by iii) Given the nature and depth of this crisis, Labour could find mass support if it advocates a clear socialist alternative. However, the response of Starmer and Rayner has been woefully inadequate, offering only ‘constructive opposition’ to the Johnson government and basing their ‘alternative’ solidly within the confines of capitalism.
iv) The defeat of the left in December 2019, the victory of Starmer in the leadership election, and the continuing witch-hunt, have had a demoralizing effect on the Left, with many members leaving or lapsing into inactivity. The sacking of Rebecca Long-Bailey shows the weakness of the Left. The timid response of the Socialist Campaign Group of MPs and the way many left-wingers are keeping their heads down indicates that they have accommodated the new regime when instead a fight-back is required.
v) The fight for a socialist programme and democracy in society goes hand in hand with the fight for democracy in the Labour Party. The role of the Labour Left Alliance during this time should be to rally the left in the Labour Party and the trade unions in support of an international socialist programme. In the face of Starmer’s Blairite attempt to turn Labour into a fan club and a stage army in support of his leadership, a process executed opportunistically during a ‘political lockdown’ during the coronavirus crisis, the LLA must continue to fight for full party democracy, free speech, mandatory re-selection, and the sovereignty of party conferences. The defence of comrades attacked during the witch-hunt must remain a priority.
vi) To campaign for such a socialist programme means we must show a clear way forward on social, economic and environmental issues. Simultaneously we must break with the purely reformist concessions to capitalism that have characterized the politics of the Labour left, including the Corbyn project. The 2019 election pledge to put 10,000 more police officers on the streets demonstrates the dangers of triangulation between socialism and “common sense” reforms. There are no shortcuts to be found through the swamp. At the heart of our programme should be the demand for a democratically planned economy. and a state apparatus governed democratically by the workers, to replace the oppressive capitalist dominated state with its system of class, monarchy and religion. Add at the end Socialists campaign for what workers need, not what capitalism can afford. We must stand firm for the defence and extension of democracy and freedom of speech in the party and in society, and build the struggle internationally for economic and social demands No gains of the working class can be permanently secured under capitalism. Whilst recognising the limits of the Corbyn project, the Labour opposition’s policies gained mass support. We recognise that the ‘constructive opposition’ policies and actions of Keir Starmer, careerist politicians, and all the acolytes on the right of the Labour Party right, serve only to demonstrate to the ruling class that Labour is in safe hands – a reliable second eleven for capitalism. We call on all left politicians to stand firm and not capitulate to the counterproductive call for unity with the right. Socialism as the rule of the working class can only be achieved through the conscious self-organization and activity of the working class.
vii) The manifestos of 2017 and 2019 were radically progressive compared to the previous 20 years, with policies that were widely popular. Our, LLA, programme is to:
- Socialise the banking and finance sector
- Reverse all privatisation in Health, Social Care and Education so that these three services are publicly owned and managed and well funded
- Reverse privatisation/ Re nationalise, mail, rail, water, energy
- Establish a Wealth Tax, to substantially redistribute income, wealth, and power in society
- Invest in renewables and achieve net-zero carbon emissions in the 2030s
- Scrap universal credit, raise the minimum wage, and ban zero hours contracts
- Improve employment and union rights and reduce the working week to 32hrs
- Stop state pension age rises and compensate WASPI women
- Build 150,000 council homes per year; control private rents; end homelessness
- Withdraw from imperialist alliances such as NATO’
- Stop arms sales to repressive regimes such as Saudi Arabia, Israel, Myanmar, USA
- Take tough legislative action against racism, sexism/ misogyny and homophobia
- Institute freedom to organise in trade unions, without state or employer interference, and their democratisation: full-time officials must be elected, accountable, recallable and paid the average wage of those they represent; For a net minimum wage sufficient for a single worker and one child to live a full life, and state pensions and unemployment pay set at the same level”.
