Labour Party

labourpartymarxists.org.ukMARXISTS September 2015 No. 7 Recruit win new affiliates transform

Jeremy Corbyn’s election presents the left with a historic opportunity. James Marshall outlines a programme of immediate action and long-term strategic goals

t the well publicised prompting shadow cabinet needs to be understood of Peter Mandelson, Charles as an act of civil war. Yvette Cooper, AClarke, David Blunkett and Chuka Umunna, Tristram Hunt, above all , the hard right Emma Reynolds, Liz Kendall, has already launched what will be a Shabana Mahmood, Mary Creagh, protracted, bitter, no-holds-barred Jamie Reid, Chris Leslie and Rachel struggle to put an end to the leadership Reeves have in effect constituted of . Blair’s ‘Alice in themselves a shadow-shadow cabinet. wonderland’ opinion piece in The This parliamentary gang of 10 are still Observer had nothing to do with the members of the Labour Party, but, former prime minister trying to swing obviously, they do not share the same votes in the closing two weeks of the values as the mass of Labour members. leadership contest.1 Comrade Corbyn In that context, Corbyn is absolutely had already won. No, its purpose was right to maintain the leader’s ‘hire and perfectly clear. Rally the Blairites and fire’ prerogative. After all, he faces their corporate, state and international not just 10 rebels. No, it is more like allies … and declare war. 110. We Marxists want the abolition Given the punishing logic of the of the Bonarpartist post of leader. first-past-the-post election system, But these are extraordinary times it is unlikely that the hard right will and require extraordinary measures. go for a breakaway. Minor parties The idea of having the PLP elect the tend to suffer “significant under- shadow cabinet was being touted by representation” at a national level.2 the right. Thankfully Corbyn’s early Another Social Democratic Party is pronouncements on this subject were therefore an outside possibility. But, rethought. He wisely opted to keep the unlike the early 1980s, the political dictatorial powers long favoured by centre is not enjoying a sustained past Labour leaders. revival.3 At the last general election the Appointing the shadow chancellor Liberal Democrats were decimated. was always going to be a litmus test. They remain marginalised and loathed. The more timid members of Corbyn’s It is probably true that “more than two” inner circle were reportedly urging Labour MPs are considering defection, him to go for someone from the centre. either to the Tories or the Lib Dems. Instead he chose John McDonnell. Nonetheless, political suicide remains Excellent. So there is in effect a an unattractive proposition for most Corbyn-McDonnell leadership. Blairites.4 Their constituents would Offering shadow cabinet seats to the turf them out at the first opportunity. likes of Andy Burnham, Hilary Benn, Instead of the glories of high office, Angela Eagle, Lucy Powell, Lord it will be the musty corridors of the Falconer, Rosie Winterton and Chris . Knowing that, the Byrant was always going to happen. right will therefore stay firmly put Corbyn is a natural conciliator. And and fight hard … until we send them the fact of the matter is that there packing. are simply not enough leftwingers in The well-timed announcement parliament. Unless, that is, Corbyn by leading members of the right that went for a pocket-sized shadow they would refuse seats in Corbyn’s cabinet and appointed talents from ii LPM September 2015 No. 7

outside parliament. That is what we them. If they want to bolster Corbyn’s ruthless determination it can be done. rate). And, as leader of the official election, 30,000 joined the party.10 LPMers advocated. position, if they want to ensure that A particularly potent weapon here opposition, Jeremy Corbyn has just Many more should be expected. But Nevertheless, equipped with his he stays true to his principles, if they is the demand that all our elected got himself a £6,000 pay rise.9 we need to reach out to all those left-centre-right coalition, Corbyn want to transform the Labour Party, representatives should take only the We in the LPM say, let them keep who are disgusted by corrupt career can claim the moral high ground. He then the best thing they can do is to average wage of a skilled worker. A the average skilled workers’ wage - say politicians, all those who aspire for is reaching out to all sections of the get themselves a vote when it comes principle upheld by the Paris Commune £40,000 (plus legitimate expenses). a better world, all those who have an party. Meanwhile, in terms of internal to the national executive committee, and the Bolshevik revolution. From However, they should hand the balance objective interest in ending capitalism. perceptions, it is the hard right that will the selection and reselection of MPs, memory the Italian Communist Party over to the party. That would give a To do that we need to establish our be blamed for starting the civil war. MEPs, councillors, etc. Card-carrying under Enrico Berlinguer applied the considerable boost to our finances. own mass media. That will play well with traditional members can also attend ward and partymax even in the 1970s. With the Even if