#303 working_01 cover 24/02/2020 22:06 Page 1 CHARTIST For democratic socialism #303 March/April 2020 £2 Mr Toad’s playbook

Clive Lewis MP DEMOCRATIC REVOLUTION Don Flynn NEW WORKING CLASS Jake Woodier GREEN NEW DEAL Alice Arkwright MIGRANT CLAMPDOWN Peter Kenyon SURRENDER Andrew Coates Jon Lansman LABOUR LEADERSHIP Plus Book reviews and regulars

ISSN - 0968 7866 ISSUE 03

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Contributions and letters deadline for Editorial Policy CHARTIST #304 The editorial policy of CHARTIST is to promote debate amongst people active in 10 April 2020 radical politics about the contemporary Chartist welcomes articles of 800 or 1500 words, and relevance of democratic socialism across letters in electronic format only to: [email protected] the spectrum of politics, economics, science, philosophy, art, interpersonal Receive Chartist’s online newsletter: send your email address to [email protected] relations – in short, the whole realm of social life. Chartist Advert Rates: Our concern is with both democracy and socialism. The history of the last century Inside Full page £200; 1/2 page £125; 1/4 page £75; 1/8 page £40; 1/16 page £25; small box 5x2cm £15 single has made it abundantly clear that the sheet insert £50 mass of the population of the advanced We are also interested in advert swaps with other publications. To place an advert, please email: capitalist countries will have no interest [email protected] in any form of socialism which is not thoroughly democratic in its principles, its practices, its morality and its ideals. Yet the consequences of this deep attach - ment to democracy – one of the greatest advances of our epoch – are seldom reflected in the discussion and debates Editorial Board Contacts amongst active socialists. CHARTIST is not a party publication. It CHARTIST is published six times a year Published by Chartist Publications brings together people who are interested by the Chartist Collective. This issue was PO Box 52751 London EC2P 2XF in socialism, some of whom are active the produced by an Editorial Board consisting tel: 0845 456 4977 Labour Party and the trade union move - of Duncan Bowie (Reviews), Andrew ment. It is concerned to deepen and Coates, Peter Chalk, Patricia d’Ardenne, Printed by People For Print Ltd, Unit 10, Riverside Park, extend a dialogue with all other socialists Mike Davis (Editor), Nigel Doggett, Don Sheaf Gardens, Sheffield S2 4BB – Tel 0114 272 0915. and with activists from other movements Flynn, Roger Gillham, Hassan Hoque, Email: [email protected] involved in the struggle to find democrat - Peter Kenyon, Dave Lister, Patrick ic alternatives to the oppression, exploita - Mulcahy, Sheila Osmanovic, Marina Website: www.chartist.org.uk tion and injustices of capitalism and Prentoulis, Robbie Scott, Steve Carver Email: [email protected] class society (Website Editor), Mary Southcott, John Twitter: @Chartist48 Sunderland. Signed articles do not necessarily represent the views of Newsletter online: to join, email the EB Production: Ferdousur Rehman [email protected]

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CONTENTS

FEATURES

BEYOND THE FRAGMENTS 8 Don Flynn on rebuilding the working class EU PHASE ONE SURRENDER 10 Prepare for stream of hatred says Peter Kenyon DIVIDEND BONANZA 11 Prem Sikka on widening income divide AUSTERITY CON Dennis Leach exposes Johnson’s economic Greening the economy to combat 12 prospectus warming - Page 13 Cover by Martin Rowson GREEN NEW DEAL Jake Woodier say GND is way for climate & 13 economy CHARTIST DEMOCRATIC REVOLUTION FOR DEMOCRATIC SOCIALISM Clive Lewis MP lays out his charter for Number 303 March/April 2020 14 change REGULARS DOLDRUMS Can Labour recover in Scotland asks Gerry Hassan OUR HISTORY 89 16 4 Tony Benn’s Arguments for Socialism

SINN FEIN TOPS IRISH POLL EDITORIAL Jerry Fitzpatrick on what election victory 5 Johnson uses Trump playbook 17 means POINTS & CROSSINGS 6 Paul Salveson on crumbling red wall LIMITS OF DEVOLUTION Duncan Bowie on promise and pitfalls of GREENWATCH 18 localising power 7 Dave Toke on Offshore Wind Sinn Fein tops Irish poll – Page 17 LABOUR LEADERSHIP 1 YOUTH VIEW 22 Alice Arkwright on asylum clampdown Jon Lansman roots for Rebecca Long- 19 Bailey FILM REVIEW 24 Patrick Mulcahy on Misbehaviour LABOUR LEADERSHIP 2 Andrew Coates finds the BOOK REVIEWS 25 Glyn Ford on fighting fascists; Duncan stronger candidate 20 Bowie on Peterloo, Armenia and privatisation; Sarah Hughes on South PATIENTS NOT PASSPORTS Sudan; Bryn Jones on Finance Capital; James Skinner and Aedin O’Cuill on Docs not Andrew Coates on Livio Maitan; Steve Cops Cushion on a Peruvian revolutionary; 21 Don Flynn on immigration

CONSTITUTION THREAT WESTMINSTER VIEW 23 Trevor Fisher on battle of 2020 32 Cat Smith on Tory northern rail mess

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OUR HISTORY

OUR HISTORY - 89 TONY BENN ARGUMENTS FOR SOCIALISM (1979)

ony Benn, previously known as Anthony Arguments for Socialism, was published in 1979 just after Wedgwood Benn, was a Minister in Wilson’s 1964- Labour went into opposition with the election of Margaret 70 and 1974-7 governments and Callaghan’s 1977- Thatcher as prime minister. It was a composition of previous 9 government. He was at various times speeches, essays and articles edited by Chris Mullin. A second Postmaster General, Minister for Technology, volume was published in 1981 as Arguments for Democracy. MTinister for Industry, and Minister for Energy. He was the “Democratic Socialism. This is very much a home-grown son of William Wedgwood Benn, Attlee’s Secretary of State for British product which has been slowly fashioned over the cen - India; his grandfather, John Benn had been a Liberal MP, turies….. The Labour Party comprises within its ranks repre - having been leader of the London County Council. Tony Benn sentatives of a wide range of opinions. We have been wise was first elected to parlia - enough not to seek to impose ment in 1950, succeeding a common socialist dogma on Stafford Cripps in Bristol anyone. Indeed, our social - East. He first came to public ism grew out of experience attention in 1960 when he and was not handed down had to fight a legal battle to from above, or received from avoid being disbarred from outside. The British Labour parliament on inheriting his Movement was born out of father’s peerage, a precedent the chapels of dissenters and which was followed in 1963 the struggles of factory work - when Lord Home was able to ers who campaigned for renounce his peerage to trade union rights, then for become Prime Minister. In the parliamentary vote, then 1965, he published a book on organised themselves to The Regeneration of Britain, nominate candidates in a supporting Wilson’s vision of separate Labour Party and a New Britain supported by finally adopted an explicitly ‘the white heat of technology’. socialist approach, based on Benn’s experience in gov - a full commitment to a demo - ernment moved him to the cratic system, and personal left. Interested in the history freedom.” of ethical socialism, having “We too accept that any been sympathetic to the society requires discipline, wartime Common Wealth though the discipline of the party in his youth, Benn market place and the disci - became interested in a more pline imposed by the top peo - libertarian socialist approach, ple are both equally supporting the syndicalist unattractive. We believe that Institute for Workers Control the self-discipline of full and the Upper Clyde democratic control offers our Shipbuilders workers cooper - best hope for the future, and ative of 1975 and advocating is the only real answer to industrial democracy. He inflation, because it confers opposed EEC membership on real responsibility.” the grounds that in involved a “The Labour Party has loss of sovereignty. Benn worked on the basis that the became seen as the leader of investment gap must be the left-wing of the party in filled by public investment, opposition, standing unsuc - with proper public account - cessfully against Denis ability and public ownership, Healey for the deputy leader - and that only public expendi - ship in 1981. In 1988, he ture can convert human stood unsuccessfully against needs into economic for the party leadership. He continued to cam - demands able to command resources and help restore full paign for democratic reform, supporting a series of Socialist employment. Indeed, we believe that the nation can earn its Society conferences in his new constituency of Chesterfield in living efficiently and profitably only if there is a new balance 1984, when his previous constituency had been abolished. He of wealth and power in favour of working people. And to avoid sat in parliament until 2001. He opposed the invasion of Iraq corporatism creeping in as a by-product of these public initia - and served as president of the Stop the War coalition from tives we have been working for a wider and deeper account - 2001 until his death. He was a regular speaker at anti-war ability of power through greater democratic control by events and at historical commemorations such as Tolpuddle Parliament and of finance and industry and of the institutions and the Levellers day at Burford. of the Labour Party itself….The next decade will see a growth Benn published nine volumes of diaries, detailing his politi - of democratic socialism against the ideas of monetarism and cal career in government and opposition. He died in 2014. corporatism.”

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EDITORIAL

Johnson learning from Trump playbook

lready Johnson’s Tories are reneging on commit - still below the 2008 crash levels. ments made in the EU Withdrawal Agreement Getting Brexit done also means ignoring the majority in to adhere to worker and consumer rights and Scotland and Northern Ireland. It is leading to further environmental standards. Johnson talks about pressures towards the break-up of Britain. Gerry Hassan not taking EU rules, previously agreed by his analyses the plight of Labour in Scotland, with the party aAnd other governments. Their agenda is clear. To create a securing just one seat in the General Election. Prospects low tax, low wage, long hours, reduced rights economy in for Labour look bleak in his analysis of the options for which ‘free ports’ are established and corporate capital can political recovery. exploit labour with little restriction. The results of the Irish elections, which saw the leftist Peter Kenyon outlines further details on the ‘Get Sinn Fein top the poll, mean that a border poll on Irish Brexit done’ show. The fallacy is that this is the end of the unity seems likely within the next five years. While Jerry process. Leaving the EU on 31 st January was just the Fitzpatrick sees the SF success as largely built on its beginning of phase one. As the process unfolds we will wit - progressive social programme the national question will ness the banging of the nationalist drum on every issue not be in the shadows for long. from fishing to free trade, with Brussels and the EU states Johnson and his chief adviser Dominic Cummings ape generally being labelled obstructive and uncooperative. the Trump playbook in seeking to choose what journalists In his speech at Greenwich the prime minister indicated get briefing invites while planning to weaken public ser - a preference for heavy tariffs on traded goods rather than vice broadcasting with attacks on the BBC and its licence stick to agreed standards. We have been warned. funding regime. More broadly they seek to undermine the Meanwhile, not satisfied with blocking the free constitution. Trevor Fisher sees the big battle during movement of EU citizens the government 2020 being the protection of the judicial and rights seems set on creating a yet tougher based system that has emerged over the past environment for all migrants and 100 years. asylum seekers. Alice Arkwright As these menacing threats grow Labour explains how the government is Labour needs to is embroiled in a third leadership contest planning to defy international in five years, so its attack on the gov - law in stopping refugees, while maintain commitment to ernment currently lacks focus and tightening still further restric - drive. We print brief outlines of the tions on children. For those core socialist values and case for the two front runners in the already settled here the envi - battle to lead Labour. Both Keir ronment becomes more puni - become smarter at Starmer and Rebecca Long-Bailey tive . James Skinner and have merits, but besides clear-sighted, Aedin O’Cuill illustrate this countering the new competent and radical socialist leader - from the experience in the NHS ship what the party desperately needs is where staff are being pressured to right Tories a transformation of its culture, begun by snoop, refuse treatment or charge Corbyn but stalled over the last two years. heavy fees for those in need of care. The We reproduce the prospectus for democratic Cameron/May immigration (failed) targets revolution produced by Clive Lewis MP, who did have been ditched but with the nonsensical points not make it into the second round. His manifesto could be system beckoning immigration looks set to become an even a lodestar for whoever succeeds on the more politicised field with harsher and more expensive path of changing Labour into a thoroughly democratic entry criteria. Priti Patel’s new system party with a clear plan for transforming the antiquated seeks to further cherry pick. Unskilled and semi-skilled British state. migrants wishing to work in Britain are out while so-called Local and city regional government could be a key ter - skilled workers face a slightly lowered earnings threshold rain for Labour to rebuild its influence and support. of around £25,000 to gain entry. Besides being discrimina - Duncan Bowie argues that first Labour needs to be clear tory and short-sighted the policy will lead to labour short - on what kind of devolution its wants. ages with many services and businesses suffering as a Don Flynn widens the terrain of challenge for the left result. in identifying a fragmented working class. Modern capi - Promises to end austerity and invest in industries and talism has changed the nature of this primary agency of northern areas suffering from ten years of Tory squeeze social change. The technological revolution is producing and neglect ring hollow when set against the realities of new forms of worker. Unless the left, particularly Labour continuing cuts to local councils, schools and hospitals. The and the trades unions are able to create a new politics and infantile mantras chanted by docile cabinet members to structures to get ’beyond the fragments’ Labour’s chances build more hospitals, and spend more on police and buses of forming a government in 2025 look bleak. A key ele - are a pathetic distraction from the realities of the amounts ment of Labour’s offer must continue to be a radical Green of investment needed to reverse the erosion of public ser - New Deal as outlined by Jake Woodier . vices. Labour needs to maintain commitment to core socialist val - Denis Leach exposes the fault-lines in the Tory econom - ues and policies developed in the Corbyn period whilst becom - ic strategy showing that austerity may be modified with ing smarter at countering the new right Tories. A populist un-costed promises but the underlying story of wealth nationalist rhetoric, drawing from the Trump playbook, blam - redistribution to the rich remains. Prem Sikka further ing the other whether it be migrants, Europeans, women or highlights the ten year bonanza for shareholders while the other minorities will get louder. Labour needs to respond with a income gap has widened with the earnings of most workers positive internationalist and inclusive political counter-attack.

