding republic of 1961 was overthrown Union of Islamic Courts was in in 2004, which went on to oust Scotland become an independent monarchy, which merely fronts the current global corporate by Major General Siad Barre and firm control. the Islamic Courts Union from state?) will come to a head in the them. order. The struggle for genuine his Supreme Revolutionary In frustration, and under the Mogadishu. In severe military 2014 referendum. The English However, there are two other self-determination is thus direct - Council, and the country renamed cover of the UN 1992-95 involve - difficulties, however, this govern - question is the other side of the significant features of the UK ed at the US/UK imperial the Somali Democratic Republic. ment, the US intervened militari - ment was forced to move to coin. state. First, it retains an estab - alliance. ly in an attempt at regime Nairobi, Kenya. Under the 2012 The national question is a lished church, the Church of The third session was intro - National consciousness change, but the invasion turned Provisional Constitution, the democratic question and involves England, with its bishops in the duced by Corrina Lotz from the catastrophic. The Union of Somali Federation of 18 regions invention of a new nation by House of Lords. Agreement of the People In 1976 the Supreme Islamic Courts remained in con - was proclaimed; followed by the means of a mass political, A socialist response must be campaign and the World to Win. Revolutionary Council was in trol of Mogadishu and much of election of the Federal cultural and constitutional strug - based on upholding a consistent She spoke about a proposal for a turn replaced by the Somali the central and southern Government of Somalia, headed gle which may last many years. secularism, which breaks the link Constitution for the 21st Century Revolutionary Socialist Party, Somalia. by a President and a Prime We have to re-invent England between the state and religion. put forward by Occupy London’s whose ideology borrowed heavily With poor habitat, civil and Minister. Somalian governmen - as a ‘Democracy’ or a ‘Peoples’ Second the UK is a unionist Real Democracy Working Group from the Chinese ‘Cultural external wars, plus lack of both tal institutions have since left Republic’ or ‘Social Republic’ or state. The UK consists of and A World to Win. It is now Revolution’, sending students, government and development, Kenya for Somalia. ‘Commonwealth’. Before doing England, Scotland, Wales and supported by15 organisations. It civil servants and military ‘volun - Somalia has been a ‘failed state’ Colonial legacy of underdevel - this we need to examine the kind Northern Ireland (and the whole is inspired by the Leveller move - teers’ to the countryside on litera - during most of its existence; with opment, decades of fighting, of English identity we already of Ireland before 1922). The UK ment of the 1640 English revolu - cy campaign, combating the tradi - the people among the poorest in drought, famine, and indeed the have. This can be described as the came about as a result of the tion. tional clan social system, and pro - the poorest continent. The pro - absence of government have British-English, an identity English conquest of Wales, the The problem is that the system moting national consciousness portionately huge Somalian dias - resulted in huge numbers of invented in the 18th century after joint English and Scottish is broken - global capitalism is in and unity. Farming co-operatives pora reflects this history. Somalian refugees leaving the the British revolution finally conquest of Ireland, and an a worsening crisis. All the main were established; infrastructure, Disagreements, squabbles and country, with the world’s biggest came to rest with the Acts of English and Scottish ruling class parties are facilitating the rule of including hospitals and roads, infighting within the Union of refugee camp at Dadaab in Kenya Union in 1707. deal to create a British state in the corporations and banks. Votes were built; while land, business - Islamic Courts eventually led to a hosting 600,000 Somalians. (Just Reinventing England requires which they could benefit from hardly count. This makes the es, industry and banks were split, with the radical Youth imagine the political fall-out and mass struggles and the mobilisa - imperial exploitation. state and political system demo - nationalised. group, (Al-Shabaab), formed in outcry if this was at, say, Dover!) tion of social forces. It is not the Thus, if republicanism and cratic in name only. Carried away by ambition, 2006 and linked to the Al-Qaida, What is encouraging about the product of a few ‘dreamers’. We secularism are the socialist The campaign aims to develop Barre launched his ‘Greater breaking away and establishing recent developments in Somalia is have to think in class terms. responses to the UK’s Crown a grassroots constitution from Somalia’ crusade in 1977, which itself in the south of the country, that appreciable progress in gov - Creating a new England requires Powers and state-backed below and the Agreement is a was his biggest and fatal gamble, with its base at the southern ernance is being made; lessons the ‘Remaking the English work - Protestantism, then upholding draft framework for this, open to as he launched a total war port-city of Kisimayou. In from mis-rule, civil and external ing class’. Since 1832 Chartism the right of self-determination for development. It can be discussed against Ethiopia and occupied October 2012 a Kenyan contin - wars seem to have been learned; and then Labourism became two Ireland, Scotland, Wales, and yes, and implemented through a net - much of its southern Ogaden gent of the UN-mandated 18,000- and the principle of mutual bene - great mass movements with their for England too, is the socialist work of permanent Peoples region. The Ethiopians fought strong African Union Mission in fit of international relations associated mass parties which response to the unionism of the Assemblies. In this way, assem - back strongly, with Cuba giving Somalia (AMISOM), attacked accepted. shaped the consciousness of the UK state. blies can become the basis for an valuable military support. The Kisimayou from its own shores working class in England. In Today, the SNP’s alternative to the existing state. 20 CHARTIST September/October 2013 September/October 2013 CHARTIST 21 ECONOMY IMMIGRATION Damned lies and statistics The British dream – a dangerous Official statistics are political constructions with tenuous connections to the real world concoction of prejudices Frank Lee writes Andy Gregg dissects David Goodhart’s toxic mix of myth and dogma on immigration he notion that perma - army of the ‘hidden’ unemployed, these income groups’ increases nent state institutions – along with seasonal and tempo - not even matching the fraudulent ometimes self-styled e.g., the judiciary, Bank rary workers, both of which tend CPI inflation figure. liberals can do more of England and various to drift in and out of work. But one characteristic at least damage than more overt - statistical agencies - are Additionally, 2.26 million people seems fixed: every time a new def - ly racist commentators. somehow immune from and above of the 9 million currently deemed inition is used the inflation fig - They provide complicit, Tpolitical manipulation is sadly ‘economically inactive’ have told ures go down. As with unemploy - dog-whistle politics to the more misguided. the Office of National Statistics ment, inflation is whisked away Sstrident views espoused by the Those state departments they would like a job, but are not by changes in definition. It is not Tory right and UKIP. After all, charged with collecting and collat - counted in the official unemploy - beyond the wit of these people to we all know where we are with ing politically sensitive data form ment figures either because they change the definition of inflation those who express outright a new template for contemporary have not looked