Mark Fischer
Latest articles by Mark Fischer
Judge tactics in the concrete
Mark Fischer reports on the surprisingly united July 11 meeting of CPGB members
No complacency!
We're off to a brilliant start to the Summer Offensive, says Peter Manson
Step up solidarity
The rapprochement between the Tehran regime and the west ushers in a challenging new period, writes Mark Fischer of Hands Off the People of Iran
Wurzels revisited
How do we do it? Mark Fischer reveals all
Tepid support for Corbyn
Mark Fischer reports on the SWP’s Marxism school
Wildcard winnings
Mark Fischer reports on some solid progress for the Summer Offensive
Mood of optimism
The CPGB summer fundraising is off to a good start, says Mark Fischer
Holding a line
Mark Fischer reports on the CPGB’s Summer Offensive
Tower Hamlets: vote Rabina Khan
The Provisional Central Committee makes its voting recomendation
This charming man
Ben Macintyre A spy among friends: Kim Philby and the great betrayal Bloomsbury, 2014, pp354, £18
Lessons of the Great Strike
Recognising the nature of the defeat at the end of the Miners' Strike was hard for the left, argues Mark Fischer
Impervious to lessons
Familiar bureaucratic maneuvering brought an end to the Miner's Strike, writes Mark Fischer
One year of the miners’ strike
Mark Fischer presents two articles originally printed in The Leninist at the end of the miners' strike
Against feminism, for the working class
Geraldine Duffy writes for International Women's Day in March 1985
Learning the lessons
Women were central to the struggle in the miners' Great Strike, says Mark Fischer
Still not too late
It was necessary to confront the defeatism of the left head on at the end of the miners' strike, says Mark Fischer
In mortal danger
At the end of the miners strike in 1984-85 the question became whether it was possible to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat.
Facing up to reality
The left found it hard to accept defeat in 1985
More organised than the men
Mark Fischer reflects on an interview he had with Jean Davis in 1985.
A death in Wales
The miners needed to defend themselves. Mark Fischer discusses how difficult that was.
Left helps screw it up
The left failed the test of the Miners Strike, argues Mark Fischer
Committed revolutionary
John Robinson, 1926-2014
Intensification or resolution?
As the miner's strike approached a crossroads, president of Kent NUM Malcolm Pitt spoke to The Leninist
Under the cosh of the safe spaces police
Three comrades from LU recount their experiences
Keep on keeping on
Mark Fischer enjoyed himself at Socialism 2014
Jack Collins: We could swamp them
In 1984 The Leninist interviewed Jack Collins, area secretary of Kent NUM who went on to become disillusioned with the CPGB leadership
Lech Wałęsa and Thatcher, the wise and brave woman
While The Leninist's critique of Stalinism was still developing, it had no hesitation in calling the export of Polish coal to Britain during the miner's strike a scab act.
Modest expectations
Mark Fischer is impressed by a more sober and realistic attitude on the part of leading members
Violence and the miners
Another Leninist reprint - with salutary lessons for some in Left Unity today, says Mark Fischer
Moving and inspiring
Matthew Warchus (director) Pride general release
Recalling the nine days
A commitment to official union structures, and an inability to grasp the potential of organisations created by workers in struggle meant the miner's strike was a test most of the left failed, says Mark Fischer
Summer Offensive: Proud
This year's fundraising drive came exceedingly close to reaching the collective target, reports Mark Fischer
Final heave
Communist University is close at hand and the CPGB's annual fundraising drive is looking healthy, reports Mark Fischer. But don't let that stop you!
Valuable and provoking
Another good week for our annual fundraising drive. Mark Fischer reports
While the NUM waged war ...
Mark Fischer introduces another Leninist reprint, this time on the fight against liquidationist tendencies in the CPGB
Annual gauge
Mark Fischer is back in the game to give us this week's Summer Offensive update
Communist University and cash
The CPGB's summer offensive is keeping a good pace, reports Mark Fischer
Awakened to the class struggle
Mark Fischer introduces another Leninist reprint; Rebecca Sachs on the political transformation of women involved in the miner's strike
We're off!
