Hope and desperation

Labour Representation conference

Hope and desperation

THE LABOUR Representation Committee (LRC) held its annual conference
on 22 July. It was dominated by Labour MP John McDonnell’s announcement
that he will be standing for the leadership of the Labour Party when
Blair finally leaves within the next 12-18 months.

Jim Horton

McDonnell’s announcement takes place at a time of debate within the
trade unions on the question of working-class political representation
and particularly whether the unions should break with the Labour Party
or help to reclaim it.

The Socialist Party does not believe it is possible to reclaim the
Labour Party for the working class and calls on socialists and trade
unionists to join the campaign for a new workers’ party.

Historically the Labour Party was saddled with a pro-capitalist
leadership but its actions were constrained by a membership rooted in
the unions and a mass electoral base in the working class. Today the
sickening enthusiasm of Blair and Brown for the capitalist market and
the enrichment of their friends has gone well beyond the failed old
Labour idea of a mixed economy. New Labour is an open party of big
business, whose attacks on workers’ pay and conditions have left
millions politically disenfranchised.

Past gatherings of the LRC condemned Blair’s polices of privatisation
and cuts to public services, and his Bush-toadying foreign policy of war
and destruction. But there was no clear strategy of achieving the LRC’s
central aim of reclaiming the Labour Party beyond calling for trade
unionists to become party members.

This year, McDonnell’s announcement provided a focus, with the
conference effectively launching his campaign. The LRC plans to go
around the country, with McDonnell and other speakers appealing to the
thousands of former Labour Party members to rejoin and fight.

However, highlighting the LRC’s difficulties, one delegate pleaded:
"I’m not asking you to be happy about joining the Labour Party; it pains
me every time I write out a cheque for my subscription".

McDonnell claimed that this was the best opportunity for the left in
the Labour Party since Tony Benn’s bid for deputy leader in 1981. This
fails to recognise the transformation in the Labour Party that has taken
place since then. Benn himself spoke at the conference and received a
standing ovation. He argued explicitly that it is wrong to found a new
party and instead the aim should be to ‘refound’ the Labour Party. He
said he would like to see the RMT and FBU come back to the Labour Party.

Trade union leaders Bob Crow, Mark Serwotka and Matt Wrack all
praised McDonnell’s parliamentary trade union group work and endorsed
his campaign. Ironically however, as Crow acknowledged, none of their
unions, who back the LRC, are affiliated to the Labour Party. But
unfortunately, none of them is taking the necessary bold step of giving
union backing to the idea of forming a new mass workers’ party.

FBU general secretary Matt Wrack stated that had McDonnell been
leader of the Labour Party it was unlikely the FBU would have
disaffiliated. Another FBU member said that if McDonnell won the FBU
should re-affiliate.

Bob Crow however, while backing McDonnell’s campaign, questioned
those who call on people to stay in the Labour Party and fight. Crow
cited privatisation on the railways and tube as reasons why his members
are not convinced about joining the Labour Party to reclaim it. Crow
went on to explain that people in Barking and Dagenham were not racist
but felt let down by the Tories and New Labour.

The immense hope placed in McDonnell was evident at the conference
but also a sense of desperation. One delegate warned that if McDonnell
is not elected, demoralisation amongst party ranks will continue.

Another delegate correctly pointed out that all the recent big
movements had happened outside the Labour Party and no new generation
was coming through Labour’s ranks.