for work in the which excludes all items which racism and xenophobia. Taking practise. The compilation of eco - last four weeks, or would not be rise in price. This brings us on to their lead, similar views are now nomics statistics underwent a available to start work immedi - GDP growth. GDP growth mea - being put forward by supposed profound change when the way ately. sures the increase (in expenditure ‘liberal’ commentators aligned that unemployment was mea - It is the same with inflation. In terms) of the level and size of an with ‘Blue Labour’ – predictably sured in 1982. A re-definition of the UK the calculation of inflation economy over a given period: usu - dressed up as ‘common sense’ and unemployment resulted in a fall changed with the introduction of ally quarterly or annually. All ‘what everyone is already think - in unemployment statistics; but Consumer Price Index (CPI) for investment and consumption ing’. this was not the same as changes the older measure of Retail Price expenditures are aggregated into David Goodhart is just such a in the real level unemployment. It Index (RPI). Predictably this one figure called GDP. If this fig - figure. His recent book, The simply resulted from the way in change, brought in by Gordon ure is larger from one time period British Dream: Successes and which unemployment was mea - Brown, led immediately to a fall to the next then economic growth Failure of Post-War Immigration sured. Most governments are in the rate of inflation. Without has taken place. falls into this category - a diatribe keen to minimise the appearance going into the tedious minutiae Care must be taken, however, against recent levels of immigra - Progressives must guard against a dangerous rightward drift on this issue of unemployment, not only for we can summarise as follows: The to exclude inflationary increases. tion under New Labour. If these political reasons but also for the best known coverage difference is Inflationary price increases are positions were based on It is more likely that class dif- stantly excoriating recent migra - economic signals it sends out. not real growth and have to be irrefutable evidence and clear log - ferences and the growing preju - tion into the UK, these commen - Over the last 35 years, numerous And for its part, the media, with some excluded from the calculations. ical argument there would be dice that Owen Jones identifies tators actually stoke up the ten - revisions to the official definition This is carried out by use of a little that we on the anti-racist against working class people as a sions that cause division - which of ‘unemployment’ have been noble exceptions, is taking all the deflator. Growth is thus adjusted left could do or say about them. whole are the main factors lead - is then used as evidence of the made, which have almost univer - official bullshit figures at face value, for inflation and the real figure However, his approach is riddled ing to the decline in support for problem. The cure becomes the sally revised it downwards. for growth established. with dubious assumptions the welfare state. The demoniza - cause of the problem. Labour frequently accused the and going along with this mass The CPI plays a role in the coupled with selective evidence. tion of ‘benefit scroungers’ (often Conservatives during the 1980s of deception determination of the real GDP; His entire argument stems from combined with added racism Unrepresented moving unemployed people on to therefore, manipulation of the the highly questionable (but sel - directed towards black or ethnic sickness benefits - classifying that the CPI excludes most owner CPI could imply manipulation of dom challenged) nostrum that minority claimants) is the driving Goodhart tries an even more them as economically inactive occupier housing costs while the the GDP because the CPI is used ‘more diversity leads force in the public’s loss of sup - bizarre approach, arguing that rather than unemployed - as a RPI includes mortgage interest to deflate some of the nominal automatically to less solidarity’. port for the welfare state. Such levels of racism are greatly exag - strategy for cutting the unem - payments and house depreciation. GDP components for the effects of According to Goodhart, less soli - prejudices are buttressed by the gerated and that ‘there is little ployment figure. But this is not the only factor. inflation. CPI and GDP have an darity leads to a breakdown in Goodhart approach, rather than evidence to suggest that if One Tory wet, Sir Iain Council tax, vehicle excise duty, inverse relationship, so a lower trust which in turn leads to suspi - challenged. It is more likely that newspapers reported immigration Gilmour, then a member of Mrs TV licences are among elements CPI - and its inverse effect on cion of the welfare state and hos - issues of race, ethnicity and cul - stories in a more neutral way T’s cabinet, made the sarcastic excluded from the CPI which also “Over the tannoy GDP - could suggest to investors tility to welfare benefits. ture are rolled out in order to that opinion would be comment, that ‘now we have suc - includes spending by overseas system came the that the economy is stronger and avoid a discussion of power, significantly more favourable’. ceeded in lowering the unemploy - residents while visiting the UK. latest healthier than it really is. In The ties of solidarity poverty, discrimination and Characteristically, he fails to offer ment figures perhaps we can announcement short: under-estimated inflation racism. evidence for these conclusions. make a start on reducing unem - Fraudulent from the Ministry figures lead to over-estimated He argues that there has been Most of us, Goodhart asserts, Even more astonishingly, he ployment.’ He was duly sacked of Plenty GDP growth figures. far too much immigration into ‘prefer our own kind’. This is pure appears to argue that a hostile from his Cabinet position. The result of this, since CPI (miniplenty). The This was precisely the method Britain since 1997 - and that this tribalism and it is manifestly press actually helps the situation: More recently the definition of was introduced 15 or so years ago, chocolate ration of statistical compilation used by has damaged the prospects for untrue. The fastest growing ‘the tabloid press is often blamed unemployment has, again for rea - has been a cumulative inflation was to be raised GOSPLAN, the Soviet economic integration, as well as directly minority ethnic group in the UK for fanning prejudice but its sons of political expediency, rate since 1996 is 53.6% (RPI) from 30 statistical service; basically a type threatening the ties of solidarity: are the children of mixed heritage bluntness may also have acted as undergone change. One of the while that for CPI is 35.6% 2. A grammes to 20 of mass propaganda. But now the ‘moral consensus’ that he sees relationships. Indeed, Britain has a psychological safety valve for current wheezes of statistical notional private pensioner who grammes a nominally democratic govern - as vital to the welfare state. one of the highest rates of interra- those who feel unrepresented by manipulation in this area is to retired in 1996 and whose week” ments seem to be countenancing The basis of Goodhart’s argu - cial relationships in the western the mainly liberal political class’. count part-time jobs – even zero pension had been uplifted by RPI the same approach. And for its ment is the assertion that welfare world, and the mixed race group Those targeted by the Daily Mail contract hours – as full time jobs. would today be 13% better off (George Orwell – part, the media, with some noble states only work well in ‘cultural - is expected to become the largest and the Daily Express are unlike - It should be understood that than a notional person starting on 1984) exceptions, is taking all the offi - ly homogeneous’ societies. Has such group by 2020. ly to see it this way. there are some 8 million of these a similar pension uplifted by CPI. cial bullshit figures at face value, British society ever been cultural - One of the consequences of There are two further allied workers most of whom would like What amounts to an on-going and going along with this mass ly homogeneous? It is a myth and Goodhart’s ‘muscular liberalism’ positions that Goodhart and other full-time jobs, but sufficient full- reduction in the incomes of those deception. a fundamentally racialised per - is that the arguments it proposes ‘liberal’ commentators have devel - time jobs are not available. These on pensions, benefits, and now spective. Even so, the link is high - actively undermine the solutions oped. The first is the notion that workers belong to the reserve wages, is exacerbated further by ly questionable. that it aims to promote. By con - things have changed so much for 22 CHARTIST September/October 2013 September/October 2013 CHARTIST 23 MARGINAL NOTES