we leave out our 20 MEPs Much to the chagrin of the fourth Labour loyalists. They do not take constituency meetings and themselves PCI’s huge parliamentary fraction this from the calculation, it would amount estate, comrade Corbyn has shown kindly to anyone damaging Labour’s stand for officer positions. proved to be a vital source of funds. to roughly £900,000 extra. Anyway, his “contempt” for the capitalist chances at the polls. After all, for Secondly, within the affiliated Our MPs are now on a basic whatever our finances, there is a press, radio and TV. Relying on most Labour councillors and would- trade unions we must fight to win £67,060 annual salary. On top of that basic principle. Our representatives their favours worked splendidly for be councillors, most Labour MPs and many, many more to enrol. Just over they get around £12,000 in expenses ought to live like ordinary workers, Tony Blair and Alistair Campbell. would-be MPs, the be-all and end-all 70,000 affiliated supporters voted in and allowances, putting them on not pampered members of the upper But our newly elected leader will get of politics is getting into office … the leadership election. A tiny portion £79,060 (yet at present Labour middle class. So, yes, let us impose nothing but mockery, hatchet jobs even if the manifesto promises nothing of what could be. There are 4,414,929 MPs are only obliged to pay the the partymax. and implacable opposition. While more than managing capitalism better who pay the political levy.5 Given that £82 parliamentarian’s subscription In the three days following Corbyn’s there will doubtless be an attempt to than the Tories. A misplaced common they can sign up to the Labour Party court The Guardian and the Mirror sense that wide swathes of the Labour with no more than a click, we really group, Corbyn’s turning to the social left, including Corbyn and McDonnell, ought to have a million affiliated media is understandable and very have thoroughly internalised. supporters as a minimum target. much to be welcomed. However, However, the hard right will have Thirdly, the constituency, branch as is obvious, tweeting and texting the full backing of the capitalist media, (ward) and other such basic units must have severe limits. They are brilliant the City of London, the military- be revived and galvanised. Everything mediums for transmitting short, sharp, industrial complex, special branch, should be done to encourage new clear messages. But, when it comes to MI5 and their American cousins. members, and returnees, to attend complex ideas, debating principles and Corbyn’s much publicised admiration meetings and elect officers who charting political strategies, they are for Karl Marx, his campaigning against oppose austerity and want to support next to useless. US-led imperialist wars, his opposition the Corbyn-McDonnell leadership. To set the agenda, however, we to Nato, Trident and nuclear weapons, Labour’s constituency and branches must shun those siren voices urging his commitment to increase the tax can be made into vibrant centres of us to engage with the “unpersuaded” take from transnational corporations, organisation, education and action. by relying on the existing “mainstream the banks and the mega rich, his As such they would be well placed media”.11 As and Ed republicanism - even his refusal to sing to hold wayward councillors and Miliband found to their cost, to live by the national anthem at St Paul’s - mark MPs to account. They could also the mainstream media is to die by the him out as completely unacceptable. spearhead a mass campaign to get mainstream media. No, we need our Of course, the distinct danger is local people onto the electoral register. own full-spectrum alternative. that the Corbyn-McDonnell leadership The electoral commission reports that Once we had the Daily Herald. will have their agenda set for them by nationally “approximately 7.5 million Now we have nothing. Well, apart the need to maintain PLP unity. Put individuals are not registered”.6 Most from the deadly-dull trade union house another way, in what is a coalition are “Labour-inclined.”7 journals, the advertising sheets of the cabinet, it will be the right that sets confessional sects and the Morning the limits and therefore determines the Reorganise Star (which in reality is still under the political programme. Why? Because As the hard right begins its civil grip of unreconstructed Stalinites). No, they are quite prepared to walk. That is war, the left must respond with we should aim for an opinion-forming what Burnham has indicated over Nato a combination of intimidation, daily paper of the labour movement and nuclear weapons. The decision constitutional changes and reselection. and seek out trade union, cooperative, by Corbyn to kneel before Elizabeth Those proven to be in the pay of crowd and other such sources of Windsor and accept a place on her big business, those sabotaging our funding. And, to succeed, we have privy council is therefore more than election campaigns, those who vote to be brave: iconoclastic viewpoints, a symbolic gesture. with the Tories on austerity, war, difficult issues, two-way arguments, Watering down, abandoning, housing benefits, migration or so- must be