- Challenge anti-immigrant narratives and reject any immigration system based on incomes and targets; scrap all Hostile Environment measures and actively campaign for equality and rights for all migrants.
viii) We call on all members of the Labour left to remain inside the Party. However, membership of the LLA remains open to comrades who have been expelled or suspended from the Party, or who have recently left in protest at the actions of the Starmer leadership (provided they do not encourage more to leave Labour or to support other organisations or individuals who are standing, or intend to stand, candidates for election against the Labour Party). Despite the triumph of the Right and the collusion of many former left-wingers in the witch-hunt, Labour still remains an important site of struggle for socialist politics.
ix) We must seek to rally the Left to firm socialist principles, not trim our politics in search of a spurious ‘centre-left’ unity. The history of Momentum and the situation we now find ourselves in show us the dangers of that approach.
x) Following the recent announcement of the NEC election process, the Labour Left Alliance’s request for affiliation to the CLGA received no response, and was not properly discussed despite being raised by several CLGA affiliates. Some of the 13 organisations involved have complained about the secretive nature of negotiations, the failure to consult members, and the politics of some of the candidates that have been chosen, which includes their failure to report from NEC meetings and the absence of any means to hold them to account. The political emphasis is still on ‘centre’ rather than ‘left’, and in this current struggle, where the very survival of the left in the Labour Party is at stake, that is not good enough. LLA will continue work – with others where possible – to democratise practices within the Labour left. The change to STV election of the NEC CLP section is an attack on the left, but it also gives us the chance to encourage candidates to stand on a clear socialist and democratic platform without serious danger of giving even more NEC seats to the right. The fight to democratise and unify the Labour Left must continue, as well as the fight for the democratisation of the Labour Party. Open Selection for all major Party positions. No more decisions by unaccountable, unelected bureaucrats, no secret pay-outs and gagging orders.”
xi) The original and continuing purpose of the LLA was to seek collaboration and unity with left organisations in the Labour Party, trade unions, and beyond, and we have been doing this, and should continue to do so despite the reluctance from some of these organisations thus far. We must prioritise our political positions and continue to criticise others among the left that we disagree with – especially in relation to crucial mistakes of the past 5 years, but we must maintain and improve our tactical and diplomatic approach, and promote unity and solidarity.
xii) Our organisational work must continue to seek affiliations and other forms of organisational co-operation with and from existing local and nationwide socialist and Marxist groups and organisations and also, where there are none, to build new LLA groups, including regional groups where local groups are not yet practical. A national organiser and regional organisers are important roles that need to be filled to help us grow. The LLA’s structure is working well and demonstrates a successful, transparent, engaging democracy that is serving as an example to the left.
xiii) We must build alliances with black, Asian and ethnic minority left groups to campaign and stand alongside BLM and other movements that challenge the ongoing structural racism which is very evident in our society and institutions including education, the police and health. The development of the BAME officer role and LLA BAME group are key to this and must be supported to self-organise, along with non-BAME members of LLA as allies, in national, regional and local campaigns
xiii) We must urgently increase our focus on work in the trade unions nationally and internationally, as the industrial front is likely to become a substantially greater factor as the attacks on the working class rapidly increase in the immediate future. The trade union leadership only takes progressive political action under pressure from the rank and file, so the democratisation of the unions is necessary to develop and take opportunities in that field. We should also take the opportunity to provide political influence on the rank and file, and draw them to support our work.
xiv) Our educational programme can play an important role in providing political influence on the Labour Party and trade union rank and file, and it is vital to ensure that programme is given the resources to continue with regular sessions, covering a broad range of subjects, both theoretical and practical in nature. To further increase their popularity we should seek guest speakers from across the movement, either to provide specialist subject knowledge or to take part in debates where their political position differs – comradely debate that is not simply confined to our close supporters is essential in drawing wider support, and showing the strength of our arguments.
xv) With a climate catastrophe underway and likely to accelerate due to the callous ignorance of world leaders and monopolies that champion capitalism and imperialism, the fight for socialism has never been more urgent. We have immense potential to rapidly develop the science and technology required to address the existential crisis of climate change, species extinction, and mass displacement; but this development is suppressed by chaotic capitalist global markets, imperialist interventions and war. Now is the crucial time to overturn this rotten system and manage the world’s resources democratically, in international solidarity, for the needs of the planet and its inhabitants, rather than for the wealth of the tiny number of elite exploiters. Only radical changes, brought about by a dedicated, unwavering, and organised socialist movement, can achieve this. In the turbulent times ahead, the LLA can play an enthusiastic and optimistic role in this, starting with transforming the key institutions of the UK Labour movement, and drawing mass support in the process – to defend the working class, to protect the future for our youth, and to fight for socialism.
xvi) The LLA will endeavour to work with and support the big social movements of our time in order to influence and help direct the political philosophy of the groups to gain an understanding of Marx’s analysis of capitalist society which is essential for those seeking to transform society and the economy. At present the groups that LLA should work with include Black Lives Matter, Extinction Rebellion and the renters activists groups (eg Acorn) and other such groups as deemed necessary either nationally or locally.