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P&C

What’s all this ‘red wall’ stuff? Paul Salveson examines the myths on Northern Labour

t’s ‘The Great Red Wall’ been as solid as some people, that never was. The idea looking back with red-tinted that huge swathes of the glasses, often think. North of England have But let’s drill down a bit fur - been rock solid Labour ther and ask a few questions sIince the world began is a non - about the traditional ‘Labourism’ sense. It’s true that some con - which did have a base, however stituencies in the North of exaggerated its hold may have England, south Wales and the been, in Northern working class central belt of Scotland had – communities. It wasn’t the sort of fleetingly it now seems – very red-blooded socialism which was large Labour majorities, but it found in west Fife or the Welsh was patchy. Some Lancashire valleys. It was comfortable in a seats had long traditions of work - sort of Wilsonian social democra - ing class Toryism, whilst parts of cy which included the NHS, free the West Riding of Yorkshire education, council housing and were traditionally Liberal. cheap public transport. To an Labour’s so-called ‘red wall’ was extent, it was distrustful of ‘the at best a temporary ‘1945’ phe - state’ and continued to treat the nomenon, taking place amidst a nationalised industries not as wave of post-war exuberance and ‘ours’ but ‘theirs’. It was more hope. Yes, Ken Loach’s film was comfortable with institutions like a great piece of political nostalgia the Co-op, but never extended the Loach’s 1945 - great political nostalgia but the idea we can recapture co-operative vision to social own - that particular kind of politics is a ership. Trades unions were some - declare for some pseudo-progres - bit like saying we should revive thing you had to join; few mem - sive ‘patriotism’ will get us far. At the Chartist movement of the late bers were actively engaged. the same time, we should rid our - 1830s and 1840s (come to think of Perhaps this is a view of my selves of some misplaced ideas it...). own territory – the former cotton about ‘the white working class’. Labour’s success under Attlee towns of Lancashire. Yes, there It’s much more diverse than a lot was down to very specific circum - was a vibrant socialist culture, of commentators suggest. It con - stances which no longer exist. For stretching back to the late 18890s tains multitudes, with a wide a start, wars can stimulate rapid and expressed through the range of attitudes and opinions. change, for better or worse. Independent Labour Party and, One thing that does unite a lot of Labour’s success in 1945 was to a degree, the Social Democratic people is a belief in ‘democracy’ down to a mobilised working Federation. But it was only which is where Labour fell down class, determined – after fighting attractive to a minority of work - over calls for a ‘second referen - a war against fascism – not to go ing class people. The relationship dum’. It was seen as going against back to the 30s. That working with Labour, once it had estab - ‘the people’s will’, right or wrong. class was organised in strong lished itself as a major political As someone who voted remain and trade unions and bolstered by the force, tended to be instrumental - reluctantly favoured a second ref - co-operative movement and a or ‘transactional’. “We’ll vote for erendum, I have to admit they plethora of institutions which no you, if you give us council houses, were right. longer exist, at least in the form cheap buses, schools and social To be positive, Labour could do that they did. As the traditional care.” a lot to capture the ‘democratic industries (mining, steel, textiles) By the 1980s Labour councils imagination’, which is really a died, so too did the unions based were less and less able to deliver. cross-class thing. Electoral reform, within them. But it was more Thatcher went on to strip them of votes for 16-18s and stronger local than that, the communal culture more powers, whilst at the same and regional democracy would of many working class communi - time decimating the industrial help – and be in keeping with ties (which had its bad as well as working class as it had emerged socialist values. Labour still has a good points) died with it. over the preceding century. Yet strong pull on issues like the NHS So some parts of the North, Labour clung on to the idea – at and protecting the elderly. But I Scotland and Wales erected a both national and local level – Paul Salveson’s don’t believe Labour’s ‘transforma - kind of red wall but it was built that “we can do it for you” when it blog is at tional’ policies on nationalisation on shaky foundations. These was becoming increasingly obvi - www.paulsalveso cut much ice. Re-discovering began to collapse in the 1970s. ous they couldn’t (whatever ‘it’ n.org.uk Labour’s co-operative heritage and Many Northern local authorities happened to be). promoting social ownership could have fluctuated between Labour So where does that leave See trailer for find a positive response. and Tory (sometimes Liberal) con - Labour now? What would make it Paul’s new novel Whoever inherits the leadership trol over the last few decades; so attractive to working class voters on page 31 of the Labour Party will have the too parliamentary constituencies. in the misleading-named ‘red most difficult job facing a party These have included places like wall’ towns? It’s a very hard ques - leader since 1931, and it was only Liverpool, Sheffield, Bolton, tion. a war that got us out of that mess. Kirklees and many others. I don’t think trying to cloak A safe pair of hands won’t be Labour’s support base has never ourselves in the union jack and enough. C

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GREENWATCH

Offshore wind – the force is with you Dave Toke on the power source that could blow all other power sources away just on its own

Offshore wind farm of Equinor company

s offshore wind tech - the cheapest electricity source capacity factor of 63%. nology fully blooms as available - apart from solar power Costs for the fixed offshore its own distinct mass of course, with which the competi - windfarms continue to plunge industrial technology tion will probably be intense in the downwards, with the latest con - producing power at low future. tact prices dropping well below pArices, and as the prospect of float - BVG Associates, in collabora - £50 per MWh for the Dunkirk off - ing wind turbines comes closer, tion with Wind Europe did a study shore windfarm granted by the the potential for the technology two years ago of offshore wind French authorities as well as threatens to eclipse everything potential in North Europe alone. British offshore windfarms such else - at least in countries with a It concluded that just on the basis as the massive projects to be built large waterline, such as the UK. of the North European exclusive at Dogger Bank. These prices are In reality solar pv technology economic zones (EEZ) (excluding very competitive with even power costs are coming down at least as Norway's EEZ) offshore wind from gas fired power plant. quickly, so that what is likely to could generate over 10,000 TWh a Sceptics who say that such prices happen in the coming years is that year - that's actually rather more should be taken with a pinch of these two technologies will com - than three times the current total salt are being confounded by pete with each other (and onshore of EU electricity consumption. preparation for the commissioning wind of course) for market share. Much of this potential resides in of such projects, the first of these Indeed such is the rate of cost British waters. The International approximately £50 per MWh reductions that some are now sug - Energy Agency did a study last schemes being the Danish gesting that the way to approach year which came to broadly simi - Kriegers Flak scheme which is 100 per cent renewables targets is lar conclusions. now being installed (contract to minimise the use of batteries The development of floating awarded in 2016). and other storage techniques, and wind turbines would be important The latest British offshore wind simply to build gross overcapacity to realise this for approaching half auction, which took place last in wind and solar. That of course this potential - they are not yet as September, produced contracts with ushers in the possibility of uses for developed as the monopole or jack - prices of £40 per MWh payable for excess production, such as conver - et based 'fixed' machines that are 15 years. That is to be compared sion to hydrogen, but that is mostly used at the moment. But with the price awarded to EDF to another story. even here optimisation is being build the Hinkley C nuclear power The story here is that on its achieved quickly, with Equinor project. This amounts to £92.50 per own the offshore wind available recently announcing a project near MWh to be paid over 35 years from could generate over five times the the Canaries with a capital cost the time the plant starts generating anticipated total energy require - that has dropped quickly, travel - (whenever that will be, given the ments for the UK in a 'net zero ing towards the levels at which delays in construction). carbon' scenario. That is, based fixed offshore is now. Rapid Of course, the onward march of upon the Committee on Climate advances in improving turbine the offshore windfarms won't hap - Change estimate that a mainly efficiency mean that even the cri - Dr David Toke is pen very quickly unless electric economy supplied from teria used by BVG Associates is Reader in Energy Government issues enough long low carbon sources would require being surpassed with the latest Politics, term power purchase agreements, 645 TWh of power generation in machines such as the 12 MW GE University of which they call 'contracts for differ - 2050. Wind power could do this as machine which, says GE, boasts a Aberdeen ence' (CfDs). C

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WORKING CLASS

Beyond the fragments As has happened before, the working class has fallen into a state of division and fragmentation. Don Flynn argues a socialist narrative which centres on the crisis-ridden nature of capitalism will be needed to rebuild working class identity

Durham Miner’s Gala 2018 - miners no longer a significant part of working class

large part of Labour’s So, what is doing the work of together the traditional working dilemma seems to come structuring these class relations if it class, emergent service sector work - from the fact that it has is not the nature of the work itself? ers and the precariat, branding lost the support of the The GBCS saw the decisive factors them as the new working class. ‘traditional’ working as being the varieties of capital (cul - Her argument is that these groups cAlass but has not yet gained the tural, economic) available to the form a relatively clear segment of endorsement of any ‘new’ proletari - workforce and the extent that this the population, “with a common eco - at. produced different outcomes in nomic experience” that has been What is behind this terminology terms of advantage or disadvan - “fractured by the changes of the of ‘traditional’ and ‘new’ working tage. Care workers included in the past few decades.” These are broad classes? A collaboration between traditional working class category, categories to offer up as the defining the sociology departments of several for example, had that status characteristic of the new working universities produced the Great because of their deemed poor eco - class and at some points seem to British Class Survey (GBCS) nomic capital, limited housing mean not much more than their results in 2017 and came to the con - assets, few social contacts, low high - subjective feeling that ‘things are clusion that the class structure of brow and emerging cultural capital. getting worse’. the UK can be boiled down to seven Their counterparts among emer - A defeated class categories, ranging from the elite to gent service sector workers were The logic of this approach is to the precariat, with the “traditional distinguished by virtue of having lock the ideas of defeat, disempow - working class” listed as a mere sub- relatively poor economic capital, but erment, and disadvantage into the set. Various categories of occupa - reasonable household income, mod - very idea of the working class which tions are referenced as the jobs typi - erate social contacts, high emerging Labour is bound to depend on as it cal of each of the survey’s classes, (but low highbrow) cultural capital. social and political base. Added to but the most important element is Small differences you might think this is the emphasis that the social the socio-economic-cultural condi - but producing bold assertions about survey analysts place on the atom - tions of the class of worker, irre - a uniquely fragmented working ised, disparate, fractured character spective of the actual work they class. of this class formation, made up of engaged in. The post of care worker, Claire Ainsley’s highly consid - people with multiple social identi - for example, appeared in three of ered work for the Joseph Rowntrees ties and a correspondingly weak the categories described as tradi - Foundation builds on the schema Don Flynn is capacity for collective action. tional working class, emerging ser - elaborated in the GBCS but Chartist’s Labour, it seems, has pledged itself vice worker and precariat. attempts to innovate by gathering managing editor to society’s losers and even then,

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has failed to get any significant tutional form by the emergence of endorsement for its policies from the modern trade union movement their ranks. and, eventually, the Labour party. Ainsley’s answer is to continue History will not go down precisely the approach that the liberal and that same path again. Whether a social democratic left has been fol - new working class identity rises lowing for the last century, requir - over and above its current state of ing detailed social and economic fragmentation depends in the first analysis of all aspects of the life of instance on the narration of experi - all the fragments of the working ences which are common to wage class and from this proposing sets of earners even when they range policies which they hope might across social groups that can, at the prove popular enough to attract moment, be represented as ‘affluent votes in elections. Whilst it would workers’ right through to the pre - be wrong to disparage the value of cariat. the analysis and development of Absence of crisis detailed policy it is also very diffi - The class survey approach has cult to see how it might, on its own, little to say about the nature of a conjure up a newly united working capitalist system which periodically class ready to endorse a radical throws up the turmoil of class recon - reforming Labour government. figuration, generating new sets of History has a great deal to tell us winners and losers among the how is made in forging wage-earning groups. Its view of both unity of identity and also of change hinges on technological purpose among the class of society. developments which make some occupations redundant and others in great demand. The impact of dra - The 2019 election matic political events, like the impo - sition of new social policies of the manifesto was order of the hike in university tuition fees, the rapid deterioration list’ of all the good things that a criticised as being a of the NHS and the closure of the Labour government would conjure possibility of home ownership for up in a socialist la-la-land. ‘wish list’ of all the younger workers, hardly figures at Centrists and Fabian policy wonks all in this type of analysis. The fact complained that the party had for - good things that a that the larger social and economic gotten that politics is about priori - system itself might be subject to fur - ties, and when everything from the Labour government ther shocks of the order of the 2008 Green New Deal through to free 5G recession, with all the implications broadband is a priority then nothing would conjure up in this has had for wage stagnation is a priority. and prolonged austerity, is left out A more accurate criticism is that a socialist la-la-land of consideration whenever talk the manifesto failed to provide a switches to the types of policies that convincing account of the pressing E. P. Thompson’s classic account of might prove popular when the next reasons why many new deals of sev - the making of the English working election comes along. eral sorts are needed, and why the class explains how groups that If the instability and recurrent state had to take on leading respon - would have been every bit as dis - crisis forms the backdrop to politics sibility for investment in an indus - parate as those represented in mod - and the way classes react to new trial economy which would be demo - ern class surveys acquired a con - and various situations then Labour cratically accountable to citizens. sciousness of collective identity. needs to do better in providing a No fantasy wish listing here, but an The earliest working class is depict - popular narrative of how all the account that is rooted in the failure ed as being made up of field labour - fragments of the working class of a forty year experiment in free ers, artisans and weavers who expe - stand in relationship to post-indus - market capitalism and a narrative rienced emerging capitalism in dif - trial capitalism. It will be an that links with the insecurity and ferent ways. What kept them in account of the way in which some experience of exploitation which correspondence across their social groups will be able, for a time, to millions of people will recognise as fragmentation was, firstly, the draw on assets that are not avail - being true. ‘moral machinery’ of a brand of able to others and maintain the Knowledge is power, to use a Christianity which generated the delusion that they stand above the hackneyed phrase. But the purpose idea of a standard of justice to which turmoil. Others have already lost of a socialist narrative is not to tell all should aspire. the access they once had to social ordinary people how abject and mis - Secondly, at iconic moments in resources that kept their heads erable they are in the manner of a the history of this class the attempts above the water and now have to social science survey, but how power to suppress ‘combination’, of the live as best they can on a day-to-day is within their grasp if only they order of Tolpuddle martyrdom and basis. This narrative will track the were to acknowledge the potential the Peterloo Massacre, provided an policies that Johnson and his gov - of their collective strength. The understanding of the nature of rul - ernment improvise as they attempt working class ought still to have the ing class power which fuelled the to plot post-Brexit pathways in a end goal of becoming the class militancy of the early working class world that shows us all what a which rules society by democratic movement. The second half of the small country the UK has now means within its sights, and Labour 19th century provided more exam - become. should be doing better offering the ples of heroic resistance to capitalist The 2019 election manifesto was mapped out route which will get it power which was sustained in insti - harshly criticised as being a ‘wish there. C

