Message to my comrades in all parties of the left or no party affiliation

Message to my comrades in all parties of the left or no party affiliation Dear Comrades, My question for your consideration is ‘Have we got our approach to the Labour Party and to Reform UK right or wrong? It is my opinion that we have got our approach to both of these parties wrong. Let me begin with the Labour Party. Without doubt the party structure has changed. There was a time when, almost instinctively, working people regarded the Labour Party as ‘their party’, whether they were actually members or not. The Labour Movement encompassed a number of Working Class organisations, trade unions, Cooperative Societies, even the ‘non political’ Working Men’s Clubs. There has always been a divide between the right wing leadership and the more radical membership. Fundamentally, working people looked for a better more secure life. They recognised that the class division within society, technically capitalism, seen by people in the bosses/ worker situation, landlordism, and the whole structure of society, was the barrier to such a life and that the only way to change the situation was through communal activity. It was clear in those days, as expressed in many ways, including brass bands, organised sports and indoor games competitions (often between clubs and pubs) mechanics institutes, cooperative guilds, festivals and vegetable and produce shows, that working people can and did organise for themselves, for their own purposes. The situation changed with Thatcher and Blair when the concept of communalism was replaced by individualism. Thatcher stated that ‘there is no such thing as society’. Blair followed this up by transforming the structure of the Labour Party, placing greater emphasis on the central structure, taking power away from members, and undermining the ideals that had previously been seen as fundamental, removing Clause 4 that called for Common Ownership (note: not nationalisation) and, more importantly, taking away the central power that had rested with the membership. The previously bureaucratic tendency of the central party now became the norm. This was but a reflection of what was happening in the Country as a whole. Bureaucratic Centralism and Managerialism became the standard form of organisation for all organisations and institutions, including political parties, parties of the left not excluded from this. As a teacher, in my final year of teaching, I was only too aware of this change taking place in schools. Any movement towards collegiate governance (workers control) was ended and top down managerialism was imposed. What this change did was to undermine those developments which had taken place within the working class. A new class formation, a subset of the Working Class, came in to dominance. This consists of that section of the working class who had gained from the progress made in the post war years. Thatcher chose to move away from an industrial based economy to a financial based economy. Large sections of industry were destroyed. We think of mining and steel, but it also affected other industries. In my home time, where at one time it was possible to name over a dozen different types of industry, almost all have now gone including the large hosiery and hosiery machine industry, coach and bus building, and heavy engineering such as the famous Morris Crane Works. It was in the professions, teaching, health, social services, local government, and various forms of administration, that the Working Class now found employment. At one time to consider these professions to be ‘working Class’ was a minority opinion, now they are considered to be in the vanguard of the struggle! But the difference between a strike of miners and a strike of teachers is something we should (but do not) recognise. Part of the problem that exists is the long standing divide between physical and mental labour. When the majority of the working class was involved in physical labour, producing directly for consumption (commodities), the Class war was clear to all. It is less clear, but still highly relevant, when the immediate recipients of the services of teachers, nurses, doctors, social workers, are members of the same working class. The Ruling Class has always sought to denigrate the working class. To this end they were quite successful in creating a divide between these two sections of the Working Class, each, to some extent, looking down on the other. A clear example is the way in which council estates were given such a bad (and undeserved) reputation (Most were well designed and built to a high standard, and are now being gentrified). We come to the present situation in which large sections of the working class are in a precarious situation. Such things as short time jobs, multiple jobs, zero hour contracts, charity shops and food banks, have all become acceptable within our modern society. There is no organised opposition to any of these, as would have been the case between the wars when charity and the means test were hated by the Working Class. Now around 40% of the population (working class people especially young people) play no part in the democratic process. This is not because they are not concerned or lazy or any of the other reasons that the media and the elite suggest, but because they see no point in taking action when no one, no one, is listening to them and none of the parties are prepared to take the actions needed. This group are not members of Trade Unions, nor Political Parties, do not vote, do not take part in demonstrations. All politics parties , including the numerous left wing and revolutionary parties, are led by people whose life style is ‘middle class’, having no understanding of the life of that section of the Working Class who are being left behind. This leadership operate in a bureaucratic, managerial manner, setting out