COME HOME TO LABOUR....

I have just been casting an eye over some of the comments over at Socialist Unity in the wake of the collapse of RESPECT, the TUSC and the Green Party.

I don't wish to intrude on private gried but as I struggled to stay awake in the early hours of Friday morning some things occurred to me.

As I watched the wheelbarrows being brought in to hold Tony Lloyd's share of the vote, I was surrounded by young, sincere members of the Green Party. I whiled away a few minutes asking them what on earth they thought they were doing standing in Islington North and Hayes and Harlington. They had no answers that made any sense. As it turned out, Green opposition to our two best socialist Labour MPs had diddly-squat impact and both triumphed with increased majorities. Jeremy Corbyn's increased vote was an astonishing 8,000 more.

One week earlier, I had asked Calder Valley Green candidate Kate Sweeney the same question. Her answer was feeble. As. in the end, was the Green vote in the Calder Valley where a goodly number of people are inclined to be sympathetic.

Congratulations to Caroline Lucas but I would ave voted for Nancy Platts because she would have been an excellent MP

Whatever spin people put on it, the RESPECT project is over. The Labour Left , with a hung Parliament, is now in a stronger position to influence policy and fight to stop the Libservatives.

Clegg's weaselly behaviour will dispel the illusions many had that the Lib Dems were some kind of alternative. As for TUSC, well it was an appalling adventure with no hope of success.

So what now? Talking to people locally last night many were already saying they now felt it was time to return to Labour .

I know there are many who feel they can't. But in the coming months the fightback against the cuts will be led, not by the far left, but by our 20 or so socialist MPs within the PLP. They will join with others in the trade union movement who know in less than a year we will be doing it all again. And next time, I predict, Labour will be able to win an outright majority.

There is appetite for change. That change is not represented by the Liberal Democrats or by tiny splinter groups. The discussion on how we REALLY start to win the next election will be going on at the LRC's conference next Saturday. I urge as many as possible to get there

WHAT RECOVERY?

Yes, I know. Any left blogger worth their salt should have been reporting the resolutions, the policies, the way ahead as proposed by TUC Congress. I haven't.
I haven't because this economic recession is no longer something to be debated, discussed, and argued against a backdrop of a meal out or dinner round at someone's house or a political meeting. It is real, it is me, and it is the prospect of earning less than I need to pay the bills. And it is frightening.
It keeps me awake at night, it means that maybe for the first time in a long time my solidarity with those similarly trying to survive is no mere intellectual discussion. Or opportunity for grandstanding. And it makes me angry beyond belief that in the space of two days I have been talking to exdcellent people in Leeds and Manchester who would want to do something to change the way things are, who would like to be our representatives, but who are blocked at the highest levels by those who don't want to see the troublesome, the awkward squad, the socialists in our Labour Party ever achieving what they should.
Over 2 million unemployed, swatheing cuts in the public sector, arrant nonsense about a "recovery" which has no impact on those I know who are seriously struggling. Columnists like Kevin Maguire say Gordon Brown is doing the best he can, so why day after day do people tell me they have had it with the Labour Party, that they can longer stay involved. Because there is no point. I would like to tell them they are wrong. But I seriously begin to wonder.

A DIRTY GAME.....

Politics is a dirty game and after 30-odd years I see no reason why it should change - much as I would like it to. Stitch-ups, treachery and jobs for the boys have always been a part of Labour Party culture which is why in the early 1980's groups like the Campaign For Labour Party Democtacy struck such a chord with activists.
CLPD is still gamely hanging on and trying to reverse measures like the abolition of contemporary resolutions at annual Conference. The results of which we will see at Brighton in a couple of months but that will only happen if the unions come on board. Which, hopefully, they will.
OMOV voting for the National Policy Forums would be another advance , making the NPF more representative and ending the sheep-like mentality of the current set-up which is still overwhelmingly dominated by what's left of New Labour.
The mood locally in my Labour Party Branch is unremittingly bleak folowing the NEC's refusal to listen to us over the Parliamentary selection(s) and several of our keenest activists have resigned. Most members are just apathetic and unwilling to engage - and who can blame them.
As Branch Secretary, I face a Herculean task turning that round but we still have over 100 members and the only way forward is to try and motivate people which is not going to be easy in the current circumstances. In the long term, things can change and with local elections coming up next year we will need candidates in place who our members will campaign for.
If there are any more stitch-ups, or candidates barred for spurious reasons, Calder Branch will be in terminal decline.As things stand, most of us are just hanging on in there by our fingernails.