included as a matter of course. putting principles onto the backburner called humanitarian interventions, The possibility of distributing it free in an attempt to placate the right, if must be hauled up before the NEC. of charge should be considered and, it continues to happen, will prove If MPs refuse to abide by party naturally, everything should be put fatal. Such a course will demobilise, discipline, they must be warned that up on the web without page limits or demoralise and drain away Corbyn’s they face expulsion. If that results in a paywalls. We should also seriously mass base in and out of the party. smaller PLP in the short term, that is a consider internet-based TV and radio Hence the Corbyn-McDonnell price well worth paying. stations. With the riches of dedication, leadership faces both an enemy within Meanwhile, we should take full passion and ideas that exist on the the PLP and an enemy within their own advantage of our current rules. The left, we can surely better the BBC, Al reformist ideology. They seriously ‘trigger’ mechanism allows local Jazeera, Russia Today and Sky. seem to believe that socialism can be party units, including both individual Branding good people as brought about piecemeal, through a members and affiliated organisations, ‘infiltrators’ because, mainly out of series of left and ever lefter Labour “to determine whether the constituency frustration, they supported the Greens, governments. In reality, though, a holds a full open selection contest for Tusc or Left Unity, at the last general Labour government committed to its next candidate, in which other election, does nothing to advance the the existing state and the existing potential candidates are nominated or socialist cause in the Labour Party. constitutional order produces not reselects the sitting MP without such Such a jaundiced response smacks of decisive steps in the direction of a contest.”8 Ironically, if it happens, cold-war bans and proscriptions. We socialism, but attacks on the working David Cameron’s proposed reduction should be proud of being a federal class … and the return of a Tory in the number of MPs from 650 to 600, party. Therefore securing new affiliates government. and the expected boundary changes, ought to be at the top of our agenda. I Tactically, Marxists will, for the due to be announced in October 2018, am sure the FBU and RMT will soon moment, concentrate their fire on could prove to be a golden opportunity. Alternative clause four be back. But what of PCS and NUT? the hard right in the shadow cabinet. We should deselect hard-right MPs and Why can’t we win them to affiliate? ‘Blairites out’ should be the common democratically select tried and trusted Surely we can … if we fight for hearts slogan of the left. The mass of Labour leftwing replacements. proposed by LPM and minds. Then there are the leftwing members trust the Corbyn-McDonnell Obviously, the party must be Objectives groups and parties. They too can be leadership, but they have an instinctive reorganised from top to bottom. A 1. Labour is the federal party of every individual fully realising brought under our banner. Labour can distrust for those who support the special conference - eg, in spring 2016 of the working class. We their innate potentialities. become the common home of every outfit, those allied with Lord - should be called by the NEC with strive to bring all trade unions, 3. Towards that end Labour socialist organisation, cooperative David Sainsbury and the gang of a view to radically overhauling the cooperatives, socialist societies commits itself to achieving and trade union - the agreed goal of ten, those who vote for welfare cuts, constitution and rules and undertaking and leftwing groups and parties a democratic republic. The our founders.12 In other words, we those who want British forces to join an across-the-board political under our banner. We believe that standing army, the monarchy, can become what Trotsky called a the bombing of Syria. Clearly the reorientation. We need a new clause unity brings strength. the House of Lords and the state permanent united front of the working Blairites are closer in mind and spirit four, we need a sovereign conference, 2. Labour is committed to sponsorship of the Church of class. to the Tories than Labour’s members, we need to be able to easily reselect replacing the rule of capital England must go. We support Yet sadly, so far, in terms of supporters and affiliates. An obvious MPs, MEPs and councillors. We also with the rule of the working a single chamber parliament, those outside Labour, apart from the target, therefore, is Tony Blair’s old need to sweep away the undemocratic class. Socialism introduces a proportional representation and CPGB, there has been a distinct lack flatmate and co-thinker, Lord Charlie rules and structures put in place under democratically planned economy, annual elections. of imagination. Instead of a banging Falconer. He has already threatened to Blair. The joint policy committee, ends the ecologically ruinous 4. Labour seeks to win the active on the door, there is a cowardly quit over the EU referendum. the national policy forums - the cycle of production for the sake backing of the majority of people