the better in the UK that we are Recent figures from the Office He consistently fails to have now living in a largely post-race for Budget Responsibility warned any analysis of the role of depri - and post-racism world where the that Britain needs to continue to vation, poverty and social class. High-Speed 2 – more capital old struggles for equality and welcome hundreds of thousands The effects of racism and discrim - against discrimination no longer of new migrant workers every ination are edited out of the pic - make sense. year in order to keep public ture – indeed they are somehow spending for the capital? The second is the attempt to finances stable over the next fifty seen as illegitimate attempts by drive a wedge between, on the one years. ‘Overall migration has a black and minority ethnic com - John he proposal for High- stop in Derbyshire.” capacity – and capacity (rather hand the longer settled Black, positive impact on the sustain - munities to claim victimhood. Speed 2 (HS2) came Part of the case for HS2 is that than speed) is the key to provid - Asian and Minority Ethnic com - ability of public finances’ says the A book that purports to discuss McGrother from Andrew Adonis it will deal with a coming crisis of ing frequent and reliable train munities (many from the first OBR, without a hint of qualifica - post-war immigration should near the end of the last capacity on the rail network – it services. period of migration – the tion. surely have something to say and Keith Labour government. is argued, and the argument The Public Accounts ‘Windrush generation’ – largely about the key concept of institu - Savage Broadly speaking the plan to seems to prevail, that the net - Committee has now started to from the ‘New Commonwealth’ Deprivation, not diversity tional racism, the Stephen Tspeed up the rail links from work can’t cope with the amount point out the weaknesses of the and their offspring - who settled Lawrence case and the London to Birmingham (by 2026) of traffic forecast over the next HS2 business case, and it is here before the late 1990s), and Recent research by the MacPherson Inquiry, which has from Buxton and then to Manchester and twenty years. Maria Eagle speak - becoming evident that far greater on the other hand recent arrivals University of Manchester directly dominated much of the discourse Leeds (by 2032) has enjoyed ing for Labour nationally evident - value for money could be gained including refugees, asylum seek - challenges the view that more since the early 1990s. In 340 Labour cross-party support in ly agrees. In fact much of the rail by investing a smallish fraction of ers and EU migrants often from diversity means less cohesion and pages, Goodhart gives these key Westminster. Some northern city network is, of course, under- the projected £50bn in well-tar - countries that had no history of solidarity. The key finding of the issues just a couple of sentences. Party councils – such as Manchester - utilised. The overall network geted enhancements for the exist - British colonial subjection. Manchester research is that it is He fails to address the notion of question and the new Labour administra - capability, however, is con - ing network. Longer trains can Goodhart has gone on record in deprivation, not diversity, which institutional or structural racism tion for Derbyshire County strained by a relatively small add capacity to the network with - the Evening Standard as welcom - is linked with poor physical and but caricatures it as ‘a new, more Labour’s Council (DCC) are amongst those number of ‘hot-spots’ and these out stressing timetables – so in ing the Government’s recent trav - mental health, low social cohesion subjective definition of racism’, by to throw their weight behind the effectively dictate the volume of some instances platforms would elling billboard campaign sug - and race discrimination. The which he presumably means that backing for project. traffic and the efficient operation need lengthening. gesting that illegal migrants turn research shows that ethnically the police are now instructed to As consultation meetings are of the network as a whole. Some stations might be themselves in: ‘indicating to peo - diverse areas are actually happi - record an incident as racist if one a £50bn scheduled for the autumn and enhanced by adding offline plat - ple through these billboards that er, healthier and less discrimina - or more of the participants insists winter, a recent report to the forms or separate through-lines to the Government is not ignoring tory. Goodhart makes much of that it is. ‘white DCC Cabinet argued: ‘The reduce platform-blocking and the problem will reassure many the option of ‘white flight’ – how - elephant’ Government’s proposal for the help timetable extra trains. The more Londoners than it scares.’ Confuses cause and effect development of HS2 is a major capacity of complex junctions But the evidence is that the The real danger is that these national scheme that is seen as could be increased by installing clamp down has exacerbated ten - The book makes much of an an engine for growth that will wider-radius signalling and train sions and has impacted on all deficiencies in Goodhart’s argument extended description of life in the help to regenerate the economy of management systems, and in black and minority ethnic com - will be ignored by the Labour Party multicultural London Borough of the north of England. The propos - some cases reconfiguring track. munities regardless of their Merton, where he identifies that als are likely to generate a signifi - Such targeted investment would length of settlement in the UK. front bench in the rush to embrace a poor whites ‘are doing the worst cant range of economic benefits represent better value for money Doreen Lawrence in the Daily ‘common sense’ justification of the lot’ as the consequence of for Derbyshire and its surround - and allow some of the billions of Mail has attested that recent immigration. For Goodhart, this ing cities’. capital spending envisaged for the immigration raids have clearly class of people have largely opted Unsurprisingly some of those HS2 project to be spent else - targeted ‘people of colour’ and rely ever most of the evidence he puts out. In fact, as many commenta - outside the urban, economic cen - where. on ‘racial profiling’ and it has forward is from the US and is not tors (including Jonathan Portes) tres are less persuaded. Why The claim that HS2 will be of prompted outrage across local applicable to the UK. have pointed out, this not only would you want someone speed - benefit to the regions beyond communities. Diversity is actually associated bears little resemblance to the ing through your garden without London and the south-east is Goodhart frequently makes the with higher social cohesion and reality in Merton, but it again you getting any real compensa - clearly bogus. If, however, HS2 cardinal error of assuming a greater tolerance, not the other confuses cause and effect. As tion? As the cost of HS2 is now goes ahead it will consume causal connection when none way around. The fear of migrants Portes says: ‘to