12.12.1996

Division of labour

Around the left

Communists have always understood the central importance of electoral work. Lenin thought it to be crucial and the Third International declared that participation in elections - except under the most exceptional circumstances - was “obligatory”. In that sense, and that sense alone, we are all in favour of ‘electoralism’. This does not alter in any way whatsoever our belief that real socialism can only come about through a violent revolution directed against parliamentary/bourgeois democracy.

 Therefore we are glad that the Socialist Workers Party is campaigning “enthusiastically” on behalf of the Socialist Labour Party in the Barnsley East by-election. Socialist Worker “urges people in Barnsley East to vote for the SLP” and, correctly, states: “The SLP’s campaign puts why we need socialism on the agenda ... [and] can only strengthen those who want a socialist challenge to Blair” (December 7).

However, the SWP’s new found enthusiasm for electoral work only serves to emphasise the fundamental illogicality which lies at the heart of its world-view. Come general election day, the SWP will swap allegiances electorally and will urge people to vote Labour instead. If the SLP did decide not to stand a candidate in Barnsley East at the general election, this could lead to the absurd situation of the very same SWP activists knocking at the very same doors - this time telling the bemused voter that it is essential to vote for Blair in order to ‘kick the Tories out’.

Socialist Worker’s reasoning is typically disingenuous: “The SLP represents a break from Blair but not a break from Labourism.” True, of course. But for workers to actually vote for the SLP represents a significant shift to the left and must therefore be encouraged. Instead of passively accepting the SLP as it is, SWP activists should be doing their utmost to influence the SLP away from Labourism. Not to do so can only mean that on polling day the SWP will, objectively, be to the right of the ‘electoralist’ SLP.

Ironically, Socialist Worker thinks that, “The SLP would like to have it both ways. On the one hand it condemns capitalism but then sows the illusion that change comes through parliament.” In reality, it is the SWP that wants to “have it both ways”: on the one hand, talking very ‘left’ about revolution and socialism from below; on the other hand, acting ‘right’ and helping to put Labour into power.

The SWP’s cosy division of labour with Blair - ‘we have the workplace; you can have the elections’ - acts against the long-term interests of the working class.

Don Preston