WHY THE LEFT MUST STAY AND FIGHT

By any standards, it has been a bad year for the Labour Left in Calder Valley. The PPC who most of us wanted was de-selected, we have another one in place thanks to machinations which many of us in the CLP are still angry about - and which the NEC have ignored.

And now, due to that mixture of activists' anger and apathy in an extremely fraught year, the largest Branch in the constituency ( mine) has no elected CLP officers. The right, in short, has taken over and dispatched us to the sidelines. So be it.

I went to France the day after a CLP AGM which several of us left in disgust. Why? Because a moderate candidate for CLP Chair , one who had expressly said he would work to mend the horrors we have endured, was done over . Another, who has served the CLP for years, found himself opposed by as Vice-Chair by someone who no-one has ever heard of. Both had committed the cardinal sin of supporting Janet OOsthuysen and then myself for PPC. So rather than work to unify the CLP ( which is what I would have done if PPC) Steph Booth and her supporters decided to get rid. At the next election, when they are looking for people to deliver leaflets, they should not be too surprised if bodies in Calder Branch , the biggest by far in terms of activists and members, are rather thin on the ground. Politically and strategically, it was a stupid thing to do . But, given the state of play in West Yorkshire, there are many Labour MPs who need support so after last week's shenanigans I have no compunction at all in saying I will be off to Batley and Spen to help Mike Wood and also helping Linda Riordan in Halifax.

Others I know are just going to resign from the Party. Understandable though that is. it really is not the way to recover strength or a strategy with any positives whatsoever.

En route to France, I chaired a session at the Labour Briefing AGM. Some there had left Labour. Most had not. NEC member Christine Shawcroft (pictured with me at the meeting) pointed out she had been done over so many times that she had far more excuses than most to throw in the towel. She hasn't. Now more constituencies are up for grabs, I hope Christine will once again put her hat in the ring. Because we must not give up. I have no intention of doing so. As Briefing founder Graham Bash said to me after the meeting, we have a collective responsibility to re-build the Labour Party and make it Labour again - not walk away. As New Labour implodes, it's time to take the Party back. However difficult it seems.

WHAT WE NEED IS A LABOUR PARTY.......

Ex Blairites like Polly Toynbee and Simon Jenkins are now a bit like ex-smokers in their resolve to cast off the fumes of an ideology they once fervently espoused. In his call for a renwed Labour Party, Simon Jenkins gives little credence to the notion there is much left of the democratic socialist tradition. He should get out beyond the Westminster bubble but nevertheless an interesting piece which gives weight to my current plea to people NOT to leave the Party. One I make with rather more vigour since the dire Euro results......


http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/jun/23/labour-left-democracy

DIANNE ABBOTT ON THE BLAIRITES.......

There is a sensible piece by Dianne Abbott in today's Guardian urging Gordon Brown to stay. My guess is whether he goes or stays now depends not on a bunch of unmourned Blairites but the results of the Euro elections. If he stays, it could well be the case that things can't get much worse. If he chooses to resign, we have a duty as Labour Party members to ensure there is a contest for the leadership. The Blairites have behaved with such despicable disloyalty because they want to instal Alan Johnson, get their jobs back in the Cabinet, and clone another generation of New Labour Ministers. This is untenable in the eyes of the electorate and the Party. I'm absolutely delighted Blears and Purnell have shown themselves for what they are.Let's not allow their vile little plot to succeed. And let's work together - minus the Blairite cabal - to turn this Party round. Whatever happens......

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/jun/05/gordon-brown-leadership-labour

LABOUR'S GOT TALENT.....

