Labour Party Marxists

labourpartymarxists.org.uk Tom Watson inflicts further damage on Labour Party There is a real danger that after triggering article 50 Theresa May will follow through with a snap general election, writes Eddie Ford

Wants right in control ... in perpetuity

ooking to the future, Tom Watson expose any wrong doing by Momentum. this did not represent an endorsement of with 69.7% - hence the exaggerated talk In the end, the Tory candidate, Trudi has shifted the right’s focus from So it is worth asking whether or not the Labour Party, nor was Ukip “well and about the “Brexit capital of Britain”, and Harrison, won with 13,748 votes (44.2%) a direct attack on Jeremy Corbyn Watson and Coyne are involved in a truly stuffed” - a rather silly statement so on. Generally, Labour’s base in the area on a much higher turnout than Stoke of and his leadership to Momentum Machiavellian plot to shift opinion in made by the ex-Trotskyist, Paul Mason, has undergone a considerable erosion 51.33% - amounting to a 6.7% swing to Land Unite’s general secretary election. Unite and maintain the right’s grip over the who went on to claim that Stoke “shows in recent years, enabling Ukip to make the Tories. Labour slumped to 11,601 Obviously the right wants to see the back structures of the Labour Party, up to and how to destroy” Ukip (actually it is Theresa relatively impressive gains in all three of (37.3%), down 4.9% - whilst the Lib Dems of Len McCluskey and a victory for his including the Parliamentary Labour Party, May and her pursuit of a hard Brexit that the city’s constituencies at the last general and Ukip trailed well behind, getting 7.2% challenger, Gerald Coyne. Jon Lansman, the in perpetuity. Did brothers Watson and is doing that).1 election - for example, closing the gap and 6.5% respectively (meaning that Ukip’s chair and effective owner of Momentum, Coyne know about the “secret” Richmond Back in the real world though, Labour’s with Labour to just 2.7% in neighbouring vote fell sharply by 9%).4 This represented was, of course, taped in Richmond on tape before the “shocking revelation” was candidate, Gareth Snell, did well to get Stoke-on-Trent North. the first gain for a governing party at a UK March 1, and the transcript was carefully made public? Were they involved in any 7,853 votes (37.1%), as opposed to ‘Dr’ Overall, you can say that Stoke was by-election since 1982. Copeland also saw released, to full media publicity, just as way in the taping, in transcribing it or in Paul Nuttall’s 5,233 (24.7%) on a very not a disaster for either Labour or Ukip - the largest increase in a governing party’s polling papers were being sent out to Unite timing its release to The Observer? diminished turnout of 38.2% (down 11.7% depending on what their expectations were. share of the vote in a by-election since 1966. members. How convenient. Jon Lansman says he hopes that both from 2015).2 But Labour’s vote declined At Ukip’s recent spring conference, Nigel Hence, Labour’s situation is even worse Jeremy Corbyn and Tom Watson have Unite and the Communication Workers both in absolute and relative terms. In Farage set the bar very high, describing than it first seems, when you remember issued a joint statement agreeing that Union will soon affiliate to Momentum. percentage terms we lost 2.2%, while Ukip Stoke as “fundamental” for “the futures of that by-elections tend to underestimate groups have a right to influence the Labour Nothing sinister in that. They would gained 2.0%. Moreover, both the Tories and both the Labour Party and indeed of Ukip support for the governing party and reward Party so long as they “operate within the merely be following in the footsteps of Liberal Democrats increased their share too” - it “matters and it matters hugely”. oppositional parties - an opportunity to rules.” But what Watson was trying to do the TSSA and FBU. Doubtless that would of the vote: 1.8% and 5.67% respectively. By that criterion, Stoke was a failure - but, give the government a mid-term kicking. was to influence the Unite election, not mean more money in Momentum’s coffers And, of course, if Ukip were “well and truly regardless, for the time being Farage is This makes it all the more telling, and and more full-timers for Jon Lansman to stuffed”, it would have seen them come not publicly standing by Nuttall. Only time ominous, that it was May who had the appoint. A leftwing bureaucracy to rival second, but at the bottom of the list, along will tell. Anyway, Stoke was only a “decisive most to celebrate afterwards. If we are to the rightwing bureaucracy of the hugely with the Monster Raving Loony Party, the rejection” of Ukip if you were genuinely be brutally honest, Labour is in danger of well financed - not least thanks to Lord British National Party and the Christian convinced that it should have been a shoe-in decimation at the next general election. David Sainsbury - Progress faction. People’s Alliance. for Nuttall - which was always a dubious Watson claims Momentum will “destroy True, there had been intense media proposition. Revival? Labour as an election force”. Certainly the speculation, ever since Tristram Hunt Copeland, however, is a different intervention in Unite’s election and the civil resigned the seat for his “dream job” of matter. Yes, you can talk about special These by-elections raise a number of war unleashed against Corbyn - by Iain director of the Victoria and Albert Museum, circumstances - such as the importance questions. Firstly, does Ukip have a long- March 23 McNicol, Tony Blair, Peter Mandelson, that Stoke Central could fall into the hands of the nuclear industry as a major term future? You do not have to be a genius Watson himself and the vast majority of of Ukip - for fairly good reasons, it does local employer, Storm Doris, and the to think it is pure nonsense to believe that No.014 the PLP - has severely damaged Labour’s have to be said. Stoke council, though not fairly small size of the Labour majority Ukip is on the road to replacing Labour chances in a general election. the same as the constituency, has been (2,147). Nevertheless, in terms of the core as the official opposition or natural voice The by-election results in Stoke and under ‘no overall control’ since 2015, with constituency, Labour has held Copeland3 of the working class. The Labour Party is 2017 Copeland surely prove it. Yes, Labour Ukip at its core. Stoke, of course, notched since 1935, when it was recovering from the a historically constituted party based on won in Stoke Central. But unfortunately up the highest Brexit vote of any UK city debacle of the 1931 national government. the trade union movement. True, that LPM March 23 2017 Labour