disengagement. An approach designed whole horrible rigmarole - should be of production and moves towards and forming a government on this to preserve sectarian interests and Immediate swept away at the earliest possible a stateless, classless, moneyless basis. brittle reputations. The left in the Labour Party faces opportunity. society that embodies the 5. We shall work with others, in Showing his profundity, his three immediate tasks. Clearly, it is going to take time to principle “from each according to particular in the European Union, prostration before Scottish nationalism, Firstly, there must be a concerted change the political make-up of the their abilities, to each according in pursuit of the aim of replacing his unconscious English nationalism, drive to win registered supporters PLP and subordinate it to the wishes to their needs”. Alone such benign capitalism with working class rule the media darling, Tariq Ali, assesses to become full individual members. of the membership. But with force conditions create the possibility and socialism l Corbyn’s victory as “England coming There are now well over 100,000 of of numbers, tactical flexibility and to life again”.13 In that same blinkered LPM September 2015 No. 7 iii

spirit he privileges protest politics as political acumen, there is the promise despite the electoral base and trade against parliamentary politics. Of that his ridiculous Trade Unionist union affiliations, our party has been course, comrade Ali is one of those and Socialist Coalition will continue dominated throughout its entire freelance socialists, a typical dilettante. to stand against Labour candidates. history by career politicians and trade The idea of actively engaging in our A blundering approach supported by union bureaucrats. A distinct social Our aims civil war does not seem to occur to Nick Wrack’s so-called Independent stratum which in the last analysis him nowadays. Socialist Network (along with the serves not the interests of the working The same goes for Charlie Kimber, SWP, Tusc’s only other political class, but the continuation of capitalist national secretary of the Socialist affiliate). exploitation. and Workers Party. Our Charlie boasts If Tusc candidates stood on Speaking in the context of the need that he, and his much reduced band something that resembled a for the newly formed CPGB to affiliate of followers, did not take up the Marxist programme, that would be to the Labour Party, Lenin said this: opportunity of registering as Labour tactically inadvisable under present principles Party supporters. Why did they stand circumstances. But what passes [W]hether or not a party is really aloof? After all, a Corbyn vote cost for Tusc’s programme is barely a political party of the workers a mere £3 … and for levy-paying distinguishable form Corbynism. does not depend solely upon a 1. The central aim of La- achieved in Britain in iso- members of affiliated trade unions it Despite that, whereas the Corbyn membership of workers, but also bour Party Marxists is to lation from Europe and the was gratis. So why did the SWP refrain Labour Party will get mass votes, even upon the men that lead it, and transform the Labour Party rest of the world. from giving Corbyn voting support? with many questionable candidates, the content of its actions and its into an instrument for work- 8. Socialism is the rule of Comrade Kimber pathetically explains. Tusc will hardly register. Its votes are political tactics. Only this latter ing class advance and inter- the working class over the The right is set to begin a firestorm. uniformly homeopathic. determines whether we really have national socialism. Towards global economy created The PLP is dominated by the right. Left Unity seems to me to be before us a political party of the that end we will join with by capitalism and as such Corbyn has the active support of essentially no different. And, as with proletariat. others and seek the closest is antithetical to all forms no more than 20 MPs. Tom Watson SPEW and the SWP, members are Regarded from this, the only unity of the left inside and of British nationalism. De- is a Brownite. Lord Mandelson is peeling away to join the Labour Party correct, point of view, the Labour outside the party. mands for a British road to advising protracted war. The trade as individuals. I have been told of a Party is a thoroughly bourgeois 2. Capitalism is synony- socialism and a withdrawal unions are dominated by a self-serving 20% cancellation of standing orders. party, because, although made up of mous with war, pollution, from the European Union bureaucracy. There will be internal Left Unity is clearly doomed if it tries workers, it is led by reactionaries, waste and production for its are therefore to be opposed. struggles and attempts to introduce to continue as a halfway house project. and the worst kind of reactionaries own sake. Attempts to rescue 9. Political principles and constitutional and programmatic Unless it votes for the motions of its at that, who act quite in the spirit of the system through Keynesi- organisational forms go changes. Communist Platform at its November the bourgeoisie. It is an organisation an remedies are diversion- hand-in-hand. The Labour