Letters

Name one

Mark Fischer refers to an important left-right struggle in the Labour Party (‘Tepid support for Corbyn’, July 16). What might be more worthwhile is looking at Labour’s record on the class struggle. Since wars are the ultimate weapon of the ruling class and strikes are the ultimate weapon of the working class, try and name one British strike the Labour Party has supported and name one British war it opposed.

Unfortunately, what Labour members think, even parliamentary ones, hasn’t determined official party policy yet. But some of those same ignored members present ruling class sops, such as the welfare state, in glowing terms.

These welfare measures, delivered via their Labour Party servants, have only made it easier for the ruling class to stop strikes and to wage (class) war with healthy reserve armies of labour.

Jon D White
SPGB

Muso muse

My response to Howard Philips’ letter (July 16) is ... ‘I can’t even be bothered’ - a line from a song, as the usual leftist stuff - picket lines, etc - is below him. Go check it out and find a group of musos to discuss it with.

Tony Roberts
email

Be a sport

I find Tony Roberts’ denunciations of the Weekly Worker for publishing an article about the Rolling Stones’ impact on culture and society rather puzzling.

When did this neat demarcation between culture and politics arise? It is not one that would be recognised by the likes of Marx, Engels, Trotsky et al, as they published numerous commentaries on cultural issues.

The paper has hardly been taken over by pieces about popular music. It publishes the occasional review of a book, a film, an exhibition, and so on, but that is all.

Perhaps, if I tell comrade Roberts that the Morning Star carries a couple of pages of sports coverage every day, he might consider writing a few letters of complaint to that paper’s editor and give Weekly Worker readers a break from his rants.

Phil Rawlinson
email

Political soul

Neither Tony Blair’s attempt to pour cold water on the mounting support for Jeremy Corbyn’s Labour Party leadership campaign nor the hype about his ‘friends’ in Hamas and Hezbollah seems to be having much effect. Indeed, as a number of recent polls and reports suggest, Jeremy Corbyn is now running way ahead of Andy Burnham. Good.

As I write this letter, nearly 70 constituency Labour parties have nominated the comrade. One of the latest flurries of support has come from south Wales, where Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney, as well as Swansea’s three constituencies - Swansea West, Swansea East and Gower - have now all met, collectively discussed the leadership campaign and nominated comrade Corbyn for leader of the Labour Party. Things will only get better, no doubt.

My experience of being involved with the Corbyn campaign to date has been positive overall. Importantly, a number of Labour Party members are not getting too embroiled around the arguments that sections of the party - particularly the other leadership contenders and their teams - are putting forward in relation to Corbyn ‘fluffing’ Labour’s future electability. Indeed, as I have argued personally at meetings, one of the main issues at hand throughout this campaign is not simply to do with Labour’s chances at the next parliamentary election, but its political ‘soul’ - on what basis do we win the hearts and minds of our class in this country in order to build and fight for the type of society fit to live our lives with hope and dignity?

Clearly, signing up as a Labour Party supporter, promoting Jeremy Corbyn’s campaign and discussing his ideas around democracy, equality and socialism is fundamental.

Bob Davies
Labour Party Marxists

LU for Corbyn

My local branch of Left Unity has voted unanimously for a motion supporting Jeremy Corbyn. It reads as follows:

“Camden and Islington Left Unity welcomes Jeremy Corbyn’s success in securing a place on the ballot for a new Labour leader. We urge LU members to support the Corbyn campaign. We call upon Left Unity members in affiliated trade unions to support the Corbyn campaign through donations, etc. Left Unity needs a serious discussion on the Labour Party with a view to developing a long-term strategy.”

There were 12 comrades present at our meeting on July 20, including supporters of the Communist Platform, the Independent Socialist Network and Socialist Resistance.

It is clear that Corbyn’s campaign is shifting politics to the left. The idea of socialism is once again becoming common sense amongst a swathe of the population. Under these circumstances Left Unity not only needs a strategic approach to the Labour Party. It needs the Marxist principles and perspectives mapped out by the Communist Platform.

All the halfway house, broad party, Labour Party mark two projects have been disproved by life itself. We need the unity of Marxists on the solid foundations of a Marxist programme.

Jack Conrad
London

Head vs heart

I was one of 40 members and affiliated supporters who attended the leadership nomination meeting of Stockton North Constituency Labour Party on July 17.

I went along to support Jeremy Corbyn’s candidacy and it was clear that his campaign had inspired a number of those present to sign up as members or supporters - whether for the first time or returning after years out of the party. Those speaking in his support reminded comrades of Corbyn’s campaigning credentials and support for workers’ struggles and they emphasised the need for Labour to return to its ‘core values’ and put across a clear alternative to the Tories’ austerity policies rather than seeking to ape the Conservative agenda.

Most speakers backed Andy Burnham, but their arguments tended to be presented as justifications for not supporting Corbyn. The heart being with Corbyn, but the head realising that Burnham was the most likely to return Labour to power was a common theme. The fear that a Corbyn-led party would be “ripped to shreds” by the Tory press, leading to a “Michael Foot scenario”, came up several times - as if the media would embrace any Labour leader.

Stockton North MP Alex Cunningham, speaking last before the vote took place, argued that the party needed to consider who it wanted to be the next prime minister of the country, not just the leadership of the party. Yes, there was room for “idealism” in the Labour Party, but we needed a leader who could put those ideals into practice by connecting with people and winning elections. He believed that Burnham was the candidate to achieve this.