movement may have considerably declined seats (and lucrative careers) - and for what? Moreover, programmatically, we should salary. On top of that they get around over the decades, yet we are still dealing Corbyn cannot be removed under current consider a new clause four. Not a return to £12,000 in expenses and allowance, with a membership of six million - not circumstances, as the mass membership the old, 1918, version, but a commitment putting them on £79,060 (yet at present london communist forum something that will go away easily. retains faith in him - that was recently to working class rule and a society which Labour MPs are only obliged to pay Ukip, on the other hand, is an ephemeral tested with the second leadership contest. aims for a stateless, classless, moneyless the £82 parliamentarian’s subscription organisation based fundamentally on Owen Smith, the right’s candidate, for all society, embodying the principle, “From rate). Moreover, as leader of the official Sundays, 5pm: Weekly political opposition to the European Union. In that the backing from MPs and the media, lost each according to their abilities, to each opposition, Jeremy Corbyn not only meeting and study group sense, Ukip can only be defined negatively badly - therefore to keep openly attacking according to their needs”. Towards that gets his MPs salary. He is entitled to an organised jointly by Labour - by what it is against, not what it is for. Corbyn would be self-defeating. That is the end the Labour Party should commit itself additional £73,617.7 Party Marxists and CPGB. Now, after June 23 - with Theresa May calculation of most of the PLP: stick with to achieving a democratic republic. The Let them keep the average skilled Details in Weekly Worker. skilfully appropriating the ‘hard Brexit’ JC as leader for now and muddle through standing army, the monarchy, the House workers’ wage - say £40,000 (plus legitimate agenda - what actually is the point of to the next election, hoping that events of Lords and the state sponsorship of the expenses). Then, however, they should Venue: Ukip? Maybe to stumble on as a pressure might come to your rescue. Church of England must go. We should hand the balance over to the party. Jeremy The Calthorpe Arms, group, making sure the prime minster support a single-chamber parliament, Corbyn, John McDonnell, Dianne Abbott 252 Grays Inn Road, keeps to her pledge - which is not much of Flawed proportional representation and annual ought to take the lead in this. London WC1X 8JR a reason to exist. No wonder Ukip tops are elections. All of that ought to be included Imposing a partymax would give falling out with each other. Arron Banks When you look at opinion polls, what is in our new clause four (see box). a considerable boost to our finances. with Douglas Carswell, Nigel Farage with immediately noticeable is not the growth of The PLP’s perpetual rebels are out-and- Even if we leave out our 20 MEPs from Douglas Carswell, Neil Hammond with the centre - forget it - but the strength of the out opportunists. Once and for all, we must the calculation, it would amount to a Nigel Farage, etc. Tory Party, increasing its standing over this put an end to such types exploiting our £900,000 addition. Anyway, whatever our brilliant media for transmitting simple, Essentially, in Copeland a big slice of period to almost 1950s levels of support. party. Being an MP ought to be an honour, finances, there is the basic principle. Our short and sharp messages. But, when it the Ukip vote simply marched into the Recent polls have put the Conservatives not a career ladder, not a way for university representatives ought to live like ordinary comes to complex ideas, debating history Tory camp. There is every reason to think on over 40% and Labour as low as 24%. graduates to secure a lucrative living. workers, not pampered members of the and charting political strategies, they are that that this pattern will be replicated, Theresa May continues to be the favoured A particularly potent weapon here is the middle class. So, yes, let us agree the worse than useless. to one degree or another, in the general choice for prime minister, with one poll demand that all our elected representatives partymax as a basic principle. Relying on the favours of the capitalist election, as May ploughs ahead with her showing 49% of people preferring her to should take only the average wage of a Given the huge challenges before us, we press, radio and TV is a game for fools. Brexit plans - EU deal or not, World Trade Corbyn. The Labour leader is backed by skilled worker. A principle upheld by urgently need to reach out to all those who True, it worked splendidly for Tony Blair Organisation rules or not. If Brexit actually only 15% of voters, whilst 36% don’t know. the Paris Commune and the Bolshevik are disgusted by corrupt career politicians, and Alistair Campbell. But as Neil Kinnock, happens, which is a real possibility in the The last time the monthly Guardian revolution. Even the Italian Communist all those who aspire for a better world, Gordon Brown and Ed Miliband found to new world of Trump, that would further series, for instance, produced a larger Party under Enrico Berlinguer applied the all those who have an objective interest their cost, to live by the mainstream media place a question mark over Ukip’s future Conservative lead was back in 1983, just ‘partymax’ in the 1970s. With the PCI’s in ending capitalism. Towards that end is to die by the mainstream media. - with job done, surely time to close shop. before the June general election trouncing huge parliamentary fraction this proved we must establish our own press, radio No, to set the agenda we need our own Then again, if Marine Le Pen does defy the of Michael Foot. In other words, in terms of to be a vital source of funds. and TV. To state the obvious, tweeting full-spectrum alternative. polls and becomes president of France - not popular support, it is the Labour Party that Our MPs are on a basic £67,060 annual and texting have severe limits. They are The established media can be used, something you can completely dismiss - is losing out - in Scotland