What ought to be a challenge to 21-22 conference, Left Unity will soon of the bourgeoisie, which exists to ary and doomed to fail. The Party must become the join the fight becomes an excuse to begin to fall apart. systematically dupe the workers democratic and social gains umbrella organisation for stay clear. We Labour Party Marxist with the aid of the British Noskes of the working class must all trade unions, socialist Having been torn by splits and unapologetically take our and Scheidemanns.17 be tenaciously defended, but groups and pro-working divisions in the 1970s and then again programmatic lead from the CPGB. capitalism must be supersed- class partisans. Hence all in the 2010s, the SWP apparatus wants Having been demanding the right to Despite all the subsequent changes, ed by socialism. the undemocratic bans and nothing to do with anything that carries affiliate since 1920, today the CPGB this assessment retains its essential 3. The only viable alterna- proscriptions must be done even the whiff of factional strife. So, ought to be accorded the same rights purchase. Labour is still a “bourgeois tive is organising the work- away with. as with Tariqi Ali, there is the call as the Cooperative Party, the Fabians, workers’ party”. However, with ing class into powerful and 10. The fight to democratise for marches, protests and strikes … Christians on the Left, the Jewish Corbyn’s election as leader, things thoroughly democratic trade the Labour Party cannot be as counterposed to the Labour Party, Labour Movement, Scientists for have become more complex. Labour unions, co-ops, and other separated from the fight to PLP battles and taking sides in a Labour, etc.16 However, we extend that has become a chimera. Instead of schools for socialism, and democratise the trade un- concentrated form of the class war.14 demand to include the SWP, SPEW, a twofold contradiction, we have a crucially into a political par- ions. Trade union votes at In other words, in rejecting any sort of Socialist Appeal, Left Unity and other threefold one. The left dominates both ty which aims to replace the Labour Party conferences active involvement in Labour’s civil such organisations. the top and the bottom of the party. rule of the capitalist class should be cast not by general war, the SWP stays true to its modern- Then there are the trade unions. That gives us the possibility of with the rule of the working secretaries but proportion- day version of Bakuninism. Those who have disaffiliated or been attacking the rightwing domination class. ately according to the polit- Then we have the Socialist Party expelled must be brought back into of the middle - the councillors, the 4. The fight for trade union ical balance in each delega- in England and Wales. Having the fold. In other words the FBU and apparatus, the PLP - from below and freedom, anti-fascism, wom- tion. categorically dismissed the Labour the RMT. They actively supported the above. No wonder the more astute en’s rights, sexual freedom, 11. All trade unions should Party as an out-and-out capitalist party Corbyn campaign … from the outside. minds of the bourgeois commentariat republican democracy and be encouraged to affiliate, all since the mid-1990s, it has been busily So, comrades, now do the same, much can be found expressing deep concern opposition to all imperialist members of the trade unions rowing … backwards. The old Militant more effectively, from the inside. But about what will happen to their wars are inextricably linked encouraged to pay the politi- logo has now been cosmetically placed what about those unions which have neoliberal consensus l to working class political in- cal levy and join the Labour on the masthead of The Socialist. never had an organised relationship dependence and the fight for Party as individual members. Nevertheless, while Peter Taaffe, with us? Regrettably, Mark Serwotka, Notes socialism. 12. The party must be reor- SPEW’s founder-leader, is a proven PSC general secretary, was one of 1. The Observer August 30 2015. 5. Ideas of reclaiming the ganised from top to bottom. dunderhead, he at least has the good those turned away in the Harriet 2. A Blais (Ed) To keep or to change first past the Labour Party and the return Bring the Parliamentary La- sense to borrow a vital element of the Harman-organised purge. But, instead post? Oxford 2008, p66. of the old clause four are bour Party under democratic 3. From a 2.5% historic low point in 1951, the LPM programme. Hence we find him of impotently complaining about it on Liberal Party saw a revival in the 1970s, which totally misplaced. From the control. The position of La- saying this: Twitter, he should turn the tables on saw it win 19.3% of the popular vote in the beginning the party has been bour leader should be abol- the outgoing Blairite apparatus by February 1974 general election. dominated by the labour bu- ished along with the nation- Even today a few remnants bringing in his entire membership. 