views and policies which members are expected to accept and follow. In many cases lifestyle and social behaviour has replaced the basic class issues that guided much of the old socialist and communist parties. The principles of Marxism are given verbal support but little else. Claims to be revolutionary are symbolic rather than actual. Sadly, most of the old institutions of working people have either disappeared or are in decline.Even pubs, where people met to socialise and to argue and dispute over issues of the day, and to agree on action, are disappearing. Churches and Chapels, which brought people together, trained them and gave them confidence to speak out, and inspired people to challenge the existing Class society have lost their radical edge and influence in society. The Ruling Class has succeeded in both the cultural war of individualism and in undermining the organisational basis of Working Class politics. Which brings me to Reform UK. The danger that Reform UK presents is only too obvious. Their success will seriously damage the whole position of the Working Class, further undermining all that brings some benefits to working people. The basis on which they have advanced has been the way in which they have been able to manipulate the very real problems and fears that people have for their own futures, and more particularly, for the future of their children. Children and young people are the most deprived section of our community. They and their views are largely ignored, but, even worse, distorted. This is seen in the manner in which the issues they face are regarded by the Middle Class groups mentioned. A clear example is the response to the Netflix Series, ‘Adolescent’. The four episodes of this raise a whole range of issues, each one of which deserves scrutiny and actions. These issues are ignored and the problem reduced to one of ‘toxic masculinity’. Instead of listening to young people and seeking to address the problems they raise, the answer appears to be to condemn and to ban them from such things as social media when, in reality, despite all the appalling things that are present in social media(put their by older people seeking to exploit the young) it is through social media that young people live their lives and find some solace and friendship. Again it is a matter of the dominant middle class determining their own position and imposing it upon the young without making any effort to understand the views and needs of young people. The faults and failures of modern society are due to the economic system under which we live (Capitalism) and the individualistic approach adopted by this New Middle Class. The fact the Britain is a multicultural society has brought immense benefits to all of us. We must think and act in terms of the International Working Class. The declining birth rate means that further immigration is needed.The problem is that wealth is absorbed by a relatively small group of people who retain that wealth and fail to invest. Capitalism is failing. False information is spread because all the information outlets, radio, television, newspapers, social media, are controlled by that wealthy minority. Lies are spread by these media outlets and parties, such as Reform UK exploit this. I do not believe that the Working Class are racist.The fundamental philosophy of working people is ‘live and let live’. They recognise that we sink or swim together. I do not believe that the majority of Labour MPs, Councillors, members, and supporters agree with the appalling decisions being made by the Leadership of the Labour Party under Keir Starmer. What I do believe is that the means by which the views of people who do not conform to the various Party Lines can be expressed do not exist.What is needed is for people to stand up and say ‘NO MORE, this is what we believe in!’ The ‘We Demand Change’ must be made a reality which means fundamental change in all sections of our society. At present it does not matter what Party you are in, what is important that people stand firm for Working Class issues, this means that we must listen to those sections of the class who are being left behind. To listen and discuss with them and work together to recreate structures that unite the working class (Black and White unite and fight). There is no future in individualism, we need a communal approach. Issues such as jobs, housing, education, social care, transport, benefits, are all issues which are crying out for socialists and communists to make detailed proposals which can transform the lives of working people. A public transport system in which priority is given to metal on metal rather than rubber on tarmac. A determination to fight for government that is local to where people live and whose needs people understand and are able to take part in planning for the future. People before profit is a key theme as is the recognition that the working class is international and encompasses all races, all religions, the large majority of people worldwide. Only when everyone can live a secure and happy life can we ever be satisfied. Maybe, in the short term, the Labour Party, in which all members exerted their power, could be the best bet to reverse the trends that are now taking place. Rather than leave, maybe Councillors and MPs should be true to their principles and stay and oppose the reactionary leadership. Maybe we should seek to persuade those involved to return to older principles. We should criticise but in criticising we should also seek to convince them to unite with us on the things that they and we agree upon. The times are critical. We have to have faith in the members of our class and act in solidarity with them on all the positive issues which point in the direction of the classless society that is our aim. I do not see that any of the so called Revolutionary Parties have a solution beyond rhetoric. Scribar 7.6.25