to the Scottish of course. But, as shown with the last then the EU will be finished anyway, almost National Party, and in England and Wales anti-Corbyn coup, Tom Watson’s latest making Brexit redundant. There would be to the Conservatives. Stoke and Copeland stunt and the Unite elections, when nothing to exit. just underline the growing ascendancy of things really matter, we hardly get a look What about the Lib Dems? Historically the Tory Party. in. Indeed the capitalist press, radio and speaking, these should be ideal conditions Needless to say, this poses acute TV are an integral part of the ruling class for a revival after they were punished problems for the Corbyn-McDonnell-Milne establishment. There are, of course, siren by voters for getting into bed with the strategy - which appears fundamentally voices to the contrary. Those who think we Conservative Party in the coalition flawed, as argued by professor John Curtice can win over The Guardian, the Mirror, etc. government. We have had the unedifying in The Guardian.6 Curtice notes that Labour But, frankly, only the determinedly naive spectacle of Jeremy Corbyn getting out his seems to have “misguidedly” decided that could not have anticipated the poisonous three-line whip and urging Labour MPs its “first priority” is to “stave off the threat bias, the mockery, the hatchet-jobs, the to vote with the Tories to trigger article 50 from Ukip to its traditional working class implacable opposition. and proceed with what Labour was telling vote - much of which supposedly voted Once we had the Daily Herald. Now us would be a catastrophe for the British ‘leave’ in the EU referendum”. But in so we have nothing. Well, apart from the economy - in which case, surely we should doing, he writes, Labour “seems to have deadly dull trade union house journals, be duty-bound to oppose it? Step forward forgotten (or not realised) that most of the advertising sheets of the confessional the Lib Dems, saviours of the country from those who voted Labour in 2015 - including sects and the Morning Star (which is still Brexit darkness. After all, almost half of the those living in Labour seats in the north and in the grip of unreconstructed Stalinites). electorate voted ‘remain’ and even in Stoke the Midlands - backed ‘remain’”. Therefore We should aim for an opinion-forming just over 30% came out for continued EU the party, he concludes, is “at greater risk daily paper of the labour movement and membership. And here is the party that is of losing votes to the pro-‘remain’ Liberal seek out trade union, cooperative, crowd making opposition to Brexit its core issue. Democrats than to pro-Brexit Ukip” - with and other such sources of funding. And, to Yet what did they get in the by-elections? Stoke and Copeland seeming to prove that succeed, we have to be brave - iconoclastic In Stoke, their vote only went up 5.7% (to ‘remain’ voters “must now be Labour’s viewpoints, difficult issues, two-way 9.8% - at least they saved their deposit this top priority”. arguments, must be included as a matter time) and it was pretty much the same in Instead of ‘respecting’ the verdict of of course. The possibility of distributing it Copeland - only increasing by 3.8%, putting the British people in David Cameron’s free of charge should be considered and, them on 7.3% of the total vote. botched referendum, Labour needs a naturally, everything should be put up on You could argue that we could be clear perspective when it come to Europe. the web without paywalls. We should also seeing another attempt to create a centrist Labour Party Marxists opposes all Brexit launch a range of internet-based TV and third party - in that the cross-party Open calls - even at this stage. However, that radio stations. With the abundant riches Britain has been backed by Tony Blair, implies no illusions in the EU as presently of dedication, passion and ideas that exist Peter Mandelson, John Major and others. constituted. Yet for socialism to be a viable on the left here in Britain and far beyond, Thus John Prescott in the Sunday Mirror project Europe must be our decisive we can surely better the BBC, Al Jazeera, says that OB “looks like an SDP mark point of departure. So we should commit Russia Today and Sky. two”, with Mandelson and Blair “whipping ourselves not to making Brexit a success, Of course, the Jeremy Corbyn-John up dissent to split Labour”, just like Roy but developing links and coordination with McDonnell leadership faces both an enemy Jenkins and David Owen did before they working class and leftwing forces in Europe. without, in the PLP, and an enemy within, in launched the Social Democratic Party in their own reformist ideology. They seriously 1981.5 This is very unconvincing, to say Far-reaching seem to believe that socialism can be the least. In the 1980s you saw an upsurge brought about piecemeal, through a series of the centre ground - just as importantly, Our main goal should certainly not be the of left and ever lefter Labour governments. if not more so, for a while it looked as if attempt to win the next general election by In reality, though, a Labour government joining the SDP could possibly be a good rebranding Jeremy Corbyn as a populist, committed to the existing state and the career move: it seemed to be going places. courting the capitalist media or striking the Our Clause Four existing constitutional order would produce But the situation today is totally latest compromise deal with Tom Watson, not decisive steps in the direction of different. British politics is increasingly let alone going for a “a broad political 1. Labour is the federal party of the fully realising their innate potentialities. socialism, but attacks on the working class polarised, albeit in contradictory ways, alliance” with the Liberal Democrats, working class. We strive to bring all … and then, as we have repeatedly seen, between left and right - and now is being Greens, Scottish and Welsh nationalists. trade unions, cooperatives, socialist 3. Towards that end Labour commits beginning with the January-November repolarised along Brexit lines, with even A well-trodden road to disaster. No, our societies and leftwing groups and parties itself to achieving a democratic republic. 