In the end, the CLP’s nomination went to Burnham, who achieved 21 votes, compared with Corbyn on 12, Cooper on three and Kendall on two. Tom Watson was well ahead of the field as Stockton North’s nomination for deputy leader.

Steve Cooke
Stockton-on-Tees

Properly leftist

Having checked out my personal example of ‘fame at last!’ (thanks for publishing my letter last week), I noticed with huge interest that two of the other letters published distinctly echoed, and so arguably went some way to outright consolidating, some or indeed a great deal of the central point I had tried to make, even if they did so only indirectly/obliquely via their own particular topics. I refer to both ‘Sidelines’ from Alan Theasby and ‘Drivel’ from Howard Phillips.

In a precise similarity and whilst referring to “the question of how to build a principled solidarity movement on Greece”, the first of those two letters says: “Perhaps … the CPGB is also distancing itself away from the necessity to provide solidarity without becoming submerged in a ‘broad front’ of apologists for Syriza. The pressure will be strong. We can confront it from the start or duck out of the fight and point accusing fingers from the sidelines.”

As far as the second letter is concerned, well, quite simply I could have written it myself! In fact, I wish I had got round to that notional task in hand/that particular debate (surrounding the Rolling Stones, etc).

Respect, solidarity, plus my ongoing greetings from a supporter of ‘leftwing ideological rock & roll’!

By the way, later today by online banking debit I will be making a personally manageable contribution to the CPGB Summer Offensive fund (as urged and encouraged to by your comrade, Mark Fischer.) In addition, I have today subscribed to the Notes for Action emailed newsletter, quite simply so that I can remain instantly informed about, as well as a bit more directly engaged in, these matters, alongside ever more urgent worldly developments - in other words, via your organisation’s properly leftist plus conscientiously Marxist political arguments and stated positions.

Bruno Kretzschmar
email

Like Cassandra

Comrade Bruno Kretzschmar seems to have picked up our articles on Syriza halfway through the debate.

Our position right from the start was to advise Syriza not to take office - it was necessary to develop a powerful opposition and build up majority support in Greece in conjunction with a Europe-wide working class movement. In fact if they had refused the 50-seat top-up because of its anti-democratic character they would have been morally justified in remaining in opposition.

The right would then have had the job of negotiating a settlement with the EU. The choice between betrayal and an Albanian-style economic isolation could have been avoided and there would have been the possibility of winning Syriza to the principle of working class independence. Choosing to take office, not least in coalition with a rightwing partner, could only end in disaster.

Our main point, however, is not to crucify Greek politicians, but to point out to people like Bruno the futility of putting their hope in short-term solutions. Greece is isolated and can only overcome its crisis if it has powerful allies across Europe. This requires a different and more patient strategy, aimed at creating a pan-European Communist Party that really can challenge capitalism.

The left outside Greece who placed their hopes in Syriza were utopian and irresponsible. Far from helping Greek workers, they encouraged both Greeks and their own supporters to embrace illusions. The effect of this will almost certainly lead to disillusionment and bolster rightwing forces. How much support will Podemos lose, now people have the example of Syriza? People are now more likely to accept that there is no alternative but to accept austerity or face even worse.

The comrade finds it easy to blame the carriers of bad news, but it is not us who have brought about this sorry state of affairs. In fact it is the “socially progressive bourgeois intellectuals” by placing all their hopes in Syriza who have done so much to create the present impasse. We may have spoken like Cassandra, but our fears are turning out to be all too true.

Phil Kent
Haringey

Appreciated

I am Italian currently living in Spain. I really appreciate your paper - your analysis is very well argued and, even when I don’t agree with you, I find your paper inspiring.

If I understand it correctly, there is no such thing as an ‘online subscription’, such as for a Kindle e-reader. Anyway I will continue to read your paper online.

Riccardo Gatani
email

Chartist lessons

Twenty-five people attended a meeting on Saturday July 18 at the Red Shed in Wakefield on ‘The Chartists and the democratic deficit today’.

Shaun Cohen from the Ford Maguire Society gave a fascinating short talk about the Chartists. He said he wanted to “give a flavour” of what Chartism was about. It was “not a monolithic or homogeneous movement” and there were different strands, including latterly a socialist one. He mentioned in particular Chartism in Leeds - the movement’s paper, The Northern Star, was published there for several years. Another Leeds Chartist, John Bray, influenced the economic writings of Karl Marx.

Paul Feldman, the next speaker, was representing Assemblies for Democracy. He has written about the Chartists in his book, Unmasking the state - a rough guide to democracy. Paul spoke passionately about the “need for another, more direct form of democracy”. We have a “democratic chasm, not just a deficit”, he insisted. We “need a new state and a new constitution”.

There was a strong republican element in the Chartist movement. The final speaker, Mark Sutton, was from Republic. He strongly argued that the monarchy “abuses and perverts the idea of democracy”. Indeed “hereditary public office goes against every democratic principle”. Republic campaigns for an elected head of state instead.

There was more than an hour of lively discussion and debate.

Wakefield Socialist History Group’s next event is a guided walk to commemorate the 1905 Kinsley evictions. It is on Sunday August 9 and starts at 2pm at the Winding Wheel outside Fitzwilliam railway station.

Alan Stewart
Wakefield Socialist History Group