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EU WITHDRAWAL

Surrender – Phase 1 complete Peter Kenyon reviews the consequences of Britain’s withdrawal from the EU

rime Minister Boris Johnson surrendered the UK’s vote and voice in the European Union on 31 January 2020. Some Pconfusion is already reported at bor - der posts around the now 27-mem - ber state economic giant, with UK citizens bemoaning queues at non- EU, EEA, Switzerland passport control. An irate Brexiteer at Schipol Airport in February was reported as saying: “This isn’t the Brexit I voted for.” Disgruntled travellers are not the only ones who will be echoing that sentiment as events unfold over the rest of 2020. Industry, finance, science, David-Maria Sassoli- President European Parliament academia and fisher folk (to name just a few) are demanding clarity Senior Special Advisor, the un-elect - encapsulated in a European from Johnson’s government about ed Dominic Cummings of the ille - Parliament (EP) resolution avail - future relations. They will continue gally-funded Leave Campaign. able on the EP website at to be disappointed. In the mean - Meanwhile, in Brussels, negotia - https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doc time, nervous investors are doing tor par excellence, Michel Barnier, eo/document/B-9-2020- what has been predictable since is close to securing agreement on a 0098_EN.html 2016 - moving to the continent. comprehensive negotiating man - The EP resolution repeats calls This destructive ambiguity is date from the EU-27 heads of gov - for the UK to align itself as closely what the new leader of the Labour ernment. So every time Johnson as possible with the EU by citing Party has got to focus on: the nega - seeks to point the finger at Brussels the need for that famous “level play - tive consequences in terms of jobs – Labour will need to call him out. ing field,” which should ensure and investment, loss of influence The EU-27 heads of government “equivalent standards in social, and the UK’s diminished stature in may meet in Brussels. But they are labour, environmental, competition an increasingly interdependent not based there. Instead they come and state aid policies, including world must be spelt out. Johnson from Helsinki, Stockholm, Tallinn, through a robust and comprehen - having “Got Brexit Done” will Riga, Copenhagen, Vilnius, Dublin, sive framework on competition and blame Brussels for any suggestion Berlin, den Haag, Warsaw, Prague, state aid control.” that actually he has not delivered. Luxembourg, Paris, Bratislava, For avid followers of UK/EU rela - The Leader of the Opposition Vienna, Budapest, Ljubljana, tions, this begs the question why (LOTO) must restore rapid rebuttal. Zagreb, Bucharest, Sofia, Rome, did the UK ever consider surrender - A new Business Secretary has Madrid, Lisbon, Athens, Valletta, ing its veto and its voice in the EU been appointed by Johnson. Alok Nicosia, as well as the federal capi - institutions under former prime Sharma has his work cut out, tak - tal of Belgium. minister David Cameron, let alone ing over from lacklustre Andrea The main sticking point between actually do it as happened at the Leadsom, as secretary of state for those 27 capitals and London is well end of January. It is one which the Business, Energy and Industrial known – regulatory alignment or a bulk of the UK media is reluctant to Strategy and combines that job level playing field in future trade. pose, and is anathema to Johnson with that of president of the next At the time of writing the EU-27 and his government. But that day of UN Climate Change conference in have still to agree their own posi - reckoning is not far away. A critical Glasgow in November 2020. At the tion on this aspect of the talks. In date is set out in the EP resolution time of writing he has not uttered a plain language, if Johnson wants a concerning fishing rights - any EU- word in public on either brief. free-trade agreement (FTA) with UK free-trade deal must be condi - Whitehall’s short-lived the EU, he has to accept EU rules. tional on a prior agreement on fish - Department for Exiting the EU has He can huff and puff as much as eries by June 2020. This poses a been shut down now that Phase 1 of Cummings demands, but he will particular challenge for the Labour Surrender is complete. not blow the EU-27 house down. Party. Does it stick to its agreed EU Responsibility for negotiating Since Johnson’s election victory on policy on close alignment? Or does it future relations with the EU-27 12 December last year, reference succumb to a temptation to echo (Surrender Phase 2) has notionally has been made to an EU-Canada Johnson’s blame-game during been shifted to the Foreign Office FTA and latterly an EU-Australia Phase 2 of his “Get Brexit Done” under Dominic Rabb, but there FTA, which is highly illustrative of plan? have been reports that the Cabinet Johnson’s flailing around – as there Peter Kenyon is a Either way brace yourselves for Office under Michael Gove will have is no such EU agreement with member of Cities another stream of hatred directed a role, and the over-riding suspicion Australia. of London and by Johnson and his supporters in is that each step will be decided by The best available guide to EU- Westminster CLP the media at Brussels – oops, the mission control under Johnson’s 27 thinking currently available is and Chartist EB EU-27 during Phase 2. C

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INCOME DIVIDE

The Dividend Curse Prem Sikka explains how income inequalities have widened during the shareholder bonanza of the last ten years

lass politics in the UK are highly evident. The government has imposed a benefit freeze and wage freeze on pub - lCic sector workers. Labour has been systematically weakened through anti-trade union laws. Inevitably wages have stagnated and failed to keep pace with inflation. For November 2019, average regular pay, before tax and other deduc - tions was £511 per week in nominal terms. The figure in real terms (con - stant 2015 prices) is £472 per week, which is still £1 (0.2%) lower than the pre-economic downturn peak of investment. After the 2007-08 companies, share buybacks have £473 per week in March 2008. The banking crash, corporate profits consistently exceeded share equivalent figures in real terms are have increased, but payments to issuance over the past decade, £503 per week in November 2019 shareholders in the form of divi - albeit to a lesser degree more and £525 in February 2008, a 4.1% dends and share buybacks have recently. The UK equity market difference. increased even faster. does not appear to have been a Meanwhile, there are virtually no Dividends are being paid at the source of net new financing to the constraints on payment of dividends expense of employee wages and UK corporate sector. The daily to shareholders. In 2019, UK’s investment in productive assets. turnover of shares is effectively largest listed companies paid out a The UK invests around 16.9% of its money exchanged between specula - dividend of £110.5bn. This com - gross domestic product in long-term tors or what Marx called ‘fictitious pares to £99.8bn in 2018 and productive assets and languishes capital’. None of it goes to compa - £95.1bn in 2017. This does not near the bottom of the EU member nies in the form of new investment. include share buybacks totalling states’ investment table. Low wages Companies need to be weaned off between £15bn and £20bn a year. and low investment inevitably lead high dividends and short-term Rising dividends are part of a to low productivity. returns and focus on their long- shareholder-centric model of corpo - It isn’t just Carillion which bor - term success. Corporate governance rate governance where mainte - rowed money to pay dividends. A reforms are needed. Employees nance of the share price and returns Bank of England survey showed have a vital interest in the long- to short-term shareholders takes that only around 25 per cent of term success of companies as their priority over the long-term success finance raised by companies is jobs and pensions depend on it, but of the company, employees and the spent on investment, with the they have no say in dividend or interests of other stakeholders. The remainder split between purchasing investment decisions. This needs to vast amount of dividends are nei - financial assets, distributing to be changed by requiring all large ther attracting new investment in shareholders and keeping as cash. companies to have a substantial productive assets nor fuelling the Neoliberals claim that dividends number of employee-elected direc - economy. But company directors stimulate the UK economy, increase tors on their boards. are besotted with paying ever the tax-take and help pension Employees should also vote on increasing dividends. Their bonuses funds. The reality is quite different. executive pay as they have a better are often linked to share prices. At Some 54.9% of the value of the UK idea of the performance of directors Carillion, directors engaged in stock market is held by individuals and are in a good position to reward aggressive accounting practices to and entities outside the UK. So the them for promoting the long-term boost profits and borrowed money payment of dividends results in a success of the company. to pay dividends. The obsession did huge export of capital. Generally Directors should not be paid in not have a happy ending. dividends are paid-out without shares or share options as that cre - With the exception of the reces - deduction of income tax at source. ates temptations to support share sion period after the 2007-08 bank - Foreign recipients do not pay any prices through excessive dividends. ing crash, major UK companies UK income tax. Pension funds and Prem Sikka is Executive bonuses should only be have paid dividends at a higher rate unit trusts hold about 2.4% and Professor of paid for extraordinary performance than their counterparts in other 9.6% respectively of the value of the Accounting and in specified long-term objectives economies. Andrew Haldane, the UK stock market. Therefore, the Finance, rather than on manipulation of Bank of England Chief Economist, benefit from dividends is compara - University of share prices. Approval from 90% of noted that in the 1970s major com - tively small. Sheffield & stakeholders should be required. panies typically paid £10 in divi - High dividends have not enabled Emeritus Such developments would help dends out of each £100 of profits, UK companies to attract new Professor of directors to concentrate on the long- but by 2015 the amount rose to investment in productive assets. Accounting, term success of companies rather between £60 and £70, often accom - The Bank of England’s Chief University of than hyping share prices through panied by a squeeze on labour and Economist noted that among UK Essex excessive dividends. C

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AUSTERITY

The austerity con Dennis Leach rebuts ‘the economy as household’ analogy along with the lie that Johnson will be ending spending cuts any time soon

uring the election campaign the chancel - lor said that, after ten years of Tory austerity, there Dis now ‘fiscal space’ to boost public investment. He announced new fiscal rules that the government would no longer seek to eliminate the total deficit but would aim to balance day-to-day spending by the middle of the next parliament, 2022/23 and borrow to invest in infrastruc - ture up to 3% of GDP. Previously the rule for borrowing to invest in infrastructure was 2% of GDP. His new fiscal rule is a slight loosening but it is not the end of austerity. And his claim that aus - terity has been an economic suc - cess is nonsense. First, there never was any need for austerity: it was only ever a political project on the back of a fallacious economic argument. Javid and new chancellor Rishi Sanak -austerity not over Imposing austerity on an economy already weakened after the 2008 its own income. It follows that aus - but also poor education. Not only crash resulted in untold harm to terity reduces growth, and pro - is this an inadequate sum, the the lives of millions. Moreover it longs the recession - exactly what problem goes much deeper. was not only unnecessary, it was happened under Osborne. To reduce the enormous counterproductive, in that it This mistake has been called inequality between the booming slowed recovery while failing to the austerity con by the Oxford London and the south east and the achieve its aims of reducing debt. economist Simon Wren-Lewis. other regions he needs to look at Geoff Tily, the TUC economist has Most of the media and politicians its causes. Why the once industrial shown that this recovery was the bought it. It is an example of how areas that used to have well paid, slowest compared with all others common sense can be seriously highly skilled jobs in manufactur - in the past two centuries. misleading. Labour MPs too must ing, making cars, trains, ships Second, austerity has not ended share the blame for failing to steel, no longer do so. The econom - and the government’s focus on argue against it. John McDonnell, ic policies of Thatcherism in the budgetary balance is set to contin - faced with this, had little choice eighties closed many of the facto - ue, albeit with looser fiscal rules but to adopt a neoliberal fiscal rule ries but replaced them with only and a new emphasis on regional for the deficit for Labour’s mani - low skilled work such as in call rebalancing. festo. ce ntres and warehouses. All spending departments have An important new book by The UK now has a much small - been told to cut their budgets by at Robert Skidelsky called Money er manufacturing sector than com - least 5% and to offer up ten pro - and Government: A Challenge to parable countries in Europe. The jects to be cut in the autumn Mainstream Economics rebuts this main reason is that the UK econo - spending review. The only excep - household analogy and, more gen - my is dominated like no other by tions will be health, police and erally, the neoliberal way of think - financial services based in the regional infrastructure. ing about money, that since southeast, which is booming. It is This fixation on balancing the Reagan and Thatcher has become not enough to invest in a northern budget results from a neoliberal mainstream. Left activists need to powerhouse idea, there needs to be view where the government is use these arguments if we are to the demand side factors as well. If seen as a household: if it is in challenge austerity. Boris Johnson is serious about deficit it cuts its consumption to Johnson has declared his ambi - rebalancing the economy he should live within its means. But that tion to be worthy of the votes that Dennis Leach is a do what the govern - analogy is false when government the post-industrial constituencies member of ment failed to do and create the represents nearly forty percent of in northern and midlands towns Bethnal Green conditions under which manufac - the economy. Its budgeting “lent” him at the last election. His and Bow CLP & turing can begin to thrive again. behaviour must be understood plans include spending £100 bil - Emeritus That means regulating the City at using Keynesian macroeconomics, lion over five years on “levelling professor of the same time as promoting a which teaches that changes to gov - up”. He sees the problem of low Economics, regional industrial policy. I doubt ernment spending and taxation productivity in those areas as due University of he will be prepared to do that any affect the size of GDP, and hence not only to lack of infrastructure, Warwick more than was. C

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GREEN NEW DEAL

A world economy working for all Jake Woodier says a Green New Deal is the path to tackling both the climate and economic crises

n October 2008 the govern - ment announced £500 billion finance to tackle a crisis, demonstrating the vast state resources available when Ideemed necessary. But it dashed hopes of an economic turning point to tackle multiple crises simultane - ously. The crisis prioritised was the global financial crash - the banks were too big to fail. Another - cli - mate change - was still tomorrow’s problem. Meanwhile a group of progressive thinkers proposed a Green New Deal (GND), a transfor - mative economic programme to tackle the climate crisis and address an economy ripping apart at the seams. However, spearhead - and finance the transition from a This is just a glimpse of a GND’s ed by the UK, global politics took a fossil fuel based economy to a potential to reorient our economy ‘business as usual’ fiscal approach renewable economy. This must and social values to cherish things to the global financial meltdown, address historic and current injus - that matter to us all: well-paid and stifling for the early tices, recognising the causes of cli - secure jobs, safe and warm housing conception of a GND. mate change and inequality as and sustainable public services. A decade later the climate crisis interrelated as we transition away To advance a transformative is still in practice tomorrow’s prob - from fossil fuels. To deliver on such GND programme in the interests lem. Global efforts still face a lack a scale we need collaboration, ambi - of the majority, we must build a of ambition, conflicting interests tion and resolve to challenge the social movement too powerful to and resistance by powerful actors. current political establishment and ignore. This means rebuilding con - However, across the Atlantic, hard powerful vested interests enriching nections in villages, towns and work and deep organising by the themselves under the status quo. cities across the country while Sunrise Movement for the GND What could Westminster legisla - maintaining an internationalist emerged with support from tion mean in practice? One example outlook. It means demanding GND Congresswoman Alexandria is the ‘Warm Homes for All’ policy - thinking at Westminster and all Ocasio-Cortez. This launched the a mass retrofitting of housing stock levels of government wherever pos - GND across US politics and - championed by the Labour Party sible. It means working with trade became a marker in the in the 2019 election campaign. The unions, especially those that repre - Democratic primaries for those policy wouldn’t just improve peo - sent workers in high emissions sec - most committed to climate action. ple’s lives and health, It would tors to guarantee a just transition. Ocasio-Cortez and fellow reduce bills and return money to It means working within legisla - Democrat, Senator Ed Markey sub - those who need it most. With tures at all levels to drive impact mitted a resolution for the Federal domestic housing accounting for a and enact GND policies at the Government to introduce a GND. fifth of UK emissions, wholesale local, city and municipal level The momentum subsequently retrofitting is also necessary to while the government drags its returned to reinvigorate the cli - achieve ambitious emissions reduc - heels. Nottingham’s target for car - mate movement in the United tions. The plans would create hun - bon neutrality by 2028 demon - Kingdom, from the climate strikers dreds of thousands of jobs and stim - strates what’s achievable outside to Green New Deal UK. Last ulate local economies after decades Westminster politics. September Green MP Caroline of underinvestment. Under a GND, A Green New Deal organised by Lucas and Labour’s Clive Lewis jobs created would provide mean - and for the majority can topple proposed the Decarbonisation and ingful work, fair compensation and our extractivist economic system Economic Strategy Bill, the first union security. that’s treated people and the plan - attempt to legislate for a GND in We can also envisage applying a et as expendable in the pursuit of the UK. Meanwhile Labour for a GND to transport. Replacing tradi - profit. A world that works in the GND, successfully campaigned for tional petrol and diesel vehicles interests of everyone, a world in the Labour Party to adopt it at the with electric models won’t suffi - which clean air, water, and a safe 2019 conference. ciently reduce emissions so whole - climate are valued is eminently It’s important to view the GND sale change is necessary to swap possible. The effects of climate not as a singular policy, but a trans - traffic jams for trains, buses, bicy - breakdown are already apparent, formative programme centred on cles and pathways. A GND would but worse is to come if left the needs of people and environ - treat transportation as a public Jake Woodier is unchecked, with consequences mental protection above profit-seek - good to end our reliance on cars a campaigner that are near unimaginable. We’re ing and growth. Practically, the idea and provide truly affordable, effi - and organiser rapidly running out of time to do involves leveraging the power and cient methods of travel that don’t with Green New so, but we must organise for that resources of the state to intervene cost the earth. Deal UK better world before it’s too late. C