1924 Ramsay MacDonald government, more contradictory outcomes. The centre main goal should be transforming the under our banner. We believe that unity The standing army, the monarchy, the the re-election of the Tories l ground is not undergoing a significant Labour Party, so that, in the words of Keir brings strength. House of Lords and the state sponsorship revival. In Stoke and Copeland the Lib Hardie, it can “organise the working class of the Church of England must go. We Notes Dems merely showed that they still exist. into a great, independent political power 2. Labour is committed to replacing support a single-chamber parliament, 1. www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/ Nor does anyone in the Labour Party to fight for the coming of socialism”. the rule of capital with the rule of the proportional representation and annual feb/27/stoke-destroy-ukip-brexit-byelection. seriously think that there is going to be Towards that end we need rule changes working class. Socialism introduces elections. 2. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stoke-on-Trent_ another SDP that is going to provide them to permit left, communist and revolutionary a democratically planned economy, Central_by-election,_2017. 3. Or its predecessor, Whitehaven - created in 1832 with an alternative career plan - or dislodge parties to affiliate once again. As long as ends the ecologically ruinous cycle of 4. Labour seeks to win the active and renamed Copeland in 1983. Jeremy Corbyn. they do not stand against us in elections, production for the sake of production backing of the majority of people and to 4. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Copeland_by- This explains Tom Watson’s reaction this can only but strengthen us as a federal and moves towards a stateless, classless, form a government on this basis. election,_2017. to the by-election results at the Scottish party. Today affiliate organisations include moneyless society that embodies the 5. www.mirror.co.uk/news/politics/after- Labour Party conference in Perth - he the Fabians, Christians on the Left, the principle, “From each according to 5. We shall work with others, in disappointment-copeland-labour-must-9916059. 6. www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/ argued strongly that there should be no Cooperative Party, the Jewish Labour their abilities, to each according to their particular in the European Union, in feb/24/stoke-copeland-labour-remain-richmond- more challenges to Corbyn’s leadership. Movement and Labour Business. Allow needs”. Alone such benign conditions pursuit of the aim of replacing capitalism copeland-ukip. Further attacks on Corbyn from the PLP the SWP, SPEW, CPGB, the Morning Star’s create the possibility of every individual with working class rule and socialism l 7. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leader_of_the_ could result in Labour MPs losing their CPB, etc, to join our ranks. Opposition_(United_Kingdom). 2 LPM march 23 2017 AIMS and Grassroots Principles

1. The central aim of Labour Party Marxists is to transform the Labour Party into an instrument for working class advance and international social- ism. Towards that end we will join with Momentum’s flawed opposition others and seek the closest unity of the left inside and outside the party. On March 11, Grassroots Momentum met at Conway Hall in central London. Simon Wells and 2. Capitalism is synonymous with war, pollution, waste and production Carla Roberts report for its own sake. Attempts to rescue the system through Keynesian remedies ver 200 Momentum members farcically, illustrating a lack of seriousness, are diversionary and doomed to fail. attended the first gathering of the two members of the steering committee The democratic and social gains of newly established Momentum almost instantly resigned from their posts the working class must be tenaciously Grassroots network. It could (Joan Twelves and Rida Vaquas - the latter defended, but capitalism must be Ohave easily been much bigger, had it not later withdrew her resignation!). superseded by socialism. been built as a ‘delegate’ event - a decision The left within Momentum is, though, 3. The only viable alternative is organ- which was overturned at the beginning surely split on the most crucial question ising the working class into powerful of the meeting by a clear majority of the before us: what it is we hope to achieve in and thoroughly democratic trade unions, branch delegates. the Labour Party. co-ops, and other schools for socialism, The organised left was there, of Is it about following the masses into and crucially into a political party which course: there were about two dozen Labour and building this or that social aims to replace the rule of the capitalist members and supporters of the Alliance movement? Is it about splitting off a class with the rule of the working class. for Workers’ Liberty/The Clarion and a leftwing minority to form the core of a 4. The fight for trade union freedom, handful each from Workers Power (Red future revolutionary ‘party’ - ie, one of the anti-fascism, women’s rights, sexual Flag), Socialist Appeal and Labour Party sects writ large? Is it about working for a freedom, republican democracy and Marxists. The Labour Representation Labour government and hoping that Jeremy opposition to all imperialist wars are Committee and Nick Wrack’s Labour Party Corbyn manages to hang on till 2020? Is it inextricably linked to working class Socialist Network had a few members about fighting for a left-reformist Labour political independence and the fight present, though neither seemed to make government that will carry out a limited for socialism. a coordinated intervention. range of progressive measures within It is, of course, long overdue for the the confines of the existing monarchical 5. Ideas of reclaiming the Labour left within the Labour movement to start constitution? Party and the return of the old clause four are totally misplaced. From the getting organised. But, on the day, GM’s Or, on the contrary, is it about beginning the party has been dominated main political problem became more and transforming the Labour Party into a by the labour bureaucracy and the more evident: it has been set up as a reaction permanent united front of the entire ideas of reformism. The party must be to Jon Lansman’s January 10 coup, when he Momentum Grassroots ... Matt Wrack speaking organised working class - a party refounded on the basis of a genuinely simply abolished all elected Momentum programmatically committed to republican socialist programme as opposed to social bodies