put it bluntly, if estimated at £42.6bn (let’s call it resources that might be used to exists or confuses cause and tends to diminish in mixed com - you’re going to be white, British £50bn and be done with it) we are relieve the known ‘hot-spots’ that effect. He refuses to engage with munities where there is real expe - and poor, all the statistical evi - entitled to question the business might make a difference to evidence showing that migrants rience of living together, with all dence suggests you’d be better off case – and the implications for HS2 looks to set to benefit one region regional links and capacity. The actually make a net contribution its complications. This chimes being born in Merton – or any - regional equity - in this proposed at the expense of others existing strategy focusses very to society. They pay more in with the observation that it is the where else in London, surrounded spending. much on enhancing travel across taxes and take less out in welfare least diverse areas are those who by immigrants - than in the most - Natascha Engel, Labour MP for These ‘hot-spots’ are well- regions rather than within them – and benefits, rent homes and buy are most hostile – all of which ly white areas where education North East Derbyshire and seem - known in the industry and are indeed this has been the focus for goods which keep businesses run - suggests an entirely different outcomes, in particular, are ingly at odds with her County hardly new. Some are line junc - the last 50 years or so. Local and ning in the meantime. They care approach. worse.’ comrades has put it this way: tions (that is not stations) like regional transport needs invest - for the older generation while The book also contains the lazy Goodhart’s views, leading to “The Government has shown a Ardwick Junction, south of ment if it is to do its job – under - using NHS services less than suggestion that there are such the predictable conclusion that complete lack of understanding Manchester Piccadilly. Some are investment has resulted in many average. Indeed, many EU things as ‘good’ and ‘bad’ migrant migration must be drastically cut about people’s lives and communi - effectively passenger junctions – regional services that aren’t capa - migrants return to their countries communities. The good ones are by any means necessary, are ties that were blighted from the Clapham Junction station in ble of providing reliable services. for medical or dental care – those he claims have had less highly questionable, misleading day the proposed route was pub - south London is less of a track At a time when it is forecast despite being labelled ‘health problems integrating and who and thin on evidence. The real lished. Even though nothing will junction and is more a cusp of that Network Rail will be manag - tourists’. have come from more prosperous danger is that these deficiencies happen in North East Derbyshire many parallel lines. Some are ing the interest payments on Increasing attempts to control backgrounds. The bad ones – in Goodhart’s argument will be for 20 years houses can’t be sold, both – like Birmingham New debts amounting to £50bn by migration are causing serious Pakistani, Bangladeshi and ignored by the Labour Party front businesses are affected and Street and Leeds stations. Others 2020, going ahead with the out - damage to UK universities, not to Somali - are constantly men - bench in the rush to embrace a regeneration projects such as the are simply bottlenecks, like lined investment in HS2 would mention the ability of public ser - tioned in this context: ‘often from ‘common sense’ justification: a Chesterfield Canal Trust are fac - Digswell Viaduct, where the East simply compound the regional vices to recruit sufficient skilled rural areas and with generally supposedly left version of the ing an uncertain future. It is not Coast Mainline is constrained and local issues. The overwhelm - personnel. Food processing, farm - low levels of education and poor right wing mantra that immi - a case of not in my backyard but from four lines down to two. ing majority of investment will be ing and many other labour inten - or non-existent English’. They grants are somehow the cause of through the house and village in It follows, though, that invest - directed to the south-east, leaving sive industries would be unviable also just happen to be Muslim the many problems Britain cur - which people have lived for gener - ment that addresses these ‘hot- an expensive white elephant that without migrant workers, and communities, which panders to rently faces. ations. They do not benefit from spots’ can have particularly good is not properly integrated into a this situation is likely to continue. yet another stereotype. HS2 and the train does not even returns in terms of efficiency and national transport network. 24 CHARTIST September/October 2013 September/October 2013 CHARTIST 25 BOOK REVIEWS

Keeping the flame alight in exile Universalism should rule OK Rory THE CASE FOR UNIVERSALISM ment, is a major cause of poverty Nigel EXTERNAL MISSION: THE ANC IN EXILE Klerk had replaced P.W.Botha freed the USA from seeing South Mike Danson, Robin McAlpine, Paul it colludes with the idea that this Stephen Ellis (Hurst, £20) O’Kelly Spicker and Willie Sullivan Watt and in 1990 the ANC was Africa as a bulwark against com - on is a permanent status. From the on unbanned and Mandela released. munism and it began to put pres - media one might think that work - n 1960, as the apartheid Stephen Ellis’ book provides a sure on De Klerk. Financial insti - reforming ABOLISHING WANT IN A SOCIAL STATE ers and people on benefits are two quarrels regime tightened its grip, the readable, detailed and well- tutions began to disinvest. The Kate Bell mutually exclusive groups. It is already long established researched account of these iconic image of Mandela and the the welfare Centre for Labour and Social Studies necessary to challenge this by and IAfrican National Congress (ANC) events, though I would have liked widespread disgust at the concept (both from CLASS) (Free) pointing out not only that many decided to set up an external mis- to have his final assessments of of apartheid added to the mix. state people in work receive benefits frustrations sion led by Oliver Tambo which the role of Oliver Tambo and Once De Klerk had announced ome goals are only achieved but also that people move in and could make the case for liberation other leading personaliies. If you free elections he lost control of the as side-effects from seeking out of work constantly. away from the risks and suppres- read nothing else, I would strong - narrative and Mandela’s release something else. Happiness is The paper is also curiously apo - sion of black political activity ly recommend his brilliant final helped the ANC position itself to Sthe classic example. Another litical. It draws attention to the inside South Africa. Apart from chapter entitled “Perspectives”. be seen as the only real liberation would be efficiency. Organisations fact that poverty rose dramatical - the challenge to its very exis - He concludes that in the event movement and thus easily to win become efficient when the people ly after 1979 but does not say tence, the ANC had to make diffi- the struggle was mainly between the 1994 elections. in them believe in what they are why. In a sense this is obvious, cult choices. the apartheid state and the suf - In power it is showing some of doing and try to do it better. Sad but it is misleading to say that Nelson Mandela took the deci - fering majority who knew little the weaknesses it had in exile. It experience in the public sector the revival of the Beveridge sys - sion to work closely with the about the ANC - the media never tends to be intolerant of criticism. shows that efficiency drives and tem in 1975 by extending the cov - South African Communist Party mentioned Mandela or the ANC There is corruption (the apartheid the quest for ‘efficiency savings’ erage of benefits and tying them (SACP) and