Nonetheless, what we do after a general election and also, vitally, in the run-up to it, can make a considerable difference to the speed of developments afterwards.
At this stage we are virtually alone in raising the need for the working class to build a new party to represent its interests.
On picket lines this idea usually gets a very enthusiastic response.
However, even the most combative of the national trade union leaders are as yet unwilling to engage with the issue.
That does not mean that trade union leaders are openly campaigning for Labour.
Generally speaking even those that would like to, recognise that their members’ anger and frustration with Starmer’s pro-capitalist stance would make it very unwise to do so.
Instead they rely on implicit support for Labour couched in terms of attacks on the Tories.
The ‘Enough is Enough’ campaign, launched by the general secretaries of the RMT and CWU, now has the official support of the RMT, CWU, UCU and FBU trade unions.
Over 500,000 people are reported to have signed up.
Most did so looking for a way to show their support for the strikes, and for an alternative to Starmer’s Labour.
In reality, the campaign shows the potential for a new mass workers’ party.
However, this is not how it is conceived by its founders.
At the 2022 RMT AGM, Mick Lynch was to the fore in opposing a motion from Coventry RMT which argued for support for Jeremy Corbyn standing independently in the general election, to back “pro-trade union, anti-austerity candidates in local and general elections” and, lastly, to approach the recently disaffiliated BFAWU bakers’ union and Unite to organise a conference to discuss the “historic crisis of political representation facing the working class”.
Mick also argued in favour of a motion withdrawing official RMT representatives from the TUSC steering committee, if it continued to stand candidates in elections.
Meanwhile the CWU remains affiliated to the Labour Party.
Nor is it by chance that the only explicitly political body on the Enough is Enough sponsors’ list is the Labour-linked magazine Tribune (despite the Green Party having voted at their October 2022 conference to affiliate to Enough is Enough).
Mick Lynch and other figureheads of the campaign have repeated clear that they see its role as putting pressure on Labour to act in the interests of the working class, rather than as a first step to building an alternative to it.
As a result, notwithstanding the appeal of it having the leaders of trade unions at the forefront of the struggle heading it, Enough is Enough is not fundamentally different to the numerous previous campaigns of this type, including Corbyn’s Peace and Justice Project, the Peoples’ Assembly, UK Uncut, the Coalition of Resistance, and more.
While the consciously pro-Labour approach of the Enough is Enough initiators is not replicated among all trade union leaders, unfortunately none at this stage are arguing for clear steps towards the trade union movement standing its own independent candidates, never mind building a new party.
General Secretary of Unite, Sharon Graham, has, however, been prepared to sharply criticise Labour, and Unite withdrew funding from Midlands Labour council candidates over the Coventry bin strike.
The campaign she has initiated, ‘Unite for a Workers’ Economy’, has produced some effective agitational material and aims to organise “direct action” by community campaigners.
Nonetheless, the campaign does not currently address, never mind call for, the question of those community campaigners, alongside striking workers, deciding to stand in elections.
There is a danger that the effect in practise – even with a different starting point – could, like Enough is Enough, be limited to campaigning to put pressure on pro-capitalist politicians.
But while there are not yet moves from the tops of the unions towards independent working-class political representation, that does not mean that shifts can’t take place under pressure from below, including some kind of ‘workers’ list’ for the general election.
We have to take every opportunity to campaign for steps towards a new party, including such a list.
Jeremy Corbyn, who will certainly not be allowed to contest his seat for Labour, could still stand independently.
Other deselected or expelled Labour lefts standing is also possible.
Most importantly, under pressure from below, some trade unions could take steps to stand or support candidates outside of Labour.
With an incoming Labour government presiding over austerity, even a small bloc of independent working class MPs would act as a powerful pole of attraction and could rapidly gain support.
However, if no more authoritative coalition is in place before the general election TUSC is aiming to act as the biggest possible umbrella bringing together a slate of trade unionists, socialists and community campaigners. Achieving this would be an important lever for the development of a new party in the next period.