and imposed a bureaucratic democracy and armed with a new, socialist, democratic gradualism or bureaucratic constitution. All GM supporters are he spoke. He explained that the FBU perfect harmony, with the national meeting clause four? If it is the latter - which is statism. united in their opposition to this highly “continues to keep an open mind” about of branch delegates supposedly being the certainly the view of LPM - then this undemocratic manoeuvre. However, when Momentum and Grassroots Momentum, superior committee. But this is obvious means recognising that taking such a 6. The aim of the party should not it comes to the way forward, there were - at but had so far declined the offer to take up nonsense. In practice the six directly elected course will ensure that Labour remains be a Labour government for its own least - three different viewpoints present a seat on Lansman’s national coordinating officers would be unaccountable little a party of extreme opposition for many sake. History shows that Labour on March 11: group. He spoke about the need to Bonapartes - an all too common practice years to come. We prefer that to forming a governments committed to managing l the capitalist system and loyal to the Some want a clean split from democratise Labour, fight for the selection on the left and fervently opposed by LPM. government that has no chance of carrying existing constitutional order create Momentum - the sooner, the better. There of socialist MPs and for socialist policies - Much to the consternation of the top table, out the full programme of Marxism. disillusionment in the working class. are, naturally, differences over with whom and said that in fact “we are making almost after a couple of recounts, option 2 was Hence we envisage the taking of power to split, to form what exactly and on what no progress in any of these areas”. He quite defeated, with 83 for and 89 against. Those not just in Britain in isolation, but as part 7. Labour should only consider forming political basis. correctly stated that “the right is running who had already divvied up the six jobs of a worldwide movement of working a government when it has the active l Some want to continue to work in rings around the left at conference” and between themselves were visibly stunned. class self-liberation that has Europe as its support of a clear majority of the Momentum for now, while at the same time “expulsions for political reasons are not For a good five minutes they literally did decisive point of departure. population and has a realistic pros- almost replicating the official body - with being challenged”. He was also right to not know what to do. There is clearly no real political pect of implementing a full socialist parallel structures and similar political say that “Corbyn will lose, unless he faces l Option 3 was textually the briefest coherence among the comrades involved programme. This cannot be achieved limitations, but on a lower level: similar these challenges head on”. and allowed for “15-20 people” elected at in GM at this stage. This is something we in Britain in isolation from Europe and campaigns, similar leadership elections, etc. The biggest problem was the agenda, conference to form a “steering committee” shall seek to rectify through a process of the rest of the world. l Some - and LPM belongs to this third which really was the wrong way round. that “can elect an executive if they wish”. debate, discussion and involvement in 8. Socialism is the rule of the working group - agree that we should continue We were to discuss campaigns first, then This was successfully carried with 88 for what should be our common struggle to class over the global economy created to work within Momentum for the time democratising the Labour movement, and 68 against. influence Momentum’s 22,000 members. by capitalism and as such is antithetical being, but with a clear understanding of and only then were we supposed to have In general, option 2 was supported This means that, in our view, GM should to all forms of British nationalism. its limited shelf life, openly criticising its a discussion on “the way forward for GM”, by comrades who want a politically as a matter of tactic, not principle, remain Demands for a British road to socialism exceedingly pinched political outlook and including how to elect some kind of a narrower leadership (specifically in this a part of Momentum - just so long as we and a withdrawal from the European subordination to the politics of Jeremy leadership. This last item was supposed case excluding the AWL/The Clarion) - can make our voice heard within it and Union are therefore to be opposed. 1 Corbyn’s 10 pledges. to last just over an hour and a half. But about half the conference. As we had no there are people there to listen. 9. Political principles and organisa- clearly there were a lot of disagreements proper discussion on this issue: it was That does not mean we politically tional forms go hand-in-hand. The How not to in the hall. projected onto the 30-second (!) hustings subordinate ourselves to Jon Lansman or, Labour Party must become the umbrella contributions by the 40-plus candidates for that matter, Jeremy Corbyn. Of course organisation for all trade unions, Unfortunately, the conference made no What kind of who put themselves forward for the 20 not. But, if we arm ourselves with principled socialist groups and pro-working class attempt to clarify where GM as a whole steering committee places. Without any politics, we will have the opportunity, partisans. Hence all the undemocratic might stand in relation to those three main leadership? consultation, let alone a vote, the chair in however limited a way, to win many bans and proscriptions must be done options. In fact, we did not get a chance announced that a least half the committee thousands to the cause of socialism. For away with. to discuss anything much at all, let alone LPM supporter John Bridge successfully had to be female (ie, the quota system loved example, LPM secretary Stan Keable stood 10. The fight to democratise the Labour serious politics. challenged the agenda and after lunch we by liberal bureaucracies everywhere). And in the recent Momentum elections to the Party cannot be separated from the fight To put it mildly, the organisation of went on to discuss the future of GM. This it was no surprise, especially given the national coordinating group for the South to democratise