Our annual Summer Offensive is off on the right foot, reports Mark Fischer
Summer Offensive: Raise the banner
Mark Fischer reports on a positive start to the CPGB's annual fundraising drive
Bolshevism was not a safe space for opportunism
Political differences need to be expressed in honest, frank and where necessary colourful language. Mark Fischer argues that the past has many important lessons for Left Unity
The question of Polish coal
Mark Fischer introduces another 'The Leninist' reprint from the time of the Miner's great strike
Still committed to Labour
Dean Kirk is of a rare political breed - along with Gill Kennett he was a Labour councillor in Hull who refused to vote for a cuts budget and was therefore suspended from the Labour group. He spoke to Mark Fischer
Left Unity: Political clarity first
The Communist Platform is standing four candidates in regional elections to the NC; Mark Fischer explains where and why
Serious approach demanded
We publish the response of the ISN to the CPGB's suggestion of discussions around revolutionary unity
Less haste, more politics
Mark Fischer reports on the meeting of Left Unity's leadership, where LU's labyrinthine constitution has been wreaking havoc
Rival politics of the miners’ strike
Mark Fischer introduces another blast from the past
Miners' strike: The gathering storm
In the year of the 30th anniversary of the start of the great miners' strike of 1984/5, we present the first of a series of contemporary extracts from our then factional journal The Leninist
Left Unity: Assume we have a tin opener
Mark Fischer spent a day at Left Unity's most recent TNC meeting... though it felt like a lot longer
Review: How to guard against state agents
Rob Evans and Paul Lewis Undercover: the true story of Britains secret police Faber and Faber, 2013, pp346, £12.99
To your posts, comrades
Mass working class pressure to save the Russian Revolution
Rees comes out for Blair's laws
Leaders of the Socialist Worker Party are galloping to the right at a breathtaking pace: John Rees supports the religious hatred laws, reports Mark Fischer
Walk on two legs
Mark Fischer reports on a debate that concerns the whole left
A reply to comrades
Last week's paper carried a letter from the Communist Struggle group in the Ukraine, suggesting that our two organisations have the possibility of "fruitful cooperation"
Harry who?
Party notes
Cretinism
Party notes
Taaffe pulls out
LSA slate for London elections
Questions
Party notes
Harry’s game
Party notes
Challenge to London unity
The fight for principled left unity in London to present an electoral challenge to Blair’s Labour has received a setback. The determination of the CATP to press ahead regardless of the plans of others is wrong
From Seattle to London
What kind of ‘anti-capitalism’?
Revolt against Blairism
Looking promising
GLA campaign
Opportunity
Party notes
Party school
Party notes
SWP conference
Party notes
Liquidationist step
SP dissidents to attend Socialist Network conference
SWP in or out?
Party notes
Private Godfrey
Party notes
Spies like us
Legality and illegality are different moments in the class struggle
Party notes
‘Waste of time’
Taaffe rubbishes anti-Blair lobby
Workers’ assimilation
LSA
Party notes
Party aggregate
Party notes
Recruit and integrate
Party notes
‘Official communists’ open up
Will Robert Griffiths be the death of the CPB?
300
CU’99
Party notes
Cryptic SWP
Party notes
Marxism
Party notes
Learning from the fascists
Mark Fischer looks at the April 21 edition of Fighting Talk, published by Anti-Fascist Action
Liquid assets
Summer Offensive ‘99
Incredible
Party notes
Hammer and tongs
Party notes
No breakthrough
Party notes
Assessing Euro ’99
Party notes
Vote ‘Weekly Worker’ on June 10!
Communist manifesto launched
SPEW set to splinter
Dissidents from a number of regions about to walk out
‘Disappeared’
Party notes
Sordid sectarianism
Washing our dirty linen
Party notes
Cool Cymru?
Mark Fischer reviews ‘Wales: class struggle and socialism’ by Charlie Kimber (Socialist Workers Party 1999, pp47)
Long live May Day! Victory to the 16th Summer Offensive!