My political spirits have been a little low of late but I have been immensely cheered by a trip to Cambridge where I met a great spectrum of people still engaged with the Labour Party. They ranged from young students involved in the University's Labour Club to comrades who were around 30 years ago when I was a member of the Castle Ward in Cambridge CLP . Different views, different experiences, but all committed to keeping socialism on the agenda . I hope the Cambridge LRC gets off the ground and I also hope the new generation of left activists put their names forward as much as they can as local councillors and PPCs. With MPs who have let us down standing down, there will be many opportunities for a fresh start- and candidates standing on a ticket of traditional Labour values . Let's get to it ! People have had enough of those who see Westminster as a gravy train......

CLEAR RED WATER NEEDED

David Cameron has just announced an end to Tory-lite - and abandoned plans to stick to Labour's spending plans. Is this a panic move as opinion polls continue to cut a swathe in his lead? Could it also be that he is returning to the Party's comfort zone in a bid to woo back diehards appalled at his tiuchy-feely brand of Toryism.
Whatever, political pundits seem to be hailing the Government's neo-Keynesian plans to restore health to the economy as a move back to traditional Labour ground.
Coupled with the recent ( part) nationalisation of the banks. this seems an attractive scenario - and at least the unalloyed New Labour worship of neo-liberalism and market forces as panacea seems to be on hold.
But let's not forget the Government is still demonising immigrants (Phil Woolas) paying for huge ad campaigns on benefit fraud ( no I don't condone it but let's start attacking the real thieves in the City of London) and supporting ever more punitive welfare benefits. #
And just to dclare a persobnal interest here time and again the low-paid and single are forgotten in whatever tax breaks and means-tested credits are handed out to "hard working families." .
Inflation may be falling but repossessions are on the up with Shelter predicting 45,000 this year.Unemployment is also rising - a piece in yesterday's Media Guardian was a depressing read for journalists like me currently facing challenging - no let's be honest - difficult times economically. 5.4 million households live in fuel poverty.
So glad though we are that the Tories have revealed their true colours, there is no room for complacency. No more fudging which sounds nice. We need clear red water between us and the Conservatives . And we need it fast. It is time for the trade union and labour movement to mobilise on behalf of the low-paid and everyone about to feel the impact of the coming recession.

WHEN LABOUR WAS LABOUR......

My thanks to Labour Home for providing a link to the 1983 Election Manifesto. This has long been derided by the right as the "longest suicide note in history." Well , now we've all stopped being " intensely relaxed" about the filthy rich younger comrades may find it strangely relevant. Frankly, I still agree with every word.