the trade unions. Trade the event was a shambles - reflecting, of challenge turned out to be quite crucial, as numbers they had mobilised, that the AWL East constituency. He won a respectable union votes at Labour Party conferences course, the ideological and political poverty that discussion went on for the rest of the candidates did well. They make up around 458 votes on a Marxist platform, which should be cast not by general secretaries of much of the left. As is now common at day. Clearly, conference should have started a quarter of the committee (that despite included a strongly-worded condemnation but proportionately according to the such leftwing gatherings, we were presented with it. And maybe then we would have the fact that in the morning session they of the Lansman coup, naturally. Where is political balance in each delegation. with a stuffed agenda, which included had time to debate this question politically, badly lost out when they spoke against the the downside of that, exactly? l speeches from strikers - but we had no rather than just decide on a method of proposal to include in GM’s basic platform 11. All trade unions should be encour- time for a proper, meaningful discussion electing a new leadership. opposition to the bogus ‘anti-Zionism Notes aged to affiliate, all members of the or decision-making. Of course, we support On this issue, we were presented with equals anti-Semitism’ witch-hunt). And, 1. www.jeremyforlabour.com/economy. trade unions encouraged to pay the the Picturehouse workers’ struggle for three options, which were put together by political levy and join the Labour Party as individual members. a living wage and are with the teaching the former chair of the (now abolished) assistants in Derby in their strike against the conference arrangements committee, 12. The party must be reorganised from Labour council. But should the founding Alec Price - himself a supporter of option Steering committee top to bottom. Bring the Parliamentary conference of GM really have devoted so 2 (incredibly, he also started chairing the Labour Party under democratic control. much time to hearing their representatives, session, but after a challenge from the floor The following were elected by Grassroots Momentum: The position of Labour leader should be abolished along with the national when contributions from the floor were sat down again). Matt Wrack,137 Rosie Woods, 71 limited to a measly two minutes? l Option 1 was not very serious: keep policy forum. The NEC should be Sahaya James, 95 Rida Vaquas, 69 unambiguously responsible for drafting An exception was made for Matt Wrack, things as they are, with the remaining Tracy McGuire, 93 Lee Griffiths, 69 leader of the Fire Brigades Union, who members of Momentum’s official national Labour Party manifestos. Jackie Walker, 93 Alec Price, 67 was allowed six minutes, but this was not committee (also abolished), who were 13. The NEC should be elected and enough to outline a set of serious proposals. elected many months ago, continuing to Nick Wrack, 89 Pete Radcliff, 64 Simon Hannah, 82 Ed Whitby, 63 accountable to the annual conference, Comrade Wrack had personally sponsored meet. Only one or two people voted for this. which must be the supreme body in the the conference with a “large contribution” l Option 2 was favoured by the ex-CAC Delia Mattis, 82 Tina Werkmann, 61 party. Instead of a tame rally there must - since his election as general secretary members and was given by far the most Kevin McKenna, 80 Jan Pollock, 58 be democratic debate and binding votes. of the FBU, he said he had been “setting time: local groups would affiliate to GM Jill Mountford, 75 Richard Gerrard, 56 aside a portion of my wages to help fund and send two representatives each to a Graham Bash, 71 Joan Twelves, 53 14. Our elected representatives must be recallable by the constituency or the labour movement”. leadership meeting every three months. Further results: www.grassrootsmomentum.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/ other body that selected them. That It would have helped if we had started Plus, conference was to directly elect a Grassroots-Conference-Steering-Committee-Election-Results.pdf. includes MPs, MEPs, MSPs, AMs, the day with this comrade’s contribution, ‘coordinating group’ of six named positions. councillors, etc. Without exception but it was not until just before lunch that These two bodies would work together in elected representatives should take only the average wage of a skilled worker, the balance being donated to furthering 3 the interests of the labour movement l LPM march 23 2017 History What was Straight Left? Lawrence Parker investigates the political origins of Jeremy Corbyn’s director and deputy director of strategy and communications

hen Jeremy Corbyn’s enmity from its factional rivals in the CPGB. closed down a London district congress in ‘internationalist’ probity of the Soviet when the CPGB was involved with the campaigns chief Simon Thus, Mike Hicks, who was involved in November 1984 that threatened to become Union’s camp. Straight Left publications National Left Wing Movement: ‘Labour’s Fletcher quit last month, the Communist Campaign Group (CCG), a point of opposition to the party leadership. were filled with reprints from Soviet Straight Left’. it was widely interpreted set up after the rebellion of Morning Star Mike Hicks, in the chair of this meeting, later agencies such as Novosti and other agencies If it was the latter, it was a significant Was a victory for Seumas Milne. Fletcher supporters against the CPGB leadership in contemptuously observed that Straight Left from the eastern bloc. abuse of the slogan. The CPGB had was known to have heated exchanges the mid-1980s, and later the first general “ended up selling Marxism Today [the CPGB Thus, an article in Communist argued: this slogan to differentiate itself from with Corbyn’s director of strategy and secretary of the 1988 Communist Party of theoretical journal much despised by the traditional Labour lefts such as George communications on a range of issues, Britain split (both criticised and opposed by party’s left in the 1980s for its Eurocommunist Communists in the capitalist world Lansbury and the like: ie, those who including Brexit. Now, Corbyn has signed the Straight Leftist faction), said in the late proclivities] instead of the Morning Star are not, in general, in a position were not ‘straight’, who would potentially up Steve Howell to be Milne’s deputy. 