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CLIVE LEWIS

For a democratic revolution Clive Lewis did not make the cut for the leadership election but he set out a bold plan for people to take real control and transform society and the party. We reprint extracts below to inform debate on renewing Labour

fter the defeat of the ranks, we can build the movement 2019 election, it is needed to defeat the essential that Labour Conservatives and form a gen - maps out a new plan uinely transformational govern - not only for the party, ment. Confronted by the great Abut for the country. The danger of challenges, from climate change to a racist and authoritarian back - the emerging digital world, we lash under this Conservative gov - must demonstrate that we have a ernment is very real; so, too, is the powerful and effective case for risk of continued austerity. We meeting them and building a fair - will continue to fight, as part of a er, more sustainable, and more global movement, against the equal country. greatest threat of our age – that of climate change. But beyond the Our political system is broken necessity of opposing Boris and our democratic institu - Johnson’s government, and work - tions are not fit for purpose ing with others to do so, we must lay out a clear and credible route • We must introduce propor - back to government, since it is tional representation. Our current only in government that we can electoral system is failing all of us. transform our country. A majority of British voters in the The 2019 Manifesto presented last two elections voted for parties an alternative vision of our coun - of the left and centre-left, but this try; we seek in the following to is not reflected in the results. In rate demands and democracies of sharpen and simplify that picture, government, we should commit to Wales and Scotland. We will not so that it can presented as a clear the introduction of genuinely pro - oppose a second referendum on and necessary case for every part portional representation. independence in Scotland, if the of Britain. These proposals are • We must abolish the House of Scottish people want one, but we intended to provide a signpost for Lords. We will only support will argue for the maximum possi - a possible future, not a complete replacements that are genuinely ble devolution of powers inside the prescription for government. They democratic and elected on a pro - to its constituent are raised to promote further dis - portional basis. nations. cussion in our movement. All poli - • We must put power back in • We will create a new democ - cy should be assessed for its the hands of local councils. Local racy in England. The Westminster impact on people with protected councils have been stripped of system has also failed England, characteristics, including women. their authority, whilst a decade of leaving local councils without pow - Our route back to government austerity has seen their budgets ers, and an undemocratic begins with a recognition that the fall by 60%. We must transfer Parliament in Westminster, core question we face today is that powers back to councils and local whilst Scotland and Wales enjoy of democracy. We must answer the governments, removing the devolved governments. We will demand for greater power and Westminster diktat, granting create new democratic Assemblies control in people’s lives not only by them new revenue-raising and for the English regions, with real providing the material means by spending powers, and expanding powers and budgets. which people can live better – their procurement and planning • We will extend the franchise from higher pay to public services powers. We will also look at ways in national and local elections to that work – but by transforming to make Councils more account - all UK residents aged 16 or above. the institutions under which we able and democratic as institu - If you live here, you should have all live, from Parliament to local tions. the right to vote, regardless of authorities to how our businesses • We will establish a which passport you hold. are run. And by working with oth - Constitutional Convention to cre - • We will establish a national ers today, we can show how, in ate a written constitution. mechanism to bring women and government, we can meet the Learning from examples like girls’ voices into government. demands of our people for a funda - Iceland, we will create an open, Since the Women’s National mental change in how our country democratic national Commission (WNC) was abol - is run and how their lives our gov - Constitutional Convention, free ished, there has been no public erned. from Westminster influence and body to represent women’s voices By placing democracy at the with the maximum public partici - to government. centre of what we do, by changing pation, to draw up a new, written our internal party cultures and constitution for the United Our media favours the interests procedures, by learning to work Kingdom. of the super-rich and their hang - better with others beyond our own • We must recognise the sepa - ers-on.

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• We must retain all of our relief measures to deal with aus - 2019 commitments to implement terity. Leveson, and democratise the • We must practice what we BBC. Public trust in the BBC as a preach internally on income public service broadcaster has inequality. We should impose a taken a hammering, perhaps espe - pay ratio between best and worst cially during last year’s election. paid Labour Party staff of no more To end the capture of the BBC by than 5 to 1. elite interests, we will devolve pro - • We must as a party look to gramme-making and editorial help build and support a new functions to the nations and media ecosystem. We should look regions, and establish a system of to build working relationships localised, democratic management with new media and support party and commissioning established, members establishing new outlets, with licence-payers and BBC staff particularly on a regional and electing regional boards. local level. • In return for radical demo - • We will hold a deliberative cratic reform of the BBC, it must convention in our Party to formu - be freed from the persistent fear of late and agree on a package of political interference. We propose democratic constitutional reforms 20-year charter renewal alongside for Labour. We should look at democratisation of the BBC reforming and democratising the Board, and placing the BBC itself National Executive Committee, on a permanent, statutory footing. including greater transparency, The new British Digital broadening the procedure for elec - Corporation should operate on the tion of a leader, and creating a same basis. more functional, democratic policy • We will support a far broader process with a sovereign confer - media ecosystem. We will entrust ence at its heart. the National Investment Bank • Our representatives must be and regional development banks accountable to the movement that Constituency Labour Parties the with support the development of put them in office. This means option to decide if they will stand new and independent media at a introducing Open Selections for all down in favour of better-placed national and local level. candidates at every level of the candidates with the same values. • We will explore as a matter of party, and giving members more We must be open to creating urgency the creation of new pub - say over the leadership of Labour alliances of progressive and licly-owned platforms enabling local councils. socialist organisations on a local content-producers to distribute • We will open up a “Democracy level, particularly given the and sell music, film and other out - Review 2.0” starting with the undemocratic electoral system we put without having to surrender question ‘How do we put more face. the bulk of their revenue to global power in party members’ hands?’ • We will invest in community corporations. The problem of how • We will set up an independent organising, ensuring every coun - to support professional artists in complaints function to deal with cil candidate and councillor all fields, in an era of free digital cases of racism, antisemitism, sex - receives community organising content, is an acute and urgent ual harassment, discrimination training. We will create a one. against protected characteristics, formidable Labour presence in and bullying. our communities, affecting real We need to change our party’s We must strive to lead a decen - change in local areas, under - internal culture, putting aside tralised social movement, dis - pinned by a community organis - our tribal differences tributing resources and autonomy ing strategy for each CLP. to our regions, whilst also build - • We should be seeking to help • The challenges we face, from ing alliances outside of the to mobilise national demonstra - the climate emergency to the Labour party on key issues. tions against spending cuts, pri - threat of war in the Middle East, • Our alliance with the trade vatisation and restrictions on are bigger than what we as a unions must be broadened and union rights, as well as support - party alone can tackle. We must strengthened on the ground. ing movements against foreign actively seek to work and engage Labour and the unions must work wars. with all those, whether in another together on a radical programme party or organisation or none, who of organising in our communities A modern economic frame - want to help us change the world and in the workplace. Only one- work that lifts all in our soci - we live in. third of party members are indi - For detailed ety • We will only become a social vidual members of a trade union plans for movement party when we are – every party member will be democratising Our plan for economic renewal open to others. We must change encouraged to join. and transforming is based on our understanding of an internal party culture that is • We should allow Scottish and work and the full the failings of 40 years of neolib - too often impenetrable and Parties full autono - manifesto see eralism for large parts of our uninviting to new members and my to decide on questions such as https://www.clive country. But the challenges of the non members. We should provide independence. They must become forleader.com/m future cannot be met by a rerun support and resources for branch - the Labour Parties of Scotland anifesto/ of policies from the past. We must es and CLPs seeking to broaden and Wales, not Scottish or Welsh use twenty-first century technolo - the Labour Party’s activities, branches of a largely English Clive Lewis is gies to give everyone more control including political education, cul - Labour Party. Labour MP over their working lives, and over tural events, and the provision of • We should allow South the profits that they produce. C

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SCOTTISH LABOUR

A better yesterday? Gerry Hassan says Labour has to execute a dramatic forward-looking change if it is to reverse decades of decline

cottish Labour has been on a downward spiral for a long time. The recent UK election saw it win a mere 18.6% of the vote, in tShird place behind the SNP and Tories, and reduced to just one seat – the same total won in the 2015 almost wipeout. The Scottish party has barely said anything relevant to debates since it lost power to the SNP in 2007 and is currently going nowhere. This has consequences not only for Labour’s path back to office in the UK – meaning the party has to win big in England to the extent it did in 1945, 1966, 1997 and 2001 – to offset Scottish loses. Politics north of the border suffer from the absence of a coherent, plausible Scottish Labour leader Richard Leonard alternative to the left of the SNP – the Greens not being powerful could happen if a referendum is fur - Moxham, Deputy General Secretary enough to fulfill that role. ther down the line with a chaotic, of the STUC commented: ‘Trade Post-election Labour are revisit - damaging Brexit where it became union members were very evenly ing their position on independence clear that Labour couldn’t win in split over independence in 2014. For and the constitutional question. England. the SNP to effect a decisive shift in There are at least five distinctive This is what happens to a party the support for independence …they positions. First, it could double in serious decline. No option comes will need an offer which speaks to down on status quo unionism. without risks. Doing nothing carries the potential for a fundamental However this is dressed up it is a threats as does every other choice. shift in poverty and inequality and complete dead end for the party con - The Labour experience of Brexit for a Just Transition to tackle cli - firming it as an advocate for consti - points to the dangers in trying to be mate change.’ tutional conservatism. all things to all voters. But it also Too many Scottish Labour politi - Second, it could embrace federal - underlines the damage that can be cians – Richard Leonard being a ism – often cited rhetorically by caused by delay and dithering, good example – pepper their speech - . The devil in this is which increases the prospect, once a es with Labour totems from the past in the detail – and so far Labour in change policy has been adopted of such as , Mary Barbour Scotland and the UK has not pro - voters questioning its sincerity, and Red Clydeside. It comes from a duced in its entire history one hence undermining its effective - romanticised, sentimental view of detailed set of proposals. ness. Scotland and the working class, Third, is the position currently It isn’t very surprising that at with little relevance for the present being debated of supporting a future every Scottish Parliament election and future. referendum. This can be seen as a since 1999 Scottish Labour has fall - The irony is that Labour was narrow process point or about the en back. It won 908,392 votes in the once a party of the future - at its principle of democracy and self-gov - first Scottish elections constituency peak appeal in the 1940s, 1950s and ernment, but does not really go far vote and by 2016 had fallen to 1960s. Over this period, which prob - enough in addressing what Labour 514,261 votes in constituencies – a ably ended in the mid-1960s, stands for on this big question. fall of 43.4%. Meanwhile its Labour projected a vision of Fourth, the party could decide Westminster support has fallen Scotland that was forward looking, that having moved on the above it even further from 1,283,350 in 1997 Gerry Hassan is dynamic and ambitious and did big, was too much to take a stand on to 511,838 in 2019 - a collapse of co-author of ‘The bold things such as massive house independence. Rather it could say 60.1%. People’s Flag building, slum clearance, public that it was trying to heal a divided Labour MSP Neil Finlay says: ‘I and the Union health programmes and the hydro- Scotland and concentrate on bread am clear taking a hard unionist Jack: An electric schemes in the Highlands. and butter issues. This has echoes approach will be a disaster. We can - Alternative of the abdication of responsibility not fail on this for one second History of Britain That Labour Scotland is a long that was Labour’s policy on Brexit longer, we need to develop a credi - and the Labour time ago, and for decades now the post-2016 which cost it dearly in ble and workable devo max position Party’ (Biteback) party has been one harking back to 2019. based on the principle that all pow - and ‘The Strange the past, seeming to promise a bet - Fifth, would be Labour in ers should be devolved to the lowest Death of Labour ter yesterday. It has to change and Scotland supporting independence. possible level.’ Scotland’ do so dramatically if it is speak to This would be a dramatic shift and The trade unions are key movers (Edinburgh the future, help shape it, and have a isn’t likely in the near-future, but in the labour movement. Dave University Press). future itself. C

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IRISH ELECTIONS

Irish Election marks seismic shift Jerry Fitzpatrick on the historic victory for Sinn Fein and what it means for Irish unity

n a Saturday a hundred years ago the Irish went to polls and elect - ed Sinn Fein MPs with a massive majority Othus heralding the end of British rule in Ireland. On a Saturday in February 2020 the Irish electorate propelled Sinn Fein into winning the top spot in terms of the popular vote and securing equal top ranking of TDs elected. For the last hundred years the two centre right parties, Fianna Fail and Fine Gael, have dominated Government as alternating twee - dledee and tweedledum administra - tions. Conservative social and eco - Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald nomic policies prevailed with the Catholic Church exercising a domi - tive economic and social commit - a new election will happen within a nant influence. ments. Brexit did not feature as couple of years. Clearly the danger Ireland has changed utterly. In a either a vote gainer or a vote loser. of Sinn Fein or Left parties acting to 2015 Referendum 62% voted to The National Party, an explicitly prop up the conservative parties legalise same sex marriage and in a anti immigration party akin to should be avoided. 2018 Referendum 66% voted to UKIP polled at 0.2% of first prefer - Prospects for Irish Unity legalise abortion. The combined ence votes. The combination of Brexit and votes for Fianna Fail and Fine Gael The political youthquake was this election result have boosted have been falling from a high of also apparent with a record of and advanced the prospects for 81% in 1977, down to 69% in 2007 young voters flocking to Sinn Fein. achieving a united Ireland. There but now down dramatically to 44% The IRA’s armed struggle campaign is an appetite both north and south of the electorate in 2020. Twenty is increasingly being regarded as for progressing towards unity par - years ago Sinn Fein polled 2% with part of Irish history. The ceasefires ticularly with regard to the nega - one TD elected. In 2020 the Sinn of 1994 are now over 25 years ago. tive economic impacts of Brexit at Fein vote surged to 25% with 37 To many young voters the ‘Troubles’ the end of 2020. The Westminster TDs elected. are not that different from the war Government will continue to refuse The 2020 result is seismic and of independence which featured the a Border Poll. However, learning transformative for the Left and forerunners of today’s Fianna Fail from the Brexit debacle, a Forum Irish Republicanism. No one fore - and Fine Gael. And, following Gerry will be created to devise a new con - saw the scale of this political tsuna - Adam’s retirement, Mary Lou stitution for an agreed united mi. Sinn Fein did not stand enough McDonald has presented a new Ireland and all the necessary tran - candidates to maximise seat gains. appealing image and leadership for sitional steps that would be One woman candidate went on a Sinn Fein. It was striking that Sinn required. External events will family holiday and another woman Fein voters led all age groups except determine the timeline. The next candidate put up 20 posters. Both those over 65 years of age. UK election is likely in 2024. these Sinn Fein candidates ended Despite the euphoria of this Eventually the Scots will be up as poll toppers. Under the Irish transformative election, a word of enabled to hold Indyref2 with a PR system the re-distributed Sinn caution is required. The Left parties real possibility of achieving Fein vote surpluses secured the do not have a parliamentary majori - Scottish independence. An Irish election of candidates from other ty. 80 TDs are required to form a border poll will follow with an left wing parties’ and Green candi - majority Government with a non- agreed united Ireland emerging dates. voting Speaker. The Left parties and thus ending the British Time for Change including the Greens plus 8 sympa - imposed partition of Ireland. The time for change and hope thetic Independents equals 74 TDs. The seismic electoral shift message from Sinn Fein and Left The combined total of Fianna Fail towards Sinn Fein and the Left is candidates resonated with the elec - and Fine Gael equal 72 TDs. The now unstoppable. The incoming torate. The critical issues of hous - remaining 13 Independents are unstable conservative coalition will ing, homelessness, health services wary of supporting either bloc. collapse within two years. And and working class families disen - Fianna Fail has ruled out any coali - then a broad left socialist chantment with living standards tion arrangement with Sinn Fein. Jerry Fitzpatrick Government beckons delivering that were prioritised by Sinn Fein After weeks of wrangling the out - is a Dublin-based transformative economic and social surged to the top of the agenda. The come is likely to be a Fianna journalist and changes. This Government will be miserable records of Fine Gael and Fail/Fine Gael coalition supported was a founding led by Mary Lou, the first ever Fianna Fail were exposed. The Sinn by Independents or the Greens. member of the woman Taoiseach. An agreed unit - Fein manifesto for socialist change Whilst this frustrates the will of the British Labour ed Ireland is achievable within the echoed the British Labour Party’s electorate with its appetite for Party Irish next ten years. The times they are 2019 manifesto with its redistribu - change, it will also be unstable and Society a’changing. C