Emergency programme of action
Within days of taking office, Labour will begin to implement an emergency programme of action, to bring about a complete change of direction for Britain. Our priority will be to create jobs and give a new urgency to the struggle for peace. In many cases we will be able to act immediately. In others, which involve legislation, they will take longer to bring into effect. But in all cases we shall act swiftly and with determination.
This is what we plan to do. We will:
Launch a massive programme for expansion.We will:
Provide a major increase in public investment, including transport, housing and energy conservation.
Begin a huge programme of construction, so that we can start to build our way out of the slump.
Halt the destruction of our social services and begin to rebuild them, by providing a substantial increase in resources.
Increase investment in industry, especially in new technology - with public enterprise taking the lead. And we will steer new industry and jobs to the regions and the inner cities.
Ensure that the pound is competitive; and hold back prices through action on VAT, rents, rates and fares.
Introduce a crash programme of employment and training, with new job subsidies and allowances.
Begin to rebuild British industry, working within a new framework for planning and industrial democracy. We will:
Agree a new national economic assessment, setting out the prospects for growth in the economy. Prepare a five-year national plan, in consultation with unions and employers. Back up these steps with a new National Investment Bank, new industrial powers, and a new Department for Economic and Industrial Planning.
Repeal Tory legislation on industrial relations and make provision for introducing industrial democracy.
Begin the return to public ownership of those public industries sold off by the Tories.
Start to create a fairer Britain, with decent social services for all. We will:
Raise child benefit, and give special help to one-parent families and families with disabled dependants.
Uprate the pension by the full amount needed to protect against inflation
Provide more resources for the health service with an increase of at least 3 per cent a year in real terms.
Improve the personal social services, such as meals on wheels and home helps, with an increase of at least 4 per cent a year in real terms.
Spend more on education, including on essential books and equipment; end the assisted places scheme; and stop selection in secondary schools.
Begin to develop comprehensive care for the under-fives.
Begin to develop a strategy to eliminate low pay.
Introduce positive action programmes to promote women's rights and opportunities, and appoint a cabinet minister to promote equality between the sexes. We will:
Strengthen the Equal Pay Act and the Sex Discrimination Act.
Improve child care and other social services.
Take steps to end discrimination in education and training.
Reverse Tory cuts in maternity rights.
Increase the maternity grant.
Encourage and assist local authorities to begin a massive programme of house-building and improvement, through an immediate 50 per cent increase in their housing investment programmes. Priority will go to the urgent repair and replacement of run-down estates. We will freeze all rents for the first full year.
Begin a major programme to stop the waste of energy. We will stop Sizewell and abandon the Tory PWR programme; and open urgent discussions, with the unions and management in the coal industry, on a new Plan for Coal.
Give more help to public transport, with funds to improve services, keep down fares, and increase investment - especially in rail electrification and better freight facilities. Councils will be given new powers to support local services.
Act to improve the environment and deal with pollution - including a ban on lead in petrol. An urgent start will be made on improving our inner cities, including action on derelict land and buildings.
Introduce a positive action programme for ethnic minorities. We will also introduce citizenship and immigration laws which do not discriminate against either women or black and Asian Britons.
Give a new priority to open government at local and national levels, and give local communities greater freedom to manage their own affairs. We will also introduce an early Bill to abolish the legislative powers of the House of Lords.
In international policy, we shall take new initiatives to promote peace and development. We will: Cancel the Trident programme, refuse to deploy Cruise missiles and begin discussions for the removal of nuclear bases from Britain, which is to be completed within the lifetime of the Labour government.
Ban arms sales to repressive regimes.
Increase aid to developing countries towards the UN target of 0.7 per cent.
Re-establish a separate Ministry of Overseas Development.
Take action to protect the status of refugees in Britain.

THE LABOUR WAY IS THE BETTER WAY...........

My thanks to young Strowger of Hebden Bridge for sending me to my bookshelves in search of the 1979 Labour Manifesto. Title as above. At the time, I can recall many of us thought the slogan a tad bland ( which it was) and in any case "Sunny Jim" Callaghan was well to the right of where most of us young trouble-makers were. You know what?

The sad thing is that Labour's middle-of-the-road, moderate 1979 Manifesto would now cause apoplexy in the ranks of New Labour. Public sector pay to be in line with the private sector, increased public ownership, backing for the nationalised Girobank and National Savings, increased investment in public sector railways, more money for council housing, long-term unemployed (12 months) to be offered a job or re-training - NOT benefit cuts.No new generation of nuclear weapons. These days, the LRC puts forward a similar programme and gets accused of being loony left. THIS was the policy programme agreed by Callaghan, Hattersley, Jenkins and Benn. The broad church we used to be proud of .

I quote the opening Manifesto paragraph:"The Labour Party is a democratic socialist Party and proud of it. We seek to build a stromger and more prosperous Britain - and we are determined to see that all our people share fully in that prosperity.We want a Britain which is open and democratic and which puts fair earnings for working people and the needs of the under-privileged before the demands of private profit." Wouldn't change a word. Would you?

LABOUR'S LONGEST SUICIDE NOTE?

Some 66 rebellions in 12 months and MPs openly criticising Gordon Brown just four weeks before the local elections. In better times, this would have been unthinkable stuff.And yet I find myself asking what is the point of all these words of woe from some of the people being quoted today in the papers.
Manchester MP Graham Stringer, someone I have known for over 20 years, speaks of his "disappointment" in Gordon Brown . Well, I would suggest that Graham never had much faith in him at all as he was one of the handful of MPs who did NOT line up like lemmings to nominate him as Leader. He nominated, er, nobody.
Several people I know (including me) lobbied him to support John McDonnell . To be fair, I got a personal, polite e-mail back. But he still wouldn't help the Party have a contest. Now it's all woe woe and thrice woe from Graham and people like Ian Gibson. Are we in trouble? You bet we are. But can they bring themselves to explain exactly why? It seems not.
The reasons why Labour is in such trouble are SO straightforward. Cuts to 10pence tax rates, lack of social housing, grandstanding to the right. It's all been said before. Yet the PLP is collectively committing electorial suicide and not saying what has to be said. We need a new direction, we need Labour values and we need a new Leader. New Labour used to scorn the 1983 election manifesto as the "longest suicide note in history" . Gordon Brown's Premiership could end up being something similar.

