Comments on: The fifth tradition (part 4 of 6): A five point plan for the organisation of the Labour left http://thoughcowardsflinch.com/2009/11/09/the-fifth-tradition-part-4-of-6-a-five-point-plan-for-the-organisation-of-the-labour-left/ "We know what happens to people who stay in the middle of the road. They get run down" - Aneurin Bevan, 1953 Mon, 28 May 2012 18:49:08 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.com/ By: Clegg, Lady Di and the left’s new opportunity « Though Cowards Flinch http://thoughcowardsflinch.com/2009/11/09/the-fifth-tradition-part-4-of-6-a-five-point-plan-for-the-organisation-of-the-labour-left/#comment-8552 Mon, 19 Apr 2010 22:35:28 +0000 http://thoughcowardsflinch.com/?p=1424#comment-8552 [...] nobility, there is a chance – if the left get it right after the election – that real grassroots stuff might start to happen, and that the real political change, of the kind that involves real shift in power over material [...]

]]> By: Defining coalition, defining class: the challenges and opportunities facing Labour (part 2 of 2) « Though Cowards Flinch http://thoughcowardsflinch.com/2009/11/09/the-fifth-tradition-part-4-of-6-a-five-point-plan-for-the-organisation-of-the-labour-left/#comment-4112 Sat, 26 Dec 2009 22:19:14 +0000 http://thoughcowardsflinch.com/?p=1424#comment-4112 [...] in the coming months, and then in the next year or two, and if taking place concurrently with a grassroots takeover of the party’s institutions, may in fact create a Labour party, in power, which swings to the left and is glad of it -  a [...]

]]> By: Step 4 of 5: The re-conceptualization of campaigning « Though Cowards Flinch http://thoughcowardsflinch.com/2009/11/09/the-fifth-tradition-part-4-of-6-a-five-point-plan-for-the-organisation-of-the-labour-left/#comment-3502 Thu, 12 Nov 2009 22:57:49 +0000 http://thoughcowardsflinch.com/?p=1424#comment-3502 [...] 1 and 2 of the action plan were about how the Left might take over the local parties again, and how [...]

]]> By: Step 2 of 5: Staying focused « Though Cowards Flinch http://thoughcowardsflinch.com/2009/11/09/the-fifth-tradition-part-4-of-6-a-five-point-plan-for-the-organisation-of-the-labour-left/#comment-3452 Mon, 09 Nov 2009 21:57:37 +0000 http://thoughcowardsflinch.com/?p=1424#comment-3452 [...] 2 of 5: Staying focused As I explored in step 1 of this five point organisational action plan for the Labour left, the ‘New (Urban) Left’ of [...]

]]> By: Dave Semple http://thoughcowardsflinch.com/2009/11/09/the-fifth-tradition-part-4-of-6-a-five-point-plan-for-the-organisation-of-the-labour-left/#comment-3450 Mon, 09 Nov 2009 18:14:10 +0000 http://thoughcowardsflinch.com/?p=1424#comment-3450 I agree that this is still possible, in theory. There are numerous problems with the image of going door to door, recruiting for Labour – not the least of which is that the legacy of Brown has been far worse than the legacy of Callaghan, not to mention that even at the 1981 height of the Left, they could not defeat the party bureaucracy and the Right. So I really wonder about the logistics of doing it today.

The other problem is that, within unions, it is becoming harder and harder to justify the money paid to Labour. Which was never seriously the case in the 1980s. It came up from time to time, but broad Lefts all over the place are these days advocating either outright withdrawal or at least a ‘review’ (which is another way of saying nothing will happen, but that it pays to keep the membership quiet).

Conversely, the union bureaucracy is in the midst of its own purge. So we find ourselves in the position of a union Left which want out of Labour to defend the membership, a rank and file disillusioned with Labour and a union leadership caste clinging to Labour for dear life even while Labour kicks them in the teeth, because upon that relationship hinges the character of the whole union – whether it will purge its own Left or actually fight.

We can see how the wind in the CWU is blowing, for example, with the recent vote by London branches to disaffiliate. And we can see how the wind is blowing in UNISON, with the attack on Socialist Party activists. Private Eye also has been documenting instances of the bureaucracy victimising activists. The other unions will fall somewhere along this spectrum – and this makes any argument that involves remaining in Labour difficult to sell.

]]> By: A five-point plan and the Labour Left « Harpymarx http://thoughcowardsflinch.com/2009/11/09/the-fifth-tradition-part-4-of-6-a-five-point-plan-for-the-organisation-of-the-labour-left/#comment-3445 Mon, 09 Nov 2009 10:52:57 +0000 http://thoughcowardsflinch.com/?p=1424#comment-3445 [...] A five-point plan and the Labour Left I like this post by Paul over at Though Cowards Flinch. [...]

]]> By: harpymarx http://thoughcowardsflinch.com/2009/11/09/the-fifth-tradition-part-4-of-6-a-five-point-plan-for-the-organisation-of-the-labour-left/#comment-3444 Mon, 09 Nov 2009 10:47:49 +0000 http://thoughcowardsflinch.com/?p=1424#comment-3444 I dunno if my comment will do your post justice and esp. as I am bunged up with a cold but I will try and possibly cop out and comment more later.

But I like your post Paul, will give it more thought as it deserves that.

Just a few observations:

“The key weakness in Salman’s argument that the Labour party has lost its validity as a force for the left is that his referent is the the national leadership; he provides no evidence that the wider membership has lost that validity, and indeed my main claim is that the wider membership, while currently powerless to effect a move towards the left (for reasons I will explore in section 3, with recommendations for action), does wish to do so.”

I agree with that, there are many inactive LP branches that can be organised properly, through campaigning work, mine for example. And also this is reflected in the motions put forward to the National Policy Forum, many reiterate the need for nationalisation/public ownership etc. and this certainly says a lot about the LP membership base.

Like I said I will write more when less bunged up. Great post Paul.

]]>