4. www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-34305994. reaucracy and the ideas of al policy forum. The NEC 5. D Pryer Trade union political funds and levy of [Labour’s original] federal Mark, fight to get PCS to affiliate. House of Commons briefing paper No00593, reformism. The party must should be unambiguously constitution remain, with some I heard him interviewed on BBC August 8 2013, p8. be refounded on the basis responsible for drafting La- MPs standing on behalf of the Radio 4 on this. He enthusiastically 6. The Guardian February 24 2015. of a genuinely socialist pro- bour Party manifestos. Cooperative Party under the Labour supported Corbyn’s September 15 7. The Guardian July 2 2015. gramme as opposed to social 13. The NEC should be 8. www.grassrootslabour.net/index.php?option= Party umbrella. Why couldn’t that speech at the TUC. However, he com_content&view=article&id=200:how-labours- democratic gradualism or elected and accountable be extended to allow anti-austerity excused himself from getting the trigger-works&catid=43:forum& bureaucratic statism. to the annual conference, parties and campaigns to join with PCS to affiliate. Apparently it has been Itemid=60. 6. The aim of the party which must be the supreme Jeremy Corbyn’s Labour Party as illegal for civil servant trade unions 9. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salaries_of_ should not be a Labour gov- body in the party. Instead of Members_of_the_United_Kingdom_Parliament. affiliates, while maintaining their to affiliate to the Labour Party since 10. International Business Times September 15 ernment for its own sake. a tame rally there must be own independent identity, just as 1927. 2015. History shows that Labour democratic debate and bind- the ILP and John Maclean’s British When we moved a motion to the 11. Eg, Owen Jones, The Guardian September governments committed to ing votes. Socialist Party were able to do in effect that all trade unions should 16 2015 and Roy Greenslade, The Guardian managing the capitalist sys- 14. Our elected represent- September 14 2015. Chris Boffy, online special the first 20 years of the party? affiliate to the Labour Party at the advisor to the last Labour government, has tem and loyal to the existing atives must be recallable February 2015 AGM of the Campaign also been bitterly complaining about Corbyn’s constitutional order create by the constituency or oth- Leave aside the historical blunders. for Labour Party Democracy, we met supposed lack of a media strategy - see The Drum disillusionment in the work- er body that selected them. The BSP was never John Maclean’s. with exactly that sort of legalistic September 15 2015. ing class. That includes MPs, MEPs, 12. At the 1899 TUC, JH Holmes, a delegate of A hero of the internationalist left objection. However, as NEC member the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants, 7. Labour should only- MSPs, AMs, councillors, during World War I, he ended up, Christine Shawcroft, who was sitting moved this resolution: consider forming a gov- etc.Without exception elect- however, as a sad, totally isolated next to me, said: “What does that “That this congress, having regard to its decisions ernment when it has the ed representatives should figure, advocating left Scottish matter?” Here comrade Shawcroft, a in former years, and with a view to securing a active support of a clear ma- take only the average wage better representation of the interests of labour nationalism. True, the BSP did affiliate close ally of Corbyn, shows the exact in the House of Commons, hereby instructs jority of the population and of a skilled worker, the bal- to the Labour Party ... in 1916. And, right spirit of defiance. Comrade the parliamentary committee to invite the has a realistic prospect of ance being donated to fur- of course, the BSP was by far the Serwotka and other leaders of non- cooperation of all cooperative, socialistic trade implementing a full socialist thering the interests of the largest component body which helped affiliated trade unions should take her unions and other working class organisations programme. This cannot be labour movement l to jointly cooperate on lines mutually agreed found the CPGB in August 1920 … lead. Laws can be defied, laws can be upon, in convening a special congress of whose applications for Labour Party changed. The key, however, is to win representatives from such of the above named affiliation were consistently rejected. the PCS’s membership to the idea of organisations as may be willing to take part, to That despite very considerable affiliation. It would be great if the 2016 devise ways and means for securing the return If you agree with LPM’s aims and grassroots support in the unions and PCS annual conference was addressed of an increased number of labour members to the next parliament” (www.unionhistory. principles or want to contact us, CLPs. As for the Independent Labour by Jeremy Corbyn and had a raft of info/timeline/1880_14_Narr_Display. Party, its special conference voted to branch motions calling for the union php?Where=NarTitle+contains+%27 write to: disaffiliate from the Labour Party ... in to affiliate to the Labour Party. The+Labour+Party%27+AND+DesPurpose+ 15 contains+%27WebDisplay%27). BCM Box 8932, London WC1N 3XX. 1932. In other words, between ILP 13. The Independent September 12 2015. affiliation and disaffiliation there was Reclaiming 14. Socialist Worker September 8 2015. not two, but three decades. Real Marxists, not fake Marxists, 15. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Independent_ Or email Despite such quibbles, comrade have never talked of reclaiming Labour_Party#The_ILP_and_Labour_Party_ government_.281922.E2.80.9331.29. [email protected] Taaffe’s call for SPEW to affiliate to Labour. It has never been ours in the 16. www.labour.org.uk/pages/affiliated- the Labour Party is very much to be sense of being a “political weapon organisations. welcomed. Nevertheless, showing his for the workers’ movement”. No, 17. VI Lenin CW Vol 31 Moscow 1977, pp257-58. iv LPM September 2015 No. 7

