UN, Butler, Gun: Blair sinks deeper - Rally the unions! See him off!

Submitted by Anon on 6 March, 2004 - 9:10

"The Labour Representation Committee is a major initiative to take the Labour Party back to its grass roots in the Constituency Labour Parties and the trade unions, to re-establish democratic control of the Party by its rank and file."
John McDonnell MP

Bugging the UN. Whitewashing the dodgy dossiers used to justify the Iraq war by non-existent Weapons of Mass Destruction. And pressing on regardless with privatisation, top-up fees, foundation hospitals, and his whole profit-first programme.
Tony Blair is defying the labour movement more and more sharply. It is time the labour movement decided to defy him.

This will happen in a dozen different ways, by industrial battles, demonstrations and other political mobilisations which represent the left gathering its confidence again, renouncing the idea that it must tolerate Blairism because it is the only possible counter to Toryism, and rallying new young activists stirred to politics by the anti-war protests.

At a meeting in London on 2 March, trade unionists and Labour leftists decided on a new significant step. Their focus is not on replacing one Labour leader by another, but on reasserting and organising around the principle of labour representation in politics.

The Communication Workers' Union and the Fire Brigades Union will sponsor a Labour Representation Committee conference in July. The rail union RMT, despite being expelled from the Labour Party, has told the organisers it wants to be involved. Regions and branches, at least, from other unions, are sure to back the conference too.

Replacing Blair by Brown will solve nothing. Brown shares Blair's basic line. In a speech on 28 November he said:

"Our party's modernisation will not be complete until it has become the party of the self-employed, managers and employers and business as well as employees."

But mobilising unions and Labour activists to demand authentic labour representation will make a difference. If it increases the pressure on Blair enough to force a new leadership contest, it can also make that contest a forum for opening new debates on the political future of the labour movement, and ensure that a new leadership cannot defy the unions and the rank and file so blatantly.

Rally the unions! See off Blair!

This website uses cookies, you can find out more and set your preferences here.
By continuing to use this website, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms & Conditions.