1990s: “Straight Left was neither straight nor because the executive told them to”.5 to make the judgements that the disown communist allies and cosy up Howell’s official job description is to help left.”2 Similarly, a CCG document complained: However, what this Straight Left strategy CPSU is obliged to. Was it right or to the Labour right. It was not a slogan “oversee the leader’s media strategy and to “The individuals grouped around Straight of avoiding open conflict eventually led to, wrong to intervene in Afghanistan that covered the kind of homogenous implement the communications grid”. He is Left have their own newspaper, their own in the context of a CPGB that was being in 1979 to block the spread of ‘broad left’ that the likes of Straight Left taking an indefinite leave of absence from organisation and their own objectives.” I set on a liquidationist course, was it being counterrevolution? Is it right or advocated. his lobbying agency, Freshwater, to take have been told anecdotally by CPGB activists left somewhat high and dry. SL had built wrong to withdraw the Soviet army However, slogans can change up his role in the Labour leader’s office.1 of the time that Straight Left was thought to a considerable base in London by the end from there today? The CPGB does their meaning with time. To call a There are unlikely to be heated exchanges have three circles: an inner ‘Leninist’ core; a of the 1980s “by showing a willingness to not have to answer those questions. newspaper Straight Left when your between Milne and Howell not least because broader circle of sympathisers in the CPGB; take on responsibilities at a time when few Our views are unimportant, and we main factional opponents in the CPGB, they are old friends and old Straight Leftist and the ‘softer’ Labourite and trade unionists candidates were to be found”.6 This was to do not have to live with the sharp the Eurocommunists, are keen on comrades. Andrew Murray, chief of staff for grouped around the Straight Left newspaper be a very hollow victory indeed, given that consequences of the answers. The promoting gay rights, only invites some Unite and yet another former SL member, (non-CPGB trade unionists such as Alan the CPGB was soon to pass into oblivion CPSU has to make those judgements, uncomfortable questions about your recently left the Morning Star’s Communist Sapper and Labour MPs such as Joan Maynard and the succession of congresses to win was and it has the right to expect support modus operandi on such issues. It is quite Party of Britain to join Labour and is also were on its advisory board). Certainly, the coming to an end. and understanding in making them.9 inconceivable that Fergus Nicholson and thought to be in Corbyn’s inner circle. majority of the content of the newspaper was company were not aware that the name hewn from the same, dry ‘labour movement’ Labour Party Neither did this stance seemingly allow would be interpreted in this negative sense, Origins template used by the Morning Star, with little criticism of even the most crisis-stricken particularly when it was the production indication that it was the work of communists, In terms of the Labour Party, Straight Left and sickly military dictatorships of of staunch advocates of the Soviet Union Straight Left’s origins lie in the left, pro-Soviet apart from its commentary on the Soviet took the BRS injunction of developing an countries such as Poland in the early - a state with a problematic relation to oppositions that emerged in the Communist Union and other international matters. (The alliance with Labour to effect radical changes 1980s. Straight Leftist Charlie Woods, homosexuality, to put it mildly. Party of Great Britain in the 1960s. In this Communist journal, obviously aimed at CPGB to its logical conclusion by arguing that the complaining bitterly of CPGB criticisms To call all Straight Left members period, a definite ‘party within a party’ sympathisers, was much more orthodox and CPGB should affiliate to the Labour Party of the Polish regime in 1983, said: homophobic would be over-egging the existed, with figures such as Sid French, harder Marxist-Leninist in tone, with a lot of and - more controversially for both the left pudding; to state that this group was district secretary of Surrey CPGB, becoming very interesting commentary on inner-party and right of the CPGB - that the party should After all, how would our [CPGB] one that had pronounced problems with key leaders. The general critique that came CPGB matters.) end its independent electoral work. Thus a leadership take it if the over two- homosexuality would not be stretching from this faction was a concern over the So Straight Left was a faction and did typical article in Communist argued: million-strong Polish United the truth l CPGB leadership distancing itself from the indulge in political camouflage, but in this Workers Party took time off from Soviet Union (such as around the invasion of it was merely of its time. For example, the … it is difficult to see there being much trying to solve the problems of Czechoslovakia in 1968) and other ‘socialist’ CCG’s disavowal of Straight Left’s factionalism movement against the exclusion of socialism to remonstrate with our Notes countries; a preference for a more ‘workerist’ was merely an attempt to throw people off communist trades unionists from the 16,000-member party’s failure to 1. Howell founded Freshwater in Cardiff in 1997 after identity (for example, the faction would the scent from the CCG’s own factionalism Labour Party until our electoral strategy achieve it at all?10 working as a news reporter and producer for BBC Radio have been happy with the CPGB’s paper (the CCG unconvincingly complained it was is based on non-sectarian principles Wales. The 19-strong public affairs and PR agency now has offices in Cardiff and London. According to the remaining as the Daily Worker in 1966) and not a faction at all; just a group that wanted and imbued with a thoroughly The implication of this little homily APPC register, the firm’s most recent clients include the a concentration on workplaces/trade unions; to follow the CPGB’s rules - which fooled consistent and positive attitude to the being, of course, that those British multinational building materials company Tarmac and 7 and a sense that the party was squandering nobody). The CPGB was riddled