Lies, smears and dictators There were predictable reactions to the election of Jeremy Corbyn in the Middle Eastern media. Amir Parviz Pouyan reports he pro-Saudi and Israeli press Party and the Jewish community can movement in this country organises against war and against the theocratic wants to force a vote in parliament have been competing with each continue to work together in a spirit material and ideological solidarity regime, we now have to stand up and which would allow the RAF to bomb Tother in their scaremongering. of cooperation and understanding. with workers’, women’s and fight for the freedom of all political Islamic State (IS) in Syria, despite The Times of Israel, under the headline, We hope that the labour movement students’ struggles in Iran - they are prisoners. The responsibility falls on his defeat on a similar vote to bomb “Anti-Israel Jeremy Corbyn is new UK remains a welcoming environment our natural allies and a true beacon our shoulders, because nobody else Bashar al-Assad after the chemical Labour leader”, claimed that the “far- for members of the Jewish of hope for genuine democracy and is doing it.6 attack in Damascus. British pilots left MP has empathised with Hezbollah, community, many of whom have freedom.5 have already been caught using US Hamas” and that British Jews were lifelong commitments to it.3 In fact. with the exception of one planes, and now RAF drones have “alarmed by his ties to ‘holocaust This is what comrade McDonnell rightwing newspaper, where a reporter been involved … deniers, terrorists and some outright For its part, the influential English- wrote in 2011 on the launch of a compared Corbyn’s dress style Credibility or consistency is not a anti-Semites’”.1 language daily, Arab News, which campaign to free all political prisoners with the refusal of former president word often applied to policy. British All false accusations, as explained is published in London, relies on an in Iran: Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to wear government policy on Syria has by Jewish supporters of Jeremy article by veteran rightwing Iranian fashionable clothes (!), the Iranian lurched one way and then another. Corbyn. For example, Jews for Jeremy, columnist Amir Taheri: We formed Hopi at a time when media have concentrated on Corbyn’s It started by encouraging the rebels which has almost 300 members and there was a real danger of imminent anti-war position and his support for to believe that Assad’s overthrow was launched in response to what its Corbyn admires Ali Khamenei attack on Iran, right after the war the Palestinians. As far as I can see, was imminent at both Geneva founders say were “unscrupulous” because he is supposed to be on Iraq. While opposing any unlike Amir Taheri, no-one within the conferences. It has now morphed attacks from the media, comments: ‘standing against the Americans’. imperialist attacks, we positioned Islamic regime is claiming Corbyn is into one in which Assad could Corbyn could not have invited ourselves in clear, active solidarity a supporter, let alone an ‘admirer’, of stay in a transitional government. Some members of the group live Mullah Omar or Saddam Hussein with the people of Iran, who are the Iranian supreme leader, ayatollah Cameron’s policy on Egypt is in Jeremy Corbyn’s constituency, to dinner. If he sheds tears over their fighting against their theocratic Ali Khamenei. to engage the dictator in power, some have worked with him on demise, it is because they fell victim regime. That also led us to clearly The pro-government news station, without having any traction over various campaigns, and many know to American ‘imperialism’. For oppose all sanctions on the Press TV, reminds everyone of a short- him or any hope of moderating his him from his reputation and his Corbyn, Israel is a hate object not country, because in our view that term but well publicised association rule. Abdel Fatah al-Sisi is going tireless work for the disadvantaged because it is Jewish or even ‘usurper is just another form of imperialism Jeremy Corbyn had with it in 2010, to be Cameron’s next guest in in society, including migrants of Palestinian land’, but because it attacking the people of Iran. I think when he chaired one of its programmes. Downing Street.7 and asylum-seekers …. Members is supposed to be an ally of the US.4 we have successfully engaged However, even Press TV cannot applaud his efforts to bring together others in that discussion …. produce anything other than general Note early day motion 279 protesting opposing parties to many conflicts in Absolute nonsense. Jeremy Corbyn has However, at the moment there comments about, say, the assassination against the Sisi visit. Tabled on July 9 dialogue in a constructive way, and no illusions about the Iranian clergy. In is a certain quietude. Partially this of Osama bin Laden. 