the intertwined rela- and there was no internet in regime set a bad example). It are wholly self-defeating. policy of providing housing to a much more closely to earnings tionship with ANC influenced those days. The armed struggle imagines it can stay in power for The relief of poverty is some - policy of subsidising rents, and ‘failed’. In fact it succeeded and if these choices, notably the decision did not in the end have much ever - it is true that people criti - what similar. Tackling poverty by the destruction of social housing, the system then introduced had to create a military wing, MK, direct effect but it provided cise the government’s failures but identifying poor individuals and is perhaps the clearest example in not been destroyed by the and to prepare for armed strug - heroes and martyrs and raised still love it as their own liberation giving them money does not work. this country of the disastrous Thatcher Government we would gle. Most of the leaders of the the ANC’s profile. movement. It gives little credit to Such means-tested systems are consequences of the shift from not now have the problems that SACP were from racial minori - The final triumph of the ANC others who struggled hard for lib - administratively complex, prone universalism to selectivism. It is we do. ties, many bringing ideas and ide- was more the result of the success eration (UDF, Black to error and abuse, stigmatising depressing, and scarcely credible, We seem to be much better at ology from Europe. The USSR of the external mission in con - Consciousness, AZAPO, PAC, the and, above all, so unpopular both that the Labour leadership is still rediscovering old problems than was the ANC/SACP’s greatest vincing the outside world that it Anti-Apartheid movements). with those who pay for them and supporting the sale of council old solutions. When Beveridge supporter and role model (though was the true voice of the people of The SACP lost influence after those who receive them that it is houses at a discount. wrote the two main obstacles to Sweden donated more money). South Africa, so that the various the return from exile and, to the politically impossible to set pay - They also fail to consider an insurance-based approach to This book records the internal Anti-Apartheid Movements and regret of many, the ANC in gov - ments at a realistic level. benefits paid through the tax sys - poverty prevention were family quarrels and frustrations within the International Defence and Aid ernment has to date created a By contrast, societies which tem. It is a paradox that while the size and housing costs. The first the ANC as well as its successes Fund - and many governments - very unequal society, far from its address poverty indirectly by Liberal Democrats (in particular) problem was substantially and failures during the 30 years could campaign for Mandela’s socialist origins, but democracy pursuing an egalitarian strategy turn against universal benefits addressed by universal child ben - of exile. Training camps were set release and learn about the evils and the rule of law seem fairly (including progressive taxation) they still favour large increases in efit and the second largely solved up in several countries: apart of apartheid – and none of the well entrenched – we have to and setting mechanisms in place the personal tax allowance. This by council housing. People seem from ethnic tensions, the young ‘dirty linen’ was revealed. thank Mandela, Tambo and other to address or compensate for the is a benefit which is regressive at strangely surprised that scrap - fighters were keen to go and fight The changes in the global con - heroes for the fact that South structural causes of poverty (old the top and bottom ends of the ping the solutions brings back the before it was wise to do so (and in text played a big part: the USSR Africa is a much better place than age, sickness, disability, unem - income scale but otherwise uni - problems. 1967 when a group went into under Gorbachev first reduced it was under apartheid. ployment, large numbers of versal. Rhodesia they were butchered). support, then disappeared. This children etc) reduce poverty. The Increasing tax allowances and After the Soweto uprising in 1976 evidence for this is so undeniable freezing child benefit transfers many young people imbued with that Danson et al struggle to find money from families with chil - What you can the ideas of Black Consciousness anything new to say in their dren to the childless. If this were wanted to join MK. They found it generally clear and compelling a deliberate policy it would be do hard to adjust to the ideology and summary of the case for univer - possible to argue rationally about a result of this (and of the gen - Read TRIBUNE every fortnight salism. it. It seems however to be happen - for CHARTIST uine fear of infiltration) the ANC The reader gets a sense of frus - ing almost by accident, because created a ferocious system of News, interviews, analysis, opinion, features and tration that it is still necessary to those responsible have ‘benefits’ If you think this magazine is worth internal security with help from reviews make these arguments. Why are in one mental box and ‘tax buying regularly, please subscribe: the East German Stasi. When plus the hottest political gossip─ in the labour movement our governing classes still so com - allowances’ in another. members tried to raise criticisms mitted to means-testing despite Kate Bell’s paper addresses 6-issues a year they were ignored, ostracised and its manifest failure? It is perhaps similar issues from a different sometimes killed. “The strongest pieces of leftist analysis being written a sort of addiction. Like many angle. It contains more factual - under 25 - £7.50 Joe Slovo and Chris Hani were at the moment are to be found in Tribune” drugs, means-testing seems to material explaining who is poor - ordinary - £15 greatly impressed by the way the – Financial Times solve all your problems when you and why. It confirms again that - supporter - £30 population had been mobilised for first take it. You then find you countries with good social securi - - buy copies to sell liberation in Vietnam, but the Subscribe to Tribune NOW! need larger and larger doses to ty systems and an egalitarian ANC could never really replicate get the same effects until eventu - ethos have less poverty than oth - - write an article, or letter It’s just: £19 for 3 months or £38 for 6 months or £75 for - join our blog this. The most successful military a year (UK rates) ally it brings no benefits but you ers like the UK. There is much operation, Vula, was launched have to carry on doing it because useful evidence here for people - Ask your local library to stock secretly in 1987 when at the same the withdrawal symptoms are so who need to argue the case for CHARTIST time steps were being taken Please send cheques to Tribune, 218 Green Lanes, horrific if you stop. universalist social security. towards negotiation led by Thabo London N4 2HB or pay on to Tribune, Account No. There are a few extra points The paper has its weaknesses. Contact us online at: Mbeki. When Vula was exposed, 20274421; code: 086001; reference “subsZ~” and your which the authors could have Its approach is too static. www.chartist.org.uk the armed struggle was called off. name. made. They scarcely mention Correctly saying that workless - Things then moved quickly: De housing, though the shift from a ness, and particularly unemploy - 26 CHARTIST September/October 2013 September/October 2013 CHARTIST 27 BOOK REVIEWS