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DEVOLUTION

Power to the people? Duncan Bowie asks what power and what people in a discussion of devolution, spatial equity and socialism

any political activists including local elected politi - cians are becoming increasingly enthu - sMiastic about devolution. The fail - ures of central government have generated an understandable per - spective that surely we locally could do governance much better than the bureaucrats in Whitehall’ or for that matter the politicians in the ‘Westminster bubble’. Both the London Mayor and the city Mayors of the northern cities and conglom - erations are arguing for more Westminster powers to be devolved. This goes beyond the Northern Power house lobby led by Andy Burnham and Dan Jarvis, both former MPs who are now city Mayors of Greater Manchester and the Sheffield city region respective - ly, or other prominent local leaders such as the impressive Judith what powers should be devolved to times for operations or sizes of pri - Blake of Leeds, Nick Forbes of what level of governance – the old mary school classes, these are not Newcastle and Marvin Rees of issue of subsidiarity. In this context enforced consistently. Often the Bristol. I am focusing on devolution within failure to meet a target results in The UK2070 Commission on England and not whether there financial penalties rather than the Rebalancing the UK economy led should be further devolution to the provision of resources needed to by Lord Kerslake is also pushing nations on Scotland, Wales and deliver the target. further devolution. This article is Northern Ireland. The more local areas have to rely prompted partly by a questionnaire Much of the debate over devolu - on local resources and local political circulated on behalf of the tion in England is confused, with decisions, the greater the geograph - Commission by Devo Connect, a little distinction between devolving ical variation between service stan - devolution consultancy set up by powers from central government to dards. This is what is meant by Gill Morris, who previously worked regional bodies (elected or other - ‘spatial inequity’. The concepts of with Nick Raynsford (the former wise), to new sub-regional group - local self-sufficiency and local Labour housing and planning min - ings, such as city region Mayors or autonomy have consequences. ister), which appeared to presume combined authorities; to reinvigo - There is a separate question as to that all devolution was good and rated County Councils (so far as the appropriate level for decision the main question was how quick they still exist), to local districts or making for different services. we devolve rather than what pow - to parish councils, neighbourhood Clearly decisions about major ers are devolved and to whom. councils or even smaller area infrastructure projects such as HS2 Further, Paul Salveson’s regular organisations which have been or a new airport need to be taken at Chartist Points & Crossings col - established through the neighbour - a national government level, where - umn promotes regionalism and hood planning process. There are as a decision about where to site a advocates regional political parties, also countervailing pressures - for new park bench could be taken at a outside the existing party political larger local councils (with some very local level. structure. authorities already running com - However other services may The case for devolution goes bined services) or for powers to be require decisions at a range of levels down well after a decade of central transferred from local district to – take flood mitigation for example. government imposed austerity and county councils or to regional bod - This requires national policy and the diversion of three years wasted ies such as the Mayor of London. standards, which can identify areas arguing about BREXIT. The Tories Where access to services varies of potential flood risk and provide also managed to gain some limited between different areas, we often the resources for flood prevention popularity with their advocacy of hear the term ‘postcode lottery’. It and mitigation from a national bud - bringing planning nearer to the is of course not a lottery at all but a get. While neighbourhoods can have people through the introduction of result of varying access to resources Duncan Bowie is flood wardens and district councils, a neighbourhood planning system to provide services in different Chartist reviews county councils and emergency ser - in the 2011 Localism Act. areas and varying priorities, often editor and author vices can have resources for emer - However, as socialists, surely we as a result of local political deci - of several books gency intervention which can be need to discuss who benefits from sions. Where we have national on housing and accessed quickly and need to be different forms of devolution and standards, whether it be waiting planning based within easy reach of the flood -

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LABOUR LEADERSHIP

ed area. Local councils also need plans to ensure that residential and other development within a flood The path to power risk area is only constructed with full mitigation measures built into the development (if we are to build Jon Lansman says Rebecca Long-Bailey can unite the party and in the flood plain at all). So, either neighbourhood govern - win back lost seats ment or central government work - ing on its own will fail. To take ur mass membership – another issue – affordable housing. almost 600,000 of them Central government needs a policy – are overwhelmingly and investment framework with a committed to transfor - plan that identifies which areas of mative politics. The par - the country have the most acute lOiamentary party, though well to the shortfall of affordable housing and left of where it was in 2015, is far which of these areas cannot fund more equivocal. But the membership the meeting of these needs from are not a fan club, their willingness local resources. District councils to turn the Labour Party into a cam - need to allocate sites (often over-rid - paigning force in our communities ing local objections), but an inter- and workplaces is vital to our victory To win again, we need to look and authority agreement through a sub- and they are not willing to just take sound like it. It’s our members and regional plan is required where a whatever line is handed down. That trade unions, on the front line in local authority does not have devel - means the party can only be led from workplaces and communities, who opable land within its area to meet the left, by a leader willing to will make that a reality. the outstanding housing need. democratise policy making and the Then we can stir up a democratic So the issue of devolving powers choice of candidates, and Rebecca revolution. We need to break the is not a simple one. Central govern - Long-Bailey is uniquely qualified for hold of Westminster and the City ments have been quite enthusiastic that task. Unity requires a leader over our politics, and show people about devolving responsibilities who is committed to transform the that they can have the power to without devolving resources, or party, to democratise it so that it can achieve what they want to achieve. increasing the ability of local democratise the country. People want a better life for their authorities or other sub-national And when it comes to winning children - that’s aspiration - but we bodies to raise additional resources. back our lost voters, on this occasion, can only secure that together - that’s Central government can then blame I agree with a Tory MP - Richard socialism. local councils and local politicians Holden who won NW Durham off That’s something powerful to say for service failures. Meanwhile local Laura Pidcock - who suggests to all of our heartlands, from Blyth politicians will blame central gov - Rebecca Long-Bailey is Labour's best to Brixton. A credible story of how ernment for not providing sufficient hope to win back former Labour vot - we will help people improve their resources (even where they could ers. “Some people argue that lives. raise more resources locally but Labour's best hope of winning the Our Green Industrial Revolution have chosen not to). As the blame next general election is to ditch can bring people together. It unites game continues, residents blame all Corbynism and move back to the young people, who want to fight for politicians, local, national, or as in centre,” he says but argues that our planet’s survival, with workers recent years, the ‘unelected bureau - Labour's problem may not be that it in every community, who will see crats of the EU’, even though of all is too socialist, but rather that it new green jobs and lower bills, and levels of government, it is generally failed to accept the majority vote for the whole country proud to be world the EU that has least to do with ser - Brexit - and Sir Keir was one of the leaders in combating the climate cri - vice failures in the UK. most vocal figures within the Labour sis. National government have some Party arguing for a second referen - The Green Industrial Revolution responsibility for ensuring that all dum. can be for us what the NHS was to residents of the UK have access to a Here is how Rebecca Long-Bailey the 1945 Labour government. Our good quality of essential services, put her case for the leadership: huge, era defining project to combat irrespective of where they live in the ‘I know if you desperately wanted the climate crisis and transform the UK. This means that we need to use a Labour government, the general lives of people across this country. the resources of better off areas to election was devastating. I wouldn’t My plan – based on aspirational help those in the poorer areas. This blame you for looking for an easy socialism, a Green Industrial is not just an issue of London and option to win next time. Give up on Revolution, empowering our move - the South East against the North, something here, be less forthright ment and a democratic revolution – as it is often presented, but also an there and we can win, you might is our path back to power. issue of inequities within a city like hope. When we win the next general London - or Birmingham or But believe me, the path of election, I want you to be able to say Manchester or Glasgow. This despair is also the path to defeat. To that you stared defeat in the face should be an important issue for give people hope that change is pos - last time. You felt the pain. But you socialists. It is after all why we cam - sible, we have to forge a path to picked yourself up and were part of paign for a socialist administration power. a new path to power. not just at local council level but at The first step is to empower our So, let’s empower our movement national level. So when we hear of movement. We aren’t just a different to show that big change is possible the devolution case and bringing team of politicians in Westminster, Jon Lansman is a through a democratic revolution power to the people, we need to alternating power with the Tories. member of that delivers aspirational socialism think ’what power?’, ‘what people?’ Our party was born in communities Labour’s NEC and and a Green Industrial Revolution. and ask who will actually benefit like mine and many of those we lost founder of That’s our path to power. Let’s and who will lose out. C in the election. Momentum take it together.’ C

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LABOUR LEADERSHIP

Resonating with the membership Andrew Coates looks at the main leadership candidates and finds Keir Starmer best placed to take the party forward

he December General the “continuity Corbyn” candidate, Corbyn inner-circle were strongly Election was a disaster has criticised Labour’s election against this policy. for Labour with 33% of campaign but defended its poli - In the leadership election the vote to the cies, including plans for public Starmer has called for party Conservatives 45%. ownership. She floated the idea of unity. Reflecting a consensus he WTith a call to ‘Getting Brexit “progressive patriotism”. Making opposes austerity, and has taken done” Boris Johnson has a majori - a ‘Green New Deal’ the centre - over a key Corbyn and McDonnell ty of 80. Labour did not coherently piece of her platform she follows policy on redistributive taxation. confront this issue during the elec - other European left parties. Starmer now argues for reintro - tion. It dangled the possibility of a Momentum and smaller left- ducing European freedom of better Brexit while offering the Labour groups have instructed the movement. He has strongly criti - possibility of a Second left to support her. cised the Trump Peace Plan for Referendum to make the final Keir Starmer has a background Israel and Palestine. choice. This failed to counter an on the radical left, including, dur - Starmer resonates with the image of Labour’s leader as “unfit ing the 1980s, editorship of the Labour membership because he is to hold high office”. The Party’s magazine Socialist Alternatives. seen as competent and open-mind - stream of ambitious policy He was active in the Socialist ed. There is no ‘cult’. Paul Mason announcements did not convince Society, the forerunner of the has described him as on the left, electors otherwise. magazine Red Pepper. During the with solid values, seen in his Hopes for a Corbyn-led left pop - 1990s Starmer was a respected record on human rights. A moral ulism may be at an end, but is a human rights barrister, involved socialism could help to bring the transformative socialist project in cases such as the McLibel trial. party toge ther, as would the still possible? As the campaign for Appointed under the last Labour removal of factionalists from posi - a new Labour leader, and deputy government as Director of Public tions of power. He looks the best leader, reaches the final stage, Prosecutions (2008 – 2013) his placed to undertake the strategic front-runners have made their record is open to the controversies review Labour needs. The space for pitch. this position entails. coherent policies, some building on has opposed auster - Starmer has not been a sup - the work on the teams around John ity, defended European freedom of porter of Jeremy Corbyn. As McDonnell and not a leadership movement, opposed racism and Shadow Home Secretary in 2016 clique, would be welcome. As some - “divisive nationalism”. Nandy’s he resigned in protest at the lead - body who first met Keir Starmer in call to win back those who voted ership. Appointed Shadow Brexit Paris in 1985, and as part of the Brexit in seats lost to the Secretary in the same year he pro-European radical left, some - Conservatives has seen her gain expressed the view, shared by a Andrew Coates is body not that far from our politics support from the traditional, pre- majority of Labour members, that a member of is somebody to support. The wider Blair, Labour right. there should be a public vote on Ipswich CLP and public seem to agree: Keir Starmer Rebecca Long-Bailey, seen as any Brexit deal. Many of the Chartist EB would make a good Labour leader. C

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HOSTILE ENVIRONMENT

Patients Not Passports: The fight for the future of our NHS While the coronavirus dominates the health headlines James Skinner and Aedin O’Cuill explain how the hostile environment has infected the NHS

n June 2019, just a few days prior to his 30th birthday, Simba Mujakachi developed the worst headache of his life. He woke up two weeks later iIn intensive care, surrounded by machines, nurses, and his con - cerned family. Simba had suffered a life-changing stroke which paral - ysed the left side of his body and affected his ability to speak. During the surgery needed to save his life, the doctors said he only had a 30% chance of survival . Eventually he moved from inten - sive care to a rehabilitation ward, asylum seeker’, Simba is not patients, and healthcare institutions and it was here that he was pre - allowed to work or to access vital opposed to NHS charging. sented with a £93,000 bill for his public services like the NHS. As a These campaigns are growing life-saving operation and stay in the direct result of these restrictions, rapidly, now supported by the ICU. Why did someone Simba’s age Simba now is living with the devas - Patients Not Passports toolkit that suffer such a significant stroke? tating impacts of his stroke as well contains the basic principles for how And how is it possible that our NHS as a debt to the NHS of over to advocate for patients, and how to is charging people for life-saving £100,000 that he will never be able get started campaigning wherever treatment? to pay. you are. The toolkit is accompanied The NHS is a service founded on Simba’s story is devastating, but by Medact’s briefing on charging – the principle that healthcare is a he is not alone. He one of a growing Patients Not Passports: Challenging human right and should be free to number of people who have been healthcare charging in the NHS . It all, regardless of ability to pay. Over denied the healthcare they need, explains where NHS charging came the last few years successive made destitute by huge hospitals from, deconstructs the racialised Governments have introduced poli - bills, or, in the worst cases, died as a myths the Government have used to cies designed to undermine these result of not being able to afford justify it, and provides a comprehen - principles and fundamentally alter treatment. This includes Nasar sive evidence base to support opposi - the NHS for the worse. The NHS is Khan , Elfreda Spencer , Albert tion to the policy. now forced to charge people upfront, Thompson , Kelemua Mulat , You can start taking action to before treatment, if they are unable Esayas Welday , Pauline Pennant , support the campaign right now: to produce the correct documenta - Beatrice , Saloum , Bhavani 1. Join us in calling for NHS tion. This means that NHS staff are Espathi , and countless others charging to be scrapped and use our increasingly pressured to act as bor - whose names we do not know. tool to write to the Department of der guards, having to carry out Every day, in hospital wards up Health – immigration checks on the patients and down the country, doctors, nurs - act.PatientsNotPassports.co.uk they are supposed to be treating. es and administrative staff are 2. Support the Justice for Behind the ID checks and upfront asked to make impossible decisions Simba campaign, sign the petition charging is a complex web of data about whether or not to treat ill and donate to his fundraiser sharing arrangements through patients. Given the harm to patients 3. Organise - people across which NHS Trusts share patient and the threat to the NHS’ values the country are organising locally to information with the Home Office they represent, it is no wonder that call on Trusts to resist the charges. which is then used to identify and these policies have been met with We can support you step by step to deport people . outrage and mass resistance. start a campaign where you are. For Simba has a blood clotting condi - Campaigns opposing charging are more information email tion that puts him at a much higher emerging in cities and towns across James Skinner, is [email protected] or risk of stroke than the general pop - the county in: Birmingham, a Nurse and [email protected]. There ulation. Despite knowing this he Brighton, Bristol, Hastings, Leeds, Access to might already be a campaign where was unable to access regular care Leicester, Liverpool, London, Healthcare you are via the NHS because he could not Manchester, Newcastle, Oxford, and Campaigner at The campaign is open to all, and afford it. Prior to having the stroke, Sheffield. Medact, Migrants Medact. all will be needed in order to suc - he had not seen his specialist team Organise, and Docs Not Cops are ceed. Here are some ways you can for months. Simba has lived in the working to support these campaigns Aedín O’Cuill, is get involved. UK since he was 14 but the Home and, alongside groups like Keep Our a junior doctor Follow @MigrantsOrg @Medact & Office has repeatedly refused his NHS Public, are building a nation - and member of @DocsNotCops on Twitter to stay in application for asylum. As a ‘refused wide movement of NHS staff, Docs Not Cops touch. 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YOUTH VIEW