2015 it calls on the prime minister to: are dismayed that in some cases this the 1980s he was the first and for many has to do with other activities in The Middle East Eye sums up the “rescind the invitation, to put pressure has been held against him.2 years the only British MP raising the their spheres of influence that the feelings of most progressive, secular on the Egyptian government to take issue of political prisoners in Iran and imperialists are anxious about, for forces in the region: immediate steps to demonstrate its The Jewish Leadership Council, which opposing the execution of leftwing example, in Afghanistan. And there commitment to democratic freedoms claims to represent more than 30 activists in Iranian jails. He regularly is an acceptance that, as long as Here’s the reality. Reality is four and human rights, including the community groups, including Jewish met exiled activists and often raised the Iranian regime is quiet, ‘maybe civil wars - four fires raging out of revocation of all death sentences, charities, synagogues as well as the the issue of repression in the Islamic we can turn a blind eye’. And that control, which are consuming Syria, and to stop licensing equipment for Board of Deputies of British Jews, has Republic in parliament. is why we have not had any major Iraq, Yemen and Libya. Possibly five export to the Egyptian military and adopted a more cautious approach. It In the early 2000s he opposed war political leader in the west take on if security in Egypt deteriorates security forces.”8 Its primary sponsor released the following press statement and sanctions against Iran, but he has no the question of Iranian political further. Reality is the strategic is Green MP Caroline Lucas and soon after the declaration of the votes: time for forces like Iran’s royalists, who prisoners in a serious way … failure of every intervention since amongst its five other sponsors we advocate ‘regime change from above’, There is a certain acquiescence the first Gulf War. Reality is 432,761 find the signatures of Jeremy Corbyn The Jewish Leadership Council courtesy of Saudi, US and Israeli funds. that the barbarity will go on and, as refugees and migrants crossing the and John McDonnell. will, as we always have, find ways And Corbyn’s close ally John long as this barbarity in Iran does Mediterranean so far this year, In other words, it is not comrades of working with her majesty’s McDonnell has played a crucial role in not affect the rest of the Middle East already double last year’s total. Corbyn and McDonnell who are on the opposition on matters relevant to us. supporting Iranian workers and political or the rest of the world, it is almost Reality is the loss of power and side of dictators. It is David Cameron l Over the course of the leadership prisoners in his role as honorary acceptable - very much in line with influence of the US, Britain and campaign, we had a number of president of Hands Off the People of what goes on in other barbaric France, not least over their traditional Notes 1. www.timesofisrael.com/jeremy-corbyn-claims concerns regarding some of Mr Iran (Hopi). countries in that region. There is allies - Saudi Arabia, Israel, Egypt -victory-in-labour-leadership-race. Corbyn’s past connections, and In 2011 this is what he wrote in a real vacuum on the question of - who are taking decisions on their 2. http://jewsforjeremy.org. his stances on policy areas of a joint call written with Yassamine human rights in Iran, whereby own. What is it about this reality that 3. www.thejlc.org/2015/09/labour-leadership-result great significance to the Jewish Mather: those who look can easily discover is worth preserving? The fact that it -statement-from-the-jewish-leadership-council. 4. www.arabnews.com/columns/news/802576. community. It is important that the brutality of the executions, the could get a lot worse? It already is. 5. http://hopoi.org/2011/07/from-john-mcdonnell- the legitimate concerns of the At this current time of enormous hangings, the tortures, the arrests, Credibility: the accolade is mp-support-hopi-vs-lrc-cricket-match. community are addressed. political and economic crisis, the denials of human rights. But the awarded to every leader who makes 6. http://hopoi.org/2011/03/john-mcdonnell-mp We look forward to meeting with continued UN sanctions and war media and mainstream politicians a ‘brave and principled stand’, but -free-jafar-panahi-and-all-political-prisoners. 7. www.middleeasteye.net/columns/corbyns- Mr Corbyn at the first available threats, Iranian workers are in a are not interested. who subsequently does everything ascension-no-accident-778799299#sthash.oO- opportunity to discuss our concerns, very difficult situation. This is why Just as Hopi had to stand up and in his power to avoid accountability 1p72rN.dpuf. but also ways in which the Labour it is absolutely vital that the workers’ put forward a principled position for his actions. David Cameron 8. www.parliament.uk/edm/2015-16/279.