NO MORE FRIENDS OF BIG BUSINESS......

Tribune is rallying support for AMICUS senior official Mike Griffiths as new General Secretary and, as far as I can see, he's a far better bet than the opposition. I am not , to use the Mandelson phrase "intensely relaxed" about rich City businessmen having key roles in this Party and I would hope that would be the view of a majority of grassroots activists. Including those who represent the "grassroots" on the NEC.

AN ATTEMPT by Gordon Brown to impose a City whiz-kid as Labour’s new general secretary has opened a battle of wills between the unions and Downing Street.
Support is rallying behind the former party chair and Amicus/Unite senior official Mike Griffiths in a bid to ensure the job goes to an experienced Labour insider.
Mr Brown’s favoured candidate was Paul Myners, a London businessman and chair of the Guardian Media Group and the Low Pay Commission. Mr Myners, whose career has included top jobs at Marks and Spencer and PowerGen and who also chairs the Tate Gallery, donated £9,700 to Mr Brown’s uncontested leadership campaign.
But Mr Myners is understood to have turned down the offer and Mr Brown has turned to another City figure, David Pitt-Watson, the former assistant general secretary of the Labour Party from 1997-99. Mr Pitt-Watson is the founder and chair of Hermes Equity Ownership and previous chief executive of its asset management team.

END THE TWO-TIER WORKFORCE!

Today sees the second reading of a Private Members ' Bill demanding equal rights for
Britain's 1.4 million agency workers.
Andrew Miller's Bill would give temporary workers the same employment rights as those enjoyed by permanent, directly employed staff. It's predictably opposed by the CBI and, shamefully , many in the Government. Yesterday I spoke to the very moderate General Secretary of USDAW, who are backing the Bill 100 per cent.
The problem is, as ever, will there be enough Labour MPs willing to support these very modest measures which are on the statute book elsewehere in Europe .
As TULO - Trade Union and Labour Party Liaison Organisation chairman Tony Dubbins points out "threats by the CBI about job cuts should hold no sway with the government, as their dire warnings about job losses as a result of the minimum wage or equal pay for part-time workers have never come to pass."
Dubbins predicts in the Morning Star that that the 100 Labour MPs needed to move the Bill forward will be in the Commons today to send a "clear message" that there is widespread abuse of agency workers. If they are not , it absolutely undermined the credibility of the Labour Party when it comes to fighting low pay.
As UNISON general secretary Dave Prentis says: "Temporary and agency workers are not currently equal under the law. They routinely put up with less pay - the TUC put this figure at £110 per week. They also receive only statutory sick pay and holidays, no pension or training,"

TRIBUNE AT 70....

Amused to learn that my General Secretary Jeremy Dear was out on town with Gordon Brown the other night to celebrate Tribune's 70th birthday. He does not say where but their favoured hang-out used to be the Gay Hussar in Soho, which I have been "meaning" to visit for over 25 years.

Gathering dust on my bookshelves is a volume celebrating Tribune's 40th birthday -published at the height of the Labour Left's influence on the Party. On its heyday, Tribune's distinguished list of contributors included George Orwell, Michael Foot and Nye Bevan. But times have changed, and it must be said that in some part the Tribunites, at one time an influential and sizeable force within the PLP, were in more recent years to a fair extent to blame for the demise of socialist ideology in the Labour Party. First, a gang of around 5 Tribunites (including neil Kinnock) managed to make sure that Tony Benn never became Labour deputy leader by reneging on supporting him. Then Kinnock became Leader and promptly abandoned his "Tribunite" policies. Clause 4, the Tribunite wing of Labour Students ( then NOLS) actively supported the witch-hunting of Militant out of the Party ( as did Kinnock's enoturage) and slowly, maybe irrevocably, the Party moved to the right. In the fullness of time the Tribune group of MPs was immersed into New Labour ( including its former editor Chris Mullin) and its doldrums only stopped when Mark Seddon, a decent mainstream leftie, became editor in the 1990's. Until recently, I subscribed to Tribune. But increasingly it has become a tame and largely toothless publication which has been afraid to speak out against Brown's lurch to the right. However, there is now a new website which I'm happy to link to. I hope in the years ahead that Tribune will rediscover its left-wing roots and be a force for change at the top......