Johnson gets tougher on child refugees Alice Arkwright says the new ‘compliant environment’ both abuses and rejects asylum seekers

n the 6th February pounding factors, most are unable UK. this year, 90 migrants to accrue any savings whilst in the • Over a third of destitute were intercepted by UK. women were forced into unwanted UK authorities If refugee status is granted, peo - relationships, in many cases lead - attempting to cross ple then have 28 days before their ing to sexual and physical violence. tOhe English Channel – the highest asylum support is cut. Given that • As a result of being home - number to be intercepted on a sin - it is virtually impossible for most less, a quarter of women were gle day ever. to find a job within this time and raped or sexually abused when The numbers of people crossing many have no savings to fall back sleeping outside or in other peo - the Channel has risen sharply in on, the advice is to apply for ple’s homes. 2019, compared to 2018, but as we Universal Credit as soon as possi - • Fears of deportation and move from the ‘hostile environ - ble. However, the minimum detention stopped the majority of ment’ to the ‘compliant environ - amount of time between applica - those affected from reporting ment’, what can migrants expect tion and receipt of funds from abuse to the police. when they arrive in 2020? Universal Credit is five weeks Home Office policies are actively The rhetoric of the government meaning most will have at least a resulting in experiences of sexual has not appeared to change. When week where there is no support, violence and fear which prevents being asked about migrants mak - pushing many into homelessness. people from reporting and seeking ing the journey, Boris Johnson If the asylum claim is refused, help. recently said “We will send you support is cut after 21 days and is Our system also expects women back. The UK should not be only continued if people meet clear to talk openly, clearly and frankly regarded as a place where you criteria, for example if they have a to a stranger about the sexual vio - could automatically come and pending Judicial Review claim. In lence and trauma they have expe - break the law by seeking to arrive reality it is incredibly difficult to rienced without counselling. This illegally. If you come illegally, you continue receiving asylum support is often impossible for people who are an illegal migrant, and I’m after a claim is refused without have experienced it and are there - afraid the law will treat you as high quality legal advice, which fore at risk of not being believed. such.” due to cuts in legal aid, many can’t Charities and lawyers have access. What needs to change rightly called for the government These policies are actively The violence and poverty that to recognise that everyone has the designed to deter people from seek - asylum seekers experience in the right to claim asylum and using ing asylum, but research by UK is a consequence of the way the term illegal to describe those Women for Women Refugees done our system is designed. Instead of seeking asylum is wrong. this year demonstrates they are providing an empathetic, human The government has also recent - ineffective. They spoke to 106 asy - rights centred response, our sys - ly scrapped a commitment from lum seeking and refugee women tem requires asylum seekers not the Brexit withdrawal agreement about their experiences of destitu - only relive their trauma but cre - that allows unaccompanied child tion and almost all said that ates new forms of suffering refugees to reunite with families in despite the hardship they had through experiences of sexual vio - Britain. faced, they would not return to lence, detention and the torment of their home countries as they did not being able to find safety in a Policies of the Home Office not feel safe. country where they have sought Since the announcement of the These policies are enacted in an refuge. compliant environment, there has environment of disbelief and suspi - There are clear policy changes been virtually no change to the cion from the Home Office, but that could end this, including: policies that push people into des - also wider society. Public service • Asylum seekers being titution. providers and private individuals granted the right to work in the UK. Asylum seekers in the UK are such as landlords are now forced to • Extending the period peo - not permitted to work and must carry out immigration checks. ple who have been granted refugee survive on asylum support, status receive asylum support. amounting to £5.39 a day. A condi - Sexual violence • Ensuring support contin - tion of receiving this is that asy - The research by Women for ues for those who have been refused lum seekers must not receive sup - Women Refugees also found asylum until they have confirmed port from other sources. Many extremely high levels of sexual vio - immigration status in the UK or experience delays in receiving lence amongst this group. have returned to their country of ori - their asylum support and the Their results demonstrated gin. Home Office has recently scrapped that: • Ending the requirement its target of processing most asy - • Almost one-third of the for specialised services to share lum cases within six months, with women who had experienced rape Alice Arkwright immigration data so asylum seekers some people waiting up to 10 years or sexual violence in their home works for the can seek help from the NHS and for a decision. Due to these com - country also experienced it in the TUC Police. C 22 CHARTIST March/April 2020 #303 working_01 cover 24/02/2020 22:06 Page 23

CONSTITUTION

The unavoidable first battle of Trump Toryism Trevor Fisher warns the Johnson threat to our constitution is the battle of 2020 lying under the radar of the 2019 election was the agreement of Labour and the Conservatives that the Fconstitution is bust. The approaches to solve the problem were of course very different, but it is clear this is going to become a priority for this government – as they have said in the Queens Speech. Changing the rules is the key to the Trump Tory political programme for reshaping Britain making this the challenge for 2020. This is a challenge that cannot be ignored. Alas few Party members seem to know what Labour said in the manifesto. Starmer and Long Bailey both make constitutional reform commitments, which can - not be operated as Labour lost the election. So let us revisit what was said behind the dull heading CONSTITUTIONAL ISSUES. The manifesto had a key state - ment to wit “For many people, MPs have devoted themselves to the right to determine constitu - politics doesn’t work. The thwarting the democratic decision tional changes alone, as Labour’s Westminster bubble is a world of the British people in the 2016 gesture to a Citizens Convention away from their daily lives” and a referendum – has opened up a … led by a Citizens Assembly recog - limited but important commit - rift between politicians and peo - nized. The way forward is to use ment that “the renewal of our ple… It is only by getting Brexit something which is already estab - parliament will be subject to rec - done that we can start the neces - lished – the mechanism of a Royal ommendations made by a UK sary task of restoring public trust Commission. wide Constitutional Convention, in government and politics.” Given that the Tories will act led by a citizens assembly”. No short review can summarise this year, the only existing way to This commitment seems close the anti-democratic thrust of the put a spoke in the Trump Tory to what the Tories promised in Tory approach, which is anti par - wheel is to produce a Royal their manifesto. The ill named liamentarian and anti the free - Commission. Parliament will PROTECT OUR DEMOCRACY dom of the judiciary – the latter make the final decision on what section (p47-48) stated “In our being given lip service at the the terms of reference should be. first year we will set up a start but so clearly not the case in But prior to that a process of dis - Constitution, Democracy and practice. The lawyers, virtually cussion defining the issues should Rights Commission that will … alone in the political class – have be a national priority. The main come up with proposals to restore protested. reason is to stop a right wing Tory trust in our institutions and in More than protests are needed. clique deciding what constitution - how our democracy works”. But The constitution is indeed broken al changes shall happen. But this the agenda behind what appears as both major parties have real - rests on a fundamental principle to be an open discussion of the ized, confusing ordinary people – no one party has the right to constitution is massively different as the 2016 referendum showed. decide the rules. to Labour’s tentative proposal The Tories intend to resolve the The two manifestoes pointed up and is hinged on removing demo - confusion by changes which will the constitutional problem. The cratic rights –making the power institutionalize elected dictator - Tory proposal would undermine of the executive overwhelming. ship. There will be no written our rights not enhance them. It is The Johnson administration is constitution, which is a bridge too urgently necessary to produce a after all the one which prorogued far, meaning ad hoc changes wider debate than Number 10 is parliament and resented being which Labour cannot stop. currently planning – and given told by the judiciary this was Johnson has an obedient 80 that Labour cannot implement its unconstitutional. At the opening strong majority pledged to imple - manifesto commitment, a wider of this Manifesto section it states ment the Tory commission. Trevor Fisher is a campaign will be needed. The “The failure of parliament to Yet there is a weakness in member of Tory Challenge has to be met deliver Brexit – the way so many Johnson’s position. No party has Stafford CLP head on. C

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FILM REVIEW

The struggle to overthrow patriarchy is ongoing

he film Misbehaviour new personal secretary agrees on as a springboard to a future Patrick focuses on the disruption to the star’s behalf, without being career. Pearl also explains how Mulcahy Tthe 1970 Miss World con - aware that Bob’s wife Dolores she is limited in who she can test, when members of the (Manville) disapproves. In 1961, meet and what she can say; dis - on the birth Women’s Liberation Movement Hope hosted the show and obedience means never seeing her caused the live BBC broadcast to brought the Welsh winner, mother again. of modern go off air. Yet the mostly female Rosemarie Frankland back to Humour comes from Eric ensemble headed by Keira Hollywood in a futile attempt to demonstrating how the contes - Women’s Knightley and including Jessie make her a star – the two had an tants should behave in their Buckley, Keeley Hawes, Gugu affair. Rosemarie eventually mar - moment of victory – he puts on Lib Mbatha-Raw and Lesley Manville ried another man but became a the crown and cape and moves are all but eclipsed by Rhys Ifans drug addict and died of an over - with solemn slowness. When the (almost unrecognisable) and Greg dose in 2000. Eric is visited by the broadcast begins, the sexist BBC Kinnear as Eric Morley, who commentary needs no embel - started the Miss World con - lishment to draw derision. test for the 1951 Festival of The script by Rebecca Britain, and comedian Bob Frayn and Gaby Chiappe is Hope respectively. The vil - nuanced. The protestors do lains really do have the best have a difficulty: they need to parts. denounce the contest without Knightley plays divorced disrespecting the contestants. single mother Sally Sally also has ambitions to sit Alexander, who at the start of at the top table. ‘My seat was the film, attends an interview a high-chair,’ she later com - for a place to study history at plains. There are numerous University College London scenes of Sally being ignored and is rated by two members in her tutorials. When she of the male panel. She says she wants to write about attends the first ever confer - women’s role in history, her ence of the Women’s tutor complains, ‘isn’t that a Liberation Movement in bit niche?’ Such dismissive Oxford where she meets Jo comments exist in universi - (Buckley, reprising her Wild ties today; my son received a Rose sassiness) who with her similar comment when he friends is putting a banana proposed making a film about skin on a male bust. ‘Don’t do a character with autism. that. Think of the person who (Stand up, University of has to clean up after you,’ Gloucestershire Film remarks Sally, a hint of the Production department.) campaign for the rights of The film’s most contentious night workers the real Sally element is the portrayal of pursued. In London, Sally Bob Hope. Kinnear plays the runs into Jo again as she man as an apologist for sex - defaces a poster with the message anti-Apartheid campaigner Peter ism, making a joke at the expense ‘Keep the woman in your life Hain, who insists that he does not of the protestors outside the the - happy – learn to cook’. She warns have South Africa represented by atre. Nevertheless, he is still an her that a policeman is approach - a white Afrikaaner. Eric responds entertainment icon who, having ing, allowing her to avoid arrest. by saying the country will be rep - died in 2003 aged 103, cannot Jo Ann invites Sally to a Women’s resented by both black and white answer back. Younger audiences group meeting in Islington and women – he gets his staff to find may be tempted to dismiss Hope’s soon Sally is writing posters and someone quickly. contribution to American comedy advocating engagement with the When director Philippa as a result. The film depicts all media to get her point across. She Lowthorpe introduces the contes - its characters in broad strokes, excites ire when the Islington tants arriving in London for the save for Jennifer and Pearl. In group issues posters that con - first time, the film comes to life. the end, you learn something demn the Miss World competi - Air hostess Miss Grenada, about the period, laugh a little, tion. Sally is nominated to speak Jennifer Posten (Mbatha-Raw) but don’t have a transformative in a television panel, where she makes friends with Miss Africa experience. The film’s best line makes her points well but is dis - South, Pearl Jansen (Loreece appears in the end credits – and regarded by the male host and Harrison) whilst being introduced is the title of this review. It also the other guests. to their chaperones. They illus - sums up the quiet rage that exists In parallel, we see the prepara - trate the opportunities that the still. tions for the 1970 contest, includ - beauty contest afforded – foreign ing co-show runner Julia Morley travel, representing their country Misbehaviour is released in UK (Hawes) calling Bob Hope. Hope’s abroad and using the experience cinemas on Friday 13 March

