Stop the purge, transform Labour

Submitted by Matthew on 31 August, 2016 - 11:37

A letter to John McDonnell and Jeremy Corbyn:

Dear Jeremy and John,

Comrades: There now seem to be scores of Party officials trawling through Labour members’ and supporters’ social media accounts, going back for years, looking for “evidence” to prevent Corbyn supporters from voting in the leadership election. Thousands, perhaps tens of thousands, have been barred.

Most ridiculous appears to be the case of Catherine Starr, who has been prevented from voting for Corbyn with the excuse that the fact that she wrote, “I fucking love the Foo Fighters” on Facebook, was “inappropriate”. The most prominent of the suspended Corbyn supporters is Ronnie Draper, secretary of the Bakers’ Union, a Party member for over 40 years. It seems that Draper allegedly used “abuse” — years ago, in a social media posting — and this was denouncing Blairites as “traitors.” Which of course they are — traitors to the working-class. We hope the Party machine has picked on the wrong person in Ronnie Draper, and the unions will now assert themselves to stamp out this purge.

Draper’s case has provoked John to write to the Party’s General Secretary, Ian McNicol, demanding that those suspended be told why they have been suspended (Draper was not formally told) and be given the opportunity to challenge the rulings against them. This is just a matter of natural justice, which is currently being denied. John is also right about the double standards of the Labour bureaucrats.

No action has been taken against Michael Foster, who, writing in the Daily Mail, called Corbyn supporters “Nazi stormtroopers.” This purge is being directed by former GMB bureaucrat Iain McNicol and the Compliance Unit. The Labour machine is waging a factional war against Corbyn and the movement around him. Those officials responsible for directing this witchhunt should be sacked. And, John and Jeremy, we also need a clear commitment that the expulsions of socialists from the Labour Party should end.

Supporters and members of Workers’ Liberty, and some from Socialist Appeal, have been expelled for political reasons. Our members are not accused of abuse, but simply of advocating the wrong sort of socialism. Obviously the Party has the right to defend itself from hostile interventions. And the Party is right to discipline those — for example — found guilty of serious cases of sexual harassment, racism or anti-semitism. But the AWL is not guilty of such things. AWL members back the Labour Party in elections, and fight to build and transform Labour, and that should be an adequate to allow membership of Labour. AWL and Socialist Appeal members should be readmitted.

We regard a commitment to allow socialist tendencies to openly form and organise in the Party as one benchmark of a healthy labour movement party. What else do we need? Jeremy and John, we suspect that you have calculated that Jeremy will win this election and some of these problems can be sorted out quietly, later. That’s a dangerous game, and leaves the pro-Corbyn movement vulnerable.

Clearly this election is extremely important, and the margin of victory is important, too. If the left wins, the possibility of radically transforming the Party is opened up; lose, and we will be victimised and purged and the very diffuse Corbyn movement will be in danger of becoming demoralised and of dispersing. A big Corbyn victory will, on the other hand, demoralise the right. If we win all sorts of other questions will be immediately posed: what do we do about the anti-Corbyn MPs? How can Labour win the next election? What should the next Labour government do?

We must face the fact that unless the anti-Corbyn MPs are replaced they will be a barrier to radical policies; if they do not split away they will regroup and fight Corbyn again; they will be an obstacle to winning the next election — complaining and briefing against the Party leadership; they will undermine a future Labour government which aims to implement a radical programme. The right wing Labour MPs must go and be replaced by people who have a record of struggle, of fighting for the working class.

There are not a few people currently gathered around Momentum who come from a narrow demographic — young graduates, union officials, professionals from think tanks and NGOs. Many fancy a job in Parliament. Generally we want more MPs from more working-class backgrounds, with experience of grassroots campaigning etc. The Party needs renovating, from bottom to top. To secure a radical leadership we need to reach out to the union rank and file, the students and youth.

Open up the Party to these groups and the left and we will find – quickly — hundreds of thousands of new supporters. The Party needs to debate the policy detail. Jeremy’s 10 point programme is a start. And let’s say clearly what we mean: “Peace and justice at the heart of foreign policy” must include abolishing Trident. “Progressive restoration of free education” must mean abolishing fees and reinstating a living student grant. “Stronger employment rights” must mean the abolition of the anti-union laws. And, if the railways can be nationalised, why not the privatised public utilities? If it makes sense to plan health care, putting human need before private profit, why not do so for the provision of water, gas and electricity? And if rail can be nationalised, why not the banks?

It is time to be bold and clear. It is time for the working class to openly fight the class struggle against the Tories and the capitalist class they represent.

Comradely, Solidarity editorial team

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