AND BAD NEWS....

Lead story on 10pm news is that Peter Watt, Labour's General Secretary,has been forced to resign over the latest donations scandal. Tomorrow's PM press conference should be interesting......

AGE SHALL NOT WITHER THEM.....

I find it somewhat ironic that the Guardian's junta of white, middle-class commentators is
criticising the Lib Dems for the "sameness" of their potential leadership candidates. John Harris, whose cred as a left-of-centre journalist is more than a little flakey, talks of the iniquity of "two privately educated middle-aged white fellas with amazingly similar views squaring up for the leadership of the party that's meant to think the unthinkable and stand that bit further outside the establishment." As things stand, that is exactyly the scenario we would have in the Labour Party if Brown were to fall under a bus. Miliband v Miliband ? Balls v Alexander? It does not bear much thinking about. Because none of these shining Cabinet stars have ANY experience of living in the real world. Nor would they necessarily be vote-winners.
Never mind the left-right thing for a minute. Where are the possible women candidates who would not wear the centrist status quo proudly on their sleeves. How many working-class MPs with trade union pedigrees have we got left in the PLP? And as for BME candidates well unless things change pretty quick that's not going to happen either. What's more, the system we have for choosing our leader means "minority" candidates outside the "big tent" have very little chance of getting on the ballot paper.
At Labour Party conference 2008, Calder valley CLP will be moving a rule change motion under which the threshold for getting on the ballot paper would go down to 7 per cent of the PLP - still more than the original 5 per cent figure but arguably enough to get an interesting, representative contest next time. A few weeks ago, in Bournemouth, I would have said this proposal stood very little chance of getting passed. But, given the events of the past three weeks, and Brown's increasing vulnerability, we have to start lobbying now and mobilising support so this has a chance of getting through. One of the many reasons GB is in a weak position is the fact he did not have to go through the rigours of a leadership contest. The farce of him going round the country talking to himself did not strengthen us, it diminished democracy and disillusioned many.
Whatever the stature of the various Lib Dem hopefuls, at least they are going to HAVE a contest. And, on another note, the notion that anyone over 40 can forget it in political terms is an absolute absurdity. Women, in particular, often do not get a chance to pursue political interests until after their children are grown-up. In our area , two women Labour MPs got to Westminster when they were over 45. I know several women of similar age who would be interested - why should they be discounted ?
Poor Ming Campbell undoubtedly got the boot because he looked too old. Yet Hilary Clinton, currently favourite to win the Democratic nomination, is pushing 60. We have to stop this obsession with youth and start encouraging older people to get involved - not shove them on the scrapheap.

CALM DOWN COMRADES -WE'RE GOING NOWHERE

Much hysteria over at Socialist Unity where certain sectarians are whooping with joy at the state of the Labour Left. http://www.socialistunity.com/?p=773. They even claim that John McDonnell has effectively conceded that the Left is finished and that there is no point joining the Labour Party. Now, hang on. Because that is utter rubbish.

Three days ago I chaired a meeting here in Hebden Bridge ( pictured and referred to pretty snidiliy over at Socialist Unity) and John made it clear we were in a desperate situation. He said democracy had been effectively "closed down" and that we had to work "within and without the Labour Party" and build broad coalitions with a wide range of groups broadly sympathetic to our socialist values. AT NO POINT did he suggest that the work with LRC is doing to build support is useless nor that we should abandon the Party. Just for the record, there were about 60 people all told, 14 constituencies represented and two people from Respect/SWP plus a couple of other odds and sods. John also said the debate about being in or out of the Party "bored him to death" ( or some such phrase) and frankly I think it's a bit pointless too.I'm in it, I'm staying in it and if Respect etc think people like John and Jeremy Corbyn are about to jump ship they are going to be very sadly disappointed.

