I agree with Mohan Sen (Solidarity 591) that “Labour’s campaigns have been weak”, as the Labour Party under Starmer hasn’t really challenged the government on the NHS and impending cuts. Also, I don’t believe the left should be gleeful at Labour setbacks.
But I disagree that a good result for the Tories, which is now apparent, will push us way back. I’m of the belief that further Tory cuts, and their lack of care for housing, especially in regards to safety in their failure in removing dangerous cladding (just look at what happened in Canary Wharf on 7 May [a fire at the New Providence Wharf block]), will further anger people.
With other causes such as Kill The Bill, BLM, the working class movement can strengthen. But with this the labour movement has to organise and unite instead of squabbling and failing to stop further inequality.
These two quotes of Trotsky come to mind when thinking of the current situation within the Labour Party.
“The politicians of reformism, these dextrous wirepullers, artful intriguers and careerists, expert parliamentary and ministerial manoeuvrists, are no sooner thrown out of their habitual sphere by the course of events, no sooner placed face to face with momentous contingencies, than they reveal themselves to be — there is no milder expression for it — utter and complete fools”.
“The party that leans upon the workers but serves the bourgeoisie, in the period of the greatest sharpening of the class struggle, cannot but sense the smells wafted from the waiting grave” (What Next?, 1932)
Mo Starke Hannon, London