Party notes
Commission results
Party notes
Urgent appeal
Party notes
Aggregate
Party notes
Brittle Bolsheviks
Party notes
Inquiry
Party notes
Call for enquiry
Party notes
Exquisite irony
Party notes
Half decent
Party notes
Livingstone for mayor?
Party notes
Perspectives ’99
Party notes
Publish and be damned
Mark Fischer replies to Alan Gibson
Step forward
Party notes
Splitting the pack?
Party notes
Micawber militants
Foot balls
Party notes
Scandalous
Party notes
Left in crisis
Party notes
Socialist Party in England and Wales: Extinction looms
Two schools
Party notes
Taaffe culls opposition
SP faces oblivion as Liverpool rebels
Fighting isolation
Party notes
Taaffe’s debacle
Party notes
Confusion
Party notes
Euro-election fund
Party notes
United Kingdom communists
Party notes
The Party ‘line’
Party notes
Perspectives ’99
Party notes
Communist University ’98
Party notes
Taking sides
Party notes
For or against liquidationism
Two recent resignations from the CPGB underline the nature of the political period. These letters of personal justification written in April are printed below with a reply from Mark Fischer which draws out some political lessons
Frozen in dogma
Notes by Mark Fischer in consultation with PCC members
Suspicion
Party notes
Socialist Hypocrisy Group
Party notes
Craig agonises
Party notes
Assessing Trotsky
Party notes
Quiet down below
Party notes
June aggregate
Party notes
Welcome move
Party notes
Education, education, education
Party notes
Sad Taaffe
Party notes
Fight nationalist poison
Party notes
Long live May Day!
Party notes
Alarm bells ringing
Bombshell?
Party notes
USSR school
Party notes
Grasping at straws
Party notes
Welsh road to British road
Mark Fischer highlights some moments from the career of Robert Griffiths, general secretary of the CPB
Leaving the Party
Party notes
Good morning, judge
Party notes
Don’t get paranoid
Party notes
Towards the Daily Worker
Party notes
The sound of silence
Party notes
Sectarian methodology
Mark Fischer replies to a recent polemic against the CPGB
Party notes
Battle looms
Socialist Alliances and rapprochement
Party notes
One step forward
Party notes
The ‘P’ word
Party notes
Rapprochement aggregate
Party notes
Party schools
Party notes
Perspectives ’98
Party notes
For a revolution in the SLP!
Party notes
Fight homophobia
The issue of gay rights is a controversial one in the SLP. Here Peter Tatchell speaks to Mark Fischer about the fight for gay liberation
Nationalist swamp
Party notes
SLP AT THE CROSSROADS
Some have been very quick to write obituaries for the Socialist Labour Party. Too quick, says Mark Fischer
Be serious
Party notes
Rapprochement
Party notes
‘Bugger it’?
Party notes
Same old crap
Party notes
Democratic or bureaucratic centralism?
Mark Fischer concludes his reply to Richard Brenner of Workers Power
Party notes
Sect or Party?
Mark Fischer replies to Richard Brenner’s polemic against the Communist Party. First, the question of democratic centralism ...
Cracks begin to open up
Socialist Party conference
Party notes
Party notes
Carving out an audience
Party notes
SML ambiguities
Party notes
Sell this paper!
Party notes
Open letter to SML
Party notes
Heil Tommy?
Party notes
Work, commitment and guts
Party notes
Kirstie Paton’s DNA
Workers Power’s particular brand of ‘Leninist’ discipline leads it into the arms of Tony Blair - without a single voice of opposition
Party aggregate endorses shift
Party notes
Summer Offensive ’97
Cream on it?
Party notes
Scargill rubs it in ...
Party notes
Speaking for the establishment
Party notes
Summer Offensive reaches halfway mark
Party notes
Scargill bans democracy
Scargill draws the line against the fight for democracy - Mark Fischer asks, ‘Which side are you on?’
Opening up the post-election debate
Mark Fischer comments on Socialist Party’s internal discussion document, see ‘The 1997 general election and perspectives for Marxism’
Party time ...