SHALL WE STAY OR SHALL WE GO?

The mood is bleak on the Left of the Labour Party. Some messages from (I think) younger comrades saying the latest news from the NEC gives them reason to believe there is no point in staying around.
Bob Wareing's blatant de-selection in Liverpool West Derby ( whatever the rights and wrongs of it) looks like turning into another farrago and all around us voices are saying, friendly voices from comrades and frankly hostile ones from enemies, just pack it in. So why shouldn't we? Let's face it. 2007 has been a car crash for our hopes of serious change and the Labour Right would love nothing more than for all of us to quit and spend the rest of our political days on street corners selling Socialist Worker and boasting about how we got 200 votes in Parliamentary elections and how it's a "great step for socialism."
An even worse scenario is for the remaining Left MPs to quit the Party, stand as Independents and get roasted alive ( with one or two exceptions, like John McDonnell, who would probably survive ). The reality is that we have to carry on campaigning from within because if we don't then it's handed over for ever to the corporate sponsors, the money men, the neo-Tories and New Labour apparatchiks who are currently running the show. The ones who will be out in force at Bournemouth.
Last night, I watched bits of the Liberal Democrat conference and I have to say most of their policies are far more "left" than anything I've heard in years from this Govt.
More tax for the rich, asylum for illegal immigrants, anti Trident. Hey, they are even able to vote at their Conference. So why don't I just sod off, cut my losses and tear up my Party card?
Because, unlike the Liberal Democrats, Labour gets into power. It also has a federal structure and trade unions who affiliate, and a grassroots still largely remain committed to the socialist values which made me join the Labour Party.
Gordon Brown has spent a lifetime in the labour movement and believes utterly in the policies he is taking forward. I do not doubt his abilities or his intellect. But there are different voices in the Labour Party , voices less strident in defending capitalism, voices who would better defend the poor and vulnerable against the interests of the private equity fat cats and greedy mortgage lenders, voices who are for peace and against the obscenity of weapons of mass destruction. Voices who do not believe they have to be kept as some bogus "deterrent." Most of those voices are still in the Labour and trade union movement. At the moment, they are not being listened to. But that cannot last for ever.

UNIONS LINING UP TO BLOCK BROWN'S ATTACK ON PARTY DEMOCRACY

I'm glad to see Derek Simpson is speaking out, as we all must, against Gordon Brown's plans to remove the last vestiges of democracy from Party Conference. But frankly it's a bit of a shame that Simpson and his UNITE comrade Tony Woodley did not do a bit more to stop Gordon Brown becoming leader without a contest . They were warned and most probably knew full well that Brown would be even more right-wing than Blair but, like turkeys voting for Christmas, refused to countenance officially backing a left candidate.On what basis, I still can't understand as Brown has done absolutely nothing to placate them. Quite the contrary.
Now we are all reaping the whirlwind of Gordon's clunking first. With every day that passes, there is a new pronouncement or appointment that takes Labour further away from its roots. Last night I was at a friend's 50th birthday party where I met an 85-year-old Party member who expressed utter astonishment at that Brown is doing in the name of the labour Party. "I used to be Old labour, then I was New Labour but now I'm definitely Old Labour again, ." she said as she somewhat tipsily waved a red napkin in my face. All in all, Peg was a bit of a star and it's great to meet people who have spent all their lives campaigning for Labour.
But it's also seriously depressing that the left has no influence whatsoever in Govt. However, rolling over and dying just isn't an option. On Tuesday night, there's a TUC fringe meeting on the topic of Brown's plans to put the final nail in the coffin of Party Conference. Tony Woodley, John McDonnell, and Save The Labour Party's Peter Kenyon will be speaking so if anyone reading this is in Brighton do get along. Venue is the Quality Hotel at 5.30pm.Labour Party Conference must be saved!

FUND-RAISING IS GOOD

An event of no interest whatsoever to anyone who doesn't live near me but our bi-monthly curry nights raise about £1000 for the local Labour Party - which unlike some of its members (see below) does not pocket fat wads of cash from people with more money than sense. So off I go to the Trades Club to meet other ( maybe deluded) souls who still have faith in the common good.......