Making the USA The new path to prosperity Patricia TEAM OF RIVALS: THE POLITICAL made to his forbears and succes - of 19th century US and European Jon d’Ardenne GENIUS OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN sors to complete the story. politics, the atrocities of war, to Taylor CANCEL THE APOCALYPSE ial additions; each is shown to by the week. Stephen Emmott Doris Kearns Goodwin Lincoln's short, tragic but tri - the minutia of uncomfortable is Andrew Simms (Little Brown, £13.99) have its relevance to Simms cen - (Head of the Computational (Penguin Books, £12.99) umphant life is painted in a num - clothing and travel, unsanitary tral thesis: that the world is Science Laboratory at Cambridge) on a ber of retrospective comparisons residences, the constant anxieties swept f you like books that take you knowable; that we do not have to tells us that the world cannot sus - his remarkable book has between himself and his team of about money, and the raw person - on a journey, at speed, take the crap that politicians tain the current increase in popu - towering been re-edited as a 'tie-in' to rivals- namely William Seward, al grief of losing two sons while in along through exciting countryside churn out every day; and that lation of one billion every decade. Steven Spielberg’s film Salmon Chase and Edward Bates office. Lincoln is painted as a man Iand with fascinating stops along extra growth does not Lester Brown (Head of the Earth biography TLincoln which won the 2013 The team was neither able to of rare talent, outstanding convic - the way, then this is the book for automatically translate into extra Policy Institute in Washington) Oscar for Best Film. Lincoln was prevent civil war, nor able to tion, a devoted sense of duty to you. And don’t let the fact that it human welfare and happiness. warns of a global threat to our memorable and provided a very ensure a promised speedy resolu - his party and his people, as well is about politics, philosophy and Have we become too passive? food supply as water wells dry up. focussed study of the President in tion of it. But, after two successful as a warm and attentive family economics put you off for it is Today the charity sector organis - Who amongst our politicians here the fevered weeks prior to the elections, it did (eventually) win man. She does not ignore his about far more than that. This is es increasing numbers of food speaks for the world? passing of the Thirteenth the war, it did achieve the aboli - faults- but rather places them in a book about an attitude, ‘a belief banks. In September 1795 Simms is not out simply to offer Amendment to the US tion of slavery, but above all else, their fuller context, so that we that while problems are real, not ‘London witnessed nearly a week criticism, nor does he limit him - Constitution- abolishing slavery- it prevented the disintegration of can look carefully at this person only can they be solved, but we of rioting in which the targets self to the West. He suggests all in 1865. the United States of America, by and admire again his extraordi - will be better for beginning to do were bakers, food wholesalers and ways in which, for example, the But Team if Rivals needs no tie integrating the rebel states back nary achievements. She depends so’. monopolists’. In E P Thompson’s banking system could be reformed in. It was first published in the into the Union, without acrimony, on many contemporary sources- This book is an extraordinary view, this was not mob rule, but ‘a to reflect society’s needs rather US in 2005, when it won many shame or unreasonable punish - notably the ten volume study ride through most of the environ - highly complex form of direct than the greed of the bankers. literary, biographical and histori - ments. Indeed this biography made by Lincoln's two private mental and financial problems we popular action, disciplined and But Simms also recognises that cal prizes. This scholarly book makes it clear, that Lincoln's pri - secretaries, John Nicolay and face today but analysed with such with clear objectives’. Perhaps we we need to go far beyond small- (200 pages of notes, indices and mary goal was to preserve the John Hay, together with many flair and enlightenment that you need to read and learn from scale, local solutions, however acknowledgements) towers over Union- for without that- all other newspaper accounts and personal feel both swept along and history – though not the sort of valuable those may be. ‘I don’t the movie. It uses every literary purposes would fall. In this mat - correspondence. Lincoln was informed at the same time. which Michael Gove would want to proclaim single alterna - device to show how Lincoln ter, as in all others, he was mas - nothing if not a man of letters. Simms stops at nothing. Doris approve. tive solutions, but rather to pro - gained power and then invited his terful in his political and oratori - Indeed my abiding impression of Lessing and Hawkwind; Colony Do we face apocalypse? I draw pose that far bolder and more Republican rivals to form a pow - cal skills, his pragmatism, his this account is how carefully Collapse Disorder and back from the word as it is all too ambitious experimentation is erful cabinet. The text narrative assiduousness, and his extraordi - Lincoln prepared all his words, Alzheimers; Buffy the Vampire easily thrown down as a challenge vital for survival’. That makes opens in May 1860 at the start of nary personal kindness, toler - his speeches, his addressing of his and David Cameron (no, not that proves empty, yet the evi - much sense to me. the Republican Party's nomina - ance, impartiality and charisma. troops and arguments and how together). And these are not triv - dence becomes more convincing tion of Presidential Candidate, Goodwin succeeds, as no other well he used them to achieve his and ends with his assassination historical author I have read, in Herculean tasks. in April 1865. But reference is zooming from the vast panorama Strongly recommended. Calling time on market triumphalism Pam WHAT MONEY CAN’T BUY: THE MORAL domains as one of the most signif - corruption and degradation; LIMITS OF MARKETS icant developments of our time. putting a price on a good may Fuelling poverty and war Morris Michael J.Sandel (Penguin, £8.99) Yet it has been a quiet revolution. degrade what it is that we value on We urgently need a public debate about it. What changes in the James THE ECONOMICS OF KILLING haven. hat are goods? This about what role we want markets way we understand the sanctity Vijay Mehta (Pluto Press, £13) markets Grayson Think about the morality and question is at the heart to play, Sandel urges, his aim is of life when political asylum is on the expense of renewing Trident. and of Michael Sandel’s time- to provide a philosophical frame - dependent upon a fee, or when he subtitle is: ‘How the Mehta points out that had Wly examination of how market work for such a discussion. He corporations buy insurance on the West’s West Fuels War and President Gadhafi not agreed to morals forces now dominate large areas succeeds admirably in this: His their employees for financial gain Poverty in the Developing surrender his nuclear weapons of non-economic life. The Shorter account is highly readable; his when they die? role in TWorld’ . An explanation of the some of the ‘Arab Spring’ out - Oxford Dictionary defines ‘good’ style both informal and informed. Sandel’s critique of market tri - recent international financial cri - comes might have been different, as ‘what is beneficial, produces Sandel marshals an impressive umphalism is persuasive. Less development sis is offered; much relates to although he is certainly not a pro - well-being,’ ‘a desirable object or range of evidence, from the comic convincing is the solution he trade between China and the ponent of a greater spread of glob - end,’ and ‘property and posses - to the grotesque, to demonstrate offers. Undoubtedly, we need USA, especially what is not trad - al weapons. sions’. Sandel’s predominantly the march of markets into public public debate as to the proper ed. In a unipolar world the police - moral argument is that the latter and private life. He uses these limits of markets. But what The theme is the lack of devel - man role has been accepted by understanding of goods has cor - examples to question the values Sandel does not acknowledge is opment brought about by the the USA. It assumes that all rupted the former meanings in and