TIME TO RAGE AGAINST THE TORIES

I've just been reading ( a bit late) some of the responses to the Convention Of The Left in Brighton over at Socialist Unity. I think a lot of the comments were unfair, and wholly negative. Yes, the event could have been bigger, the demographic was a bit narrow, but overall it was successful in bringing together disparate left groups to have a discussion in a friendly way and I believe it will be the base for joint working on issues down in the south.
This spirit of comradeliness seems to irk some folk. Which frankly mystifies me. And, speaking as a white, middle-aged socialist I get a bit sick and tired of people having a pop at events lagely comprised of the above as if somehow being over 50 were a crime against humanity. Would you prefer us not to turn up at all?
What also disturbed me were suggestions that that the Sunday demonstration, which frankly was hijacked by the SWP chanting inane and sometimes offensive slogans, was a better way of demonstrating solidarity and support. For what? I could not help asking as a woman next to me hysterically screamed "Gordon Brown, you are scum" over and over again .
I was not alone in regarding this as childish, disturbing and wrong. Which is why I sidestepped away from the banshee-like wailing.
The original point of that demo, convened by several unions including my own, was NOT to "Rage Against New Labour" but to march on the theme of "Jobs, Education,Peace." A constructive message which sadly got rather lost in the name-calling.
One of the many attributes which people like Tony Benn have always had is a refusal to downgrade political disagreement to personal abuse. To use the cliche, policies, not personalities."
And when you get alleged socialists chanting "Labour Out" with undisguised glee then you have to ask what planet they are living on. Or if they actually care what happens to the working-class in their zeal to out-left each other.
Maybe there are some on the very far left who do not care whether we get a Tory or a Labour Government - for those of us in the Labour Left I hope the position is very different.
This Government has scored own goal after own goal in its quest to keep Middle England on board and yes there are some Labour MPs who are indistinguishable from Tories. They remain in the minority.
In the past two years on this blog I have repeatedly said that the labour movement, and the Labour Party, is far more than New Labour. And that calls for a new Party are a blind alley.
Yes I'm angry that the Government did not see it was alienating its core supporters with much of its policy agenda. But we have just a few months to try and win that back.
By putting pressure on from below, getting the TUC to campaign on the Peoples Charter, and killing the myth of "compassionate Conservatism" , we can do far more than tarring all Labour Mps with the same brush, and helping the Tories by standing no-hope candidates.
The SWP's tactic of righteous but bilious anger is "a tale of sound and fury, signifying nothing" other than iconoclastic , nihilistic rage which will only help Cameron to an even larger majority.
The approach of the Convention, to work together on the issues which unite us, rather than open up unnecessary divisions, is sane, honest and far more worthy of support.