The Case for a New Mass Workers' Party
Introduction
THE 2001 GENERAL ELECTION opened up a new situation in Britain. On the surface the results seemed to represent no change. New Labour were elected with a second massive majority. But within weeks of the election, the outline of future battles and stormy events had emerged.
New Labour’s plans to push full steam ahead with increased privatisation of public services, has set them on a collision with public sector workers. They reinforce the Socialist Party view that New Labour has become an openly pro-big business party.
Abstention rates in the election reached an historically high level. Seventeen million refused to vote, the lowest turnout since 1918. Only 38% of young people bothered to vote, a sign of growing alienation from established political parties. New Labour’s vote plummeted by 2.8 million, one of the biggest ever shifts from Labour. The vote fell furthest in working class areas where traditionally Labour’s support has been strongest.
This was a conscious ‘no vote’ rather than a sign of apathy, as some commentators have suggested. According to a Mori poll, of the 41% who failed to vote only 11% said they were ‘not at all interested in politics’. Two thirds of those who voted in 1997 but not in 2001 gave the reason that New Labour were ‘too right wing’.
Working class people and youth have become disenfranchised. But unfortunately, at this stage, there is no force nationally which can politically channel the discontent which clearly exists. That is why the Socialist Party is campaigning for a new mass party which can unite together workers, young people and radical sections of society, to fight for their interests.
The general election and subsequent events have given a glimpse of how such a party could be built. Three major trade unions have passed resolutions calling for a review of their links with New Labour. This represents an historic development and the beginnings of a process towards a new working class party. In the future, as workers increasingly come into conflict with a Labour government over issues such as privatisation, the idea of breaking the link with New Labour and building a new mass party will grow.
The spectacular victory of a hospital campaigner in Wyre Forest in the general election is also an anticipation of future developments, as is the growing anti-capitalist mood amongst young people.
We are moving into a turbulent period. Internationally the capitalist system is in crisis. Based on exploitation and inequality, it is incapable of meeting the needs of working class people. Under the impact of economic crisis and heightened class struggle, increasing numbers of workers and young people will be looking for an alternative to the current system. The Socialist Party is fighting to replace capitalism with a system of democratic planning under working class control that is run for the needs of all, not just the profits of a privileged few.
In this pamphlet we argue the case for a new mass workers’ party. We outline how such a party could come about and what part socialists can play in that process. And we explain how we believe a mass workers’ party would fit in to the vital task of the socialist transformation of society.
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The Case for a New Mass Workers' Party
The Case for a New Mass Workers' Party [Top] [Home] [News] [The Socialist]
Do you agree? Donate here! Join the Socialist Party! Subscribe to The Socialist