Party notes
Socialist Party’s open letter
Party notes
Puerile psycho-babble
Mark Fischer reviews Marx: a clear guide by Edward Reiss (Pluto Press 1996, pp180)
Crisis? What crisis...?
Party notes
Sectarians to the core
Workers Power talks tough, tells fibs
Cohesion, discipline and the Summer Offensive
Party notes
Form and content
Mark Fischer reviews The labour movement and the Internet: the new internationalism by Eric Lee (Pluto Press 1997, pp212)
Long live May Day!
Party Notes
Summer Offensive ’97
Party notes
April aggregate
Party notes
Spartville city limits
Party notes
Significant silences
Party notes
Open debate
Party notes
Playing for keeps
Party notes
March aggregate
Party notes
No more Coronation Street
Party notes
Thumping people
Party notes
Why change?
Party notes
Sterile sectarianism
The Communist
Party Notes
Scotland school
Party notes
Militant Labour perspectives
Party notes
One lump
Party notes
Communist Party Perspectives 1997
At its last national aggregate of 1996, the perspectives document for this year was passed unanimously by our organisation. Mark Fischer highlights some of its key points
A load of Bull
Real enemies of progressive socialism
The Weekly Worker has received a copy of a letter from Camden SLP chair Martyn Giscombe-Smith, which we publish below. We believe that the comrade is profoundly mistaken in announcing his resignation from the party, and urge him to reconsider. While he makes many valid criticisms and his frustration is understandable, he overlooks the key point: the SLP represents a left break from Labour of potentially great significance for the working class. All socialists should fight to shape the SLP into an organisation that is up to the job. It cannot be right to retire into the wilderness
Party finance
Party notes
Continuity and discipline
Party notes
Gutter journalism?
Party notes
Two wings
Party notes
SUPPLEMENT: Advance from vanguardism
On April 30 members of Open Polemic ended their membership of the CPGB. Here we print their reply to criticism of that decision published in Weekly Worker (May 9 1996). Below Mark Fischer replies and we print three documents submitted to the OP conference on December 1 from CPGB comrades
In defence of the Afghan revolution
Room for all revolutionaries
We print below a letter from the Communist Party (dated November 26 1996) to the Liaison Committee of Militants for a Revolutionary Communist International on the question of communist rapprochement. This was requested by the LCMRCI, a Trotskyist organisation, composed largely of comrades from a Workers Power/League for a Revolutionary Communist International background. The comrades are seeking clarification of our stance to provide the basis for future exchanges on the question of Party-building and the possibility of joint work.
Moving on
Party notes
Three waves
Party Notes
Care and maintenance
Party notes
Unity in one party
The Communist Party of Great Britain has applied for affiliation to the Socialist Labour Party. We reproduce here the letter agreed at a recent aggregate of the CPGB
The sword
Party notes
Fingering the IBT?
Party notes
Last thing we need
Continuity
Party notes
Trash can Sinatras
Party notes
Wretched
The International Bolshevik Tendency has criticised the Communist Party for refusing to liquidate itself. The CPGB’s national organiser replies
Party perspectives
Party notes
Working class united
Party notes
ISG collapse
Party notes
The SLP: a party of ‘recomposition’?
Party notes
Transitional forms?
Party notes
Impressive Achievement
Party notes
Anatomy of Militant Labour
Party norm?
Party notes
Socialist News
Party notes
SLP - a key debate
Workers Power
A ‘proletarian party’?
Party notes
Wind Power?
Party notes
Melting into air
Party notes
Democracy and the SWP
SLP Unity
Party notes
Summer Offensive, Scargill and “the Turks”
Party notes
SLP loses youth leader
Last week we explained why we understand, but cannot agree with, Tony Savvas’s decision to quit. This week we publish correspondence relating to it
The arse-end of Pabloism
Party Notes
Our backyard
Party notes
The Party and the unemployed
Party notes
SLP: what’s possible, what’s not ...