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BOOK REVIEWS

On guard in the East End

Glyn Ford We Fight Fascists: The 43 Group and an active member and the Group - if in the days when we were Their Forgotten Battle for Post-war published and pugnaciously sold small and weak, our opponents on fighting Britain ‘On Guard’ from 1947-49. The had understood our aims and Daniel Sonabend ‘martyr’ was a ‘deep entryist’ into intentions, and smashed with the fascists Verso £20 Mosley’s Union Movement, utmost determination the nucleus Wendy Turner, who ended a vic - of our new movement’. It was ere is a history of ’The 43 tim of ‘friendly fire’. Set on by rough trade. Both sides fought Group’ who fought re- four women members of the dirty. ‘Light bulbs, razors, a piece Hemerging fascism in Group after a chance encounter of iron encased in rubber, a radio London and the provinces she was ‘beaten to a pulp’. She valve, and even a horseshoe’ between 1946-50. The core of the disappeared, then went to a formed the inventory after seven Group were Jewish ex-service - sanatorium eventually commit - Group members were arrested in men steeped in the - often imme - ting suicide. 1948. The ultimate deterrents diate - horrors of the holocaust. were their ‘home visits’ to The Fascist leadership had had The Group voluntarily disband - unfriendly fascists. At one point, its slate kept clean by the ed in 1950 with ‘job done’ as although there was a communist wartime Coalition. Interned Oswald Mosley, the Union cell at the core of the Group, the under Defence Regulation CPGB anxious to shed its 18B for much of the war disreputable image dissoci - the fascists tried to rein - ated itself from the violent stall themselves back on clashes on the East End the streets of London’s streets. East End. It was far from There is a certain tedium self-evident that they could and monotony to the ‘Bash be brushed aside and driv - the Fash’ genre. Whether it en back into the margins. is the tales of the Their support came from Squadristi born out of the three sources, intrinsic, SWP and ANL and ulti - contingent and collateral, mately disowned by both, apart from the remnants of told with pride in No Oswald Mosley’s thirties Retreat by Dave Hann and British Union of Fascists Steve Tilzey (Milo Books, (BUF). There was a residu - 2003) and prejudice with al anti-semitism and those When We Touched The Sky that blamed the war and/or by Dave Renton (New Attlee’s Government for Clarion Press, 2006) or the their current misery. Bread next iteration account of rationing came after, not Anti-Fascist Action and the during, the war and con - hard-core cadre Red Action scripts were now being sent Beating the Fascists by to the mines. The ‘Jewish Sean Birchall (Freedom Chronicle’ reported a 1948 Press, 2010) it is the same survey revealing that there catalogue of fights - mainly had been a significant - won and lost, of heroes increase of anti-Jewish and villains until eternal feeling in sections of the vigilance triggers a regen - Labour Party. And finally, eration. there was Palestine. Here Sonabend has partly British forces were fighting avoided the trap of invento - Jewish paramilitaries. ry that snared the first When the ‘Irgun’ kidnapped and Movement and their fellow trav - chronicler, Morris Beckham, in murdered Clifford Martin and ellers disappeared back into the his The 43 Group (1992) and the Mervyn Price, two British sol - dark political margins of British rest of the class above. All these diers, leaving the bodies swinging politics. They certainly played authors were adherents - or in the from trees in July 1947 anti- their part, but so too did Mosley case of Renton an apostate - at Jewish riots followed in himself when he rebuilt his fas - the heart of the struggle. Instead Liverpool, Glasgow and cism on the foundations of ‘histo - of itemized mayhem, it’s clunky Manchester. ry and culture’ rather than ‘lan - politics. The CPGB would never This external backdrop was guage and nation’. For him the have described Willie Gallagher rivalled by internal dissent. The future was the clash of civiliza - as a ‘Scottish Communist Labour Board of Deputies wanted noth - tions, not nations. Far too erudite MP’, nor - outside the pages of the ing to do with them, nor did the then and now for followers of fas - Daily Mail - would the Common staid Association of Jewish Ex- cism preferring the narrow xeno - Wealth Party have been designat - Servicemen (AJEX). Yet they had phobia and hatreds of UKIP and ed ‘communist’. That’s the only their supporters, Marks & the Brexit Party. quibble. That Sonabend rescues Spencer, Bud Flanagan and box - They - like all physical force the ‘43 Group’ from the obscurity ing promoter Jack Solomons. anti-fascist groups - driven by of Beckham’s partial and They also had celebrity, paper Hitler’s view ‘Only one thing impugned account can be consid - and a martyr. Vidal Sassoon was could have stopped our movement ered a victory.

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BOOK REVIEWS

An uprising or a massacre? Duncan Peterloo demonstration was just one of a use of force. This clearly was not Robert Poole series of mass demonstrations in the case. The section on the final Bowie Oxford University Press £25 the Manchester area. The reform - chapter ’The Reckoning’ entitled ers resolutions, which they were ‘An English uprising’ makes ref - on a ast year’s bicentenary saw unable to present before the erence to subsequent events such numerous publications and attack of the yeomanry and hus - as the Queen Caroline demon - seminal Lcommemorations of this sars, were the standard demands strations and Cato Street major event in working class his - for parliamentary reform as pro - Conspiracy of 1820 and the study of a tory. Whether or not you saw moted over the previous decade Bristol Reform riots of 1831 (in seminal Mike Leigh’s film, you should by the London based radical, which over 100 people were read this book, for this is the com - Major John Cartwright killed) as well as referring to dis - event prehensive study both of Peterloo (often not given his rightful role turbances in Scotland and and of its pre-history. Poole is a by historians, but given a key Ireland, but does not attempt to Greater Manchester based histo - place in this study), before being demonstrate that the Manchester rian who has edited previous taken up by orators such as demonstrations represented an studies of Peterloo and Henry Hunt (the star turn on the ‘uprising’. Manchester history as well as Manchester platform and later For those who are interested in having been historical adviser on MP for Preston). Such resolu - Manchester reform politics after the film, which explains why the tions were later advocated by the Peterloo, I would recommend read - film was so accurate, if a bit long- Chartist movement, contrasting ing Joanna Hayward’s 2017 vol - winded. But this book is local with the more insurrectionary ume on Abel Heywood, history at its best – it puts rhetoric of the London Spenceans, Manchester’s Radical Mayor and Manchester at the centre of the who were the following year to Rob Hargreaves and Alan story, but within a national con - attempt to assassinate the cabi - Hampson’s 2018 study; Beyond text. It provides a comprehensive net. Peterloo; Elijah Dickson and account of the events of 16th One major concern is with the Manchester’s Forgotten August 1819, but sets the back- book’s subtitle – The English Reformers. There is also Paul story by providing a detailed Uprising. Pickering’s 1995 study of account of the pre-history of the Given the entire narrative of Manchester Chartism and Michael reform movements in Manchester the book demonstrates that the Turner’s 1995 study of middle and the wider cotton-spinning Manchester reformers were class liberalism in early 19thC and weaving area. The research essentially peaceful, and made Manchester: Reform and is thorough and demonstrates an strenuous efforts to ensure that Respectability, as well as a num - impressive knowledge of a wide the demonstration on St Peter’s ber of studies by Manchester histo - range of sources as well as Field was non-threatening and rian, Alan Kidd, all demonstrating decades of archival study. The consequently that the massacre in there is a radical history beyond detailed study of Manchester which at least 18 people died and the capital. Readers for whom reformers is important, receiving hundreds injured was unprovoked Poole’s 450 page study is a bit little coverage in past studies and therefore without justifica - heavy, are directed to the graphic which (E P Thomson excepted) tion, to use the term’ uprising’ version for which Poole wrote the have been largely centred on the implies that the demonstration text: Peterloo: Witnesses to a London radical movement.Poole was an attempt to bring down the Massacre, published by the New shows that the August 1819 elected government through the Internationalist last year. Fighting back Duncan The Armenian Legionnaires Middle East. French senior officers and was Susan Pattie The book is based primarily on assembled and trained in Cyprus, Bowie I B Tauris £25 a collection of memoirs of legion - which had been captured by the naires, most of which were written British from the Ottomans in 1878 on sacrifice here have been many books in Armenian and many never pre - and incorporated into the British on the Armenian genocide, viously published. The legion - empire in 1914. The Armenian and Tsome prompted by the cente - naires fought partly seeking brigades then fought with General nary, including Ronald Suny’s revenge for the death of their rela - Allenby’s in betrayal comprehensive History of the tives and friends and destruction Palestine, participating in the vic - Genocide, previously reviewed for of their towns and villages, but tory over Ottoman and German Chartist by Pattie. Susan Pattie, also with the objective of re-estab - forces at the battle of Arara, near who is Director of the Armenian lishing an Armenian community Nablus in September 1918. They Institute in London but has also and ideally an independent or at then moved to Cilicia, where they been Director of the Armenian least autonomous state in the for - were part of the French-led occu - Museum of America in merly Armenian provinces of east - pying force. At the Paris Peace Massachusetts has now published ern Turkey, specifically in coastal Conference, the Armenian a study of the Armenian survivors Cilicia, where the genocide had National Delegation, led by of the genocide who together with been most complete. Boghos Nubar, argued that the six others from the Armenian diaspo - The Armenian legion was estab - eastern provinces of Turkey ra, joined French and British sol - lished as a component of the should become part of an indepen - diers to fight the Ottomans in the French Foreign Legion, with dent Armenian state. An indepen -

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dent Armenian state had already Transjordan. The US, who reject - been established in the Caucasus ed Wilson’s League of Nations, under the leadership of the returned to their pre-war isola - Armenian nationalist Dashnak tionism. This explains why the party, though this was to be incor - Armenian legionnaires felt porated in Soviet Russia after a betrayed. Soviet occupation in 1920. From the Turkish nationalist The American president, perspective, the Armenians had Woodrow Wilson, had proposed an supported their enemies, and con - autonomous Armenian state in sequently it is perhaps not sur - Cicilia and in fact this provision prising that many were obliged to was included in the treaty of flee their homeland, in some cases Sevres of 1920. The French then for the second time. The demobilised the Armenian legion. Armenian diaspora, whether in However, the government of the America, Cyprus, Syria or the new Turkish republic refused to Lebanon, has however maintained endorse the Treaty and with the a healthy diasporic culture and withdrawal of first British and memory, and Pattie, who has done then French forces, Cilicia togeth - much to contribute to the diaspo - er with the other ‘Armenian’ ra, has in this book, compiled not provinces of eastern Turkey were just a chronicle of the Armenian incorporated into the Turkish legion, but has produced a fasci - republic. nating compendium of images – Neither the US, the French or some 158 in total. the British were interested in tak - The book is in effect a portable ing on a League of Nations man - exhibition – most welcomed no date for Cilicia, the French taking doubt by the diaspora but also of the mandates for Syria and great value to anyone interested Lebanon, the British taking the in Armenian history or of the mandates for Palestine and aftermath of the First World War. From independence to civil war

Sarah South Sudan: The Untold Story because of structural factors: ries are long and justice and rec - Hilde F Johnson namely weak institutions, high onciliation processes have barely Hughes I.B. Tauris £15.99 expectations and the diseases of begun. Taking ownership, follow - corruption, rule of the gun, and a ing the example of Johnson in on the UN ilde Johnson was Special self-serving elite. While Johnson this account of the UN’s actions Representative of the UN doesn’t set out to give us an in- from 2011 – 2014, is a basic les - in South HSecretary General in depth treatment of root causes son for many still to learn. South Sudan and Head of her insider account does avoid Sudan UNMISS (the UN Mission) from simplistic ‘tribal’ or other analy - July 2011 to July 2014. She ses. already had close relationships Johnson makes no excuses for with senior figures inside and the UN and UNMISS. According outside the Government of South to her there was not enough polit - Sudan and a deep knowledge of ical focus, which when combined the country and its people from with a poor planning process her prior position as the Minister resulted in wrong decisions and for International Development of actions. However she insists that Norway. This is a frank and per - the humanitarian action taken on sonal account in which she December 16th 2004 to open the attempts to put on record the Mission compound gates to thou - events which took the country sands of civilians fleeing the from independence to civil war in fighting avoided what was poten - three tragic years, and in particu - tially a genocide. Likewise send - lar, the UN’s role in them. ing in the blue berets was justi - The book is largely a blow by fied. These actions, she claims, blow account of events from late caused the UN to become the 2012, culminating in the pivotal major scapegoat of the crisis. attacks of 15th December 2013 More than five years on from and their aftermath. But she puts the events described, what has these into the historical perspec - the UN learnt, and more impor - tive of the 1991 Bor massacre and tantly what have the government the 2004 crisis in order to situate and people of South Sudan her argument of three transitions: learnt? The book doesn’t really from war to peace, from liberation help us answer these questions, struggle to governance, and from but it succeeds in putting things independence to democracy. All of on record which is important these had failed, she concludes, enough in a country where memo -

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BOOK REVIEWS

To the cliff edge

Bryn Finance Capital Today. Corporations and morass managed to stave off dooms - exploitation of labour - that ought Banks in the Lasting Global Slump day and introduced emergency either to produce cheaper products Jones Francois Chesnais reforms, which banks and others or higher profits - and the increas - Haymarket Books £24.99 have since been trying to evade to ingly rapid rise of financial asset on financial get back on the same lucrative, but accumulation. Part of this over-pro - he main dynamics of today's perilous track. By 2018 their lend - duction/under-accumulation contra - globalisation financial globalisation are ing had raised the debt-to-GDP diction Chesnais attributes to the Tfairly well known. The dereg - ratio of 'developing economies' increasing institutional separation ulation of financial business from (including China) to a staggering of financial from productive capital, the 1980s, plus the reduction of tar - 168%. In 1970 the ratio was at reflected in the above mentioned iffs through transformation and 114%. Along the way banks' pres - market anarchy. The other factors expansion of the World Trade sured public sector debtors in are: 1) the effects of austerity which, Organisation, particularly China's Europe for bad debt repayments; together with the downward pres - inclusion, induced a transfer of sure on wages have cut manufacturing capacity from employment and social western countries to develop - incomes; and, 2) workers' ing, especially Far Eastern, increasing resort to debt societies. More crucially, these (consumer credit, mortgages changes facilitated a vast etc) to finance commodity expansion in the diversity and purchases. But despite this reach of financial capital. A historically informative proliferation of old and new account of finance capital as financial business, debts and the biggest cog in the global assets created a financial jun - financial-industrial gle beyond the effective control machine, Chesnais does not of financial authorities. convincingly resolve the Industrial and financial dichotomy he sets out investments competed with between the hegemony of each other to secure the high - finance capital in profit- est rates of profit across the making and the hyper- world. exploitation of labour for In western manufacturing surplus value made possible sectors, deregulated labour by neoliberal governance. markets and diminished trade Perhaps because the latter union power underpinned this concept on which a major trend. All of which assisted an academic and political dis - ideology which privileged course has developed, is 'shareholder value': maximis - alien to the Marxist econom - ing rates of return to investors ic canon. and, not coincidentally, the Somewhat predictably his corporate executive class. As conclusions lead into famil - the be-all and end-all of corpo - iar Marxist prognoses of rate strategy, shareholder inevitable, but dystopian value, led many big businesses limits to global capitalism. to cut research and develop - As the system cannot, ment, training and innovation, with precipitating the euro crisis of allegedly, reform itself and proletar - wage cutting and redundancies, to 2010/12, pushing countries like ian revolution is conspicuously boost profits for shareholders. Greece into near bankruptcy and absent, Chesnais ends up pondering In the financial sectors, a prolif - popular penury. a race to the environmental cliff eration of financial institutions, So, analyses such as that of edge from the uncontrollable forces such as hedge funds, wealth funds Chesnais are of potentially huge of capitalism versus social move - and speculative, diversified banks economic and political importance. ments' attempts to halt climate pursued the same incessant search However, he is often more con - change through system change. The for better and just marginally high - cerned to use these development to reader can, however, offset er profits. Trading and competing illustrate the value of Marxist con - Chesnais' perturbing lack of confi - with each other these bodies engi - cepts: 'fictitious capital ' (the money dence in the latter forces by recog - neered and expanded a range of banks create simply through issuing nising that capitalism has, in the new financial commodities, such as new loans), the inevitability of a past, been tamed and channelled credit derivatives for new invest - 'falling rate of profit', and the mis - into more humane forms by institu - ment opportunities and profits. We match between the extraction of tional and political reforms that his know where this Alice-in- surplus value from workers' produc - Marxist framework barely acknowl - Wonderland saga led. With poten - tive inputs and the over-accumula - edges. Arguably the search for such tially unrecoverable debts traded as tion of production - in which insuffi - new forms of 'agency' is what the assets, the whole house of cards cient workers can afford to buy politics of a Green Industrial nearly collapsed as US 'sub-prime' industrial capital’s products. Revolution is all about. We can only mortgage lending became worthless One of Chesnais's main and com - hope that such missions can take in 2008. mendable aims is to account for the on, pension off, or refashion the The authorities who had hubris - exact divergence between, on the finance capital behemoth that tically refused to regulate this one hand, the obvious rise in the Chesnais so graphically portrays.