with factions Labour Party. communists really should not venture the personal injury lawyers Thomsons. its resources in futile election contests and in the 1980s, not least those grouped around to criticise their Polish brethren at all. 2. F Beckett Enemy within: the rise and fall of the alienating the left of the Labour Party, with Marxism Today and the party machine. Thus Straight Left picked up clearly on the British Communist Party London 1998, p234. The whom it was meant to be developing a close Similarly, on Straight Left’s broad left attitude of the pro-Soviet CPGB opposition of accession of a group of ex-Straight Leftists (including Straight Left and Andrew Murray and Nick Wright, who had split relationship on the British road to socialism camouflage in its newspaper and other the 1960s, which consistently drew attention from Straight Left to form Communist Liaison in the (BRS), the CPGB programme. forums, this was the modus operandi of nearly to the political impact of declining electoral gays early 1990s) into the ranks of the Communist Party However, a significant part of the faction the whole far left, from the Morning Star to votes on the avowed Labour-communist of Britain contributed to a bitter faction fight in the felt that the BRS was ‘reformist’ and ‘revisionist’ various Trotskyist groups: ie, communists strategy of the party. However, this opened The group does not appear to have organisation, in which Hicks was eventually deposed in all its guises from 1951, counterposing a clothing their politics in everything from trade up Straight Left to jibes of ‘liquidationism’ produced any significant material or as general secretary, and a strike by Morning Star staff. 8 3. Communist Campaign Group The crisis in the revolutionary path to the parliamentary road unionism to feminism and concealing their from both left and right in the CPGB and, statement on what would now be called Communist Party and the way forward (no date but to socialism envisaged in the CPGB’s existing true aims in the pursuit of mass influence. in retrospect, isolated the group further. LGBT questions (and an appeal from circa 1985). programme. This stance was clouded in Again, in hindsight, Straight Left does not myself to its members to produce such 4. Ibid. ambiguity in many sections of the CPGB’s left, strike one as very exceptional in this regard. Soviet Union and a statement to clear this issue up, when 5. F Beckett op cit. with the default position usually being expressed In retrospect, the enmity aimed at it on these this article originally appeared 6. W Thompson The good old cause: British 11 communism 1920-1991 London 1992, p205. in a preference for the 1951 version of the BRS counts stands revealed as the product of mere ‘socialist’ online, yielded nothing). 7. ‘40th congress of the Communist Party’ Communist that had been overseen by Stalin, as opposed factional rivalry. Members of the group September 1987. to later versions modified by a ‘revisionist’ However, another area of criticism aimed countries have claimed that calling 8. For the right wing of the CPGB, see Dave Cook CPGB leadership. This opposition suffered a at Straight Left may have more mileage in their newspaper in the pre-congress discussion of 1981(Comment major split in the run-up to the CPGB’s 1977 terms of a lasting judgement. The group was The Straight Left Straight Left was a October 17 1981); and, for the left, see Alan Stevens in congress, with Sid French taking away 700 or deemed by its CPGB factional rivals (both group, again boxing metaphor the same context (ibid). 9. H Sanderson, ‘Socialism today’ Communist so supporters to form the New Communist in the CCG and the small group around The showing its (and some of its September 1988. Party (after French realised that the CPGB’s Leninist, forerunner of the Weekly Worker) to origins in members certainly 10. C Woods The crisis in our Communist Party: leadership was intent on a reorganisation of have a ‘heads down’ approach to CPGB work. the CPGB’s knew a thing or cause, effect and cure 1983. Woods was a miner and his Surrey district, which would have deprived In the words of the CCG, such an approach pro-Soviet two about physical party veteran from county Durham, who was expelled him of his organisational bridgehead). left of the tussles with gay for writing this pamphlet - although he was very much viewed as a ‘fall guy’, with Fergus Nicholson or Brian The rump left opposition in the CPGB counsels caution and compliance with 1960s, took protestors); Topping thought of as the more likely authors. coalesced around Fergus Nicholson (other the authority of the [CPGB’s] executive an extremely while others have 11. This article originally appeared on the Hatful of key figures were John Foster, Brian Filling, committee. It says that if there is uncritical suggested that it History blog in October 2015. We are reproducing it Nick Wright, Susan Michie, Pat Turnbull and disagreement and dissatisfaction with view of the was recycling an here - in slightly amended form. Andrew Murray), who had been the CPGB’s the Eurocommunists [the faction then Soviet Union old Sunday Worker student organiser until 1974. The Straight dominating the party’s leadership], and other slogan from Left newspaper was launched in 1979, it was then opposition must be expressed ‘socialist’ the mid- edited by Mike Toumazou and had Seumas and conducted via the normal party countries, and 1920s, Your financial support is needed - Milne as business manager. Later a theoretical channels. That is to say, we must try regarded the please pay into the lpm bank account: magazine, Communist, appeared. Membership at successive congresses to defeat and actions of the sort code 30-96-26; account number: 22097060 figures are impossible to guess. However, remove the Eurocommunists.4 CPGB as a judging from Communist, the faction did ‘national’ sin have a wide national infrastructure beyond This led to such notorious moves as Straight against the OR SEND CHEQUES PAYABLE TO ‘LPM’ London through the 1980s and was certainly Leftists walking out with the CPGB LPM, BCM BOX 8932, LONDON WC1N 3XX. on a par with, if not in some places more leader, Gordon McLennan, when he deeper rooted than, the other oppositional stream around the Morning Star (see below). OR CONTACT US VIA EMAIL: [email protected] Factional infighting The Straight Left group provoked a lot of Steve Howell: friends at the top 4