principles at stake. Whether the extent to which the public diversion of resources which countries aspire to become more the definition. Goods like health, the issue be queue jumping for sphere, itself, is already bought might be devoted to development like the USA yet the standard of education, civic responsibility and money, replacing motivation with up by those committed to market into: the adventures of military living of much of its citizenry has altruism have been commodified, financial incentives, or the com - orthodoxy. Sandel writes, at industrial complexes, espionage, Balkans followed by Libya and been in decline for decades. We offered for sale to those who can mercialization of education, two times, as if markets had indepen - corruption and hidden offshore Afghanistan. noted an unimpressive result in buy them. This transformation fundamental objections apply. dent agency. This is the myth bank accounts. Mehta calculates There are interesting domestic helping Haiti after the recent dis - is not due to excessive greed, The first is that of coercion and neoliberalism perpetuates. We that in 2010-11 NATO spending considerations; why are so many aster. Sandel argues, but to ideology, unfairness. Although market ide - need to accompany Sandel’s was 240 times the UN budget. mining and other extraction Those who aspire to global the triumph of neo-liberal claims ology foregrounds freedom of moral debate with a political Formed after WWII one can argue enterprises as well as tobacco peace, prosperity and disarma - for the power and efficacy of mar- choice, there is clearly a stark debate that reconnects the ideolo - it was a deterrent against the companies based in the UK? ment should study this book. kets. imbalance in the freedom exer - gy with those who gain from its Warsaw Pact countries. Once the Domestic mining has virtually Similar coverage is provided by Sandel, who is Professor of cised between the purchaser of a ascendancy and with those upon Iron Curtain collapsed what was ceased and I am unaware of any the monthly, New Government at Harvard kidney and the one who sells an whose inequality market ‘free - the remaining purpose? History domestic tobacco crops. The UK Internationalist. University, sees this expansion of organ due to force of poverty. doms’ depend. records adventures in the is for many an effective tax the market into non-commercial The second objection is that of 28 CHARTIST September/October 2013 September/October 2013 CHARTIST 29 BOOK REVIEWS A lost internationalsm Outside of the box Duncan BOLSHEVISM, SYNDICALISM AND THE the revolution when she wrote Frank Lee THE VALUE OF RADICAL THEORY bad policies, or mistakes, but are Bowie GENERAL STRIKE her classic volume on My Wayne Price (AK Press, £8.95) intrinsic to the system itself. on Kevin Morgan (Lawrence and Wishart, Disillusionment with Russia. There never has been and never £25) There is also a chapter on the on paradigm arold Wilson is once reput - will be a crisis free capitalism. defending relationship of the British labour ed to have said that he This side of the socialist revolu - Russia his is the final volume in movement with American politics shifts attempted to read Marx’s tion the class struggle pace Tony Morgan’s trilogy on and trade unionism in the 1920’s, HCapital , but after coming across a Blair is here to stay. The Tories Bolshevism and the British a subject generally ignored by footnote longer than the page know this even if New Labour TLeft – the previous two volumes British labour historians. itself, he gave up. The story may doesn’t. reviewed in Chartist. This volume One of the most interesting or may not be true, but it certain - Price argues that we are in a has been long delayed but it has parts of the book is the detailed ly seems plausible. Philistinism, period of capitalist decline and been worth the wait. The subtitle analysis of the strategy and political and economic illiteracy this seems a not unreasonable of the book is ‘the lost interna - tactics of the trade union move - are self-evidently commonplace in assumption. But there will be no tionalist world of A A Purcell’. ment during the General Strike. the Labour movement; and this automatic transmission to social - The previous volumes focused on Morgan provides an unusual tendency is on occasion taken to ism, as some of the cruder vari - Lansbury and the Webbs respec - depth in his analysis, in which he the point of virtue. eties of Marxism believe. The out - tively –Morgan’s approach is to examines the different perspec - ‘The Labour movement has its come will be a matter of political try to weave both a narrative and tionship with the Soviet Union in tives of Purcell, Ernest Bevin, roots in Methodism rather than and ideological will and struggle. analysis of the period around a the transition from Bolshevism to Walter Citrine, Jimmy Clynes, Marxism’ - yes and that is pre - Also examined is the record of biographical study. Stalinism. Morgan demonstrates Jimmy Thomas, Robert Williams cisely the problem. If the object of property of people who call them - social-democrats, socialists and In this volume this has not that Purcell, the long term sup - and other strike leaders. Morgan the Labour movement is to estab - selves Marxists, but are indis - communists when they have actu - been easy as it is not only the porter of Soviet Russia lost relates the strike to syndicalist lish socialism (now very much a pensable to any political tendency ally got their hands on power. It internationalism of the 1920’s influence, and was ousted from writing on the theory of the moot point) then it must, of neces - in the struggle against capital - is not an impressive story and has that is largely lost from labour his IFTU presidency, as the inter - General Strike, and notes that sity, look at the world from a dif - ism. usually resulted in hybrid forms history but Purcell himself is a national labour movement many of the strike leaders saw ferent perspective than its The work starts with a very of state capitalism, which in forgotten figure. An organiser of became more critical of Russia as the action as more of a protest exploiters. It must have a differ - clear and precise analysis of the many instances has been worse the furniture trades union, it moved to a more social demo - movement than an attempt to ent system of ethics and a philos - cornerstone of Marxism: the than more normal forms of capi - Purcell was at different times a cratic or labourist and less revolu - achieve workers control of ophy quite distinct from and in labour theory of value. That is to talist exploitation. Here anarchist communist, a syndicalist, chair of tionary perspective. industry or political power for the opposition to those monied inter - say that wealth is a creation of critiques of the orthodox left have the TUC, chair of the Purcell was a member of the working class. Purcell never ests which effectively rule society. labour, and the workers receive a some validity. International Federation of Trade Labour Party Russian delegations recovered his role after the failure In short it must have a different payment – wages – for their These mistakes, and, it must be Unions, chair of the organising of 1920 and 1924, though unlike of the strike, losing both his ideological/political paradigm. As labour time which is necessary for admitted, outright crimes against committee of the General Strike many of the delegation members, national and international trade Marx pointed out: their reproduction as labourers, humanity, need to be honestly of 1926, and briefly a Labour MP. he did not turn his memoirs of the union roles, and in 1929 his ’The ideas of the ruling class the rest of the wealth is appropri - admitted in order not to make the He was also an anti-imperialist, visits into a book. He was active parliamentary seat returning to are in every epoch the ruling ated by the capitalist as surplus same mistakes again. actively supporting the develop - in the Hands off Russia campaign his own grass roots and serving ideas; that is the class which is value. From this fundamental This is a well-written, concise ment of a trade union movement of 1920 and then chairman of the as secretary of the Manchester the ruling material force of soci - Marxist category of labour-value and non-sectarian piece of politi - in India. Anglo-Russian Parliamentary and Salford Trades Council, the ety, is at one and the same time and its appropriation, other rami - cal writing. In Labour history he has been committee. organisation in which he had cut its ruling intellectual force.’ (The fications which are necessary fea - obscured by the more weighty fig - As in his previous volumes, his political teeth before the First German Ideology) tures of the ures of Ernest Bevin and Walter Morgan takes us down some World War. Citrine and Bevin Failure to confront bourgeois capitalist sys - *Advertisement for Peace News* Citrine. Morgan is right to focus fascinating by-ways. He includes moved on to higher things and society and its ideological legiti - tem - alien - on Purcell as a key figure as his a whole chapter on the anti Purcell was lost to history. mation inevitably leads to adapta - ation, career reflects the troubled rela - Bolshevik campaign of the Morgan must be congratulated on tion to the received wisdom. Time exploitation, tionship not just between commu - American anarchist Emma this impressive study – and on after time Labour has been chronic insta - nism, syndicalism and trade Goldman, who was based in finally completing his important sucked into the vortex of the bility, the ten - unionism, but the changing rela - London after her experience of trilogy. prevalent culture and is effective - dency of the ly defanged and tamed. This ulti - rate of profit mately gives rise to abominations to fall, crises like New Labour. of over-accu - This present slim volume is a mulation, timely reminder of this political polarization of truism. It firstly states that wealth and Marxism is not economics, it is, poverty – rather as it says on the sub-title come into of Capital, – A Critique of view. (For Political Economy. Although more detailed Marx learnt from the bourgeois analysis read political economists of his time – Capital vol - principally Adam Smith and umes 1 and 3, David Ricardo – he none the less Grundrisse.) stood in uncompromising opposi - Massive eco - tion to them. nomic down - The author is a self-confessed turns which anarchist, but he has obviously we are now taken the time and trouble to experiencing *Subscription £25 per year - details at www.labourbriefing.org* read Marx’s texts, and argues are not due to that these are not the private personalities, 30 CHARTIST September/October 2013 September/October 2013 CHARTIST 31 YOUTH VIEW

Cafeteria approach to politics aybe it was my being reared on a diet of the Daily Mail that ‘put me off’ patriotism. The nauseating plethora of tales Mchronicling dubious abuses of the Human Rights Act and the daily litany of questionable statistics Dermot on the implications of immigra - tion, all made pretty dull read - Neligan ing. Equally, perhaps my Catholic Irish background reviews an contributed to my aversion to deifying an unelected monarchy. eventful Perhaps being born and bred in a Politics doesn’t always rock: you know its the silly season when Gibraltar diverse, modern, cosmopolitan hits the Daily Mail ’s front pages silly city, made it hard to associate with the archaic sentimentality there is an undeniable, potential - all of the pragmatism of 21st cen - season of ‘traditional patriots’, who to ly unstoppable, emergence of a tury ‘enlightened’ foreign policy, a this day seek to justify stubborn bland cross party consensus on cultural encoding of the defence colonialism (Gibraltar, The fundamental issues. Recent (at all diplomatic costs) of Her Falklands). Miliband wrangling with the Majesty’s territories is both A myriad of contradictions unions has only further fuelled unreasonable and illogical. underpins the modern British fears that party politics is rapidly Bellicose comments from senior state. Over recent decades descending into a centrist British politicians only further British society has really taken monotony. Elections will be won underline the shallowness of our to the notion of ‘progressive poli - not on policies, but on spin alone. proclaimed progressiveness – not tics’. Where Blairites quivered at For too long the primacy of a single (sitting) Westminster the labelling of their party with tackling fiscal ill health, and the party would dare to challenge the the tags ‘left wing’ and ‘socialist’, getting back into the black of UK outdated British line. they soon swarmed to this softer Plc. has led to constitutional The recent birth of the third in umbrella brand that indicated an debate being hijacked by superfi - line to the throne, rather the ambition for positive reform, and cial token gestures like the AV press reaction to it, was further liberalisation. Although relative - referendum. Parliamentary wran - evidence of this systematic ly ambiguous, the implication of gling has long been more con - disjointedness. The epitome of the word is positive, and all the cerned with Number 11 and the privilege and antithetical to the Westminster parties have gradu - Chancellor. meritocracy widely championed in ally latched onto the notion. An greater society, the media circus example might be found in Drift surrounding the heir’s birth was Labour’s ‘innovation’ of ‘One bittersweet. Whilst column after Nation’ that brings connotations Even the opposition of late has column rapidly exhausted any of a collective responsibility and drifted reluctantly toward meaningful information, press unity – strikingly similar to Coalition fiscal policy, with red- attention was concentrated upon Cameron’s botched ‘Big Society’. faced backtracking on the few a private hospital wing charging Thus the passing this year of a existing party distinguishing poli - £6265 a night. The irony of such gay marriage bill is symbolic of cies. The failure of the opposition lavish expense, at a time of this tide of ‘progress’, and con - to clarify their own stance on unprecedented NHS cuts, whilst ducive to the notion of Britain Coalition cuts affirms this farcical avoided by many of the right wing becoming a bastion of democracy state of affairs. media outlets, was surely not lost S and a champion of its citizens’ Finance aside, puppet liberali - on the British public altogether. u rights. The offering of asylum to sation has failed to challenge the Perhaps we can hope that one b the Pakistani heroine of women’s status quo. Core institutions to party will seize the initiative, and s rights and education, Malala the national identity go challenge the ‘yes-man’ politics of w c Yousafza, is surely indicative of a unchecked by the political elite, today. A diverse Britain needs to w ri noble progressive social agenda with no party willing to openly rediscover itself – and this can w b at the heart of both govern - challenge the overtly archaic and only come from a frank re- . e ment and society. outdated features of the Crown appraisal of the institutions that c t Yet this belies a pervad - and Commonwealth. The sheer reign over it. Political consensus h o ing rot at the heart of hypocrisy is damning – there can be a tool for progress, yet the a British politics. exists a cafeteria approach where, danger lies in a convergence of r C Amidst the head - celebrating antiquated ideas of political parties that is contrary ti H line grabbing Empire, the Establishment simul - to the varying opinions that char - s A populist pass - taneously acts as a ‘just’ authority acterise democracy. Meaningful t. R ing of gay on issues international. debate should not be shied away o T marriage, Recent wrangling over the rock from; it should be embraced. rg IS of Gibraltar epitomises the hollow Genuine progress will be found in . T diplomacy characteristic of mod - questioning the unquestionable. u a ern Britain. Flying in the face of k t