Party notes
Overcoming amateurish work
Party notes
Militant Labour on the Fisc
More hypocrisy from the SLP ‘doorkeepers’
Leaders and led
Party notes
The main danger
Party notes
Letters between parting OP comrades and the PCC
Freedom to criticise
Party notes
What sort of party?
Green shoots of communism
Party notes
Komünist Birlik için!
This article is a Turkish translation of the front page article. On International Workers’ Day we call on all revolutionaries in the UK to unite in the struggle for Party
Communist University ‘96
Party notes
For communist unity
May Day is a workers’ celebration of international solidarity and organisation. The May Day march in London for a number of years has been dominated by revolutionaries in exile from Turkey and Kurdistan. This very fact is testimony to the important lessons their history of struggle holds for revolutionaries in Britain. That is why today we have published the draft programme discussion document in Turkish. This document, written by Jack Conrad as a result of a year’s discussion in our organisation, was published in the Weekly Worker (September 21 1995). Today we call on all revolutionaries in the UK to unite in the struggle for Party
Unforgiven
Organised chaos
Party notes
The Fourth International Supporters Caucus
The Fisc operates as a secret faction inside the SLP. We defend their right to do so, but oppose their hypocritical witch-hunting of others. Below we reprint a large portion of the Fisc report to a recent meeting of the international Trotskyist grouping USFI
Socialism and the national question
Eamonn Mccann is a leading member of the Socialist Workers Movement (sister organisation of the SWP) in Ireland. He was a prominent supporter of the civil rights movement in Derry and his 'War and an Irish town' (1974) remains one of the best accounts of the period. He spoke to Mark Fischer recently
Summer Offensive
Party notes
No SLP witch-hunts!
Once again on liquidationism
Party notes
Fight liquidationism
Party notes
The SLP left
Party notes
Communist University ’96
Party notes
Walking away
Party notes
A conduit to party
Party notes
Fighting spirit
Party notes
Ballot box or ‘Bolshevism’?
Vote Labour, but ...
Party school
Party notes
Intervening in the SLP
An alternative anarchist pole
Bold move needed
Mark Fischer attended the recent aggregate of the Revolutionary Democratic Group (faction of the SWP). He brought the greetings of the Provisional Central Committee of the CPGB and a call for the RDG to make a bold move in communist rapprochement
World politicians
Scotland blazes the trail!
The year ahead: Nothing is preordained
Mark Fischer, CPGB national organiser, looks at Perspectives 96 - adopted by a Communist Party members’ aggregate, December 1995
Revolutionary recard
Party notes
Towards Rapprochement
The RDG recently held a membership aggregate. A packed agenda meant there was insufficient time for a full discussion on rapprochement. The RDG has therefore decided to reconvene in January to deal with this important issue. Below we reproduce the speech our national organiser, Mark Fischer, would have made to this meeting
IWCA confusion
Challenge to Labour
Arthur Scargill’s call for a Socialist Labour Party to challenge Blair’s party at the next election has struck a chord with thousands in our movement
“We’re British workers now - but we’ll fight like Turks”
On Saturday, November 4, Mark Fischer spoke to a young striker on JJ’s picket line
None of our business
The clash of ideas
Communist Party School
Anti-communist wrecker
Revolutionaries, unity and the SWP
For a democratic workers' party!
Inching towards the Party
Theory and practice
The 12th Party Offensive
Steps to rapprochement
A liberal adrift
In January of this year, Mark Fischer spoke to Francis Beckett
The Party's not over yet
Mark Fischer reviews 'Enemy within: The rise and fall of the British Communist Party' by Francis Beckett
Return to liberal roots
In the run up to the Labour Party’s special conference this weekend, we spoke to Mark Fischer, National Organiser of the CPGB, about the significance of the clause four debate and the tasks posed for the working class in the face of Blair’s ‘new’ Labour
SWP beyond reform?
Mark Fischer spoke to Andy Wilson of the recent split from the Socialist Workers Party, the International Socialist Group. The ISG has links with SWP breakaway groups in South Africa and Germany and has recently published a pamphlet which we reviewed in the Weekly Worker (December 15 1994)