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More than a cultist

Andrew Memoirs of a Critical Communist. ered to be “bureaucratised transi - ers Chile and Mexico, including Towards a History of the Fourth tional societies”. the row with the ‘Moreno’ tenden - Coates International Memoirs recounts Maitain’s cy that continued till the 1980s, Livio Maitan extensive involvement with the will interest specialists. on the Resistance Books/Merlin Press Latin American left. The faction Maitan has an eye for detail. £20 run by Posadas, best known today He describes the Militant leader Fourth for its belief in flying saucers, but Ted Grant carting around ivio Maitan (1923–2004) in the ‘sixties for asserting that Marxist relics in his briefcase to International was a leading figure in the the world revolution was now led quote Trotsky ‘chapter and verse’. Linternational Trotskyist from Latin America and Africa, Talented rally speaker Tariq Ali Movement who won respect and was one of many to stress the is cited as returning from a visit had an influence, on the wider importance of these countries. to in 1971 with ‘fair - left. Memoirs of a Critical The guerrilla strategy of Che ly positive opinion’ about its eco - Communist, published nomic development. in Italian in 2006, his The American last book, is a ‘contribu - Socialist Workers tion’ to the history of the Party (no relation to Fourth International. the UK SWP), the The Italian was, with oldest Trotskyist Pierre Frank, (France) party in the world, and the influential and an influence on economist Ernest the celebrated list of Mandel (Belgium), a 1930s New York leading figure in the Intellectuals, under main branch of the impact of Jack Trotskyism. Maitan had, Barnes today subor - the late French Marxist dinates its politics philosopher Daniel to the Cuban state. Bensaïd, writes in the Maitan charges Preface, ‘a sense of them with their humour and self-irony’, a leader’s ‘authoritari - warmth and intellectual an behaviour’ and breadth, which is far purging their group from the general picture by accusations of of a Trotskyist leader. ‘disloyalty’. He does Maitan’s book on not explore allega - China, Party, Army and tions of ‘cultism’ and Masses (published in ‘Trotskyist mission - Italian in 1969), aries’ common to appeared in English in those who have had 1976. Written with an contact with them audience sympathetic to in Europe. the Cultural Revolution Memoirs of a in mind it was critical of Critical Communist the Chinese bureaucracy is far from the work but falls far short of the of a cultist. If not robust demolition of always an easy Mao’s ‘sterilising totali - read, even for those tarianism’, by Simon familiar with the Leys. The present vol - personalities ume ranges much wider. involved and the It is a ‘history of the movements. From activities of the international Guevara, who had ‘read, and optimism in 1968 ‘during the heat leadership’ of his current until his liked Mandel’s Marxist Economic of the action’, to criticism of one of passing. Pages cover the disputes Theory’, attracted support in Trotskyism most abiding traits, within Trotskyism during the Bolivia, where Trotskyism had leaders ‘wedded to centralising Cold War, the anti-colonial revo - influence in the workers’ move - tendencies and charismatic meth - lutions, the ‘68 upheavals, the ment. The practice of armed ods’, Maitan emerges as a keen Portuguese Carnation Revolution struggle led to intense debates observer. The willingness to of 1974, up to what Franco across the continent, and the cre - engage with other radical move - Turigliatto has called ‘the ation of ‘political-military’ groups ments, to rethink ideas in the congress of “disillusionment’ of committed to armed struggle. light of experience, to try to build 1995. This tried to come to terms Disputes in Argentina, where ‘a global anti-capitalist move - with the fall of Communism and Trotskyism, continues to have an ment’ on a socialist basis, has world-wide setbacks for the whole influence, took place against the been helped by activists of his cal - the left (International Viewpoint). background of extreme state ibre. For those prepared to plunge This saw an end of hopes for repression, and calls for militaris - into the difficulties the left faces, democratic left-wing develop - tic responses. The niceties of this book is an important refer - ments in what Trotskyists consid - Maitain’s account, which also cov - ence.

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BOOK REVIEWS

The guide we were waiting for

Duncan Public Alternative to the Privatisation dence to support the case for pub - of Life lic ownership of welfare services Bowie Dexter Whitfield and the regulation of the private Spokesman £25 sector, we are not any more. It is on fighting only regrettable that Labour did privatisation hitfield has authored a not focus sufficiently on the eco - number of volumes on nomic as well as the moral case Wprivatisation of public for public ownership in the recent services across the world and is election. director of The European The book’s final chapter on Services Strategy Unit. This is his Strategic Action sets out the key magnum opus – a 560 page text challenges, summarises the case reflecting a lifetime of research - a against privatisation, provides a comprehensive guide to what is guide to challenging corporate wrong with privatisation and interests, a list of actions which what to do about it. The bibliog - trade unions and community raphy covers 60 pages; the list of organisations should take and acronyms fills 8 pages. But this is examples of campaigns both in the a very readable book rather than UK and internationally, and a a dreary academic tome. It guide to writing alternative plans includes useful tables -for exam - for community managed public ple a typology of privatisation, spending as a proportion of services – all very useful. So, don’t financialisation, marketisation, health service expenditure in be put off by the thickness of the and individualisation policies and OECD countries (UK is 2% com - book – the last few pages tell you objectives; an analysis of tuition pared with 8% in the US – so what to do, while the rest provides fees in higher education in select - much for the criticism of exces - supporting evidence. At the rea - ed countries - UK is highest with sive expenditure on NHS bureau - sonable price of £25 it is certainly the US in second place, and a crats). better value for money than priva - comparison of administrative If we were ever short of evi - tised services.

Don Flynn on Thanks for the migration speaking What do we know and what should we do apart the arguments that blame the supposedly educated urbanites. about …… immigration? immigrants for each of these things. An alternative needs to be consid - up for Jonathan Portes The ‘lump of labour’ fallacy, which ered if we are to hope for a time in immigration Sage, £9.99 holds that a given economy has a the future when the mass of the ceiling on the number of people it population feels at home with the onathan Portes is probably can provide with jobs and decent reality of migration. That hinges best known outside the circles wages, in particular is given short around the possibility that class con - Jof professional economists as shrift. sciousness, rather than be encour - the chap who speaks up for immi - The weakness in his argument aged to decline, actually needs to gration on radio and television lies in his presumption that the expand to the point where it interviews. He does so from the world in which immigration can do acknowledges the working-class standpoint of a man who looks out its beneficial work will remain identity of all of groups reduced to a at the world with the viewpoint of roughly the same as the one we now subaltern status by capitalism. This an orthodox proponent of the dismal have. He hopes that the experience would embrace both the people so science. This means seeing in the of multicultural community life will often referred to as ‘traditional’ movement of people a welcome make people less racist and more wage workers, and those who have opportunity to ensure that a valu - inclined to vote for liberal political recently crossed borders with the able resource – namely labour – is parties but has to concede that the much-maligned status of being shifted to the places where it can be increase in migration into the UK ‘migrants.’ used most effectively. in the 2000s was a key reason why He approaches migration in this people voted for Brexit. short book from a perspective fully The problem here is that liberals aware of the fact that so many don’t so often assume that tensions over like it because of the perception that immigration will reduce when the it is conflict with the interests of portion of the population that sees ‘ordinary’ people. Unemployment, itself as being working class is pressure on wages, housing short - reduced and replaced by the sort of ages, congested cities and longer cosmopolitan citizens who are found waits of NHS and other public ser - in the large, still prosperous, conur - vices are seen as a consequence of bations. This both overstates the mass migration. extent to which people in the old With statistics on all of these working- class heartlands can be issues being very much his bag, considered fundamentally xenopho - Portes is at his best when he picks bic and understates the racism of

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The unity of theory and practice

Steve In the Red Corner: The Marxism of Whatever the international materialist analysis. José Carlos Mariátegui movement thought of him, Mariátegui’s belief in the Cushion Mike Gonzalez Mariátegui was extremely well importance of the Indigenous Haymarket Books $13.30 r e s p e c t ed in Peru, where he workers and peasants has been on a founded both the Socialist Party more than justified by subse - Peruvian e have long needed an in 1928 and the General quent events, the Bolivian revolu - English language politi - Confederation of Peruvian tion of 1952, the Presidency of Marxist Wcal biography of José Workers (CGTP) in 1929. The Evo Morales and the 2008 Carlos Mariátegui, the Peruvian statutes of the CGTP called for Peruvian miners’ strike, to name Marxist. One of the most innova - industrial unionism and factory but a few. tive theoreticians to have come committees, a clear reflection of Mike Gonzalez has long cham - from Latin America, he is virtual - Mariátegui’s Italian experience. pioned José Carlos Mariátegui. ly unknown in the English-speak - At this time, the Peruvian indus - His 2007 article in International ing world. Mariátegui worked as trial working class was relatively Socialism is still one of the best a journalist in Lima before and small and based in the Lima tex - introductions to Mariátegui, and during the First World War, but tile industry, with little or no con - if this book can bring this fasci - his ever increasing public support tact with the indigenous miners nating Latin American revolu - for the struggles of the Peruvian in the Central Valley. Mariátegui tionary to a wider English-speak - workers brought the repressive saw “the Indian as central to the ing audience, so much the better. weight of the government down possibility of building a united on him and he was exiled to proletarian front”, in distinct con - Europe in 1919. He arrived in trast to the Comintern which dis - Italy in time to attend the found - missed the Indigenous as “pre- ing congress of the Italian capitalist”. Never in good health, Communist Party as well as to he was unable to attend the con - witness first hand the Turin fac - ferences organised by the tory occupations. Comintern in Buenos Aires and He spent two years in Italy, Montevideo in 1929 where he was gaining Marxist ideas from his vigorously denounced by Victorio Italian comrades, but also seeing Coravilla, Stalin’s chief hatchet- the rise of Fascism, which he said man in Latin America, despite a “represents an offensive by the determined defence by the bourgeois classes against the rise Peruvian delegations. He died the of the working class”. He returned following year. to Peru in 1923, a committed Perhaps the most important Marxist, but one who never lesson we can gain from uncritically accepted the Mariátegui is his unity of theory Comintern line. In particular, he and practice. While organising was a fierce advocate of the work - workers in the day to day strug - ers’ united front, an attitude that gle, he used his journal, Amauta, brought him into conflict with the to advance theoretical under - Communist International during standing. Gonzalez argues that the so-called “Third Period” when Mariátegui’s “Seven Interpretive communists were expected to Essays on Peruvian Reality”, was take a sectarian attitude to social the first time Latin America had democrats. been subjected to an historical

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March/April 2020 CHARTIST 31 #303 working_01 cover 24/02/2020 22:06 Page 32

VIEW FROM WESTMINSTER Not on track

Cat Smith is MP Cat Smith on Tory rail promises and reality for Lancaster & Fleetwood & shadow minister ollowing the passing of for voter the European Union engagement and (Withdrawal Agreement) youth Act 2020 and the United Kingdom’s departure fFrom the European Union the Government has been keen to move onto its domestic policy agenda. We have seen legislation on the NHS, speeches on climate change and in late January two announcements in two days on our railways, not to mention the go ahead for HS2. Firstly, we had the announce - ment that the Government would be restoring some rail lines lost under the Beeching cuts of the 1960s. Once I’d stopped groaning over the irony that a butchering of our railways authorised by a in the media, what has been announcement was to distract from Conservative government obsessed announced is not the investment this forced acknowledgement of the with roads and motorways was needed to re-open the lines closed failure of rail franchising. This is being slammed by this current under Beeching. Rather it is £500 another issue of importance to my Conservative government, I was million to fund feasibility studies, constituents who have suffered sub- keen to make the case for my local £100 million of which would be used standard commuter services for far lines. This is an issue of interest to for a study into the Poulton to too long. Delays and overcrowding me as I have been campaigning for Fleetwood line. Anyone who knows are a routine occurrence. Again, some time to re-open the rail line anything about the railways will while the decision to terminate the between Poulton-le-Fylde and know £500m isn’t going to get you existing franchise is a welcome Fleetwood, the latter of which is in very far, it might get you a dozen development, it has been done in my constituency. miles if you’re lucky. Not much of an such a way that has bailed out I was surprised to learn from the impact in re-opening thousands of Arriva after already significantly media and Department for miles of route lost since Beeching’s increasing subsidies to the company Transport that this announcement fateful report. in recent years. was being made in Fleetwood as I More concerningly the Secretary The problems on Northern, while had not been notified in advance of of State seemed to indicate that the unique in their severity, are not dis - this by the Secretary of State, as Poulton to Fleetwood line is at the similar to the problems faced else - would be the usual practice. Having top of the queue when it comes to where on the rail network, aging tried to contact the Department to re-opening because the existing pre- stock, poor infrastructure and the no avail I was eventually informed Beeching stations remain in place. separation of track and train result - S by local campaigners that the This simply isn’t true. There is no ing in a lack of joined up decisions. u announcement was not in fact being longer a station at Fleetwood and Having already had to take control b made in Fleetwood but in Poulton- creating a new one at the old site of the East Coast Main Line and s le-Fylde at the other end of the line. would involve the demolition of with rumours of other train operat - w c Sadly, once the details of the homes and businesses. When I ing companies in difficulties it is w r announcement became clear, the pressed Ministers on this point in hard to conclude anything other ib Secretary of State not knowing the House of Commons, they had no than that the franchising model has w e where he was in the North answers. It is clear therefore that completely failed. Only an ideologi - .c t West would turn out to while this announcement does rep - cal commitment to privatisation can h o be the least of my con - resent a step towards the re-open - explain Ministers stubborn refusal a C cerns. ing of lost railways we will need to to acknowledge this and take the r H Despite how it overcome the Government’s contin - entire network back into public ti A was portrayed uing commitment to austerity as hands. st R by Grant well as their general incompetence So, two days, two announce - . T Shapps if we are to make the reversal of the ments, one lost Minister, a poor o I and Beeching cuts a reality. grasp of details, continuing commit - rg S some A day later we had the announce - ment to austerity and a bailout for a . T ment that Northern Rail was to be failed train operating company. It u a brought into public control. A cyni - almost makes you long for the com - k t cal reader might think the previous petence of the Grayling era! C